day, Max and Kai confronted Chris and he admitted that he stole the books, but it was just because he loved reading so Max and Kai decided to keep it a secret. The next day, in the morning, Owen asked the investigators if he could rejoin them. The investigators generously accepted his request, and they all lived happily ever after.
A single tear dropped silently from Sam’s cheek. He resolved that it would be his last. No-one would ever bully him again. He just needed a plan. As he climbed gingerly into bed that night, his eyelids heavy with tiredness, his mind whirring clunkily like an old computer: plotting, plotting, plotting. When Sam awoke, the sky was an ominous bruise of black and blue but, he still had not grand plan. In class later that morning, Sam was mulling over ideas when his attention was suddenly aroused at Mrs Austin’s mention of Mars, the red planet. Could he steal everything from school that was red? Pens, pencils, apples and even the fire extinguisher? That would get him noticed. People would like him for pulling off a stunt so gutsy and brave but however, that would get him in so much trouble and people wouldn’t understand that he just wanted them to be kind. But then an idea hit him hard like a train. He would deliver a message people just couldn’t ignore. He woke early the next morning and slung his father’s toolkit over his shoulder. Sam raced silently to school like a whirlwind. He was on the hunt for letters: the bigger the better. Sam’s eyes were drawn immediately to the school signs in the playground. He clambered up eagerly and began sawing the letter D. It was harder than Sam expected and by the end he The Meaning of Kindness Zachary (Year 5) Suddenly Kai remembered that he had the key in his pocket. He hasting used it to open the locker. Inside the locker were all the rare books and underneath them was a piece of paper, which had two names on it (Owen and Chris). Now, everything made sense because Owen had told them not to pick it up because he had been tricking them and when Owen had disappeared, he was going to tell Chris that they knew where was. Later in the
was weary by exertion but, his heart tingled with excitement. He stuffed the large black letter into his crumpled bag.
That day, no-one noticed the missing D. As the days went on and the sign lost its I and its E and the notice on the library door lost is B, the whispers started. By the time Sam had accumulated all the letters – the letter thief was the talk of the school. The teachers were using the term ‘vandalism’ and there was talk of expelling the culprit. Sam felt sick to his core, his breathing was ragged and the world fell silent. It suddenly didn’t feel like the marvelous mystery he had concocted in his head. It felt like a crime but he needed to see it through. He woke up on early Monday and crept into the playground. Sam laid out his spoils like a poison pen letter and pulled his hood up to protect his face from the biting cold. Sam sat nervously behind his installation, waiting for school to come alive. Pupils, parents and teachers filled the playground started by the sight of Sam. He sat alone in the rain behind the words “be kind.” Sam knew he hadn’t done the right thing. This moment marked the end of his criminal career although he was not ashamed of what he’d done.
Kindness doesn’t take much, but life can be pretty grim without it.
The Mystery of Dulwich College Jayson (Year 6)
mist he saw a forlorn figure emerge. Was it beast or guardian? Hunter or hunted? As the figure stepped into the moonlight, realisation struck Sam like a lightning bolt. It was the janitor! As she shuffled from the kitchen in the Christison Hall to the Junior School Hall, it all made sense.
Dulwich stirred awake. The chatter of children walking to school filled the air like buzzing bees. Dulwich College was coming to life like usual but today something was different. Sam Henderson, a ten-year old boy at Dulwich College, trudged sleepily rubbing the last traces of sleep from his eyes. To his amazement when he arrived, he saw a crowd of boys and teachers huddled together whispering in hushed tones. His curiously piqued, he wondered what all this commotion was about. Sam, who had an adventurous spirit, and his mind raced like a storm couldn’t resist the mystery. When he peeked through the gap he was shocked, there were mysterious footprints outlined in what looked like blood embedded in the ground. The teachers stood bewildered, unable to explain the eerie sight. Rumours spread through the Junior School like wild fire! Was it a ghost? A monster? Something worse? A nervous tension engulfed the school. Boys whispered, teachers worried and parents panicked. Each day more footprints appeared, few students dared to come to school. Sam, who loved detective novels had quiet determination and took matters in his own hands. That night he would stake out in the Junior School. As darkness fell Dulwich College transformed and the shadows grew longer, towering trees trembled in timeless silence. A damp earthy smell clung to the air thick with the decay and secrets best left undisturbed. Sam’s heart pounded like a furious drumbeat. Then, at the edge of his eye he saw swirling mist emerging and through the
The blood was not blood, it was strawberry jam.
The snow was not snow, it was flour from the freshly baked bread.
The gold was not gold, it was icing sprinkles from cupcakes.
She was not haunting the school, she was cleaning it but then slowly went to the Junior School Hall. So, Sam followed her like a stealthy shadow then as she sat down on the chair near the grand piano her fingers hovered over. As the music came out of the grand piano Sam felt like he was in a warm embrace, each note danced like wildfires weaving a tapestry of harmony and raw emotion. Turns out the humble janitor was a brilliant pianist. The next day Sam told the teachers about the mystery and now the mystery was solved and normality was restored. But one final question remained, what happened to the janitor? She transformed into a renowned musician.
Moral: sometimes don’t take things at face value – dig deeper and all will be revealed.
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