20/10/2011 Sorrel Anderson http://www.sorrelanderson.com/

[WP Central]

On my first birthday a speeding car crashed through the wall of our house and crashed back out again, narrowly missing the cot where I lay sleeping. Or so I am told.

 On my third birthday a bolt of lightning struck the roof of our house and the telly exploded, narrowly missing the rug where I sat playing. I have no recollection of the event.

 But I vividly remember my fifth birthday, when a man dressed as a clown unicycled - uninvited and at top speed - into and around our garden, knocking over plants and people and the birthday tea table and cycled out again, narrowly missing me.   

When I was seven I almost drowned. When I was nine I nearly suffocated. And when I was eleven I was practically, but not quite, trampled to death by a runaway horse called Patrick.   

 Today is the day before my thirteenth birthday, and I’m feeling a little uneasy.

 

 

 

[Sarah Cook]

I am not like usual people; I dread my birthday because “accidents” happen or so my parents say. But I have a secret, I think I will be assassinated on my birthday. It’s true! I’ve been training for ages to defend myself. I’m a member at ninja.com and I’m prepared for my 13^th birthday party. My parents booked a party at the adventure park. Why must they take me there? Why can’t we stay at home with pillows all over my body? I can think of so many bad things that can happen there! This week I been having problems I’m drowsy in class, I’m not concentrating and I’ve stayed awake in my bed for a week now. “Come downstairs Jimmy!” mum yelled, nervously “I have something to say.”  “Coming,” I said as politely as possible, for me at least. I ran downstairs as quickly as a cheetah as it sounded exciting! “What if she cancelled the birthday party?” I thought enthusiastically. Mum pointed to a tall man at the doorway with curly brown hair, wearing a black suit. He was drinking a cup of tea that dad had made, as she announced trying to stay calm “Jimmy a man is here and he says he’s from ninja.com!”

By Alyssa and Louise Christ the King School Australia

[zoe skoines]

As I approached him I felt worried and confused. "What do you want?" I asked. "I'm here to help you with your birthday party." I wondered how he was going to save my party from disaster. "I have cancelled your party at the Adventure Park," Mum said "What! I spent 9 hours planning that party!" He said "Don't worry Mum, I've got it all under control. I'm going to train Jimmy......"
Jupiter Class, Haynes Lower School

[Rosie Pike]

Jimmy’s Mum secretly crept around the room taking all valuables out of sight. Jimmy started to get suspicious – why was the man looking around the room? It was as if he was inspecting the room. After one minute of being stared down by dad, all of a sudden the man claimed to need the toilet, but at this moment no one knew the truth. Before the man left the room he circled round the Jimmy twice before he exited, checking that Jimmy was the one.  The man went to the toilet making sure that he picked up his brief case. A strand of paper became loose and fell to the comfort of the sofa. Soon after Jimmy noticed what had fallen from the case: inscribed on the paper was a series of numbers that looked like a phone number. Jimmy left the room slipping out of sight from his parents. He knew what all this was - the man was his assassin. He made his way through the hall. Jimmy was about one metre from the door but the toilet door started to creak open. He knew what he had to do.

Run!

By Alessandro Ainsworth, Heather Collier and Freddie Havers. Bishops Stortford college 2AB England

[Linda Thiebaud]

"He is going to be an absolute ninja by the time I'm done with him. You see, Mrs. Parks, I'm sure you're aware of the accidents that take place on his birthdays. We need to keep him under absolute security on his thirteenth birthday. We suspect he'll be assassinated this year, lest we train him." The man went on and on, explaining how he needed to take me in so I could defend myself. Finally, Mum sighed and decided, "All right, I suppose I could let you train as a ninja, so long as you're back by tomorrow from your ninja training." "Marvelous..." He stated, slightly suspiciously. I wasn't sure I even wanted to go... But hey, you need to trust ninja.com. Soon, my excitement overcame all uneasy feelings and we set off. He didn't take me anywhere I would have expected...Not a cool ninja headquarters, but a dark alleyway. "Wait, what's going on?" I questioned, all uneasy feelings coming back instantly. "Sorry, kid..." Was all I heard before everthing went black.

When I awoke, I was securely tied to an uncomfortable plastic lawn chair. I inspected the area and found that I was in a small, windowless room. The only light source was a dim lamp dangling above my head. It wasn't much help, though, because all I saw was a small small circle of light around myself. I heard a door open, followed by thudding footsteps, getting closer...and closer...

Finally I could see the tip of the AK47 raising slowly to my forehead...In my fear, I gained strength and slowly pulled my hand free. Seconds before he pulled the trigger, I leaped to me feet, knocked him to the ground, stole his gun, and took off.

I was running faster then I'd ever run before, right into the nearest police station. Upon catching my breath, I explained to them. I was only satisfied when they walked the assassin into a jail cell, handcuffed.

Before long, I was home again. I was thinking. A lot. At first, I was just glad to be alive... Until I remembered that my fifteenth birthday was a mere two short years away.

 

 

By Kyndle, Nicki, and Garrett,  Christa McAuliffe Elementary School

[Sorrel Anderson]

A big hello to: Alyssa and Louise (Christ the King School Australia), Jupiter Class (Haynes Lower School), Alessandro Ainsworth, Heather Collier and Freddie Havers (Bishops Stortford College), and Kyndle, Nicki, and Garrett (Christa McAuliffe Elementary School). What fantasic paragraphs you wrote - I love how you continued the story I started.