A note from Nev...

Well, the story 'Jamie Can Fly!' is finally over.  I do hope you had as much fun reading it as I had writing it.  It's now time to draw some new pictures and write more stories!

Jamie Can Fly! (Chapter 17)

Jamie felt warm and snug as he opened his eyes.  The sun shone down on his body.  He looked up to see he was surrounded by tall maize.  In fact, it only looked tall because he was lying flat on his back.  Slowly Jamie sat upright whilst rubbing his forehead.  He felt drowsy and a bit delirious. He thought to himself, I must have fallen asleep after the big chase.  He stood up and stretched, as one would after a long sleep, then began walking back the way he had come through the field. 

            ‘Pssst!’

            Jamie turned around, ‘Who said that?’

            ‘Pssst!’ came the voice again.

            ‘Where are you?’ Jamie searched down by his feet in an attempt to discover the source of this small voice.

            ‘Pssst!  Up here!’

            ‘Up where…’ then, as Jamie looked up, he saw the silhouette of a small flying creature.  It was a butterfly.

            ‘Yes, that’s it!  Here I am,’ said the butterfly.

            ‘Are you really talking to me?’ asked Jamie, who thought he might have still been sleeping.

            ‘Well, I am really talking to you if you are really talking back to me!’ replied the butterfly who gently landed on Jamie’s arm.  ‘So, how did it go?  Did you enjoy being up high in the sky?’

            ‘High in the sky?’

            ‘Yes!  How was the flying?’

            It was at that moment that Jamie recognised the small face of the butterfly.

            ‘Is your name Clifton?’ asked Jamie.

            ‘Of course it is!  How could you forget this face?’

            ‘But… you’ve got wings.  You didn’t have wings before?’

            ‘You couldn’t fly before, but I don’t hold that against you, do I?’ the butterfly retorted.

            ‘You mean that really did happen?  I really did fly?’

            ‘Well of course you did,’ said Clifton.  ‘I should know, I saw you doing it!  And I’ll tell you what; those nasty boys won’t be messing with you again! Hee hee!’

            ‘Wow!  It was amazing!  I couldn’t believe what was happening to me!  One minute I was on the ground, like everyone else, the next minute I was up high, flying in the sky!’

            ‘So you understand it now, don’t you?  Up high!  In the sky!  You don’t know why?  But you can fly!’

            ‘Yes, I do understand it Clifton!  I do, I do!  I can fly!!’

            Jamie ran across the field, pointed up towards the clouds and leapt up in the air… he then swiftly landed back on the ground.  He pointed his finger up in the air once more.  Nothing happened. 

Clifton landed back on Jamie’s arm, ‘Having trouble are we?’

‘Well, yes.  I can’t seem to get off the ground.  This is exactly what I did before; I pointed up and that made me fly.  I don’t understand why it’s not working now?’  Jamie continued to point up in the air.  He tried pointing in different directions.  He swapped hands.  He tried both hands at the same time, but to no avail.

‘Did you make the rescue?’ asked Clifton.

‘Did I make the rescue?  What do you mean?’ asked Jamie.

‘What I mean is, did you rescue someone?’

Jamie paused for a moment before he replied, ‘Well, there was a boy who I helped out of a tree.’

‘And was he in grave danger?’

‘If he had fallen he would have landed headfirst on a rock, so I suppose he was in grave danger.  Yes.’

‘Well then your work is done!’

‘My work is done?’

‘Yes, it is done,’ replied Clifton, who continued to explain.  ‘Every year many young boys and girls find themselves in dangerous situations…’

‘Like the boy hanging in the tree!’

‘That’s right, just like the boy hanging in the tree.  And every year many of these children are saved from tragedy by other young boys and girls like you.’

‘Like me?’

‘Yes, just like you Jamie, these boys and girls are given a special gift and with that gift they are able to help the children who are in trouble.  Your gift was the ability to fly.  With that gift you were able to help that poor young boy, just when he needed rescuing.  Once you had completed your task you were quickly returned back home.’

‘But how can I help other children who are in trouble.  I can’t fly anymore!’

‘Ah, such eagerness!  That must be why you were chosen!’ said the smiling butterfly.  ‘It can’t be down to you to help everyone Jamie, that would be much too big a burden for you to carry.’

‘But who will help the other children who are in danger.’

‘That’s not for me to decide,’ replied Clifton.

‘Who does decide?’ asked Jamie.

‘It’s time for me to fly!’ said Clifton as he flapped his wings and ascended up above Jamie’s head.

‘Wait!’ shouted Jamie.  ‘Who decides?  Why did this happen?’  But Jamie got no further reply from Clifton.  All he could do was watch as the butterfly flew high up in the sky and then disappeared over some nearby trees.

For a while Jamie continued to stare up at the clouds in the sky.  He took a deep breath and smiled as he remembered all that had happened.  As he went to walk away he heard a familiar voice, which seemed to whisper down at him from the clouds above, ‘Well done Jamie, well done!’

A book recommendation - Poppy's Hero

I have just finished reading 'Poppy's Hero' by Rachel Billington.  This story is a great insight into the life of a young child dealing with the emotions that come along with having a parent in prison.  What will she do to cope?  Can she and her friends break her dad out?  These questions and more are explored by Poppy and her friends in this gripping tale.

This book is available for purchase from 5th January 2012.

Jamie Can Fly! (Chapter 16)

‘Clarence!’ shouted Jamie once again.  ‘Where are you?’

‘No need to shout old boy!’

Jamie jumped with shock and turned around to see that the small aging clurtle standing right behind him.  Clarence looked at Jamie with a warm smile upon his face.

‘So, how did you get on?’ asked Clarence.

            ‘Oh Clarence, it was amazing!  You should have seen me!  I found a chest with some warm clothes inside, then…’ Jamie continued to describe all that had happened on his adventure in the snowy mountains.  Clarence listened attentively. 

            Before too long the sky had turned completely black, but it was by no means dark.  It was covered with a vast array of stars shining brightly like silver glitter spread across black sugar paper.  The light from above created moonlit shadows all around, giving the cloudscape an even more magical atmosphere.

            ‘It’s so beautiful up here,’ said Jamie as he walked along with Clarence.

            ‘Now you can understand why I have been up here for such a long time,’ chuckled the clurtle.

            As the two friends passed a tall mountain of cloud Jamie spotted something in the distance and pointed it out to Clarence.

            ‘What’s that over there?’

            ‘Ah, that’s for you my boy!’ said Clarence as he saw the green glowing area.

            As they got closer, Jamie noticed the green glow was coming from a large group of sparkle worms.  There must have been over two hundred of them huddled around a rectangular departure door.

            ‘That’s for me?’ asked Jamie.

            ‘Yes, it is my boy.  You cannot stay up here forever, as much as I might like that.  You have a home to return to!’

            Jamie knew that Clarence was right, but it did not stop him feeling a tinge of sadness.  He had enjoyed making a new friend and discovering an unknown world in the clouds.

            ‘Will I ever see you again?’ asked Jamie.

            ‘My boy, I will be here for many years yet.  Clurtles have a much longer lifespan than humans you know!’

            And with that Clarence began to nudge Jamie with his head.

            ‘What are you doing?’ asked Jamie.

            ‘Nearly there,’ said Clarence.

            ‘Oh not again,’ said Jamie as he realised what was happening.  Clarence gave him one final push, which caused Jamie to lose his balance and fall straight through the departure doorway.

            ‘Goodbye Jamie!’ shouted Clarence.

            ‘AAAAHHHHHHH!!  GOOOOOOD BYYYYYEE!!’ replied Jamie as he fell at high speed.  ‘GOOOOD BYYYYYEEE!!’

[Chapter 17]

A note from Nev...

I had a wonderful time with two delightful reception classes at Ashmount Primary School this morning.  It was fun exploring stories and our imaginations together.

_____

We also had the opportunity to have a Christmas story about Bumpkin & Chumpkin the two den-making squirrels.  I look forward to visiting again! :)

Jamie Can Fly! (Chapter 15)

The boy’s head was just inches from the rock when Jamie scooped him up in his arms and flew back up in the air.  The young boy looked dazed then shocked as he became aware of what was happening.

            ‘It’s okay,’ said Jamie.  ‘You’re safe now.’

            The boy continued to stare at Jamie in disbelief.  Was he really being carried through the air?  They landed at the top of the mountain.

            ‘Are you okay?’ asked Jamie.

            ‘Y.. yes.. I think so,’ the young boy replied.

            ‘What’s your name?’

            ‘Marcus.’

            ‘Well Marcus, I think we should get you back to safety.  Who are you here with?’

            ‘I’m here with my mummy and daddy,’ replied the boy, who looked to be a couple of years younger than Jamie.  ‘But I lost my skis,’ he said.

            ‘Don’t worry,’ replied Jamie.  ‘You can come with me, just stand on here,’ Jamie beckoned Marcus onto his snowboard.  He stood in the middle of it as Jamie held onto him tightly.  ‘Are you ready?’

            ‘I’m ready!’ said Marcus.

            ‘Then off we go!’

            The two boys then sped down the slope together on Jamie’s snowboard.

            ‘Wheeeeeeee!!!’ they both shouted excitedly.  It was a thrilling experience for them both to be speeding down the mountain without anyone else around.  After only 10 minutes or so they had reached the bottom.  It was there that they saw the many other skiers and snowboarders who were finishing up for the day. 

            ‘Look!  That’s my mum and dad!’ said Marcus.  He jumped off the snowboard and began to run towards them.  Then he stopped, turned around and shouted across the crowded space to Jamie, ‘Thank you!  Thank you so much!’  He then disappeared through the crowd.  Jamie could just about see him being picked up by his mother in the distance.  He smiled and felt a real sense of satisfaction.

            As the crowds began to disappear into the nearby hotels and chalets Jamie took off his snowboard then walked in the opposite direction, back towards the foot of the mountain.  He made sure no one was watching him as he pointed his finger up and shot off into the air.  He carried his snowboard under his arm as he flew.  Whilst he was flying over the forest, the snowboard slipped and fell from underneath his arm.  He could only watch as it disappeared through the trees and landed with a quiet thud in the snow.  He slowed down and gazed into the trees.  Then he heard a familiar voice shout up at him – it was the mouse. 

‘It’s okay Jamie, I’ll keep the snowboard safe for you!’

            Jamie smiled then continued to fly up towards the clouds.  He saw an opening and sped through it.  It was the entry door ready to receive him. 

            As he came to a halt and landed on the secure surface of the cloudscape Jamie looked around.  ‘Clarence… are you there?’

            There was no reply.  All Jamie could see were the white clouds surrounding him, now lit up by the light of the moon as the darkness of the night began to set in.

[Chapter 16]

Jamie Can Fly! (Chapter 14)

Down the slope he went with tremendous speed.  At first Jamie was terrified.  He had never used a snowboard before.  The snow sprayed up into his face as he went faster and faster.  He leaned back, which caused him to turn to his left.  Then he leaned forward, onto his toes, making him turn to the right.

            ‘Oh wow!  I get it now,’ said Jamie as he began to snake his way down the slope with more control.  ‘Woooo hoooooo!’ he shouted.  He was really enjoying it now.

            Jamie then popped out onto a main slope with many other skiers and snowboarders.  He had a beaming smile, which stretched from cheek to cheek.  What fun it was for him.  He weaved his way through a line of children from the ski school before he reached the bottom of the run.  He looked back up and saw the huge mountain he had just descended.

            ‘Oh boy, I see why uncle Roger likes being out here so much!  It’s fantastic!’ Jamie saw that he had come, not just to the bottom of the ski run but also, to the bottom of the chair lift.  ‘Here goes nothing,’ he said as he stood in front of the chair, which whizzed round the pole and scooped him up onto the great lift.

            Up, up and up went Jamie enjoying the view all around him as he sat on the wide chair that he had all to himself.  Each chair on the lift had enough space for six people to sit on.  As the cable kept winding, Jamie kept moving further upwards towards the top of an even higher mountain.  He breathed in the fresh chilled air as he began to see a vast range of mountains disappearing off into the distance.  All of a sudden Jamie noticed something unusual.

            Just down to his left there was an extremely tall tree.  He saw something hanging from one of the branches.  It was not a pinecone or a block of snow or anything else you might expect to see on a tree like this.  As he looked more carefully he could see it was something wriggling.  It was in fact a small child.

            ‘Oh no!’ cried Jamie, as he realised what he was witnessing.  ‘He’s going to fall!’ 

But as Jamie turned round in a hope that someone else was on the lift behind him he discovered he was all alone.  It was the end of the day, the sun was beginning to set and the skiers and snowboarders were making their way back to their hotels and chalets. 

The lift continued to take Jamie further up the mountain and, therefore, further away from the small child.  ‘Hold on!’ shouted Jamie, hoping the child would hear and understand him.  Jamie then lifted the bar, which secured him in his chair and he leaned forward.  It was a long way down. 

Then, it was as if he could hear the voice of Clarence coming from the clouds above him saying, ‘Fly Jamie!  Fly!’

Jamie took a deep breath then dropped off the lift.  As he fell he quickly pointed his finger upwards.  He stopped still in the air, hovering with his snowboard still attached to his feet – there was no time to try removing it, he had a child to rescue! 

Like lighting Jamie flew back down the mountain to the tree where the boy was hanging.  As he drew nearer he could see the boy was attached to the branch by one of his trouser braces.

‘HOLD ON!’ shouted Jamie, but before he reached him his trouser brace slipped off the branch.  The boy was falling headfirst and heading towards a large black rock on the snow below…

[Chapter 15]

Bumpkin & Chumpkin (Part 3)

As she sat in the den Bumpkin did not feel quite so cosy any more.  All she could think about was how hurtful her friend had been.  Then she saw some movement down below.  It was Chumpkin on his way back.  As she heard his claws scramble their way back up the tree trunk Bumpkin turned away.

            ‘Hello,’ said Chumpkin.  ‘I’m sorry, I know you’re probably really upset with me.’

            Bumpkin remained silent.

            ‘You just took me by surprise, that’s all.  I didn’t expect to see you following me.  But I did have a good reason for keeping you away.’

            ‘What possible reason could you have for being so mean and sending me away?  I thought we were best friends!’

            ‘We are!’ replied Chumpkin.

            ‘I don’t think so,’ said Bumpkin.  ‘You obviously don’t want me around.  Maybe I should just leave and make my own den elsewhere.’

            ‘No, don’t do that!’

            ‘Why not?’

            ‘Because I don’t want you to!  Listen, I want you to come with me.’

            ‘Come with you?  But I thought that was exactly what you didn’t want me to do,’ replied the ever frustrated Bumpkin.

            ‘I didn’t want you to come with me earlier, but now I do.  Just come, you’ll understand when we get there.’

            Bumpkin wanted to resist the invitation in order to teach Chumpkin a lesson.  However, her curiosity got the better of her, what could he want to show me, she thought to herself.

            Chumpkin led the way through the woods as Bumpkin followed silently and slowly.  It was still very cold; a few flakes of snow were even beginning to fall.  Bumpkin loved this time of year.

            ‘Okay, here we are,’ said Chumpkin, who had stopped just in front of the same bush that Bumpkin had followed him to earlier.  ‘Are you ready?’

            ‘Ready for what?’

            ‘Ready for something special!’

            Bumpkin was really curious now, though she still tried not to show it to Chumpkin.  ‘Go on then, let’s see,’ she casually remarked.

            Chumpkin took Bumpkin’s tiny cold paw and led her through the small gap in the bush.  The leaves were close and brushed against their furry bodies as they made their way further in.  Bumpkin started to feel a warmth radiating towards her.  Then she stopped, stood wide-eyed and dropped her tiny jaw in disbelief.

            ‘So… what do you think?’ asked Chumpkin.

            ‘I.. I.. I don’t believe it!’ replied Bumpkin as she jumped gleefully then turned and gave Chumpkin a huge hug.  Within the bush he had created a Christmas den.  It was covered with piles of sticks, leaves, moss and he had even found an old oil lantern, which he had managed to light with a warm yellow flame.  Round the edge of it all he had written a message for Bumpkin out of red berries.  It spelled out the words, ‘Merry Christmas to Bumpkin my best friend’.

Bumpkin & Chumpkin (Part 2)

Bumpkin made a dash down the tree and ran as fast as she could in an effort to catch up with Chumpkin.

            ‘Chumpkin!  Chumpkin!’ she shouted after him as she jumped over the twigs and logs that were in her way, ‘Where are you going?’

            She then caught sight of his fluffy tail disappearing into a bush.  She ran faster and faster until she was just inches away from the bush.  As she went to jump through the gap she was suddenly met with a smash as Chumpkin reappeared and jumped straight into her.  Together the two squirrels fell to the ground with a great thud!

            ‘Ouch!’ said Bumpkin.  ‘What did you do that for?’

            But as she looked up at her friend, who had her pinned to the ground, he looked angry with her.

            ‘What are you doing following me like that?’ he blurted out.

            ‘I.. I..’

            ‘You what?’

            ‘I just wanted to see where you were going.’

            ‘Never you mind where I’m going!’ shouted Chumpkin.  ‘You should have stayed in the den!’

            ‘But I didn’t know where you had gone.  I just wanted to find out,’ said Bumpkin, who was beginning to feel slightly teary eyed.

            ‘That’s because you’re so nosey!  If I had wanted you to come with me I would have invited you.  Now get back to the den!’

            Bumpkin slowly stood up and looked at Chumpkin disbelievingly.  Why was he acting like this, she thought to herself.

            ‘Go on, off you go!’ said Chumpkin.

            A tear rolled down Bumpkin’s furry cheek as she turned round and slowly began to walk away.  She looked back only to see that Chumpkin had disappeared back into the bush.  This time she would not follow him.  She was a very sad squirrel indeed.

[Part 3]

Bumpkin & Chumpkin (Part 1)

Richmond Park is the biggest and most beautiful Royal Park in London.  It is full of colour, smells, sounds and life.  And no one knows this park better than two small squirrels named Bumpkin and Chumpkin. 

These two fluffy creatures have lived in the park for their whole life.  Bumpkin is the younger of the two squirrels.  She has light brown fur with a small streak of red hairs just between her two ears.  She looks up to her best friend Chumpkin.  He is slightly taller and is covered in dark brown fur apart from his tummy, which is white.   Both of the squirrels have big bushy tails, which flow up and down, like the waves of the sea, each time the animals run.

‘Brrr!  It’s getting cold!’ said Bumkin.

‘Yep, winter is coming indeed!’ replied Chumpkin who was scratching around looking for twigs to add to his latest den.  The two squirrels loved to make dens in the bushes.

‘We had better make a really warm den this time,’ said Bumpkin, who was starting to shiver.

‘Don’t worry, this den will be the best one yet!’ said Chumpkin excitedly.

The two squirrels were experts at den making.  In the summer they would build light and airy dens, which had plenty of space to allow the cool breeze to pass through.  But now that the cold winter weather was beginning to set in, they started making a very cosy den indeed.

‘Look Chumpkin!  I’ve found a big pile of dry leaves under this tree!’

‘Ah, that’s perfect!  Well, done Bumpkin.  You always find the best leaves!’

The two squirrels were in their element.  They made an excellent team together.  They picked up twigs and even more leaves.  Before long they had built a very cosy den inside the trunk of a hollowed out tree.

‘Oh Chumpkin, I think this is our best one yet!’

‘Yes, I think you’re right.  We are going to be very warm this winter.  No more shivers for you!’ said Chumpkin before he jumped out of the den, ran down the tree and headed off into the woods.

‘Where are you going?’ shouted Bumpkin, who was surprised to see her friend leave their den so soon after they had created it.  But Chumpkin did not turn around or reply to her.  He was gone.

[Part 2]