Activity 12

A Lost Adventure
©Catherine Grant (aged 12 years)

Memories of that day still haunt me. Even though it happened many years ago, when I was a very small child, I can still recall everything. But the one memory that lingers the most is the one of the dove and the song it sung. I found my peace as the melody floated around me in the strong breeze that blew off the ocean. I was distraught but the melody calmed me and helped me remain strong.
I was strolling along Henley Beach near our rented beach house, worrying and fretting over losing my brother on the beach a few minutes ago when I realised how far I was from the beach house. I turned around but I saw no familiar landmarks. The waves lapped around my bare feet. I looked for a way to get off the beach so the waves or a riptide wouldn’t take me out to sea, but found none. Moving to the very top of the beach until I could get home wasn’t much consolation, since the tide here was known to go past the sand and onto the rocks. Tears rolled down my cheeks as the waves made me stumble and slip. I started running back the way I had come, looking for landmarks or a way to get off the beach before the tide came in. I felt a raindrop on my nose, then another and another. Lightning flashed across the sky and a big menacing clap of thunder followed. I screamed and kept running. By now it was difficult to move fast because the water surrounded my ankles and yanked at my clothes. I slowed to a walk, stressed and upset. I was forced to sit down in the ankle deep water, soaking my Little Mermaid top and skirt. I got up again, now weary and distressed. Another streak of lightning lit the dark clouds. All of a sudden there was a flow of perfect, high notes. I looked around to see what was making the reassuring noises. My eyes fell upon a dove, perfect and sitting happily in a tree nearby. I shook my head, wondering if doves really could sing like that.
The dove’s song strengthened me and I sat down, listening. After a while, as the tide lapped around my shoulders, I got up. I was ready to keep going.

Night Flight
©Susannah Hardy (aged 11 years)

Dreams can be scary and frighten the life out of you. I can dream of monsters and savage beasts but lately I have had different dreams. White feathers fall on my nose and gentle birds fly about my room. I can feel the air move as they flutter past my sleeping head lying on the pillow. I wake up expecting to still see the doves as they seem so real in my dreams. But one night I dreamt that a cat came and attacked the birds, but I didn’t even try to stop it. I woke up suddenly; sobbing loudly and my mum came in.
“What is the matter dear? She asked but I couldn’t tell her. I couldn’t tell her I had a dream about a cat which killed doves I didn’t even save. I remembered how the doves fluttered gently around my room and I started sobbing quietly again. I fell back to sleep and dreamt of one dove which had got away from the cat, one dove which spread hope and peace throughout my dreams. I woke up gain but I wasn’t sad anymore. The last dove had made me hope that peace could exist in even the most war-torn countries, if only one person spoke up and made everyone else believe that peace could come to their countries.
“Never be afraid,” I thought, “to save people’s lives even if you think it’s impossible, because everything is possible as long as you believe.”

Feathers and Friends
©Sophie Duncan (aged 12 years)

There have been times when I have felt alone. I felt as though I had no friends left then. I felt they had found new friends and no longer wanted to spend time with me. One summer morning, as I lay back on the grass in our garden, I looked up towards the sky. Clouds swirled and tossed above me. I imagined white doves soaring on high, darting in and about the soft white feathery tuffs that hung in the sky. A cool summer breeze gently tickled my nose. Suddenly, alongside me, was a person that I had never seen but somehow I trusted him. I asked;
“Why do I feel alone?”
“You feel alone because you cannot accept some people for who they are. They do not have to say what you say. You must loosen up and keep your negative thoughts inside. You should not be greedy and people will see you as you can see them. You must treat them as you would like to be treated.” He suddenly turned and flew away. That night I could not sleep. All things he said occurred to me and that is what I did. I needed to do some fixing up. The next day I went to school. I saw my old friends. I went up to one of them and said;
“Hey I am really sorry that I took you for granted and I was greedy.” We made up and I will never keep my positive thoughts inside again and I will always share them.

There have been times when I have felt alone. I felt as though I had no friends left then. I felt they had found new friends and no longer wanted to spend time with me. One summer morning, as I lay back on the grass in our garden, I looked up towards the sky. Clouds swirled and tossed above me. I imagined white doves soaring on high, darting in and about the soft white feathery tuffs that hung in the sky. A cool summer breeze gently tickled my nose. Suddenly, alongside me, was an amazing giant dove who was comforting me and making me feel welcome. It felt warm and made me feel that I was a real person who could live my life like normal people, instead of always feeling left out and depressed. Then behind it all my old friends and all the people I didn’t use to like, came running with smiles on their faces. They started playing and my best friend invited me to join. Then I felt like a person that could just feel happy instead of sad, included instead of excluded and what peace with everyone really feels like, even with people that you dislike. Now when I think of peace I think of all my friends and my family, who are very happy because I am happy. Now every night I see and hear a giant dove flying around my room that puts me to sleep and makes me have very peaceful dreams.

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