BUDDING AUTHORS

GRANDMA’S SPECIAL GIFT:

by Hailey Munari

(Grade 4, Sacred Heart Primary)

Evie’s face scrunched up, she clenched her fists, tears streaming down her face. She clutched her toy dog that her Grandma had given her when she was three. Her long, brown hair blew in the wind and her hazel eyes glistened. “Come on, Evie, it’s time to go home,” said her Mother softly. She was also crying.

When they got home, Evie goes to lay on her bed in her room. “Oh Hansel, I miss Grandma,” Evie sobs to her toy dog. Suddenly, something crazy happened! Evie’s toy dog was wriggling and growling! It was now the size of a tiger! Her now alive dog was barking hysterically!

“How, Hansel?” Evie asked, shocked! The puppy wagged his tail. “Hansel, how are you doing that?!” Hansel scratched on the window. “You wanna go outside?” Evie opened the window. The huge puppy jumped and squeezed through the small window. “Where are you going?” Evie questioned him. At that moment, Hansel barked and picked Evie up with his slobbery, wet mouth. He ran over to the cemetery, where her Grandma had been buried. Hansel put Evie down and trotted over to the tombstone. Hansel placed one paw on the tombstone. It started glowing. A ghost like figure appeared above her Grandma’s tomb. It was her! “Grandma!” Evie, filled with joy, the tears on her cheeks went away. “Evie,” said her Grandma “Your dog, Hansel, was a gift to guide you through life, and be there for you. Look after him!”

Evie’s Grandma disappeared as someone called her name. “Evie!” the person called again. It was Evie’s Mum. “Oh, Evie, are you ok?” “I’m fine” Evie replied. “I was just talking to Grandma, oh, and Hansel came alive!” “Nonsense, Hansel is right there”. She pointed next to the tomb. Surprisingly, Hansel was back to normal, laying on the grass. “Come on Evie, it’s getting dark”. Her Mum started leading her home.

The next day, Evie woke up really early, and shook her puppy “Hansel, are you awake?”

“Woof” Hansel barked as he grew bigger and bigger. Evie told Hansel that he would come to school with her. At school, Evie takes Hansel out of her bag to show her class, but…Hansel isn’t there!!! Evie looks everywhere for him. Under her table, in her book-box and in her lunchbox! He’s not anywhere!

The next day, she sees Olive. Olive is a tall girl with short, blonde shoulder-length hair and blue eyes. She was holding Hansel! Evie stormed over to Olive, clenching her fists. “GIVE ME MY DOG BACK!” Evie yelled at Olive. “No,” Olive smirked. Evie ran away and went to tell the teacher what had happened. Evie walks into the principal’s office. Evie gasps. There, right in front of her is Olive and her parents! Evie’s parents were there too!

“Please sit, Evie,” said the principal. “Hello, I have brought you here today to discuss, uh, some problems with, uh, the girls,” the principal begun.

“Uh-oh, is it that bad?” asked Evie’s Mum. “Yes, it is”. “Oh gosh,” Evie’s Mum said. “Olive has told me that, uh, Evie punched her and said some really rude things,” the principal said. Evie glared at Olive. Olive sneered back at her.

Then, walking through the door came Evie’s friend, Xala. “Excuse me, sorry sir, I would just like to mention, I saw Olive talking to one of her friends in the corridor and they were talking about a plan to get Evie suspended. Stuff about lying and saying Evie did things, etcetera”.

“Is that true, Miss Olive?” the principal asked. “Uhm…”. Olive’s parents gasp. “I’m sorry to say, but I will have to suspend Olive for about a month,” said the principal.

Evie arrived at school the next morning and went over to Xala. “Xala, thank you soooo much. Without you, they would have suspended me”. “No problem, I’m glad I could help,” Xala and Evie share a smile. “I can’t wait for the school holidays!” Evie exclaims. “I can’t believe this is the last day of Term three!” Xala replied.

Evie walked home and went to her room. “Hey Hansel, we are going to play a lot these holidays, I promise!” she whispered to Hansel. “Goodnight my sweet pup”. Evie kisses him on the head and gets into bed.