In
my backyard there is a big old gum tree. There is a fork in the
tree near the top where I can see all of the bush area behind
my fence. I love to sit there and daydream. The trees there tower
above each other as if it was a competition to be tallest. They
form a canopy making the ground soft and damp.
In
the early morning, I can see the spider webs glistening in the
morning sun. The ants parade up the trees, carrying crumbs from
biscuits or small bits of orange peel left by young children
playing in the sunlight.
A thin
stream of water runs through the middle of the trees. Small fish
swim around playfully and green frogs hop from leaf to leaf catching
flies and other small insects. There are lizards everywhere and
fungus grows on old logs like steps. I used to think that fairies
built them.
I hate
it when I have to leave to go to school. One afternoon I did
my homework quickly than I got out a plastic bag to see if I
could find anything worth collecting. I climbed over the fence
and started heading towards the stream. I was walking along when
I heard a loud crack under my feet. I looked down. It was a locket.
I picked it up and looked at it. It had the initials 'E.B.'
"E.B."
I said to myself. "Who could that be?" Still curious,
I walked on. As I was approaching the stream, there was a loud
noise like a parade of elephants. It was a bulldozer. It was
pushing its way through the trees like a rock through paper.
They were going to demolish the area!
There
was man with a megaphone in the centre screaming out orders at
people. I walked over to him and said "Excuse me, what's
going on?"
"Oh,
we're going to get rid of these trees and build a new mini mall.
Why do you ask, kid?" he said.
"Well,
we don't really need a mini-mall but we do need these trees."
"Hah!
These trees aren't good for anything except getting in our way,
so scram!"
I was
just about to walk away when I noticed that he was wearing a
badge. It said "Edward Barring".
"Edward
Barring" I asked myself. "E.B." I turned around
and tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me,"
"What
now, he said?"
"Is
this your's?" I held up the locket so he could see it better.
"Hey,
where'd you find that?"
He made a grab for
it, but I pulled it away. "I"ll give it back to you
if you stop cutting down all of the trees."
"No way!"
"Fine," I
said and started jogging away, swinging the chain.
He turned around and
said "Don't think that dumb little chain is going to stop
me. I can just call the police."
Lino
cut print of the locket by a student from Yugumbir.
He turned around with
a smirk and bumped into a skinny little man with a folder. "Ah
sir, you can't call the police," he whispered. "Why
not?" Edward asked. "Because if you do, they'll arrest
you."
I turned around. "You
can't call the police?" I started running home. I could
hear them following me. I picked up my pace and climbed over
the fence. I felt his hand grab my leg. I pulled my leg and my
shoe came off into his hands. I ran around the corner and beat
him to the house. I ran into the office and picked up the phone.
I dialed the numbers "000". I could hear it ringing
on the other end. "Hello. I'd like to report a gentleman
who has been cutting down trees illegally."
There was a pause on
the other end, then they hung up. A few moments later, I could
hear police sirens. I could see Edward outside
the window. He looked up at me and I smiled and pointed at the
phone. His red singlet was covered with sweat and his face was
covered with dirt. The door burst open and four
policemen ran in with guns in their hands. "Where is he?"
the first one asked. I pointed out the window. They ran outside
and surrounded him. The police slipped some hand cuffs on him
and pushed him outside into their car.
One of the policemen
stayed behind and knelt down to speak to me. "We've been
after this guy for three years now. He cuts trees down to build
dangerous houses. You'll be getting a surprise in the mail."
He smiled and walked away. I did get a surprise in the mail.
It was a cheque for $500. I used it to replace some of the trees
that had been demolished.
Author
- Year 6 student from Yugumbir. |
|