Green, Grey, Ghastly  

 

Dumb Little Chain

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."

Carpet snake sliding over branch.

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.

 
 
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This story was created during a two day literary project
at Regents Park Primary School, Queensland, Australia
to celebrate World Environment Day.

Page Design Copyright Daryll Bellingham, 2000. All rights reserved.
Copyright of the individual stories rests with the student authors and illustrators who created them. All rights reserved.

URL of this page : www.storytell.com.au/ggg/story13.html

Last updated - 26/6/2000