The Bell

O darling bell, I love thee
You have no idea how much we students wait for you
You bring a smile to our faces
Sometimes even laughter
Because just as a teacher starts her torture
You ring, saving us from wrath
We love you the best on Wednesdays
When you save us from drowning in misery
After double physics and English and murderous math
And at 1.05 when we escape to the dining hall
We hate it when the guard forgets to ring you
And when the teachers curse you
But remember sweet bell
We students always have, still do and always will love
Your delightful melody

The Terrace

It had become a routine. As soon as I got home I used to wash, change my clothes, have a light snack and then go up to the terrace with my new found friends. It had all started on Teacher’s Day. Two little girls had come to my neighbour and me asking for a little help with making cards. We obliged, and in 3 hours were chatting like we had known each other for ever. One of the girls’ younger brother also joined us.

The next day onwards, we started going to the terrace together. One of the best memories I have is an unplanned party, where the older girl and I had gone down to a bakery, got some ice cream, cake and rolls. I provided the Pepsi. And another when 3 of us had stayed on into the evening, watching the lights of the buildings, the stars and aeroplanes.

Then one night, at around 9.30 there came the dismal news. One of the girls was shifting house the very next day. All of us went to the terrace for the second last time, made a lot of noise, went crazy and took a lot of pictures, even a video.
The next morning we all went up again. There were a lot of hugs all around and soon goodbyes filled the air.

A month and a half later, I went up to the terrace. Accompanied just by 2 books, a pen and my phone which made poor substitutes for 3 girls and the little boy. The terrace which once had been, for us, a place of joy now had turned into just a terrace. No more was it the gathering place of happiness and craziness. No more was it the place where friends confided in each other. No more was it the location of a special bond.
Now it was just a terrace.

People

Probably the most diverse topic anyone can write about.
Many might think this is a really easy topic.This is where they're wrong. I mean seriously, think about it...there are so many people around. So many people you know. And honestly how many people have you met are actually alike? Think the same? Have the same opinion?

Let me give you an example.Twilight.Yes, I know many people hate it. But ever wonder why?
Alright, some people hate it because they think it's making vampires look like fairies. Others just don't like the storyline.

Now let's look at the people who are crazy about it. Some love the plot, others Robert Pattinson. Some love Taylor Lautner while others wanna marry Kristen Stewart. Tomboys love Alice. I adore Jasper Hale.

But nowadays that's changing. Especially amongst youngsters. They sometimes change the things they like, like girls change clothes, just so they get accepted with the 'cool' people.

Think about it...do you wanna be a clone of someone else? Or will you stand your ground,maybe be ridiculed in the process, but still know you are who you are!

Nostalgic

I miss those days when the only problem you had was ‘Ms, she stole my things’
Those days when the biggest problem could be solved in a matter of minutes
Those days when you always knew what your friend meant
Those days when chocolates would always do the trick
Those days when you didn’t really have to think twice before speaking
Those days when you thought the future rocks
Those days when you could not wait to get to school
Those days when the most important thing for you were your friends
Those days when you never cared what people thought about you
Those days when you cared for studies
Those days when you went to bed with a smile on your face
Those days when you had something to look forward to
Those days, those golden days…

First Day

There’s always this nervousness about the first day of school. To top it all this was the first day of seventh grade in a new school. On the bus I had spotted a girl from my previous school, and had calmed down a little. However the most calming factor that morning had been an elegant lady sitting in the front of the bus. Getting in, I had immediately gotten the vibe that she was a teacher, and had wished her. She had smiled back, and inquired politely about me, what my name was, which grade I was starting, etc. Upon reaching the school there was a rush. Students were impatient to see their friends again. I was lost. It was a big school, very big if you compared it to my previous one. The girl I knew had looked at me with surprise when I had gotten down from the bus. Apparently I had worn the wrong uniform. Luckily for me I had bought along the correct skirt. After she showed me where could change, and had pointed out where my class was going to be, she disappeared into the crowd. Very soon the class had gotten divided. As usual I was not in any of the groups. It was then a girl had come and sat next to me. Quiet, tall and with a lovely smile, she had informed me that she too was a new student. I relaxed a little. Because finally I had found someone who liked being with me.

Washington Worries

13 year old Opal Gomez woke up with a start. She just had to go out, out of the house, she didn’t know why. She stepped out of her uncle’s house and started towards the beach. It was a full moon night, the waters were gleaming. It was ghostly.

As she started walking through the soft sand she stubbed her toe against something. Stopping, she bent down and began to dig.  Out came a small box. She opened it. It was full of rings. A sixth sense told her to keep it. She started back.

                                                                                    ***

      2 weeks later Opal was sitting on her bed going through one of her many history books, when a clap of thunder sent her cat Goldy, running under the bed. Opal came to a page titled ‘Abraham Lincoln’. She stared at the photo; the ring on his hand looked similar to one she had found in the box. The caption under the photo read ‘Abraham Lincoln died on 14 April 1865 in a theatre called Ford Theatre in Box 7. He was killed by a man named John Wilkes Booth.’ She took out the ring and wore it. On the inside of the cover she saw these words-

‘Far and forth in time you travel,

The things you see, you will marvel,

And many truths will unravel.’

She murmured these words. Things started whizzing around her and she suddenly found herself in a very crowded inn. She saw a man in a black suit and asked him, “Excuse me please, but where is this?” He replied, “This is the Merry Day’s Inn.”She looked out of   the window and saw a sign that said ‘Ford Theatre’. Her heart racing, she saw the calendar on the wall opposite – it read ‘14^th April 1865’ she gulped. President Lincoln was going to be assassinated. She ran out of the inn and into Ford Theatre. Up she went to Box 7. She saw the President sitting there and ran next to him,” Sir, your life is in terrible danger!”He just stared at her.” Hurry up, please…”In a daze he got up. She quickly propped his top hat on a stick and pulled him behind a curtain. “Who are you?” he finally said. “My name is Opal. I come from the future. It’s a bit complicated” she replied. “Well, why are we hiding behind a curtain?”He asked. “A man called John Wilkes Booth is going to come here and shoot you. Hopefully he’ll think that the top hat is still on your head…”Opal said. “And then?” “We wait till we see Booth and then we go to Victoria Street.” “Why?” he asked. “Because there was one more person involved…nobody knows who but there somebody was.” Opal let out a frustrated sigh. “Victoria Street was the only which was not guarded…I have a hunch the person will go there.” she finished. A moment later she tensed. “He’s here” she whispered. A man of medium height with a moustache wearing a black coat and hat crept into the box. “Go, go, go” Opal said urgently. The president crept under the curtain and paused at the stairs for Opal. “Don’t wait, he’s going to run down the steps as soon as he shoots you or rather at your hat” gasped Opal. They hurried down the steps. “Try to keep your face covered at all times.” said Opal.

They ran out of the theatre, onto the street. Opal stopped a horse buggy. “Take us to Victoria Street as fast as possible.” said Opal. They got down at the end of Victoria Street. It led into the woods. “Alright Mr. President, you’ve got to help Me.” said Opal. “What do I do?”He asked. “We have to gather a few of those thorny brambles and lay them across the the street.” she replied. “That’ll puncture the tyres of a bicycle and stop a horse.” They worked swiftly and silently. After it was all done they had to do the most difficult bit.

Wait.

They chose a nice tree and sat underneath it. Opal pulled a bar of chocolate out from her pocket and broke it in half. She gave Lincoln one half and ate the other. “What happens to Booth?”Lincoln asked, breaking the silence. “They’ll catch him in a warehouse and now they’ll arrest him with a murder attempt.” said Opal. All of a sudden the sound of a bicycle bell reached them. They hid behind a broad oak tree. The sound came closer and then suddenly there was a hiss of tires. “Wait here.”Lincoln told Opal. He charged at the silhouette leaning down next to the bike and pushed it down. “Come out, its safe now.” he called out. Opal came and saw a man that the President was holding tightly. He was wearing a mask. Lincoln took it off. “Ward Lamon!”He exclaimed. “It’s your bodyguard!” gasped Opal. “Well, well, we finally found out” mused the President.

Suddenly another buggy drew up. “Mr.President. are you alright, sir?” asked the man inside. “I’m fine Jenkins; this man is a part of the plan to kill me. Put him at the back and give me a few minutes with my friend here.” he said. “Well, my young friend, do you want to go back to the White House with me?”He asked. “Thank you sir, but no. I have to get back home.” said Opal. “Goodbye then, I’ll forever be in your debt. Thank you.” he said and climbed into the buggy.

Words started glowing on the ring and Opal read them out loud.

“My job here now complete,

I must return and my house meet.”

Things whirred around her and then she was back in her bedroom. No time seemed to have passed since then. “Opal, come down for dinner…”called her mum. “Just a minute, Mom. I’ll be right down.” She opened her book and took the page again. Nothing had changed except the last line which had changed from ‘Lincoln died…’ to ‘a mystery girl saved the President’s life’.

Opal sat back and gave a satisfied smile. She slipped off her bed and bounded downstairs thinking ‘A nice adventure. I hope I have another one.’ “So what did you do for so long?”Asked her mum. “If you only knew Mom…”whispered Opal smiling secretly.