Secondary School Writing Anthology 2017/18 by The British School of Guangzhou

Secondary School Creative Writing Anthology 2017 A selection of poems, stories and artwork produced by students aged 12-17 at The British School of Guangzhou

Nicole Wong, 9A

Welcome to the Secondary Anthology! During the academic year, students have many opportunities to craft pieces of creative writing; this selection highlights those inspired by the works of published writers, such as Benjamin Zephaniah and Carole Satyamurti, as well as ideas developed in the classroom. Many of the topics are those key to young people growing up in a world of conflict, and here we can read some of their solutions; it is heartening to think that these empathic, compassionate young people will be the leaders and decision makers of the future. We invite you to enjoy their words. Ms Annette Owen Literacy Coordinator Secondary School

Dreamless Night by Aditi Telang, 9B In a dream, My silent voice, I can see it, feel it, breathe it, Where the mind is without fear, Rushing through crowds and sacred cows, Scooter taxis with alto horns. The sun rising over, Warming the cool crisp air, Streaking the sky with pink, And gold. A sea of buzzing bees, Floating around everywhere you see, Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s culture no one can beat, Known for bravery for ages. A beautiful monument that Magic breaks at the crack of dawn, Leaving all visitors blown, The amazing sight bloomed with lights, Their love preserved forever. All mixed with Muslims, Sindhis and Hindus, Add masala with tender spices, Stir well.

暑假计划专访

by Sitara Bhojwani, 9A 记者：今年暑假你打算去哪个国家旅游？ Sitara: 今年暑假我打算去印度旅游。

记者：你打算去哪几个城市游览？会去哪几个旅游景点？

Sitara：我们准备去新德里，因为那里是我的家乡。我也会去阿格拉。印度的很多景

点都是很有名的，比如泰姬陵和红堡、猴子寺庙，还有很多其他的寺庙。在新德里，我会参观很多寺庙，我在印度住了十年，但是我还是没有去过泰姬陵和红堡，所以这次我一定要去阿格拉参观泰姬陵和红堡。

记者：你们在那里有房子吗？你们会住在哪里？

Sitara：在新德里，我们有两个房子，我们会住在大一点儿的房子里。记者：你打算跟谁一起去？你们会去多长时间？

Sitara：我可能跟一家人一起去，我们会去一个半星期。记者：旅游期间你们会做些什么？会买些什么纪念品？

Sitara：在新德里，我们会去看我的亲戚和我的好朋友。我会买很多的美食和首饰。记者：那个国家有什么美食？你最想吃什么？

Sitara：印度有各种各样的传统食物，我们有咖喱，脉冲，茶，恰吧提，土豆饼等。印度也有很多甜品，比如布丁。我最想吃脉冲跟恰巴提！记者：你会给亲朋好友买礼物吗？你会买些什么？

Sitara：我会买一些礼物送给我广州的好朋友，我会买一套印度传统的服装和一个小小的泰姬陵模型和一个红堡模型。

记者：旅行一次，一个人大概要花多少钱？

Sitara：如果一个人去印度旅行，他将花费大约两千五百块钱。

I Shall Wear Makeup by Ayisha Khan, 10A Because it does not have an age limit. Because it shows my true personality. Because I should not be judged of it. Because the boys will ask “Why?” Because the school tells me not to. Because it will remind me I’m a girl. Because people will stare at me. Because ‘no man is perfect’. Because I can look in the mirror and be satisfied. Because it is reversible.

Alexander Cox, 10B

Adriana Adb Aziz, 10C

The Mind of a Constellation by Eunis Cheung, 11A Everything was ghost-quiet apart from the quiet rustling of leaves. The dark night sky was dotted with gleaming stars. The street lights dimly lit Chevalier Street as the rare car passed by. A young girl grabbed the cold door handle and pushed it open. A gust of fresh air hit her face and she took a deep breath. She drifted forward, making her way across the front lawn and turned to her right. The warm yellowy light from the street lamp hit her cheekbones from the perfect angle, making her look almost angel-like. After what felt like a mile, she eventually reached the park. The park was magical and homely, even though most people wouldn’t think so. Very few people visit the park at night, and they’re missing out. Her name is Mina Heisenberg and she turns 10 in two months. During the day, her chocolate brown hair flows like a sundress but sits gently on her shoulders when the air is still, while the hazel in her eyes glisten against the sun’s golden rays like an ocean on a bright afternoon. She may look and act delicate, but nothing compares to the intricacy of her imagination. Her mind is a puzzle, a maze even, and her thoughts complex and sophisticated. She was a constellation. She lay down on the damp grass, the mud staining her blue nightgown; eyes wide open, staring at the navy blue sky. Her mind wanders, further and further from where she started. By 3:30 am, she is snapped back into reality. Mina is not pleased very easily, but when she is, everything she does goes through extreme amounts of thinking. Even something like walking through town. It would take her roughly half an hour to walk down one street, and even then, she would want to walk back down and see what she missed the first time. She stops in front of her mother’s bakery. She finds it so ironic that someone so toxic could make such sweet cakes with oozy chocolate, permeating your mouth with richness. She peeks into the shop with her hands around her eyes to block out the light. It’s for her to see a bustling shop so empty and abandoned. It’s not the most beautiful place in the world, but when she is sitting inside on one of the small round tables by herself, it can be one of the best feelings in the world. The sound of people chattering all around her, even though when she zones out, she doesn’t even realize that she’s surrounded with the noise is the shop instead of the silence in her head. Mina doesn’t remember a time where she has felt this pleased about a memory.

Just by thinking about the richness of the cake and the noisy atmosphere of shop made her thirsty. Chocolate milk. She eagerly ran to the nearest 24-hour convenient store and headed straight for the fridges where the small cartons of chocolate milk were kept. Her eyes instantly lit up. She collected all the coins that she had been saving up for the last few weeks and it was just enough for one box. Mina thought to herself, “This is definitely worth it.” The clock was staring at her from the corner of her peripheral vision. Tick. Tock. It always puzzled her how time would pass so quickly when you’re having fun. Of course, time has not gone by this quickly in a long time. Quarter to 6. She would have to be sucked back into the reality of her life in about an hour and the girl wanted to soak up every minute of her ephemeral freedom. Quarter to 6. Approximately half an hour until the sun comes up. The sky started to shift from a jet black, to an indigo, to an azure colour. She hurried her little feet to run as fast as she could, still holding her carton of chocolate milk, up the stairs and up to the dusty attic. She was almost frantic, filled with adrenaline, and when she opened her window and clambered up to the roof. All it took was one glimpse of the view and she was left breathless. She could have sat there for a million years, a lifetime, and she wouldn’t get enough of the serenity of the sunrise, all the different colours painted on to the blank canvas that was the sky. The thing she couldn’t believe was why people don’t do this more often? Why would you spend your whole lifetime sleeping away such a beautiful thing? The pinks, blues, yellows all mixed up together to make a bundle of fascination. As the sun comes up and over the buildings, good byes were said to what looked like a painting, each hue carefully chosen by a skilled painter. Mina reluctantly climbed back down to the attic, made her way down the hallway and stepped into the room, looking the same as she left it before. She took one last peek out the window, peering down onto the tranquil streets, and tucked herself back into her cold white sheets. Her droopy eyelids closed. “Wake up you lazy pig! Time for school!” yells a familiarly penetrating voice. Mina Heisenberg smiled.

Welcome to the Philippines! by Joshua Habos, 9A Welcome to the Philippines! The 7,500 islands of summer galore, Friendly people and of course Our famous beaches. Visit our famous landmarks Like the Underground River In Palawan or the Chocolate Hills In Bohol. Need to feed yourself? Then try our traditional foods! Or if you prefer international treats Then visit our famous restaurants! Go on a wonderful adventure With nature or in the city. From island hopping to picture taking, Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got everything for you Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be scared by our people, We are actually very polite! Justice, equality and peace is How our country lives! Filipino Magligayang padating sa Philipinas, (Welcome to the Philippines) Saan and aming bagong mga pagtanggi president tulong mula sa U.S.A. (Where our new president declines help from the U.S.A.) Ang mga problema panatilihin ang pagkuha ng mas masahol at (The problems keep getting worse and) Ang aming hinaharap ay mukhang medyo mabangis. (Our future looks pretty grim.)

May trapiko sa lahat ng dako, kahit na sa highway! (There is traffic everywhere, even on the highway!) Iyon ay kung bakit maaari mong bahagya huminga. (That is why you can hardly breathe.) Illegal mining, krimen at paggawa ng mga droga (Illegal mining, crime and making drugs) Sigurado lahat ng illegal pero ang mga tao gawin ito. (Are all illegal but people do it.) Pulis ay ngayon stricter. (Police are now stricter.) Sila ngayon patayin ang sinuman na may kaugnayan sa droga. (They now kill anyone who is related to drugs.) Tao na subukan upang ihinto ang mga ito sa pamamagitan (People who try to stop them by media) Ay pagpunta sa maging nakalimutan pagkatapos ng ilang araw. (Are going to be forgotten after a few days.) Karamihan sa mga dungsod ay lubos na marumi, (Most of the city is very dirty,) Ngunit ang mga tao ay hindi talagang pakialam. (But people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really care.) Mga tao ay maaaring maging mga kriminal o mas masahol pa. (People can become criminals or worse.) At maari kang maging ang kanilang target para sa araw! (And you can be their target for the day!) Marami sa aming mga atraksiyon para turista (Many of our tourist attractions) Ay ginagamit upang kumita ng pera. (Are used to make money.) Magligayang padating sa Philipinas, (Welcome to the Philippines,) Ang lupain ng hindi pagkakapareho. (The land of inequality.)

If it was a dream, why did it hurt? by Juni Zhang, 10B He sat by the sea, watching the sun set. The red on the sea, like red paint on the blue canvas. Slowly... It turned red, red as hell. He could smell the death, he could see the death. Closer and closer, He touched the cold bodies, big or small? They lined up, waiting for their destiny. He saw the marks of God that left on their body, knife by knife. No breathing, no moaning. Just—silence. What are they doing? No answer. Why don’t we help them? No answer. Where are you? He ran, into the crowded street. Food...people...buildings. Buzz—the sound and the smell of cooking Didn’t move, staring at the window The fire and the flesh in the pan, so hard to fuse, Spirit of them refused to be burnt, but what could they do? Whale meat. Whale steak. Whale bacon. Faroe Islands. Canada. Greenland. Iceland. Japan. Norway.

Where were they? What did they do? Crossed the street, Another place. People playing dominos, The white Shined like bones, he could touch, the coldness pricked under his skin. Tears dropping out off the dominos, Rub, rub, rub... Back to the sea, Another whale. Hands,feet,arms, Slowly disappearing. Spinning and spinning. He laid down, on the beach. Eyes closed. It was just a dream.

Kathryn Wen, 8B

最好的一次旅行 by Gia Tan, 10A 在当今社会许多人喜欢到不同国家旅游，因为可以学习不一样的文化知识，了解当地的饮食习惯、历史文化和民族风情，而且可以到处玩耍和购物。所以很多的国家开始开发很多旅游景点来吸引不同国家的人去那里旅游。去年的暑假，我和我的同学一起去西班牙旅游，当时心情十分的兴奋，我们在那里玩了大约一个月。刚开始我们一起参加了一个夏令营，遇到了来自不同国家的人，也学到了关于西班牙语的知识，让我觉得西班牙语不是那么的难学。之后，我和新的朋友一起去博物馆了解当地的历史文化。我们还去了很多著名的地方学习和玩耍，而且吃了好多当地的美食，例如paella 、gazpacho 和 barbecue。我们也有到海滩游泳、潜水、打沙滩排球和晒太阳。在这段时间我非常开心，交了很多好的朋友，看到了西班牙美丽的风景，让我十分地不舍得这个美丽的国家。当我要离开西班牙的时候，朋友们都来机场送我，我答应他们我会再来西班牙玩的。西班牙的旅行让我流连忘返，希望下一次去西班牙的时候可以呆两到三个月。我十分喜欢去西班牙旅游。

Cries of the Others by Marlie Greenhill, 11B Where is she?” he demanded. I could see the pain that showed in his eyes, funny thing was he was taking this pain and rage out on this man. He has bought him in, and I suppose he thought this guy knew where she was. The room we were in was pitch-black, but this small circle in the room was illuminated slightly. Everything was quiet except the screams, piercing my eardrums and every time would be a new way of showing the pain inflicted on him. The state of him was horrendous; he had been in here for a few days now. He wouldn’t speak, only scream. I remember on the second day he had been beaten so much that even though he was meant to be in agony, he had howled so much that no sound would come out anymore. But the guy torturing him was determined to find an answer, any answer. He was so determined that he used any method of torture to find something, he has used: whips, sticks, knives, rocks, anything he could get in reach of. He was so certain that this man knew where she was. You can tell when someone is desperate, they become unstoppable, their pace is faster than everyone else, and they feel like they are running out of time. They become aggressive and controlling. Well these symptoms I’m listing are what I’m seeing in front of me. He is becoming possessed with the idea that this man has all the answers. Maybe he has the right to feel this way, I mean when you love something as much as he loved his wife you would do anything right? Even if that means turning against everything you once believed in and doing things you would have never even thought of. But I never thought he would turn into this, this monster. He was deadly, thirsty for vengeance; he would kill off anyone or anything that got in his way of justice. If he thought they were useless he would just get rid of them. I still don’t understand why I am standing here with him, fighting for his cause. Maybe I do it because I know that deep down he is a good man, and that maybe his heart isn’t fully covered in darkness, maybe there is a little bit of warmth in there somewhere. Or maybe I’m a coward, still here because I’m afraid that if I dare step foot out of his crusade then I’d be a dead man, just like the others.

I knew this man before it all happened, before she went missing. He was loving and fun, he thought he was king of the world, but he lost that when he lost his queen. She was, and still is everything to him, like a lighthouse in a dark sea full of deadly rocks. I still don’t know what happened to her, he only told me that she was gone. It’s been a year since she went missing; he still believes she is out there, just waiting to be found. I guess if you look at it from his point of view he must think he is a prince in shinning armor, at least some sort of twisted version of one. “Where is she?” he yelled as he whipped the man on the back. Still no words came from the man’s mouth. He started to get out his knives, “I’ll give you one more chance, you don’t tell me where she is and I swear I will stab you and you will never be able to walk again!”. I know this guy and even I got shivers down my back. There is a time in a crusade where you think to yourself, “ Is there really any point in this anymore?” I think that it’s my time now. Seeing what I see everyday want give someone nightmares for their entire life, I keep contemplating with myself if what we are really doing is worth it, this isn’t even my fight, I’m just here to support. These men don’t deserve what they get but it’s their own fault for getting themselves into things they know they shouldn’t have messed with. There’s this never-ending cry for help, it’s everywhere coming from every direction. Coming from inside me, swelling up as if it’s going to explode, and then it does. Everything becomes blurry; it feels like the scream will shatter an entire glass building. It reaches the point where I can just see everyone holding their heads for protection, it keeps just getting louder and louder and then it stops. Silence. Everything just goes blank.

17 Amy Yip, 8C

The Crystal Pool by Martyna Wojewska, 8B Once you enter the cave, chosen by StarClan, the light will shine on Moonstone. The star will guide you deeper in. Different stones will shine as you come closer. Therefore StarClan has greeted you. The lush water - you think its water. It is air, liquid air. Cats swim in joy as they reach the moonstone. The Moonstone, marbled with the five clan colours, red for FireClan, silver for MoonClan, blue for WaterClan, gold for ThunderClan and yellow for SunClan. The colour of your clan will shine as you place your tiny cat nose onto it. Once you wake, underwater, you see that the floor is full of crystals. You swim like you can fly. You sleep on a log that never sinks or capsizes. Once the sun rises from the dark mountains, you must leave, to return to your clan.

Year 7 Science Week 18

Shouting For Independence by Ponia Lee, 10A “We want freedom!” “We want independence!” I sometimes can’t sleep well, I can’t get it out of my brain. All the situations are banging in my head and give me pain. Yes, yes, yes...I should forget it....Forget about it. There is going to be a chance and I can wait a little bit. Before I sleep I can imagine how you would live in such a dangerous place. I always grab the potato packet in my hand, that we used to eat together in a narrow place. I blame my country now, that made us separated. You said never blame the country, but now I’m limited. My age 9, your age 11, we were just kids. Guns were shooting all around the street, and we were in the middle. No safe space to stay, then you would say, “Come jump on my back, hold your potato packet tight.” “OWCTH!!” A tiny bullet passed my legs. You stopped in a toilet, ripping off your shirt to cover my wounds. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.” I sat on the toilet shivering from fear. The armies walked down the street, like a giant footstep. Hold my breath, fold up as small as I can, without a single sound. Then a group of people were walking and shouting “대한독립만세” Wanting Korea to be independent from Japan. Although the guns and bullets were attacking them, they were focusing on independence. Almost everyone in the group got injured, got hurt. The sun was setting, still my sister did not come,..... She said she will comeback, and I believed her... Now I’m 16, it has been 7 years since the war... I heard that my sister is in North Korea now. North and South Korea were separated from the time we got split.. Sometimes I feel relieved that we are in a same country....... 19

I Am Not The Problem by Princy Gompa, 10B I am not the problem But I bear this brunt Of this world full of rapists And gender stereotypes I am not the problem I am born a woman But they got me on the run Now I am branded defenseless weak and dependent I am not the problem If you look at me from a different side I can teach you to cook, to make a brew and to nurse a child I can do more than serving people, I am not the problem I greet you with a hug You treat me like a little bug But I am resourceful. These conditions will affect me As I get older, And I am positively sure I have no reason for disliking Woman is not the problem People get it right And just to say Some of my best friends are boys

I Shall Say Goodbye by Rich Zhu, 10C Because tears do not mean youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re weak; Because even the strongest shed tears. Because I like to stare at the sky, And think of the future. Because a departure means a new beginning; Because any beauty is not permanent. Because of lose, so we understand; Because yesterday is too far away. Because it is my honour to know you; Because I feel the fetter. Because you only live once.

Victoria Le, 9B 21

I Am Not De Problem by Ross Flower, 10C I AM NOT DE PROBLEM BUT I BEAR DE BRUNT OF SILLY DEFORESTATION AN GLOBAL WARMING I AM NOT DE PROBLEM WE WERE BORN THE SAME BUT YU MADE INEQUALITY NOW WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE BRANDED ISMS I AM NOT DE PROBLEM IF YU HAVE TERRORISM I CAN TEACH YU CONFLICT AN SIMPLE CRIME I AM NOT DE PROBLEM I GIVE YU A GOVERNMENT YU MAKE IT CORRUPT AND ELECT DONALD TRUMP YU SAY YU ABOLISHED SLAVERY BUT YU STILL SELL BLOOD DIAMONDS AND MAKE MORE POVERTY YU AFFECT THE WILDLIFE WITH POACHERS AND INCREASE NATURAL DISASTERS

桂林 by Cameo Li, 10A 桂林，始于秦朝，兴于唐宋，盛于明朝、它有2000多年的历史。桂林属于亚热带，气候宜人，生态环境非常好，一年四季都可以旅游。她拥有得天独厚的国家级风景名胜区、典型的喀斯特地貌构成了的世上最美的山水奇观，因此被誉为世上最美的城市之一。桂林山水甲天下、这句话是人们以及国元首和诸多的历史名人传颂至今的名言。来到了桂林就一定要去漓江，去那里可以一边观察一边去戏水。乘坐着竹筏可以看到身边的山、也可以幻想着自己身在画中。游完水你就可以去找龙脊梯田。在那里你可以看到升往天堂的阶梯，因为她美的不真实。在这里是不是会想到古诗的意境？桂林山水甲天下，阳朔堪称甲桂林。群峰倒影山浮水，无山无水不如神。看完了美丽的大自然是否会想回归到现代的世界中？那么你就应该去一趟西街。西街如今好保持着当年的风貌。长长的街道上有着各种各样的的小店，有着各种各样的小吃。每个具有特色的小商店都有自己可爱的装修，使西街变得更有情调。听到这里你是不是被这个美丽的城市给吸引了呢？来这里玩所有人都会欢迎你。但是来桂林游玩时你要带好防蚊虫叮咬的花露水、因为在戏水时会和容易遭到蚊虫的叮咬。与此同时你可以带上你的照相机、记录你和你身边的人的每一个美好瞬间。在西街逛街时请你看好你的随身物品、西街时而拥挤所以很容易丢东西。以上是在桂林游玩时应该注意的地方。桂林欢迎你！

The Two Villages by Sean Wang, 8A Carl stood in a tunnel. It was pitch black. He paused for a moment to listen. There were sounds of breathing, not far behind him, but he did not dare turn around, for he sensed that whatever stood behind him was hostile. He began to crawl on through the tunnel. He heard sounds of footsteps now, and he knew he was being pursued. He began to sprint, as fast as his legs could take him. The tunnel was becoming lighter now, and much wider. Suddenly, Carl was in a forest. All around him, red markings were carved into the trunks. He knew where he was. Most people in Carl’s village called it the Red Forest. Only the best scouts ever went there, riding on the swiftest horses. No battle had been fought for a few decades, but anyone who strayed into the enemy’s land never came back. As Carl recovered from his shock, he noticed, for the first time, a small hut. Without realizing, he found himself sprinting towards it. As he walked in, he saw a half dozen shovels hanging on the wall. On the table were a couple of maps. One had a drawing of a village, and the defenses within it. Carl immediately recognized this. It was the Blue Village, his home. The other map was much larger. There were two villages on it, and a long line in the middle. As he looked closely, he saw that this was labeled: “Tunnel”. On the opposite table there were helmets, dyed blue. Carl was confused at first. Only people in his village wore blue helmets. He now looked on the table next to the door. On it were a few bows and dozens of arrows. Next to it was a jar. He smelt it. It was snake venom. Suddenly, a man came in, holding an axe. As he swung the axe, Carl screamed. He felt like falling down a void. Then everything was black. Carl woke up. It was still midnight. His head hurt slightly and he was tired. He was about to fall asleep again when he remembered the dream. He knew that it was much more than a dream and he had to put the strange clues together. He started to think. A tunnel. Blue Helmets. Poisoned Arrows. He suddenly realized. The enemy was planning an attack. They were going to tunnel into the village, then, with the blue helmets, infiltrate into the heart of the village. He knew that had to warn everyone. But would anyone believe him? He had to try. He got up. As he opened the front door, he realized that in this darkness, the night patrol would not see him. They might even kill him. He knew that it was dangerous but he had to try. Slowly, he began to walk towards the chief’s house. He took cover every few steps. Eventually, after what seemed like forever, he saw the chief’s house. He knocked on the door. There was no reply. He knocked again. He heard footsteps. Suddenly, a hand grabbed him on the shoulder. “Don’t move,” demanded the soldier. He had a sword in his hand. “Who are you?” 24

“I’m Carl,” he replied. “I have to see the chief, the village is in grave danger.” “I will take you to the chief,” said the soldier. “If this is prank, I believe that you will find yourself in the dungeons.” Carl followed him into the house. “Wait here,” ordered the soldier. A while later, the chief came out. His name was Lewis. He was an old man, but very tall and strong, with with brown eyes and long grey hair. He became chief after his father died in battle against the enemy decades ago in the Red Forest. Ever since his father died, the two villages had used the coloured helmets. In each village, the dye of their own color was kept in the safest place. “Carl,” said the chief. “What urgent news brings you here at this hour?” “The Enemy is preparing for a great siege,” said Carl. “They have managed to get dozens of blue helmets, and they have also dug a tunnel, straight to our village.” “I believe you,” replied Lewis. “But where can that tunnel be?” “I have not found this tunnel, but there is a map. We must begin our search immediately – ” “Nonsense!” The guard stood up, his eyes filled with rage. “How could I not know of such an evil plan! Do not believe this liar, chief, he is wasting your time!” “I believe Carl,” Lewis said calmly. “Begin the search now!” But as Lewis spoke those words, the door crashed open. Three men stood there, two carrying unsheathed swords, one drawing a massive bow. Carl immediately recognized one of them: the man that he encountered at the hut. The guard unsheathed his sword. One of the enemies slashed at the guard. He narrowly missed and fell over. Red dye spilled out of his tunic. Carl immediately knew what he had to do. He took off his helmet and covered it with the dye. The enemies would not dare harm him, for in both villages it was banned to attack anyone with the same colour, unless the chief was present. As he spread the dye, he became confused. The dye was not turning red at all! It had turned purple. At that moment, a horn blew. It was the signal that a siege was about to happen. Carl grabbed all the red dye, and ran out into the village. Carl gave some dye to every house he passed. As he reached the gate, he saw all the soldiers gathered. He handed the dye to every soldier he saw. The whole village soon wore purple helmets. As the sun set, the enemy came, and surprisingly, they had done the same thing. The two villages both wore purple, and in the confusion, peace was made, and no battles were ever fought again in that land.

Governmental Society by Seung A Shin, 13B Act one. American Continent: “A collection of fools they are, the Europeans. They have one ruler, born of countless incestuous relationships all in the name of ‘keeping the bloodline pure’. Those inbred dogs know not how to run a country, only how to enrich themselves.” “Is that true now?” American Continent: “Yes of course. Instead of them, look to us. Our system is perfect. A democratic process is carried out in which the best leaders are chosen by the people, not by those who refuse to share their power.” “And what of the Asian Alliance?” American Continent: “They differ not from the Europeans in their foolishness. To share all their wealth equally, what nonsense. It is that very ideal that spreads corruption within their government, and poverty to the masses. True equality is only achieved in democracy, where the people have the power of choice, where they themselves must work to build themselves up, Sloth has possessed those simple minded idiots.” “And yourselves?” American Continent: “We have achieved greatness, at last, with the sacrifice of many. Those sacrifices will not be wasted by the monarchs and the communists. Ours is the true Utopia.” Act two. European Empire: “So blinded are the Americans, that they realize not that their very system leads to their leaders being elected by a popularity contest. They simply do not understand that the best leaders are not those who can appeal to their citizens the best, it is those that can make the harsh decisions, those that can take action without the uneducated people’s distractions.” “Fascinating.”

European Empire: “Is it not? Our bloodline and pride is kept pure through the monarchy, and line after line of the best Kings and Queens are produced each generation. We have thrived the past one hundred years, and have passed on our ideology to those in the African and Australian continent. Because the battle we fight is righteous one, God is on our side. That is why we can not lose.” “And what of the people of Asia?” European Empire: “I pity the godless people of Asia. How can they have any morals when the almighty being that has given them is dismissed as a hoax? A nation of lazy dullards that share all their wealth. Important positions such as doctors are in dire need to employees, but who in their right mind would be a doctor when they could be a trash man for the same amount of money. Their systems are falling apart at the seams as it fails to motivate their citizens.” “And yourselves?” European Empire: “The concept of equality is a sham. In birth, in upbringing, in abilities, all humans are different. Only the strong survive within us. People fight, and struggle, and betray, and in do so there is progress. And that is why our country strives as the most powerful entity in the world. Ours is the true Utopia.” Act three Asian Alliance: “The Americans are nothing but contradictory idiots. They call themselves democratic yet they do not take into account the different opinions of the lesser countries, and absorb them while forcing their system on to them. Their government is made up of self important fools that each year make empty promises to gain popularity. Their goals are never achieved and they live in the present stuck in past, still thinking their dated government can be utilized.” “Ah.”

Asian Alliance: “Indeed. Our people are equal, we are no better or lesser than every other man, woman or child, and so trust is built. This trust is the foundation that lets us stand proud with our neighbors and move forward.” “And the European Empire?” Asian Alliance: “Those inbred monsters have always claimed to fight a holy battle, what they do not realize is that their God is a very, human creation, and has undergone many changes to his personality and ideology since its inception. This along with the monarchy that squeeze dry the wealth of the people has created an Empire filled with the greedy rich, who zealously protect their wealth, and the impoverished, who remain sickly and poor all the while believing in a God that will never grant salvation.” “And yourselves?” Asian Alliance: “Our government is perfect in that it creates the perfect environment for it to strive. No one man possesses more than the other, and so greed has been neutered. Our nation built on equality and trust has weeded out corruption for good and we remain powerful as our people live and breathe as one. Ours is the true Utopia.”

Siena Piggott, 9B29

The Aurora Borealis by Shaun Lye, 10B Initialising suit systems... Shields online Multi-tool online Health systems online Inventory online Scanner offline Connection with Aurora Borealis offline Connection with Galaxy Trade Centre offline I opened my eyes. Yellow signs and text flashed before my vision as my suit's HUD finished rebooting. The superimposed text soon faded away, leaving me staring up, straight at the sky. It was a pale yellow-green, with bits of bluish cloud floating over its smooth, unbroken surface. A star, which burnt a bright, overpowering shade of white stood in the centre of my vision, its light partly covered by the clouds. I lay there for a moment, taking in the sky and the sun, letting it all sink into me. And then, I got onto my feet. The undisturbed sky gave way to a plain full of gently swaying magenta grass with yellow stripes. The wide field was interrupted only by a few sparse trees and a handful of grey rocks with deep red veins twisting through their jagged surface. And there, lying a few metres away from me, sat a ship.

Its powder blue paint was accompanied with scratches and one of its wings leaked smoke, but the ship still looked intact. Several boxes of supplies lay scattered around it, the remains of its cargo and my pitiful attempts at preparation. Walking over to the ship and her cargo, I tried to salvage what I could from the containers, but most of my items had been lost, released to the atmosphere in my collision course with the planet. I took a deep breath and closed the lid of a red crate. I had recovered a little iron and a flag bearing my black and orange logo, but other than that, nothing. I turned to my ship. I needed to see how bad the damage was before I started to make any plans. On the pale blue side of the ship, her name was just visible through the myriad of scratches that decorated her. The Aurora Borealis. Her window was open, but before I climbed over its top, something caught my eye. Hovering just above the right wing of my ship, a red orb floated. Its surface was made up of polygons, shifting and changing over and over with no pattern. Its red skin of shapes looked almost alive - hypnotic - irresistible. I moved an arm and tried to touch it. And, even though it did not let out a single word, it gave me a choice.

Reach out and touch it and take it, take the Atlas' guidance. The name flashed through my mind, and I instantly knew that somehow, it was the name of the object, before me. Take its guidance and let my journey have a purpose. Or draw my hand back and reject its useful assistance and be left to freely walk the uncharted sections of the galaxy, forever lost but not without a purpose. For a moment, my hand hovered before it, on the decision of the choice. The promise of knowledge fought my own desire for my own will, unrestrained and unguided by any cosmic entity. I withdrew my hand...

Year 7 Science Week 32

I Am Not The Problem by Thom de Boer, 10C I am not the problem But I bear the brunt Of declining trees by the second For our developing stunt I am not the problem I was born a worker But seeing the habitat perish Doesn’t make me any stronger I am not the problem Yet I’m joining this act Against businessmen I’m powerless Shall I revolt? Then I’m sacked I am not the problem Even though I’m red handed All these animals gone For crops to be planted I am not the problem When this bulldozer onslaughts Destroying everything in its path Without any thought So, I am the problem And this beauty is vanishing Because of this greedy world But nothing is flourishing.

Victim by Akihiro Fujiwara, 10C I am not the problem. But I bear the brunt. Of the pointless battles and conflicts you repeat. Again and again, and again. We tell you to stop. We tell you itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dumb. But you never listen. Never turning back to look. At us. At anyone. With your greed for power. Driving you like a cat after a mouse. Throwing your men to the front lines. You are the players. We are the chess pieces. And after all that blood and destruction you caused. If you lose you get nothing. Our lives. Wasted. But soon you start another game. And another. And another. But what can I do. To stop you. To change you. Nothing. Why? I am the past. I was the victim. A victim of war.

Sophia Mok, 8A

我的弟弟 by Scarlet Corr, 8A 我有一个弟弟，他叫桐桐。他今年十岁, 是一名五年级

学生。他的头发是巧克力色, 脸胖胖的。他有一对非常非

常大的耳朵！他的眉毛很粗，眉毛下有一双棕色的大眼睛。桐桐还有一个大鼻子，他的鼻子很高。鼻子下面有一个小小的嘴巴。

桐桐很容易生气。他很喜欢跟我吵架。一吵架的时候，

他的鼻子和耳朵会变得很红很红。每一次他都认为他是对的，但是他不对。

我告诉桐桐朋友关于他小时候的事情，他很尴尬，他的

眼睛会睁很大，整张脸红红的，一句话都说不出来！我觉得桐桐很有趣！

King fu Chiang, 8A

I Shall Lose With Dignity by Leiah Alvez, 10A Because I asked myself, ‘Am I going to withdraw from the world or am I going to live?’ Because I have a purpose. Because it’s better to lose with humility than win cheating. Because without honour, identity is erased. Because it creates character. Because it brings out the truth in me. Because I decided I am going to live the way that I want with courage with humour, with dignity.

Boyuan Xu, 8B 38

I Am Not The Problem by Yasmine Safwan, 10A I am not de problem. But I bear the brunt. Of getting called the devil. Getting forgotten by the world. I am not de problem. Just like you I am human. But yet people are sacred of me. Now I live a hunted life. I am not de problem. If you give me a chance, I can teach you la ittle about my beliefs. I could do more than flee for a country. I am not de problem. I would greet you with a hand shake You put me in a tiny hole. But you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even know me. The things you do affect me a lot, Yet you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t notice I am suffering with thousands like me. I am not de problem And just for the record, I am not the one who goes out with guns.

Creative Writing Anthology A selection of stories written by students from The British School of Guangzhou