Bradford Connecting Stories Anthology 2021 - Primary by literacytrust

Connecting Stories, Bradford

CONNECTIONS

This book belongs to

Connections Connecting Stories Anthology Bradford

Supported by Arts Council England

Cover illustration © Jobe Anderson, 2021

Design and content © National Literacy Trust, 2021

Design by Kireli Studio.

All enquiries around this anthology should be directed to: contact@literacytrust.org.uk The National Literacy Trust is a registered charity no. 1116260 and a company limited by guarantee no. 5836486 registered in England and Wales and a registered charity in Scotland no. SC042944. Registered address: 68 South Lambeth Road, London SW8 1RL.

With Thanks... The National Literacy Trust is a charity dedicated to improving reading, writing, speaking and listening skills so that everyone has the best possible chance of success in school, work and life. We support

We would like to thank Arts Council England for funding and supporting the Connecting Stories project. We would also like to thank Faber & Faber and author Harry Heape, who generously supported this anthology,

communities, schools and early years settings and campaign to make

and extend warm thanks to the numerous community champions and

literacy a priority. Delivered by the National Literacy Trust and funded by

corporate volunteers who have kindly donated their time to help bring

Arts Council England, Connecting Stories aims to increase children and

this anthology together:

young people's interest in reading and writing, and to promote diverse voices and stories. Connecting Stories provides a programme of exciting

Atlantic Books

Margaret Duff

Emile Tambeh

events, such as virtual author visits, creative writing competitions and

Faber & Faber

Charlotte Kim

Sheena Carman

activities for families to enjoy.

Pearson

Allison Potter

Gaganpreet Kaur Basra

Cambridge University

Sally Atkinson

Michael Leyland

Press

Tahera Sultana

Jenna Lee

Emerald Press

Jan Papworth

Hannah Fogg

Rhona Drever Felicia Tennant James Kingett Saffron Alexander Dawn Claypole

And finally, thank you to all of the children who took part, it is their stories that make this anthology so special.

A word from children’s author, Harry Heape

As a writer, I take my inspirations from the things that are around me. My Shiny Pippin books are all set in worlds that are very familiar to me. The first is set in a magical forest which grew out of the woodland on my doorstep. The second is set in a place much like Edinburgh, somewhere

Hello there, Harry Heape here. I am delighted to have been given the

that I lived briefly when I was a child, and the third is a road trip across

pleasure of reading the entries for the National Literacy Trust’s Connecting

North Yorkshire in pursuit of a pair of cheeky monkeys.

Stories Competition. It was exciting to see the huge variety of ideas from children in the Bradford area, let me tell you, it was not at all easy for me to choose my favourite!

The characters that live in my books are made up from people I know or have seen in films, one of my favourite characters is Oddplop who’s very much James Bond but squeezed into the body of a lady frog. My new

Anthologies traditionally don’t include the voices of children. Yet these

series, Indiana Bones is about a shaggy dog who’s also a treasure-seeking

are the very groups of people with the most creative ideas and the most

archaeologist, and based on our much-loved family pooch. In short,

relevant experiences. We’ve collected the best young voices from across

inspiration for a story can come from literally anywhere, which in itself is

Bradford and gathered them all in these pages.

an exciting idea.

All entries included in this anthology have really captured the spirit of

I try and make my books as much fun as possible; the hope is that if they

the theme, ‘Connections’, with thought and originality. One of the great

are fun, children will want to gobble them up and come back for more.

things about these stories was the imagination of the young writers. When

Reading for a child can be the most fabulous thing. It is like a superpower,

a child begins to write down ideas and tell a story, it is the beginning of

the more you do it the cleverer you become. Your imagination grows,

a super-important process, and must be championed and encouraged as

your vocabulary improves, and your own writing becomes stronger and

much as possible.

stronger.

Reading and creative writing are crucial for children. At a young age, we

Having a love of books is the best. It means that whenever you want, you

are naturally curious and wonderfully creative. It is a critical time when

can disappear into imaginary worlds and battle dragons, fly a broomstick

our imaginations are able to soar. If we encourage creative writing in

around Hogwarts castle, or defeat a mean goblin on a rickety old rope

children, we help them develop many important life-skills, like problem

bridge. What could be better than that?

solving, the ability to focus, develop an idea, and most importantly, it can be so much fun to write about things that inspire you.

A word from Hub Manager, Imran Hafeez

Contents Joint Winning Entry Hollie S, 11........................................ 19

All the stories included in this anthology have provided a chance for local voices from Bradford to be heard and are a testament to the creativity of

Joint Winning Entry

children and young people here. It has been a real pleasure reading all of them.

Keira O'H, 9....................................... 21

There are many benefits to creative writing that help children develop their imagination and creativity. It provides an opportunity for selfexpression, leads to development of language and communication skills and improves their ability to come up with alternatives. These are all

Second Place Entry Elanura E, 11..................................... 23

All Entries

valuable skills to learn and use to progress successfully through school

Evan B-S................................................... 25

Lexi S, 8 ................................................... 38

and into the world of work. In addition, during the past year, it has

Tilly-May J .............................................. 25

Zara S, 7 ................................................... 38

been acknowledged that the creative process, whether applied through

Paigen C .................................................. 26

Hayley R, 8 .............................................. 39

writing, reading for pleasure or other art forms, aids us in coping and

Stella S, 10.............................................. 27

Megan S, 9 .............................................. 40

understanding our experiences, enhancing our feelings of wellbeing.

Jenson F, 8 .............................................. 28

Aliza H, 9 ................................................. 42

I hope you enjoy reading about the connections to people, places and

Layla-Rose T, 7 ...................................... 30

Sophie M, 9 ............................................ 43

stories which are important to some of the young people in Bradford. I

Sara S, 8 .................................................. 31

Priyanka K, 10 ....................................... 44

have been so moved by the entries received.

Nevaeh L, 7 ............................................. 32

Miley R, 10 .............................................. 45

Brooke W, ............................................... 33

Ayaan C, 9 ............................................... 46

Amelia-Rose K, 8 .................................. 33

Eiprila S, 8 .............................................. 47

Kenzie S .................................................. 34

Lily H, 9 ................................................... 48

Leah S, 11 ............................................... 35

Elysia R, 9 ............................................... 49

With best wishes,

Nicole J, 10 ............................................. 36

Smit S, 9 .................................................. 50

Imran Hafeez

Payton G, 11 ........................................... 37

Sophie C, 10 ........................................... 51

Bradford Stories

Usmaan C, 8 ........................................... 38

Georgie W, 9 ........................................... 55

I wish you as much pleasure reading this anthology as I had in helping to collate it and above all, I hope it convinces you of how important it is to read the stories of others, and to tell your own story.

Bethany H, 9 .......................................... 56

Charlotte B, 9.......................................... 84

Liam M, 10 .............................................. 57

Millie S, 9................................................. 84

Dahlia G, 10 ........................................... 58

Sam N, 10................................................. 86

Lucy A, 10 ................................................ 59

Ella W, 8.................................................... 88

Isabella H, 10 ........................................ 60

Hollie B, 10.............................................. 89

Finley J, 10 .............................................. 61

Amelia N, 10........................................... 90

Mia H, 10 ................................................. 62

Will C, 10.................................................. 92

Annabelle P, 10 ..................................... 63

Lily-May M, 10........................................ 94

Cameron R, 11 ....................................... 64

Oliver H, 8................................................ 95

Fearne W, 10 .......................................... 65

Ava-Rose C, 8.......................................... 96

Mercy-Leigh S, 10 ................................ 66

Rehan, 8.................................................... 97

Abigail R, 11 .......................................... 67

Ava T, 9...................................................... 98

David Z, 10 ............................................. 68

Luke S-B, 10............................................ 98

Joshua B, 10 ........................................... 69

Isabella P, 9...........................................101

Jaxon M, 10 ............................................ 70

Jacob R, 10.............................................102

Aamna H, 10 .......................................... 71

Scarlett D, 10........................................104

Tyler-John T, 11 ..................................... 71

Romana K, 8..........................................105

Katie H, 10............................................... 72

Abigail D, 9............................................106

Anna F, 9 ................................................. 73

Sean T.....................................................108

Emilia D, 9................................................ 74

Muhammad H, 7...................................109

Mary B, 10................................................ 75

Emelie J, 7..............................................110

Zain M, 6................................................... 77

Toby G, 7.................................................110

Jamila P, 7................................................. 77 Emma S, 9................................................ 79 Mutasim K, 8........................................... 80 Liam M, 9................................................. 81 Layla W..................................................... 83

Joint Winning Entry

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Hollie S, 11

Today was so exciting! A new girl was starting at my school. I thought is she going to be nice. Will she be my friend? I need to get ready, I’m going to be late! Skipping happily to school, I saw a girl. I wanted to go see her but I felt awkward. But then I noticed she was watching me? I ran over to her and put my hand on her shoulder. “Hi!” I said in a happy mood, “you must be the new girl.” “Yes I am.” She worriedly said. “Can we be friends?” I asked. “Sure!” She said “But I didn’t get a name” “Oh, I’m sorry, I’m Hollie, and you are?” I wondered. “I’m Bella.” Bella said. “We better get to school! Quick!” I ran and talked. We jogged to school and I showed Bella around.

Joint Winning Entry

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

One year later we became besties. Something didn’t seem right. Bella was supposed to call me but she didn’t called her but she hung up. After tea, I had a missed call from ‘Bella Bestie’. I thought as tears rolled down my face “what have I done?”

Keira O'H, 9

I had a message that read: “I will miss you very much x” I thought: “What?” and text her saying: “What do you mean? x” She looked at it and said: “I’m moving away :( x”

West Midlands, New York 1966 Once upon a time, an innocent little girl was living in a large needy orphanage ever since the age of two. The sloppy, run-down area was made from a flat. An old flat too. The walls would crumble and rusted beds that creaked in fear. Young Flower is 12, waiting until she can finally leave the penniless orphanage and live her disastrous life and be a wealthy family. (Even if she is penniless too) On chore duty she would sneak out and return, it was basically her routine. Ever since she came she was picked on and treated awfully. Lunches were worst. (They aren’t what you think) The lunches are sloppy, slimy stew, but it was all there was to eat. Flower fled the area finally and it was not long until a millisecond later. She was dragged in an empty room only filled with cobwebs and boxes until Madame Storla was nagging her, the same as always. Flower was annoyed, not from Madame Storla, it was that she nearly escaped the area and she had to. 18

Second Place Entry

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Elanura E, 11 Connections It was just a normal day, or so I thought. There was something I had forgotten. No one cared what happened and she didn’t until now. After three days of collapsing beds and sloppy soup she had to evacuate the orphanage. She had a brilliant idea of escaping. All Flower had to do was wait until Madame Storla was asleep and she will escape over the worn-out fence. Madame Storla fell asleep and the plan came to action. Struggling, she escaped! But sirens went off and Madame Storla was warned. Flower ran into the wild her hair free in the wind she was let go, or was she?

The graveyard in Turkey, the place my grandad has been rested, only a couple of minutes away from the house I once lived in, the place I somewhat felt the most connected with. I usually went once or twice a week to the graveyard with my family to pay respect to the dead and water the graves, not the people, but they said that had laid on the ones who had to go away. This had been the routine on the days we went to the graveyard: Wake up, eat, brush our teeth, get changed out of our PJs, walk to the graveyard with our flowers and small buckets, fill the buckets, place the flowers next to the grave, water the soil, pray for the dead and their families, pick ourselves up, do the same with my grandad but spend longer praying, pack our stuff up and then go home. Well, that’s really all. The place I connect the most with, yet it may be weird, it’s my utopia to respect the dead. It makes me happy and feel good about myself. This is the place I connect with.

All Entries

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Evan B-S My connection Thinking back in the middle of class I’ve already got memories such as, when I learned to do a rainbow flick and even when I scored my first amazing goal outside of the boot. (I love to shoot) I’ll remember all the fun times I had whilst I was there, especially when I had that much energy to run like a hare. Our bond will never end, even if I miss an open net. Our connection is inevitable, I know that’s incredible!

Tilly-May J My connection Isaac, Thanks for your kindness, Care and love, Laughter and joy. All the heart-warming memories, Come back to my heart. It makes me happy, When I look back it’s like a trainwreck. We need it back. I really do love you. 22

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Stella S, 10

Paigen C Dear Lillie-Margaret

I chose to write about Greta Thunberg and my connection to her.

I’m proud that you made me a big sister. I love you to bits even knowing you

Dear Greta Thunberg,

came from another mister. I know you will not remember this but you make me smile. Your goggle box eyes make me laugh even knowing if sometimes you look daft. You make me giggle every time. I see you and if I’m down you bring me up because you are still my little boo. I can’t wait until you’re older so we can go to the K2 together. The connection we have is solid,

I am inspired by you and I feel like I have a connection to you. I am inspired by how you talked to Donald Trump. The reason I feel a connection is we both want the environment to survive and thrive. I think that It is important that all living things stay alive. I have written a poem for you.

unbreakable, heart-warming.

Greta you are brave.

Due to the fact you’re my sister when you get a man I will get out the sister.

Really you do so much for the environment.

Me, you and our brother are just like are mother. Our little family is the best can’t wait to see you in a dress. As quick as a flash, I will tell you why you

Everything you do is amazing.

are my favourite sibling it because I don’t like our brother most of the time.

Tell everyone we need save the planet.

Love from your favourite sister xx

All you do deserves so much. You make me believe that anything is possible.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Jenson F, 8

“Don't be silly, we are in Minecraft, we can build a giant Unspeakable bridge.” I replied excitedly. I was very good at building. While we were building a tidal wave came down the river and knocked us off. l was scared. I thought we would get washed away and never find the

The Minecraft adventure A long time ago In a galaxy far away, me and Dad were playing on the PS4. I was really excited to spend the whole day just me and Dad. We were playing Minecraft. It is my favourite game and I was telling my dad how to build a McDonald’s restaurant. But then, I spilt a drink on the controller and it started to spark. Suddenly, we were sucked Into the game. At first I was happy.

way home. But then, I felt myself slow down. I looked at my Dad and he was slowly rising out of the water. I looked down and saw a shark! The shark had swum between my legs and now I was riding him. My Dad was sat on a shark too. The sharks gave us a ride all the way to the other side of the river and helped us out. “Thank you shark, I don’t know what we would have done without you,” My dad said. The shark waved with his a fin and dived back into the water

"This is so cool!" I said to Dad. "Yeah," said Dad, "But how do we get home?" We tried to get out but we didn't know how. We decided to go for a walk and see if we could find some help. There are always lots of people playing Minecraft. We found lots of people in a village not that far away and one of them was Unspeakable. He is my favourite YouTuber and he is really good at Minecraft. “Don't worry, I will help you get home,” he said. “Follow me.” We followed Unspeakable through a musty forest to a wide river. I was starting to get tired and hungry. Unspeakable stopped at the river. “The exit is just at the other side, can you see it?” I looked across and could see a controller floating in the ale. "When you touch the controller,” Unspeakable said, 'you will be teleported back to the

and swam away. My Dad took my hand and said: “Let’s go home”. We walked to the controller, I was nervous, what if it didn’t work? We both touched the controller at the same time and were sucked out of the game and landed back at home. We sat on the sofa in silence for ages. I couldn’t believe what had happened. Eventually my Dad broke the silence. “I’m hungry” said Dad, “What do you want for tea?” I looked at the screen and saw the McDonald’s restaurant we were building before our adventure. “Let’s go to McDonalds,” I said. We both burst out laughing as we got up to find our shoes. The End.

real world.” “Thanks Unspeakable, you are awesome!” I said, and gave him a hug. Me and Dad looked at the river, “l guess we need to swim across?” said Dad.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Layla-Rose T, 7 Hello I am I have a passion with drawing because of my dad, because when he was a kid he loved drawing. He did it every day. My drawing obsession started in the first lockdown because I was bored so I started doodling. I was terrible but I kept going. Now I am better than my dad! I have to do a drawing a day.

Sara S, 8 Dear Diary, It was my first day of school. I am very nervous but it will be fine. Then I met my teacher Miss Kemp. She introduced me to the class and then I met a girl called Layla. She was my friend now she is my best friend. My cousin Harris, he was in Miss Wilson’s class. He enjoyed meeting new people.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Nevaeh L, 7

Brooke W,

Dear Diary,

Dear Dad,

Today I made a new friend called Emily. We like lots of things we like to

I’m writing to you today to say I love you. Mine and your connection is strong

play outside. We like work. and we like to write and play games. Sometimes

nothing can break us. I always knew you were always going to be here for me

we talk to are friends! Emily is so special to me because she is kind, nice,

and I’ll always be here for you. I’m so proud that you’re my dad and hopefully

funny and helpful.

you can make up with my mum and you two will be friends. Thank you for all the treats. When I see you, you’re always there to make me smile and chuckle.

The End.

You’re my best friend and I love you to the moon and back. Also, get well soon. Hopefully you are having a good life with your new family.

Amelia-Rose K, 8 Dear Diary, I have a really special person in my life, she is my best friend in the whole world and her name is Faith. I am meeting Faith at the park today and I am so excited to see my bestie. We take off running to the swings to start our adventure. The swings are like vines in the jungle, swinging from tree to tree. The higher I go, the more butterflies I get in my belly. I look over to Faith and I know she feels the same too. Next we head off to the monkey bars. As we are swinging across we look down to see hungry crocodiles under us snapping their jaws. We get to the other side and see the sunset. The sun is glowing orange and red like fire in the sky. As the sun sets low we know it’s time to go home. We hug and part ways and wait for the next school day. 30

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Kenzie S

Leah S, 11 It was 2am and I heard a crash. My lovely wine glass filled with Corona beer

My connection Thinking back, I start to remember being back in the theme park I was obsessed with. As the night falls the moon shines above making the light glisten in the distance below. The fair is a vibrant world of colours. The rides flicker, street lights turn on as they all reflect along the black sky. In the distance, the place shot up with loudness as people fly down the rollercoaster screaming and cheering.

had shattered. I wondered at the detail on the glass smashed to pieces on the kitchen floor. As I looked up towards the cause of the breakage I ran like lightning. My poor baby, my much-loved collie, Patch, was whimpering on the kitchen floor. He had a scar on his giant paw and blood was dripping where the pointed glass had cut deep. I glanced up and realised that he’d tried to jump up at the cabinet to reach his treats and had smashed my fabulously expensive wine glass. I didn’t care, I only cared about Patch. The vet advised

Enormous rides fill up as visitors gather and they scream in excitement.

me to bring him in urgently. She examined him and told me the cut was

The waltzers spin, people go dizzy. Delighted children race to join the

only the beginning of his problems. He had cancer and would die shortly.

spectacular rides as the little boy sits beside the wheel tapping, his feet and clapping his hands.

I took him to McDonald’s and treated him to twenty pounds’ worth of food. He didn’t have long left, so I gave him lots of cuddles.

It smelled like fresh hotdogs, candyfloss and sugar donuts. Some stalls sell chicken burgers with onion rings and pepper. Other stalls sell spiced apples,

When he died I was an emotional wreck.

chicken skewers and steaming hot coffee or tea. Anxious and excited, a teenager is stood in a queue patiently waiting with his hands in his pocket. The rollercoaster is wild and rapid. It is the biggest and most famous in the world.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Nicole J, 10

Payton G, 11

If Only

For the love of trees

Lockdown is boring.

There once lived a little girl with brown hair with blonde bits sitting just at

If only this pandemic would go away.

its very tips. Her face was decorated with freckles and her cheeks were like

I would go to Spain, Italy or France.

rosy apples.

A little sunshine would be good. I could go to Poland, Germany or Austria. It might even snow.

This little girl loved trees. In fact, she loved them so much that her mother named her Branch. Now Branch liked nothing more than to climb huge trees and settle herself down in their branches for a lovely nap. Her other

Perhaps I could travel to India,

hobby was fossil hunting as her mother was a collector of all things fossil-like.

Where it barely rains.

Each morning she would set off with her mother to hunt for fossils and each

I could visit Paris ,

afternoon she would find a suitable tree for climbing. Lots of the mothers of

Meet up with cartoony friends.

children in school said she wasn’t normal but Branch and her mother didn’t

Or even New York,

care. They liked to be different.

On a jet. There are a lot of things I have missed,

One day, after the usual fossil hunt, Branch decided she was hungry. She

A lot of things to do.

helped herself to some leftover pizza and climbed into her tree for an

But for now, stay away and wear a mask.

afternoon of relaxation. She fell, in more ways than one! She fell asleep and she fell out of the tree. She woke up to the sight of a beautiful cherry blossom tree and an enormous fossil. She looked around for her mother to share this wonderful fossil news but couldn’t find her anywhere. It was then that she realised that she’d died and gone to heaven. She would miss her mother but she loved that cherry blossom!

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Usmaan C, 8

Hayley R, 8

I like Roald Dahl and I thought that it will be so bad. Once I read them I

My connection is big purple dragon with shiny sharp teeth and a bocuill

found out that it was fun. I read then again. Roald Dahl wrote it in a hut

which her faint hiced

and he wrote Roald Dahl the white horse and he passed away.

One night when I fell asleep, as I woke to my alarm, I was flying high in the sky in the thick clouds. I fell into the clouds and realised it was at the end I

Lexi S, 8

started falling and until it was gone I heard a loud roar and purple dragon I got scared and started falling towards the deep water. Before I hit the water, a beautiful unicorn saved me from the fall, then the dragon saw me and started fighting the with the unicorn and dragon.

Say please, Little Bear Daddy Bear and Little Bear were on their way to the playground. Little Bear found his best friend, Little Bunny. Little Bunny went to the sand pit! Little

“So can we all be friends please? If you can’t be nice walk away from each other.”

Bear snatched the sand bucket but Daddy Bear said ‘give it back to her’.

With their beady eyes they agreed to be kind. Then I woke up I thought to

“Ok, please can I have it?”

myself, did that happen? Well done, who wins?

“Ok, why not? Let’s go home. Tomorrow we will go to school.” The End.

Zara S, 7 I was watching TV and I saw a channel and I really liked it. And I watched one video where they put their phone number in. So then I rushed upstairs and got my phone then I heard my doorbell ring and then I saw the person.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Megan S, 9

In the fridge it is really organised there are vegetables in two drawers on the top there is fruit in the middle there is carbohydrates and there is another fridge for smoothies and drinks.

Hermione Granger

Hermione’s house Gryffindor. She has friends called Ron Weasley and Harry

Hermione is a smart, intelligent girl. She has medium, curly brownish-ginger

Potter. They are in Gryffindor too. Gryffindor is the best and bravest group

hair. He cat Crookshanks is very furry but Hermione is organised. She has

but Slytherin, on the other hand, is the worst and the scared groups they’re

a shelf for her Hogwarts study books and a shelf for her normal books.

in. Hufflepuff is brave and Ravenclaw is brave and intelligent.

Hermione wears a grey skirt, a grey jumper with the Hogwarts symbol on it and a midnight black robe for school, but at home she is a fashionista. She wears classic jumpers and jeans or leggings, funky jackets and socks. Hermione’s parents and Hermione herself take good care of their garden. The lime, shiny cut grass is soft but not spiky. There are lilac blossom trees. There are pink daises, a rainbow waterfall going into a hologram stream. There are smooth wooden bird feeders and houses. There are well looked-after plants all around the garden. There is a small stone bridge going over the stream. Hermione’s parents call her ‘my bunny rabbit’ because she has stuck-out incisors like a rabbit. Hermione’s morning and afternoon routine is wake up then go downstairs for breakfast, get dressed, brush her teeth, study , have dinner, study more, read, have tea, check her work and her shelves, brush her teeth and go to bed. Her favourite fruit is a kiwi her favourite dessert is millionaire shortbread. She will eat anything and will do any exercise. Hermione’s bedroom is lilac and lavender with a double bed. Her covers are silky and matching cushions and curtains. She has a school routine chart and a home routine chart. She has two bedside tables with books, diaries, a quill, and ink bottle and a lamp. She has her laptop, books, a lamp and a diary in her drawer. Hermione has a stash of chocolate in her drawer. 38

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Aliza H, 9

Sophie M, 9

Awful Aunty

About my friend

Once there was a girl called Stella. She lived with her dad and mum. Stella

She is very nice to me,

was asleep and hearing her dad and mum going to the fair without Stella.

She is very polite,

When it was morning Stella’s mum and dad said we are going somewhere.

She has been my friend for three years.

Stella said: “Ok. You can go, I will stay here.”

What I like about her,

The mum said: “Well I rang your aunty to come. You just go to your room

She is very smart and kind,

and, when the aunty comes, make her tea,”

She smells like fresh cupcakes and blossoms.

“Ok,” said Stella.

What she looks like,

The mum and dad went. Stella opened the door and she didn’t open it for her

She has black thick hair and a blue bobble,

aunty. It was for Awful Aunty. She was really mean she didn’t even say thank

Her eyes are brown.

you when Stella made her tea. She wrapped Stella with bandage and shut the

Her name is Helga, she has a best friend, Sophie.

door. Stella didn’t know how to get out of her room, then she realised that

Sophie is kind to her and she is Helga’s best friend.

her dad and mum showed her a trick.

My Playstation 3 games

So Stella turned around to pick her leg up and to get a tennis racket and

Sonic all-star transformed

open it. But Awful Aunty was watching TV downstairs so Stella tumbled

Sonic all-star racing

downstairs and she asked Awful Aunty: “Where are my parents?” Awful Aunty said: “They died.” Stella was shocked. She said” “They haven’t died.” Awful Aunty said: “Yes they did, now come on, we need to go eat dinner.” “Ok,” said Stella, “I am coming.” Stella was talking to Awful Aunty. Stella couldn’t eat because of the bandage. She was really hungry. Stella got her diary and said: “Dear Diary, make my family safe.”

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Priyanka K, 10

Miley R, 10 Holiday time! I’ve been waiting for this day for six months, if you’re asking.

My online friend It all began one afternoon, aimlessly scrolling through social media. I

Bending down, I collected my bags and headed out of the door.

came across a peculiar girl. Gleefully I messaged her and here’s where it

We finally arrived, the humid air wafted past me. To be honest, I don’t really

gets excellent!

like super warm places, but everyone was really gleeful so I rose a small grin

With a smile across my face she began to chat after a while we noticed we had

stretching from ear to ear.

many things in common. It’s like we just clicked! Amazingly, she had such

I hopped out of the car, and took out my lucky hat and plopped it on my

a bubbly, humorous personality. She’s very understanding and trustworthy.

head, slammed the door behind me and walked away without knowing my

Soon after, things escalated quickly! We had played so many games and always had a good laugh also we text almost every day! However things took

parents wasn’t there. I went to the park. I was having the best time until Mum came...

a turn for the worst... Out of the ordinary, I kindly questioned if we could video chat but she wasn’t who I thought she was. Looking back I’m so glad I met her. She turned out to be a warm hearted gentle giraffe! That’s how I met my wonderful online friend!

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Ayaan C, 9

Eiprila S, 8 Once there was a beautiful girl called Julien. When she was ten her dad sadly

Coraline Coraline is a girl of adventure, she enjoys to explore. One day she found a secret door in the corner of the living room. It was locked. She asked her mother if she could go get the keys to the door. She refused. Coraline kicked the door open. There was brick wall. She punched the brick wall. It was magic. She went through the brick wall. Maybe she just dreaming. There was a corridor ahead of her. She realised that she wasn’t dreaming. She went down the corridor. Maybe it was her tea time so she went back. It was a very long corridor. After she had her tea she went back to the door but the brick wall was gone. She wondered where it had gone. Maybe some workers came and smashed it. Coraline finally made it to her destination. There was something familiar about the place, it looked exactly like the apartment she lives in. After a little while a woman showed up with button eyes. Coraline looked at her in disgust. “Hello dear, come to join my family?” the woman said. “Your family?” Coraline said in confusion. “Ah! You don’t know our family, well we are the other family!” the woman replied. “Uh! I think I will leave now” Coraline said. “Now, why would you want to leave?” the other mother said.

died. Julien’s heart was just sick. When it was Julien’s eleventh birthday her mum brought a big purple box with a yellow ribbon on. When Julien’s mum put the box down, Julien stared at the box. Then she saw it move a bit. “Sweetie, are you going to open it?” Julien’s mum asked. “Yes, yes I will, Mum.” Julien took the ribbon off and then gently took the lid off. Then a cute kitten popped up. Julien gasped and cried a bit, with joy. She picked up the little kitten gently and hugged it. “Well, what should we name it?” asked, Julien’s mum. “Maggie!” “That’s a good name,” Julien’s mum smiled. When it was lunchtime Julien felt upset. “What’s wrong?” asked Julien’s mum. “It’s just... I miss my dad,” said Julien slowly. “Awe, I know, I miss him too,” said Julien’s mum. Julien got up and went to her room, grabbed her Diary and wrote something about her best friend and her dad. Dear Diary, I wish I can go back to the past to see my BFF and my dad. My dad sadly passed away and my BFF moved to Japan. I really, really, really wish I could see them again. But I know it can’t happen. Thank you, Dear Diary. From Julien.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Lily H, 9 Once upon a time, there lived in a small, little town, the girl called Abigail who was nine years old and lived with her mother Seaira. They were a quite an unusual family. Abigail loved to run in the mud with her dog, her dog was big and long, it had short little legs like an ant. Abigail has a BFF called Lexi Bashmanham and her mum is called Moo-Moo Bashmanham. Abigail and Lexi are inseparable. They live near each other so they see each other every day. One day, they walked into a forest that their mums said not to go in but they obviously didn’t listen to them. As they walked in there were little biscuits on the floor so they followed it and met an awful strange looking tree that said: “How do you do, Matey?”

Elysia R, 9 Dear Diary, Yesterday, the coolest thing happened. It was VE day and we were all on the street partying. We had set our tent up in our garden and we put my budgie, Hobo, in his cage to take him outside. We carefully placed it and carried on partying. All of a sudden we heard Hobo’s cage go clang onto the floor then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hobo fly away into the distance. He had escaped and we would never ever see him again. I was crying like mad. Hobo was so special to me because we got him in lockdown and he entertained us when we were worried and he could do that no longer!

“How do you do?” said Abigail. The tree said again: “Well, my dears, do you need anything?” “Yes we do actually, we need to get back home,” shouted Lexi Nashmanham and Abigail Greenwood. “Ok, ok, my dear, don’t shout, just calm down,” she said again. “You must go and follow the treats back home.” “Ok,” said Lexi and off they went trotting back home. “Where on Earth have you been?” said their mothers. “Well we have been at the playground,” said Lexi. “Ok, now get inside now. Tea is ready,” said Miss Greenwood. “Ok,” said Lexi and Abigail and off they went back inside and had their tea.

Then, sitting next to Hobo’s cage, I saw a cat. It was black and white, suddenly I figured out that the cat had pounced onto Hobo’s cage and knocked it over! Me, my mummy and my sister, Isla, all went round Thornton village trying to find him and asking other people they had seen him But we had no luck so we just went home. A couple of hours had passed, and we still hadn’t seen him. It was dark now. Then out of nowhere someone on the street shouted “Hobo!” Then I saw Hobo sitting on a piece of conifer at the end of my street. We walked towards him with his cage but he simply flew away. All of my hope faded away. About twenty more minutes had passed then we all saw Hobo standing on a tree just outside my garden! Again we approached him with his cage and, you won’t believe it but, Hobo hopped in his cage. I was delighted and we will never put Hobo outside again!

The End xx 46

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Smit S, 9

Sophie C, 10

Pax game

The mysterious moon locket

Pax was a mean, lazy and lethargic boy. He wore glasses as he couldn’t see

One cool day on a cabin’s roof sat a girl called Samantha. Samantha was 11

properly (he was blinded by playing devices). On the other hand, his mother

years old and was already too old to play with dolls. Instead she sat on top

was a kind, loving and gentle person. He had been advised by his mother

of her cabin. Samantha had a rare colour of eyes which were hazel-green. She

all the time.

also had dark brown-gold hair which shimmered in the sunlight. Samantha

One day while Pax was playing his games his mother called him but he

was also wearing a short sleeve top which was red and to go with it she was

ignored her and his mother kept calling him and he was continuously

wearing dark blue jeans. She just loved watching the stars and moon, her

ignoring her. His mother got annoyed by him ignoring her so she thought

favourite was watching the clouds move slowly and make different shapes

“this boy needs to be taught a lesson!”

as they did.

His mother stole his video games, replaced the controller for a fake one and

When it became night and super dark Samantha refused to go inside as it

stole his charger but nothing worked. One night, while Pax was watching

was her favourite time as the moon sparkled more than ever. But tonight

TV his mother was out shopping and was just about to give up. She saw a

something felt different to other nights. When Samantha finally agreed to

magic video game. She took it home and put it where Pax was sitting and

go inside she said to her dad, Martin: "Dad, you know how I watch the stars

walked away. Pax took the video game and saw no instructions, but a sign

and moon every night?"

saying “Don’t open me”. Pax ignored, and opened it.

"Yes, what’s wrong?" Martin replied.

BOOM.

"Well, tonight it felt different," Samantha stated.

A loud bang teleported Pax to the world. There he saw a tired, old man and

"Different how?"

asked him: “How do I get back home?”

Samantha sighed and said: "It doesn’t matter, you won’t understand," as she

The old man replied: “You will never make it.”

made her way to bed.

Pax said: “Nooo, I need to go home now.”

Martin said to himself: "Well that was weird," as he scratched his head

The old man said: “Explore nature!” Then he vanished into thin air. Then Pax

in confusion.

went out and explored all the things around him and noticed that exploring

The next day Samantha said to her dad: "Morning dad."

nature was much more fun than playing on devices!

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

"Morning darling, how are you?" Martin said enthusiastically.

or they will be in the trance for as long as can be. The object you need

"Good thanks, how are you?" Samantha said.

to find to free the person is one simple thing, but it is as hard as a rock

"Good thank you, what’s wrong? You sound upset."

to find. It roams free and you can find it in a forest. It’s similar to a rock

"It’s just last night I felt weird," Samantha said dully.

but not quite the same. Here's a description, the rock is an oval and it

"Weird how?"

has three even colours on it and those colours are blue, green and white.

"Well you know how I sit on the roof every night. Well last night I did the

To snap out of the spell say ‘Moon’s gaze, Moon’s gaze, free the spell’.

exact same but I felt like someone or something was watching me."

On the opposite side there are letters saying Moon’s gaze carved into it,

"Don’t be silly no one could have been watching you there was no one out

good luck finding it.”

last night. Come on now, let’s have breakfast," said Martin worriedly.

Martin half-smiled and said to himself: “I don't have much time left.”

Day then became night and, just like every night, the stars and moon

He went outside, hopped into his car and headed to the nearest forest he

were out and Samantha was on her roof watching them. Her dad, Martin,

knew. Martin looked in all directions, up, down, left, right, but nowhere

watched her through her bedroom window and opened it slightly only

could he find a rock that matched the description. Martin started to lose

to find that Samantha was sat there talking to herself saying "where are

hope after two straight hours of searching for the stone. Just as he was

they" over and over again. Martin thought to himself: “That’s unusual.

about to try another spot he heard a terrifying scream that turned his

Samantha has never talked to herself.”

blood cold. After Martin heard the scream he simply refused and rejected

Her dad rushed downstairs straight to the bookshelf trying to find a

to leave for another hour and then search another spot.

certain book, he couldn't find the book he was looking for, so he raced

Martin then arrived at the secret garden no one but he knew about, he

to another bookshelf in the room next to the TV in hope to find what

pulled the rusty, old key out of his pocket and gently pushed it into

he was looking for. Finally he found it, he had found the book he was

the keyhole, it clicked in and opened up a whole new world that was

desperately looking for. The title of the book read The Moon’s Gaze.

incredibly healthy and full of the brightest colours possible. Martin was

Martin flicked to page 50 which gave him the answers he needed.

pleased with how the garden had held together so well. But then he

This is what it said: “The Moon’s Gaze is strong. Be careful you don't

remembered what he was there for, to find a gem or some special stone to

look at it too long, whoever is staring at the Moon’s face without taking

free his daughter from the spell. But Martin knew if the stone wasn't here

a break can be cast under the Moon’s horrible spell. The only way to

it was nowhere so he pulled out his flashlight even though it wasn't dark

snap them out of the trance they're in, you may have to start a delay.

he wanted to look professional but, enough messing about, he thought.

To snap the curse one must travel to collect an object but this won't be

"I'm not here for that, I'm here to find a stone, a special stone that will

easy because to stop the trance you have to be back before the sun rises

free my beloved daughter from that horrible trance.”

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Georgie W, 9

Just then after four more hours of covering the land in search of a rock there it was! All he had to do now was get home but there was one problem the sun was starting to rise and before it had risen fully, which was in about two hours. But it took him two and a half hours to get home. Martin

The Super Dog prologue

thought to himself: "Well, maybe my predictions are wrong right?" he

Years ago, in a secret land there were super dogs. But one

questioned himself. After he arrived home, Samantha was floating higher and higher. Martin grabbed her ankle and she hissed, he knew he had to act quickly. He yanked the stone out of his pocket and said: "Moon’s gaze, Moon’s gaze,

day something horrible happened – a tornado happened. It washed out all the dogs but one. One day, when a family were on a holiday and were on a walk,

free the spell!"

they noticed something hiding, but they carried on walking until they got to

Samantha dropped out of the sky, unconscious. Just in time Martin reached

a beach. They sat down and saw a sign that said “sky diving”. They walked to

out and caught her mid-air. He carried her inside and laid her safely in her

it and they were getting up the stairs. They got ready and went. The mum’s

bed. The doctor was called and he said she just needed rest, but oh Martin

and dad’s parachutes worked but the little girl, who was an only child, her

was so glad to have Samantha safe in her bed.

parachute didn’t work. She screamed, but the dog that was left saved her. He was Super Dog. Her mum and dad were the happiest people ever. They gave Super Dog lots of things to have. Now he was known as Super Dog who is a life saver. But the little girl asked her parents if she could keep him. They said yes. “Can we call him Dennis?” she said. “Sure,” her parents said. They had an amazing time together and that little girl was me.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Bethany H, 9

Liam M, 10 I knew it was time for the holidays. We already packed-out suitcases already.

My connection is my best friends Since the day we all saw each other we just became friends. At any time and any day I will always be there for my friends, even if it is at 1am. I don't care.

My friend was coming too. Just so you know, his name is Daniel. We got in the car and went to Whitely Bay.

Forever and forever we will be friends no matter what. We have been friends

Arriving at Whitely Bay, the lighthouse is massive. We went to the hotel

for five years (it has been very long). My friends are Keira, Leah and Emilia.

then we went to explore. The lighthouse was open. Because the path to the

Once they know how much I care they will care too. Nearly every birthday

lighthouse ran through the water we needed to walk for the tide to tower but

I've been to it is theirs and that shows that we are all besties.

then something crazy happened.

That is just a message for Keira, Leah and Emilia. From Bethany Here's a message for my mum and dad No matter how long I live I will always love you to the moon and back. I will support you for anything and when I become a doctor when I grow up I will help you in the hospital for anything. Love from Bethany

“Look! All the water is disappearing! Look all across the ocean,” Daniel shouted. “It might be the build up for a tsunami run!” I shouted. The smell of fish and the salty ocean disappeared so we ran to the hotel. “Hi Daniel, Hi Liam,” the hotel receptionist said.

Here is a message to Primary The first day at it was really hard because I didn't know anything or anyone there. Through the years it has been amazing I have loads of memories of school trips, especially the zoo, that was really fun. At this school it has been brilliant I mean I want to give a big thank you to all the teachers that have helped me get better at my things and my education for when I get older.

“Please turn that TV on, there’s a tsunami” Daniel said. The TV came on and it was on the news. “Oh no! Pull the alarm! Everyone get to the bunker!” the receptionist shrieked.

Thank you so much. From Bethany

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Dahlia G, 10

Lucy A, 10

Teke Teke

My cat

One day, in the morning, a girl was walking near a train then suddenly she

Sleeping in her bed

fell on the railway. She got her legs stuck. A train was coming her way. Then all of a sudden she got killed by getting cut in half. The next day she haunts

Then going outside in the sun

that train station. Eating her food (well, some!)

“Lalala la la laaa,” singed Maya. The Teke Teke appears. “Where are my legs?” asked Teke Teke.

Then flopping on the floor and being cute

“Um, I don’t know?” replied Maya. “Ahhhh,” There was answer. At night Mr Olivers was walking home and, oh

she is very soft

no, he stumbled across Teke Teke.

I like stroking her

“Where are my legs?” asked Teke Teke. “Oh I’m sorry, I don’t know,” kindly replied Mr Olivers. “How did you end

But what is she indeed? She is my cat Milly and I love her.

this way?” questioned Mr Olivers. “None of business!” yelled Teke Teke and sadly Mr Olivers died.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Isabella H, 10

Finley J, 10

As soon as I joined this club, I knew it was just right for me! My coach was

I knew I had to get there, we had to win the White Cup. At this time I was

one of the nicest people I have ever met! The team was a team I live close

playing for Idle Football Club. For the past four staggering years I played

to, Bradford City.

for the club each year we played at least three cup tournaments a year and

The formations of the team was one goalkeeper, four defenders (one the bench), two wingers, two midfielders and two strikers. One of us is always on the bench. I am a striker! One of my memories is that my coach put me in defence and I let two goals in, now he never tries me in defence now!

most of them we play at the White Rose Cup. We really needed to win as the last times we have been close yet so far. Last year, we got to the final and my friend, Charlie Madden, had to score a penalty but if he missed we lost. Unfortunately he missed and the other team won. We played the first match. We happily won 3-1. Whilst we waited for our

I have played for this club for four years now. One thing I am very grateful

next match me and Harry went to go get some Hot dogs. They were delicious.

about is that I should be in the group lower than this because I should be in

The next match we smashed the other team 7-0. I scored four goals. I was

the under-11s but I’m in the under-12s.

begging my manager to let me go in next but he said no. The next match

One of my best memories is that it was the time to play the finals. It was spine-chilling! Then the game commenced. Suddenly, I scored the first goal! Then there was a loud noise, the whistle blew for half time. Half time was over and the second half started. All of a sudden, we scored four more goals. We won the cup final 5-0 and were awarded with trophies.

was straight after and we were shattered. We were breathing heavily and for a minute. I sat on the floor to calm down, without noticing the referee blew his whistle to start. I sprang up from the ground and started the match. If we won this match we would get to the quarter final. Finally we won 2-0. The quarter final was so easy. We started the match and in two minutes it was 3-0. The match finished 8-0. I scored a smashing amount of five goals. The semi-final was so difficult but in the last minute the keeper tried to skill me but I sneakily megged him and scored. So it finished 1-0. The final was difficult and it finished 2-2. But we needed a winner so it went to penalties. My manager said to me: “Finers, go get your gloves, you’re going in next.” I was so happy. It was 17-16 to my team and I had to save this goal. I looked to the left but I dived to the right and saved the goal. It was amazing.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Mia H, 10 Finding my memories

Annabelle P, 10

Flowers

So yesterday morning I woke up got dressed and ran down my stairs. When walking into the kitchen a delightful aroma filled my nose. I went over to see what it was but suddenly, I was thrown out of the house all the way to the hill!

Lilies are white, daffodils are yellow, sweet peas are pink with a glow that's mellow. Sunflowers are tall, tulips are bright, I love flowers, I could dance, day and night.

I noticed I was on Greenfield Avenue, then, obviously, I started

I am filled with cheers and thrills, as I dance

walking along but something peculiar began to occur. I saw many

with the flowers upon the hills.

models of my old memories.

The beautiful snowdrop, that comes out in

I went over to one, and it was of my cousin, me, Daisy, and Millie having a sleepover. Another was of me falling off a top bunk. I started to giggle remembering all of my memories, like when I met Daisy and how she pushed me off an electric scooter.

spring, was my grandad's favourite thing. Crimson roses shine in the sun, making the world a prettier place for everyone. Daisies are small and cute when it's sunny and they attract bees to make yummy honey.

Those times were remarkable. Nothing can replace them!

Nemophilas are lovely and dotted, when you go to Ilkey, crocuses are easily spotted. Fuchsias hang down and spread their petals wide and in winter, their colour starts to hide. Lavender's blue, chrysanthemums are green. Bright pink carnations are easily seen. I like all flowers in a fine flower bed but the rarest one of all is the Middlemist Red.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Cameron R, 11 When I first met my best mate I knew he was somebody special. He is really funny! In case you’re wondering what his name is, he is called William. Mine and his chemistry is just really good because we basically like the same things. He liked motorbikes, so do I! We like, playing on the computers in our free time we play out on bikes or we got out on foot and it is just really funny, because we mess about all the time.

Fearne W, 10 The lost twin The light was bright, it was strong. They had a connection, a strong one. The sisters were totally different. They were half and half. One sister had a home town like a . But then it came to the other she was magical. She had the ability to do things with her mind. She was called Jessica. Jessica always had a problem with her sister Rose. She

One day me and William went out, just messing about, mud piping some

says she is always a pain.

abandoned flats, and we were trying really hard to hit the windows and then

But now it comes to their birthday, you may be thinking what is so bad about

I did it was really funny, because I accidentally hit him with the pipe. This

a birthday? Sadly for them everything is wrong. They always reunite. And

was a Friday night. So he slept at mine and we just couldn’t stop giggling. It

when they do it is horrible.

was hilarious. We was grappling that night and we both squashed each other.

There is a light and a shock between them. Unfortunately, the pain is awful.

Me and William were playing on the Xbox and we kept on dying, so we went downstairs and my dog wouldn’t shut up barking so we let her out to shut her up and then when she came back in she started jumping all over me and William. So I started messing about with her and I was boxing her because she got on her back legs and boxed me it was really funny.

The reason behind this is unknown. Their dad says because of Jessica’s power she is too strong to be around. The next morning, they both got a pain but it was stronger. All because of Jessica, she was using her powers to make the pain stop. Rose went to the family house she noticed Jessica was not there. “Why is she not here? We always meet at this place.” Rose was shouting, she

When I am with William we’re just mad and crazy. Me and William have

did not know anything.

known each other for about seven years and one time we went to figure of

Everyone searched for Jessica she was nowhere to be found. She had ran away

eight and went exploring. We found an old wooden box it was locked we

into the woods: “Why have I done this?” she asked herself. She was walking

were looking for the key for about three hours and then we gave up. Later

around until… “It is all for the best!” A deep voice came from nowhere. It

that beautiful day we cracked the old antique box open and there was game

followed her for years.

and fairy and an old shotgun bullet.

And that is how Rose lost her twin.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Mercy-Leigh S, 10

Abigail R, 11

Connection

Pandas fly though Space

In 2018 I loved Sundays. They were great. We used to go to church with

Sam had always wanted to make his dad proud. Ever since he was a little boy,

my great-grandma and then we went to her house for a while and then had

he knew he wanted to follow his dad’s footsteps and became an astronaut.

tea there. It was fun. Sometimes we sleep over on a Saturday to get up early

After his dad died, he knew he had to pursue his dad’s dreams of going

and go to church because she works there. We had so much fun and we

to space.

sometimes picked her strawberries to have a smoothie.

Sam had a special bond with his dad. Pat and Cuba, his siblings, never treated

But now Covid-19 came we couldn’t do that. We always FaceTime with her.

him nicely and thought they could control him. They always made him out

It’s ok but I’d rather see her at church. I think it’s better. We usually go to my

as the bad guy to his mum but his dad knew and believed in him.

dad’s and call her so it’s fun. Now we have to find a way to cure Covid-19. It started in 2019 into 2020 and now 2021. They made a thing called a vaccine but you can still get Covid. And they made a rhyme called Hands, Face, Space. So scientists are looking to cure it. They said it might never go but we can see each other and Covid won’t be as bad as it is.

Sam always wore a blue T-shirt with some black joggers and white shoes. In the woods, like a little cottage made of bamboo and string, where they lived. Whenever he stopped believing in himself, he remembered something his dad told him before he died. “Never give up on yourself because you only have one chance so keep

Two years later

going, Son.”

I just watched the news and I hear Covid is almost over.

Sometimes he could still hear his voice in his head late at night.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

David Z, 10

Joshua B, 10 After school I always go up to my bedroom which I love because it has my

Jack and John Jack and John finally arrived! They were back at the place where all of their

favourite things in it. It is like my utopia.

memories rest. The place where they first met. In a blink of an eye they were

One day after school I went up to my room but something didn’t feel the

long gone, to go back to where it all started.

same. I was bewildered because I heard a noise but not just any noise, it was

Firsts, out of all the places, they chose the woods, the woods they believed

a whisper. I was scared but I stayed in my room.

to be magical. Although it might not be magical, it is where their memories

Then in ten minutes I heard it again, but louder. I was petrified. I didn’t

lay. This is their utopia, everything is just perfect or it was thought to be…

know what to do. I absquatulated from my room and to my mum. I got

Excitedly, the boys carried on walking further and further until they finally reached their childhood location. But something wasn’t right. It wasn’t there.

downstairs and she was not there. I instantly panicked. There it was again but it was near the basement.

Where could have it gone? Jack was confused, he kept looking, but still,

I ran to the door but it was locked. The keys were floating near the basement.

nothing there. Suddenly Jack heard something in the bushes, it was like a

So I slowly went towards them but I got sucked in to the basement. In front

loud crunch, but worst of all, he was on his own.

of me was nothing but shadowy darkness, I was hoping for something to

He didn’t know what to do so he jumped in. To his relief, it was John looking

happen. Nothing happened.

for it. Their childhood memory was non-existent. The tree swing was no

As I ran out of the basement I was silent, then I put the locks on and put

longer there. They had to get it back. They started looking around – they

two chairs in front of the door.

knew it was around here somewhere. We started looking around, Jack wondered where it could be. The beguiling swing might have gone!

Suddenly the front door opened and I ran out as quickly as a tiger. Then the house went...

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Jaxon M, 10

Aamna H, 10

Fox’s Pizza World

After walking up the steep car lane, I had reached dream utopia.

In the 1990s a pizzeria called Fox’s Pizza World with the best greasy pizza

The view was picturesque. All I had to do now, was dig for the precious

and the main star was Foxy, a pirate. When it was full of kids, there was one

beauty I had long awaited for. With courage and bravery, I grabbed the

kid called Gregory, who loved to go there, but one day it shut down. It shut

shovel and started to dig.

down because of a gas leak. So he tried to do different things instead of going and he found one thing that he is good at music. For years and years he had been practising music especially clarinet. One day he was on a walk and he saw a pizzeria, which was all broken with branches and leaves all over it.

After a while, my shovel hit something. I didn’t know what it was, so I carried on digging to see what it was. I stopped digging and took the object out. It was a bronze, rusty box. I tried to open it, but it was locked. In the corner of my eye, I spotted something. I went to go get it. It was a clue. The clue read: “To solve your quest, take the steps west and you will find the key to chest.”

The next day, he went with some weed cutters to take away all the weeds. As

Tyler-John T, 11

he was doing it he saw a chest sat on the floor. It was an old purple wooden chest. In the chest was the key. When he picked it up her tried to open the pizzeria door. The door was really rust but he managed to get in. What he saw made him very happy!

“Goodnight, Mum. Night, Dad. See you both in the morning,” I said softly. “Night, Son!” my mum and dad replied as the same time. “Yawn!” I yawned “Dreamland awaits.” I tucked my covers over myself very tightly. “I am so comfy,” I thought. “As snug as a bug in a rug.” “OW! OFF! Stop bombarding me!” I shouted. But nobody was there, I thought there is probably something behind me. I turned around slowly. “Oh my god!” I said as my breath was taken away. “It’s a utopia!” There was a humungous tall wall it is extremely long. It had a sign on the wall saying “welcome to your utopia” and there was a turnstile which I walked through. 68

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Anna F, 9

“It’s so beautiful!” I exclaimed. “Woah, free pizza! Game meats! My own mansion! Oh My God! I’ve got a Star Wars-themed bedroom with Star Wars Lego. A gaming set up!” “Hi,” came a voice from behind. I have my own little brother. This is so cool. But should my alarm be going off now? “NEE! NEE! NEE! NEE!” My alarm clock went. “Oww poop” I said.

The nature The grass is so soft and the trees are so green. I love nature, it’s so beautiful. The animals are so calm and peaceful. The sky so lovely and blue with pure white clouds, the branches so strong and brown! Leaves are green with their open stems so bright, I can’t even tell I they do. The sun so light it could be a night l light.

Katie H, 10

When I’m with nature I feel calm because all my stress is released. I never see why people litter when they’ve got trash cans and bins. The animals are so nice if you treat them well. When I’m tired I just fall asleep on the grass.

I love cats, they are really fluffy and they make a nice sound when they meow. I want another one, but I can’t have one. It’s not nice. I like when the cat is a girl and has kittens. The kittens are so cute! They sound like a real baby when they meow. We have a friend who has eight cats and has no problem taking care of them. I wish I could have that many cats. I hate selling cats for money. They don’t know how to take care of cats properly. We bought our cat a toy with pretend mice inside. Oh, she was off with it. She was hitting them. I laughed my head off. This is why I love cats. They are very playful whoever touches the kitten it becomes theirs for life. Did you know if a black cat crosses your path, it gives you good luck?

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Emilia D, 9

Mary B, 10 Still running I started to rethink my decision but there was no time to stop. I started to climb up a mountain side. I was always good at climbing. I always used to climb trees with mother. She would say that it was very important to be adventurous and so I always was. I turned. Behind me the men were still there although they could not climb fast, they could certainly run fast. I had not much time to think so instead I gripped the vine that hung from the tree and swung over the water to the opposite side of the mountain. I felt amazing, the wind in my hair and the flowing water beneath me. I landed on the other side and cut the vine with my shiv and fled. I ran then the run turned to a jog then to a walk after I was certain I had lost them. You might need some background information. My name’s Emily, I come from

The mysterious girl One day, this girl called Ellie was with her mum and dad she saw another girl, but this time she was ordinary and the girl turned around and smiled weirdly, not like any other girls do. The girl had brown hair, blue eyes, wearing a fancy red dress but it wasn’t really that warm – it was freezing cold. Ellie had blue hands and a bright blue face and she was wearing a massive green fluffy coat and she was still cold. Ellie went to school the next day and the mysterious girl was there and she was already popular. Ellie asked her what her name was but she didn’t say a thing and Ellie was really shocked that she didn’t. When Ellie was going to drama club and the girl was there even though she was there for a week but it takes about a month to get started into a club. A full year later Ellie was still thinking of the girl so she decided to go around

a small family away in the countryside. My father died when I was three years old, my brothers were much older than me and moved out when I was five years old. Since then, it has been me and Mother, she home schooled me and taught me so many things. We would start the day with literature, learning new words and writing them out in sentences. Then we would move onto maths and would do everything from Roman numerals to fractions. After, we would do language, Mother would make me write out ten pages of the dictionary in a different language. Together we would learn about food and cook a nutritious lunch. Whilst eating lunch we would read our books. Next, we would see all over the world in geography and then paint our thoughts onto canvases. We would see to making sure we did research about the past. To end the day, we would go outside for our physical exercise with self-defence.

herself to see her and her name is Grace and now they are friends. 72

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Zain M, 6

Mother was my hero until she was murdered last month. Nobody knows who killed her but that is why I am being chased. These men think I did it but of course I could not do that to my own mother. In my opinion, the men chasing me were the ones who did this evil deed. Their mother held a grudge against my mother. When my eldest brother was born, they met, then they were even closer when my other brother was born a year later. They were the best of friends but when her twins grew up with my brothers, the twins were not at all successful, whereas my brothers were on a very successful path. One day when I was two, we moved so my brothers could pursue their dreams. Ever since we moved, she has held a grudge against her for having more talented children. She has sinned and I am going to prove it.

Connection My connection is with my father and I love him just because he always cares for me. And he always plays my favourite games. Even when his busy he loves me just the same. And he taught me how to ride my bike without training wheels. When I kept on falling over he caught me and he put me back on the bike. When I am sad he knows just what to do he makes me happy. Yes, it’s love and that’s why I love him.

I just got home and am writing this. I got to working my mother's case

Jamila P, 7

as soon as I got home, my first idea was that there was no way these twins plotted against my mother by themselves, they had their mother’s help. I would have to find something they had in common, spelling and word problems. My mother would collect all the newspapers. I could look through the papers since the murder. Inside were many errors I took the word and translated it to a place, time and person I knew how, who, why and where my mother was murdered.

My 2020 holiday to Turkey I went on holiday to Turkey in 2020 with my mum, dad and brother. This was the first time I was travelling to Turkey so was very, very excited. I couldn’t wait to get there. I was just so excited that I didn’t sleep all night the night before. Early in the morning was our flight from Leeds Bradford airport. The whole journey started well with many events to follow. We arrived at the airport and checked in our suitcases and then waited in the lobby waiting for our flight details to appear on the boarding screen. As it got closer to the time I was more and more excited and couldn’t wait anymore.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Suddenly we saw the dreaded message on the screen which no one wants to

Emma S, 9

see! It said: ‘flight delayed’. The disappointment on my face was clearly visible. We waited and waited for it to change to ‘go to boarding gate’ but this never seemed to happen. My dad kept asking for updates and was told when they knew more they would tell us. Finally they told us there was a fault with the plane and they were fixing the problem. This carried on for five hours and we were all getting very tired and hungry. Finally we got told the fault had been fixed and we boarded the plane.

F in family stands for how fabulous your parents are. A stands for Amazing as your family is absolutely amazing

The plane took off and we finally reached Turkey after a long, tiring journey. We arrived in Turkey at a resort called Marmaris. We got dropped off at the hotel and we unpacked and got changed and were ready to explore our

M stands for memories they hold

surroundings. It was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. The mountains looked beautiful as so did the beach and the surrounding area. I had already fallen in love with this place it was just amazing. My dad and mum decided to book some excursions for us to go on. They booked, paragliding, Jeep Safari, Aqua Park, Go Kart racing, spa day for getting pampered and a Turkish Night. These were all amazing I love everything but my favourite one was Jeep Safari. This was just one to remember and we

I stands for imaginative as they think of things to brighten up your day L stands for love as families love each other

all had so much fun!

Y stands for your family have your back

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Mutasim K, 8

that I wasn’t here alone, I realised. I was the only one in the cryogenic pod. The rest were empty. I slowly walked down the corridor so the thing that just woke up doesn’t realise I’m here. Suddenly, I heard a loud bang and the vents open so I ran down the corridor to the docking room and loaded the fuel to the ship. I

Not alone I woke up to a loud thud from my cryogenic sleep pod. I gasped for air. I looked

set the destination to Mars on the warp drive. Then. I realised....

at the command and control centre screen and realised I was asleep for 500 years, the year was 2596! I looked for the others but there wasn’t anyone else

Liam M, 9

in the pods, just me. There was another loud thud outside the room, I didn’t know if it was natural, man-made or something was on the ship. The ship was 500 years old so I didn’t think much of it. I tried to open the door but it was vacuum sealed. There was a vent nearby so I slammed my foot against the vent and went through.

Chapter 1- Into the game It was a dark and stormy night, and five friends were having a sleepover Liam,

When I got into the other room, I heard something run down the corridor. Now I realised it wasn’t the ship. There are two possibilities. The others are on the ship or there are other beings here. I opened the nearest door and walked down the cafeteria and went to get a knife to try and defend myself if the thing wasn’t friendly. I went to the captain’s deck and looked at the security camera footage. It was all gone.

Josh, Rohan, Kyle and Dylan. They were playing video games and eating snacks until they all heard a loud knock on the door. Liam asked if they were expecting anyone. Everybody shook their head. Liam crept to the door. He saw a small box laying on the ground. Kyle screamed and shouted: “What if there’s a vicious animal in there?” Everyone looked at him. "There's probably nothing in there," they said. Liam opened the box and saw a game card.

I went to the docking room, all the ships were still there, and it looked like no one

"Guys we have got a new game to play."

had been there for a while. There was no fuel in them to return back to Mars, so,

Josh cheered and ran around the room like a chicken being chased by a butcher.

I went back to the captain’s deck to look for fuel. There was only enough left for

Rohan said: “Put the game in, put it in." And that's exactly what they did.

one ship to go back to Mars and never come back so, I took the chance. I walked down the corridor and slipped on the fuel and fell to the concrete floor which made a loud thud, alerting that thing I was near. I was walking pretty fast in case it was looking for me. I heard one of the cryogenic pods open. I was relieved

Chapter 2 – I guess you could say we suck at this game Liam loaded the game up. Rohan was jumping up and down. It said to customise your character so everybody did. Liam’s character looked like an 79

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

animal tamer, Josh's looked like a palaeontologist, Kyles had a set of VR

Layla W

goggles, Rohan's looked like someone who loved FNAF and Dylan’s looked like a football player. Everyone was ready so Liam pressed start. Then Kyle’s foot started to fade into the controller. Then in a blink of an eye they had all disappeared. They all crashed down onto a huge white platform. It had a huge button that said start. They pressed it and everyone teleported away again. They all woke up in a cave on top of a mountain, it was darker than dark itself. Everyone was bumping into walls until Kyle shouted: “I see the light". They stumbled towards it and jumped out of the cave. They had all changed into the characters they chose and customised. Josh was so shocked that he fainted and fell on the floor with a loud crash. Then Dylan realised something, they were basically playing Jumanji. Chapter 3 – OMG Liam and Dylan saw a huge grassland with flowers and animals. Whilst Kyle was helping Josh and Rohan, Liam and Dylan started walking down where they saw motorbikes. Josh and Rohan finally woke and realised that Dylan and Liam had gone. They started looking around until they heard an engine. Josh hid behind a rock but Kyle and Rohan stayed in the open. Two motorbikes flew up the cliff and Liam and Dylan jumped off. Rohan found a note on the wheel but didn't know how it got there. Rohan opened it and a huge hologram flew out. It said for them to get to the pyramid of gold before the Shadow Clan did. Josh pulled out a map from his pocket that miraculously appeared. Dylan took the map and said to follow him so everyone did. A couple of hours had passed. "Yep, we are definitely lost," said Dylan. Everyone screamed with rage and threw their motorbikes down. To be continued ... 80

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Charlotte B, 9

re-placed his balance with a single, stern expression. He then lifted his left foot over the leather saddle and dropped into the misty clearance surrounded by sombre plants, rotting in the fog. The glowing moon illuminated the

Great Grandma

night for the eyes but not for the soul, it made it dark, black. Coal black.

Going to my room after a day at school

The man landed with a swift jolt and a dim bang. His hat was slightly twisted

Running my fingers across the drawer

then he re-aligned it turning his head in the opposite direction. He trooped

Ending in the corner of it and sliding it open with one pull

forward through the haze and landed on the creaking doorstep originally

A river of memories come streaming out

made of oak but now made of fear and desperation. His clenched fist lifted

Touching everything makes all the memories come to life

from his slick side, smote upon the door and his mouth fiercely bellowed, "I kept my promise." No head appeared through the sill nor the door. His

Glaring at it makes it seem like it had never gone away Ringing in my ears are all the laughing times A spark of her is still inside my heart Nothing can take it away from me Dangling her necklace on my finger watch it swing side to side My safe space is here with you in my heart And it will always stay the same.

hand clashed against the wood once more but no one descended to him. The prejudice call ran through the house in waves vibrating the outcasts who lay within like they were boats in a storm. They dwelt breathing the frigid air that resided in the brittle walls arranged to make a house, not a home. A house is alone, a home is solace. Figures like them do not have a right to be untroubled even though they listen and be still while loneliness devours their joy bit by bit. There were shards of cracked plaster that lay still on the sorrel bricks. The light from the sinister moon shone into the dim house from the one window blanketed in dingy green.

Millie S, 9

The man called once more, even more furious than the last that time no one replied to the call, no birds tweeted, no horse neighed. Through the clearance lay his ride feasting on the little vegetation that was present in the field. He

The man thrust his rigid foot into the muscular barrel of the onyx stallion.

marched back through the shallow bog and launched himself onto the back

He drew back on the willow reins and his fibrous steed came to a sudden

of his steed, tugged on the reins, both their heads lifted up and, “Yah!" off

halt. The rider slipped his two stygian boots out of the rusting stirrups and

they went galloping into the night, overtaking the wind.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Sam N, 10

It was only just possible with the naked human eye to visualise some cracked faulty windows gradually breaking down into an open, sharp hole as the amount of the resource was scarce. A riot raven surged through the area in

The young, courageous rider tightly clenched onto the thick leather reins of his chestnut coloured horse, which stumbled slightly on the uneven floor as this stallion was new to this sort of adventure and excitement. Its legs had to wobble for a mix of good and bad ways. Not long after though, the pair had located a dusty, stone pathway which made the ginger rider confidently speak to his small stallion and he told it to slowly come to a halt. The horse knew he had to impress his top man so he did as he said, even with the horror of the free roaming plants, trees and foliage. They easily managed to slip their

search of its lonely, juicy prey in which it so desperately wished for. Down below on solid ground, the tall, clever man did not know that ghosts and unseen phantoms dwelt and swarmed through the individual rooms of the forgotten mansion and he proceeded until he was face to face with the door and knocked once, twice but with emphasis. The man knocked for a third and final time but this time he used all his might and thumped his clenched fists on the rough, rotten door of the mansion.

way slowly around the large, rigid rocks to cover them in dense ivy, holly and

The man had to be sure that he had made himself known so he yelled while

piercing thorns. The horse on the other hand though, was concentrating too

amplifying his voice to tell that that he had kept his word before setting off

much on focussing so never had the chance to notice.

down the cobbled path on the back of his unaware horse and sped off into

The rider loosened his grip on the leather reins of his horse and gawped in

the far distance.

awe as the effects of the amazing discovery of the possibly haunted house started to kick in. The man clambered off the small horse’s strong, bony back and stared at the eerie, unknown building. The wandering fog engulfed the mysterious, abandoned house and forest with the reflective moonlight sky re-creating other versions of everything in pitch black silhouette, setting a spooky, nail-biting scene which slightly spoiled the moment. The horse however was nowhere near bothered and had something else on its mind and that was obviously food! So it had no choice but to softly trot to the green yet old grass and loudly munch on its favourite food while it had the opportunity to do so. The rider crept towards the unstable, abandoned building and stammered towards the scratched door. 84

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Ella W, 8

Hollie B, 10 Up a dark, steep path, shadowed with moonlight there were heavy steel gates

Baking treats with Dad Lots of things I have connections with like my friends, family and peaceful lakes. But my biggest connection is felt when me and my dad bake. When I bake with my dad it feels there's so much fun to be had. Lots of people say lockdown is bad.

with a thick bordered gold chain around them. As the traveller climbed over the large gates they shuddered. It was strangely haunting, not at all like how it was before. The curling roots of a towering oak wrapped tightly around the forest floor and snarled at the traveller as he pushed past the thorns and nettles.

But why is lockdown bad when you can bake with your dad?

The rider gingerly yanked on the reins of his stallion, which retaliated slightly

Baking cakes is lots of fun,

and then skidded to a halt in the shadowed garden, surrounded with dark fir

and so is baking delicious buns.

trees. The moonlight reflected off the stallion’s shining hoofs. Their breath rose as mist in the cold and gloomy air and the slight neigh intermittently and the slow breathing of the rider were the only things that broke the

Going on walks with Dad

haunting silence.

Whenever I have a little frown I ask my dad to take me on a walk to turn it upside down.

The rider, whose hands were stiff from holding onto the leather reins for so

When I'm with my dad I see the leaves on the trees.

long, slowly and carefully tugged on the straps and pulled his black riding

I feel the wind and the breeze.

helmet off his sweaty head. The dark clouds parted entirely to reveal the

When me and my dad walk we're in our own zone.

whole moon. A full moon. He swallowed hard, his breath now echoing

We're together always we will never be alone.

around the eerie grounds, plucking up his courage. This place wasn’t as he

I love going out and exploring the wild.

remembered it. The rider carefully and, at snail speed, tentatively walked

I treasure this experience as I am a child.

across the garden heading for the rusty, moonlit door, his feet crunching on the frosted floor. As he approached the now darkened door thistles snapped at his feet and snake-like tendrils ensnared the ancient iron door frame. He raised a trembling hand up to the rusty door.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

The loud bang echoed around the vast empty banquet halls, clouded with

The echoing knock on the rotten, wooden door snaked around the house and

darkness. The ancient, dusty grand staircase wound up in a Helter Skelter

up the gloomy staircase. The silent phantoms were disturbed by the wave of

fashion. There was a mouldy red carpet by the rusty, bedraggled steel door.

sound but stood straight and carried on haunting the manor unperturbed.

The phantoms hung down in their draping black robes. The man was re-

With their heads bowed and cloaks floating they kept an ear out and listened

visiting the broken down manor. The doorknob, reused once more...

in to the banging on the hollow door and sent a noise around the manor. As the rider knocked for the third time he was unsure if there was any life in

Amelia N, 10

this manor and he didn’t want to make foot in it as he still didn’t know what or if there was anything looming in the manor. All he knew was that if there was no answer for the third time the manor must be haunted with mythical

Overnight a man ventured into a forest on his horse and discovered a far forgotten manor. The untouched, mythical manor in the middle of the forest was being engulfed by the fog surrounding. The adventurous, fearless rider all of a sudden pulled on the reins on his horse and drew to a halt as the ghostly, unearthly manor stood in front of them under the bright, bold moonlight. He cautiously rethought about his plan

things and he would never come back. So as he waited for the door handle to turn for two whole minutes he couldn’t take any more so he scurried off the doorstep and jumped back on his horse and he cantered away into the distance. He stuck with his word and he never revisited the manor again. The phantoms heard everything, even the riders tiptoeing and the horse shoes galloping away but they had to keep their secret a secret.

to explore this spooky house. The rider warily took his feet out of the metal stirrups and stepped off the horse. The branches from the trees overhung and the moonlight made shadows which made it feel more haunted. In the meantime, the horse was not bothered and lowered his head to begin cropping the long blades of grass. As the unspooked rider headed for the door all he could hear was his footsteps and the rustling of the branches in the breeze. He tiptoed on the stony, loud floor to the small, wooden moonlit door. He lifted his fist next to his head and cautiously knocked on the door for the first time. Silence was the only answer he got. The rider knocked again even louder than before. 88

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Will C, 10

had run away when they were being hunted and the coward left them to be murdered, and had never been seen again. Until now. The Phantoms knew what to do. They would just stand there and pretend no- one was in. After no reply the man went and looked through the window but when he did the

The shadows are near Between the angry, swaying branches, the full moon beamed over the

Phantoms faded into the darkness and stayed there.

forest and within the pointy, crooked trees was a house. The elegant mist

The man leapt onto the horse’s back and whipped the horse with the reins.

surrounded it in silvery circles.

At once the horse picked up speed and in minutes they were gone, headed

A small man with a long dark cloak came galloping through the forest right up to the old, abandoned house. The rider firmly pulled back the reins on the majestic, silky horse and it came to an immediate stop. The man lifted himself up by pushing down with his strong arms into the horse’s back. He lifted up his left foot and without hitting the horse he lifted up over it and

towards the dark, gloomy forest. The Phantoms rose from where they were hiding. But, when they were going up the winding staircase they glanced through the shattered glass pane of the window and the man looked back, over his shoulder. All three of them met with the man’s eyes and, scared, the man turned and rode away as quick as lightning.

stood up on the other side. Then, he tucked his hand into his baggy sleeve

“How is that possible? I saw them die, how are they still there? I paid someone

and wiped the saddle. The horse settled into the wavy grass.

to kill them for a reason. I knew I should have done it myself...”

The man very cautiously began to walk over to the rotting door which had been lit up by the beaming moon. He walked heel then toe with his brown, leather boots through a squelchy bog until he approached the door and with one hard knock the door shuddered. The deafening noise shot around the building echoing against every wall it hit. Waiting for a reply, the man stamped his foot. However, the man had woken something. The Phantoms, the people who had protected this house for generations, but at the noise they didn’t move a muscle. Silently, one of them drifted down the stairs and over to the door and peeped through the small eye hole at the top. He saw a man below him banging on the crooked door. The Phantom turned to the others with horror in his eyes and the others suddenly knew who it was. All of them knew that it was the selfish man who had caused their death. He 90

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Lily-May M, 10 One day a rider on his stallion was riding through a dark forest and came across a creepy looking house. The rider was unsure if he should come off his stallion because the house was that creepy. It looked like it was haunted too. The windows were cracked, the roof was falling off and an awful smell was coming from the house. The door slowly creaked open as the rider approached the house on his stallion. The rider was curious so he jumped off his stallion and walked down the path. The rider stood tall in front of the door. He was wearing an old leather jacket, woolly hat and dirty old gloves with holes in them. His face looked so nervous, he looked like was going to faint. Suddenly the door opened a little more.

Oliver H, 8 Vikings of the Bay Once upon a time a boat came crashing into Robin Hood’s Bay. I heard a Viking shouting “Gray Back!” (who is the leader). Gray Back bellowed: “I am the leader!” Gray Back told all the men to load all there items into the smugglers’ tunnel. “Make camp for the night,” he said. When the sun rose they are fishing for fish to eat. They were lucky, all one hundred of them caught ten each. They had company from a hundred dragons that was catching fish. “Run!” screamed Gray Back, “Hi,” said a dragon in English.

The rider was just about to ring the dark, dirty doorbell that was covered in

“Hi,” said Gray Back shyly.

spider webs, but he was too scared. The rider pressed it anyway, the bell made

“Me and my friends are catching fish, can we be your pets?” said the dragon.

a loud DANG noise. The rider looked through the hallway and noticed a tall,

“Yes,” said Gray Back. “Can you fly us to Viking Island?”

dark, dirty staircase. He also noticed there was a candle lit up at the top of

“Yes we can,” said the dragon, “can’t we?”

the staircase. He walked into the hallway and whispered, “is anybody home?”

So they flew home happily.

There was no reply. He then whispered a bit louder: ”Is anybody home?”

The End.

Suddenly the rider heard an echoing sound which was like ‘whooo whooo whooo’ at the top of the staircase. The candle at the top of the staircase flickered then went out. Then a door at the top of the stairs opened fully and footsteps could be heard. The rider turned around and jumped back on his stallion and rode down the dark, garden path. He went back into the dark forest and was never to be seen again.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Ava-Rose C, 8

Rehan, 8 Once upon a time I woke up, it was a sunny morning. The birds were singing,

My Dog Belle

the wind was blowing, I was feeling happy because we went to buy a kitten.

Cute and fluffy, Occasionally cheeky,

My mum said: “What do you want to call the kitten?”

Nimble when running around,

I replied: “Hmm, how about we call our kitten Simba?”

Needy when wants more cuddles, Exhausted after a day of playing

She said: “Simba? From Lion King?”

Connection with my heart,

I said: “Yes.”

Treat time is her favourite time. Immense love for my doggy.

Then my dad came. When he came I got a cage for him first then I went

Outstandingly fast.

to Hull. It took about two hours to get there. After I was there I found lots

Noisy when she sees birds.

of kittens and cats. At first I was scared of him then I put him in the cage

Special, sweet snugly and soft is my dog Belle.

and we took him home when we got home I let Simba out the cage then he started to sniff everything. Then when my mum was hoovering up my kitten pooped on the sofa and we bought a new one. Then we bought Simba a bed shaped like a house but now it’s too small for him, so my dad bought him a really big one what was an dog bed! But now he almost sleeps in it for about 4 full hours. He chases balls with little sound things inside it. But now my kitten is big he goes outside and does mysterious things like fight cats and sniffs mice what is mysterious.

Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

Ava T, 9

This barn has blood marks on the wall and mould blocking the horse stables. The robots took their gun out and attached their flashlight to them. They sneaked around the barn looking for the thieves. They went up the stairs with

As dusk approached the sun began to settle on the horizon. The extensive

the gun in their hands and they kept low making sure not to get spotted.

heathery moor spread out like a purple blanket deserted like shells laying on the

They spot the thieves selling the stuff and then the robots shout: "Get on the

sea shore. Trees swayed rapidly and branches creaked in the tempestuous wind.

ground with your hands behind your back now!"

Gnarled silhouettes of darkness shone on the grassy floor. The mist disguised the highway man what made him look like a figure stallion like. Hearts thumping , the full moon glistened in the unilluminated night, swirls of darkness coated the sky wispy, ominous clouds stretched far and wide. Threatening clouds surrounded the moon. The mist descended like a cloak disguising anything to be seen. Suddenly, a smell of gun powder a shimmer of a pistol was it really the

The thieves continue and fire but the bullets just reflect off them. They have a gun fight and the robots win. The robots could not be killed. Well, there was one way this way was from a massive gun with a lightning bolt that charged up with a dial. It lit up blue and could take out a full cannon at its very little powered rate.

highwayman at the inn door? On the road that meandered like a snake slivering

This gun was held by the finest international air force and even the robots

up a tree branch.

could not get their hands on it. The air force could not be seen as it was an astronomical aircraft that could not be seen from the invisible powers it

Luke S-B, 10

had held. The powers had been from a mystical wizard that had been spotted a couple of hours ago by the robots, yet the robots did not know this at the time. They have to travel with the thieves the 17 miles it took them to get there.

Fantastic futuristic cops

It takes them a couple of hours to get to the station but they get there and it's

Exuberantly, the Mustang zoomed ahead pursuing the chase hoping to catch

destroyed. There are bodies on the floor and the robots knew it was a setup

the thieves. The mustang contained two robots from the future one having

as there were none of the people that worked there on the job today. They

a jet-black belt with a gun attachment with a six-shooter in it. On the other

say: “Get up or your friends won't be getting up.” All the fake people get

hand the other one had an AK-47 in his hand and whenever a threat acquired

up and then pick up some guns they open fire but the bullets just reflect on

it shot. As they were going on they spotted a suspicious person but they carry

them they die but the thieves live they all go in a cell and it is over for them.

on going any way it was a massive 17 miles until the thieves had led them to an old barn with no animals other than rats. 96

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Connecting Stories Anthology from Bradford

whole centuries. The dog has a very fluffy coat of fur to keep it warm for the

to shoot him but he stops the bullet with his hands but the dog runs up at

winters it can hear very high pitch screams and can scent stuff that barely

the wizard and jumps at him. The bullet hits both the dog and the wizard.

anyone can smell and most dogs can't smell.

The wizard dies but fortunately because of how big and enchanted the dog’s

All three of them went to find the wizard in the same Mustang from before, they wanted answers to why he was hiding something under his top that

heart is it survives. The end.

looked like a gun. What they didn't know was that it was a ball of fire you heard me correct a ball of fire since in the earlier stages of his breakdown he had used the fire to a building full of babies which was mental, of course,

Isabella P, 9

but he had forgotten his memory and did not know how to wield his powers so he just threw around fire and ice, killing citizens of this city, but did not fear the robots who are here. Well, of course, the dog was there with them

A hundred years ago in the dinosaur age a very small dinosaur had special

too. But these robots did not know what to do. they had only ever used

powers he could move objects and even have ninja skills. Suddenly a volcano

bulletproof metal.

erupted. The creature was crushed until two hundred years later when a girl

They had the idea of tracking the invisible aircraft down this would be difficult since it was invisible but they used some soil and a drone the soil would shoot out of the drone every five seconds. After a long two hours they spot them, they climb onto the aircraft and the dog takes out some guards but the robots take out the rest with their guns. They go inside the headquarters and get the weapon. It was a pretty heavy gun and it took both robots to carry it and they hop back in the drone and go down to land. They try to find the wizard but it was hard since he was at the other side of the town. They found him thanks to the dog with his scent. They get him

called Owl found them. She was a explorer she found the little creature’s bones. When she touched them the power went in her. When she went home with the bones. Her parents were so proud. She went to her bedroom. When she was brushing her teeth she let go of her tooth brush. It was floating she couldn’t believe her eyes, was she sleeping? Then all of a sudden she fainted. Then her parents woke her up. Then she went to bed. Then the next day she went to check the remains of the bones where they were. The she started punching stuff she punched the tree and it fell down. She said: “My new powers are awesome ninja skills and I can move objects.”

and he was refusing to come with them and he starts throwing fire nearly

Someone was recording her moving objects and using here ninja skills. When

hitting the dog yet the dog jumps out of the way then the robots get the gun

she went home the mayor was there. “I was shocked,” he said. “You can move

out and leave him at gunpoint. They turn the dial up to max and accidentally

objects and have ninja skills, I see.”

shoot the abandoned building. They seem to get the handle of it and try 98

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Owl said: “Yes.”

art, like painting or charcoal drawings. My brother also took an interest in

Then he said: “Can you be our person who is a superhero?” She said: “Yes.”

baking, he made us chocolate volcano cake – it was amazing! There is also a surf shop near the beach were you can get wetsuits. We also have movie nights with delicious food such as pizza, popcorn and sweets. Sometimes the

10 years later Owl fights crime and has a lot of money and Owl has a husband they call Owl Super Owl.

tide covers nearly all the sand but other times you can barely see the water. When the tide is high we like to go paddle boarding. There also is Wii game console that we can play on with games such as

Jacob R, 10

Wii sports. We sometimes drive past the trailers. We also play with her pet cat sometimes with his mouse toy. Sometimes I use exercise equipment or do push-ups, press-ups and sit-ups. In the garden there is a punching bag. There is also a metal detector in the shed that we took down to the beach

Why my favourite place is my grandma's house My favourite place is my grandma's house. It is my favourite place because it is near Cleethorpes Beach. Me and my brother paddleboard in the sea, we also build sandcastles and look for hidden sea creatures. We could see stone forts with binoculars it was still a little blurry because they were so far away. There are also four arcades near her house that we like to go in. The claw machines are my favourite. It has amazing prizes like a giant teddy rabbit

were we found £2 and a massive rock. We also went to this nice restaurant that had sundaes with choice of toppings such as Oreo, fudge, sprinkles, chocolate and peanut butter with vanilla ice cream. Also there is this place where there is a roller coaster and carousel. There also is this really nice ice cream shop that has loads of flavours such as chocolate, strawberry, vanilla and salted caramel. I also helped my grandma make a Sunday dinner by cutting vegetables, helping cooking roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings.

and a humongous panda. We also go to a shop that sells Pokémon cards and other things. My older brother once bought a bubble gum stick the size of his arm, it's roughly 1.25 meters. There is a pirate ship that is actually an illusion, which you can leave an item to show you have been there. In her back garden there is a mini pond where you can sometimes see frogs and one of her pet cats. There is also some nice fish and chips shops near her house as well. Cameron, my older brother, and my grandma like to do

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Scarlett D, 10 Today was a bad day. A singer Olly Murs split up with Katy Perry. So what happened was he thought they never had time for each over because they was always so, so busy. It all started with a kiss and then he said: “Can we talk?”

Romana K, 8 Thursday, 18th March, 2021 Dear Diary, SQEEEE! Tomorrow is Red Nose Day! Don’t get me wrong, I love Red Nose

“Yes, sure.”

Day, especially when it’s at school. I know, I know, it sounds weird because

He was basically saying I don’t think we will have no time for each over so

everyone hates school, but we get to dress up silly and we do fun activities.

he thought why not just break up but she thought he was joking.

We had to do a sheet and it said: “SHARE A SMILE, write your favourite joke here, pop it in your window, take a photo and tag @COMICRELIEF

Six hours later

on your social media!”

“You’re not joking are you?”

My joke was:

“No.”

Knock knock.

“Ok. Bye.”

Who's there?

So soon, later, they really, really missed each other. They didn’t say but you could tell they were shivering and always singing sad songs even not spending

Someone.

time with their friends.

Someone who?

One year later

SOMEONE! NOW GO ANSWER THE DOOR, I NEED A POO!

They once called and met then, today, asked to get back together so they

My mum thought it was funny, but my sister said it was not even good. I

lived a very, very happy life.

know it was good, and the best thing is I made it up on the spot! It sounds weird because making up a joke sounds easy. But it’s hard for me, people. So don’t blame me. The thing is, I don’t know what to wear! Hopefully my mum will come up with another great idea, like she always does. Like last

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time, it was World Book Day and she decided to do my topic in school. The

baby called Jake. I can’t wait to watch him grow up there to. My favourite

deputy head teacher said that she loved it and that she would give me a prize

part of the park is the playground. In the playground there is a seesaw,

because of my outstanding work.

swings, a slide and my favourite part of the climbing frame.

My mum is the best mum an eight-year-old child could ever have. Hey,

One of my other favourite activities to do in the park is to go for snowy walks

sometimes she may shout, but you’ve got to love her! For the funny outfit,

with my dog, Izzy, my mum, dad and my sister. One of all-time favourite

I could maybe wear my pyjamas. I mean, I could just hop out of bed, eat

things about the park is the carnival. Every year the carnival will come to

my breakfast, brush my hair and brush my teeth and I'm ready to go. Even

town and set up games and rides for the kids to play on. Usually, I go with

though I never write diaries, I’m just doing this because I have nothing else

my cousins Alex and Scott, their mum Leigh, my mum Becky and my sister.

to do. Unless my cat has got any spare time. Meh, she’s properly sleeping. Anyways I better pick out an outfit for tomorrow. Sorry but I’ve got to go.

Sometimes I see my friends and we go on rides together. When the carnival comes to town, the ice cream van comes and we always get an ice cream. Another thing to do at the park is to go on the bike ramps. They are so much fun. You can go on them with a bike a scooter or anything really. The last

Abigail D, 9

reason I love the park is because you can see all your friends there.

Why do I find the park special? The first reason I find the park so special is because me and my family have had so many picnics there. I have also watched my cousins grow up there. One of my most treasured memories is when my five year old cousin, Scott, went sledging for the very first time. Another funny memory is when me and my four year old cousins went sledging and we both tipped out of our red sledge. I also enjoy walking my dog Izzy there with my family. Another reason I love the park is because both Alex my four year old cousin and Scott my five year old cousin grew up there and my auntie just had a 104

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Sean T

Muhammad H, 7 It's my first day of year one. I only had two friends and I was bored. I saw a

My Connection

new friendly boy called Toby.

When I play on Xbox with dad, I always shout and make him mad!

One day I asked him if we could hang out. He said yes because we live on

When I eat my chewing gum,

the same street. I said 'do you want to be friends?' He said 'yes, of course'.

out of nowhere comes my mum.

The next day after school we were laughing.

When my sister lurks on me, my dad shouts Lexie Leigh! When I shout at my sis, she acts like a cat and does a hiss. When I go to my nans, she goes to the kitchen and gets her pans. You are always there for me. That's what I call family.

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Emelie J, 7 One day I watched a magical film Frozen and Olaf was funny. I think he should be a comedian. I have a connection with my mischievous elves.

Toby G, 7 Dear diary, on my first day of school I'm very nervous but then I met Dylan, my best friend, and he makes me laugh and he is my twin.

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Participating Schools With thanks to the following schools, whose students’ wonderful work is included in this anthology:

Appleton Academy Beckfoot Allerton Primary School Burley & Woodhead Church of England Primary School

The End

Denholme Primary School Dixons Marchbank Primary School High Crags Primary Leadership Academy Killinghall Primary School Low Moor Church of England Primary School Merlin Top Academy, Bradford Thornton Road Primary School St Mary's & St Peter's Catholic Primary School

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Connections By Bradford Connecting Stories, funded by Arts Council England, aims to increase children and young people's interest in reading and writing, and to promote diverse voices and stories. Children and young people were invited to take part in a creative writing competition which has been judged by publishers, authors and community champions. This anthology celebrates their creativity and hard work. We hope all entrants feel extremely proud to see their story published and that this gives them the confidence and passion to continue writing.

' Congratulations to all the young writers featured in this anthology. I am so impressed by their imaginative and creative stories – a must-read!'

Jonathan Douglas CBE Chief Executive, National Literacy Trust