Lucy Yates Arabella Smithyman

Lucy’s character description was inspired by Charles Dickens’ depiction of the character Scrooge. This description was composed for the current Year 11 Reading to Write unit.

Sarah’s hand was still tight but brittle from the drudgery of last night. Notes upon notes were still flustering her mind. Her fingers were like fragile glass, hard on the surface but would totally shatter with the touch of a feather. Her brain was bruised and swollen from all of the information, the facts, the statistics, the evidence that were now absorbed. Empty stomach but a full mind, Sarah left with a quick, “see yah Mum.”

“Okay darling, oh and good luck for your....”

Her mother’s few words were shortened with an urgent slam of the door. Jess was no better, her sore eyes groaned at the sight of light, sleep was obviously not on her to-do list that night. Her general thoughts were obstructed by details that no one else would be aware of.

“There is no way someone could as worked as hard as me,” she thought to herself in confidence.

Her room was buried by books, paper and the occasional red pen, looking like a crime scene.

The thin glass doors smudged with greasy hand prints swung violently back and forth, allowing the early morning breeze to breach the room. The bitter frosty season was beginning to change into a humid one as one by one overworked students entered the room. The puny locker doors were stained, some with sunlight, some with food, some with a sad students attempt of graffiti. The beams covered with expired moths flickered dull light throughout the room. The single analogue clock spent its time in the corner of the room where the light couldn’t reach. It sat there most days reminding students the little time they had. Each locker had its own unique odour which all combined left the room with a nose scrunching stench. As more students began to frantically file into the room the glass windows and doors began to fog up as the rain began to downpour. •

Arabella’s purpose in composition was to create a setting where two characters come together in conflict. This was inspired by John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’.

The platform was full, teaming with people as it always was at six in the morning, swarming with those streaming down the stairs, frantically pacing in expectation of the train’s arrival. The sky was covered in big bellowing clouds that created a thick blanket of grey, stretching further than the eye could see. The train could be seen from a distance as it approached the platform. The exterior of the beast was dirty, dirty as a rock, wrecked with scrapes and scratches destroying the painted patterns. The windows were cloudy, hardly letting one see in and out, creating a sense of entrapment. As the train arrived at the station it came to a screeching halt, the immediate clashing of the steel wheels against the tracks sent echoes through the platform.

A man in a grey suit trekked to the nearest carriage door; waiting his turn he strolled into the carriage. Looking around for a seat, that was when he saw Jack: Jack looked perfect, with his suit buttoned up, his work bag in hand, reading his book. He could not believe that the two of them were in the same carriage, on the same train. Worst of luck really. There had been a constant hum of competition ever since they had worked in the same team - always going for the same promotion, on the same cases, and working for the same manager. Although they both denied the fact that they were applying for the new position, stating “they are happy where they are,” they both knew today was the important day: the interviews. It had been late in the afternoon, on the last day of applications when they had submitted their resumes, both casually forgetting to mention it to one another.

Peter was tall, with long scruffy hair, that added to his laid back personality that disguised his true brightest, and willingness to work; It trapped him, holding him back. He had joined the company two months after Jack, around 3 years ago. He always worked hard, without showing it. Peter never received recognition for his important role he plays in the company. While on the other hand their is Jack who is perceived to be the definition of a perfect worker, who looks the part, says the part, but does he do the part? Jack is first to work and the last to leave. He wears a full suit with his hair neatly back. He’s been nominated employee of the month many times. But the quality of work that he delivers is not half of what Peter produces.

“Oh hello Peter..” Jack uttered, in a shocked, and arrogant way.

Jack hesitantly moved to create a small spot for Peter to relieve his legs. They were forced and trapped in a bubble of small talk, weekend plans, weather events, and work events. Almost every polite subject came up - they both thought they were in the clear.

Peter thought to himself “thank goodness he must not have applied,” whilst Jack felt smug about Peter missing out on an another incredible opportunity.”

“Next stop Edgecliff,” ran over the speaker. Both men stood up, inched closer to the doors about to open up the day, oblivious they had interviews back-to-back.

Let the best man win. •