**SHERWOOD WRITING COMPETITION**
Spooky House Dilemma
Creeping cautiously, Joe searched the dark, dusty room. After a while of searching, Joe found a bookshelf neatly crammed with classic books such as: Shakespeare, Sherlock Holmes and Oliver Twist. Suddenly, his attention was caught by some books on the middle shelf. Put together, they spelt:
“DO NOT OPEN!”
Joe thought to himself, “That’s just silly. How could you open a bookshelf, anyway?” After saying that, he thought of a little idea…
After pushing the bookshelf aside (which was surprisingly easy) Joe revealed a long spiral staircase.
Can you finish the story??
*KEY STAGE ONE WINNER*
.
Mitchell Rowley from Henry Whipple
*KEY STAGE TWO WINNER*
Joe creeps down the staircase. He sees a black door, half open. The moment he steps inside he's in pitch black." How will I ever find my way out, if I can't find the door? Mind you a light would be more useful." He spoke out loud. Of course the most obvious thing would be to look for the light switch. He did this with great difficulty. Stepping carefully his fingers rubbed against a switch, a light turned on. Joe had been on a platform, that had a door at one end labelled 'VISITOR’. At the other end was a steep drop. At the edge of the platform was a light switch, the one that Joe had turned on. He was now falling down very slowly but still had his hopes up. The light went out of view. As he went down the drop, he came past lots of sleeping ghosts, as well as other doors, labelled J.K. Rowling, Roald Dahl and so on. He fell on hard stone floor, luckily a light which was on. He heard voices, merry voices. He saw a golden door. Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside and stood for a while in silence. What could go wrong?
Joe saw all the writers of his favourite books, all writing on a laptop or notepad. He met some of the writersa and waved to others. He found a rusty, creaky, crumbly staircase. A ghost came up to him and said," You shouldn't be here. Everyone is scared of this house."
“I’m not scared, “replied Joe.
"Is that so? Even if you met Dr Spook?" asked the ghost timidly.
“I might be, how would I know? I haven't met him," whispered Joe.
“You wouldn't want to, always talks about when he was alive, breathing and innocent," grumbled the ghost.
"What do you mean innocent? Not all humans are innocent, “laughed Joe.
"Really, humans look it, they even have lungs," replied the ghost.
Joe felt scared as the ghost spoke. His voice was icy and cold, like no warmth had flown through his body for decades.
He plucked up his courage and said, “Excuse me kind ghost, but where does this staircase lead to?"
"Dr Spook’s lab, but I wouldn't be thinking of him this hour, he'll be too moody," the ghost whispered sleepily.
Joe whispered goodbye and went up the staircase. He found the lab alright! The voice of Dr Spook came through the open door.
"When I was alive, breathing and proud, I had the best legs ever, but not now, no-one cares about Dr Spook. Don't think I don't know what the three ghosts say, he moans a lot, he's moody, I'll show them!" grumbled Dr Spook.
Joe crept in through the doorway.
"Who's there? If it's Mandy, go away, if it's Charles, leave it to lunch! So who is it?"
"Joe, I'm here on a visit, “replied Joe fearlessly.
"Joe, you're a visitor I take it, a breather?"
"Yes," Jo answered uncomfortably.
"Welcome to my lab, or as the other ghosts say the 'freak clubhouse'. Only myself here, trying my experiments," grumbled Mr Spook.
“What experiments, for what?" Joe asked a little excited.
“To turn ghosts to human, or find a way to have human body, mumbled Dr Spook.
"Is that possible?"Asked Joe doubtfully
“It might be, this is my 1563rd attempt. I've been trying for a year and 6 months now."
"Can I help?"
"Hmm I might need a human to help with the experiments, plus I need a human to fetch my equipment and lots of clean tubes."
" I'll be glad to!" replied Joe happily.
"We won't start yet, too late, we need our sleep," yawned Dr Spook sleepily.
Dr Spook led Joe to a wall with a statue. He pulled the statue's arm, a door opened. Inside was a velvet curtain across the window, soft comfy beds (2), wardrobes and a small bathroom, kitchen and sitting room. Joe saw a picture, it looked like a young man holding a baby. Joe slept, so did Dr Spook.
In the morning, Dr Spook got up, so did Joe. For 53 days they tried potions of all kinds to turn ghost to man, all in vain.
Joe went into the old house's library. He found an old fairy tale book. It said ‘what makes a human is sorrow, joy and laughter.'
Hmm maybe,thought Joe,Dr Spook has plenty of sorrow, no joy.
Dr Spook used to be a sailor, so did Joe's grandfather.Joe felt sure that the picture in Dr Spook's room was of him, as a baby, and his grandfather.
"Dr Spook,I don't think you'll ever become human by mixing odd ingredients,"Joe whispered nervously.
"Why,what else can I try?" enquired Dr Spook.
"Well, my book says real humans hav sorrow and joy.You have to be happy!"laughed Joe. So Dr Spook tried to smile and laugh all day. after a week, he was almost human.His breath was warm, he had blood but something was missing." I don't understand, why aren't I human?" shouted Dr Spook.
" I don't know,maybe you're not trying hard enough!"answered Joe stressfully.
"I am trying,I've cried,laughed, argued, made friends,what else can I do?"argued Dr Spook.
All night Joe thought about hs mum and dad, he felt a bond maryeven though he was in a creepy house,
"I've the answer, it's love! "shouted Joe one morning.
"What's that?" enquired Dr Spook.
"Well, I love my mum and she loves me,it's like friendship, only more powerful,"answered Joe.
"I don't have any family to love,"whispered Dr Spook, tears fell from his eyes.
So Joe searched for a relative for Dr spook to love. Then it struck him, Dr Spook was his grandfather, who sailed to sea and never returned.
"Dr Spook, I'm your...."
"I know, my grandson ," said Mr Spook. He cried. Suddenly Dr Spook had bright blue eyes, dark hair and white teeth."We must escape!" shouted Mr Spook. They ran into a door, they were floating upwards. They found a platform and stopped to catch their breath.
"Why would they hurt us?"spoke Joe, out of breath.
"I am human, so they shall attack," replied Dr Spook. They pushed open the bookcase, and left the crooked house. Carefully they twisted and turned through all the dusty furniture. soon they were back at Joe's house. Dr spook changed his name to Mr Lupin. That was his brother, a werewolf's name . Joe never ever saw a ghost again, well almost never...
By Emily from Carrington
Joe saw all the writers of his favourite books, all writing on a laptop or notepad. He met some of the writersa and waved to others. He found a rusty, creaky, crumbly staircase. A ghost came up to him and said," You shouldn't be here. Everyone is scared of this house."
“I’m not scared, “replied Joe.
"Is that so? Even if you met Dr Spook?" asked the ghost timidly.
“I might be, how would I know? I haven't met him," whispered Joe.
“You wouldn't want to, always talks about when he was alive, breathing and innocent," grumbled the ghost.
"What do you mean innocent? Not all humans are innocent, “laughed Joe.
"Really, humans look it, they even have lungs," replied the ghost.
Joe felt scared as the ghost spoke. His voice was icy and cold, like no warmth had flown through his body for decades.
He plucked up his courage and said, “Excuse me kind ghost, but where does this staircase lead to?"
"Dr Spook’s lab, but I wouldn't be thinking of him this hour, he'll be too moody," the ghost whispered sleepily.
Joe whispered goodbye and went up the staircase. He found the lab alright! The voice of Dr Spook came through the open door.
"When I was alive, breathing and proud, I had the best legs ever, but not now, no-one cares about Dr Spook. Don't think I don't know what the three ghosts say, he moans a lot, he's moody, I'll show them!" grumbled Dr Spook.
Joe crept in through the doorway.
"Who's there? If it's Mandy, go away, if it's Charles, leave it to lunch! So who is it?"
"Joe, I'm here on a visit, “replied Joe fearlessly.
"Joe, you're a visitor I take it, a breather?"
"Yes," Jo answered uncomfortably.
"Welcome to my lab, or as the other ghosts say the 'freak clubhouse'. Only myself here, trying my experiments," grumbled Mr Spook.
“What experiments, for what?" Joe asked a little excited.
“To turn ghosts to human, or find a way to have human body, mumbled Dr Spook.
"Is that possible?"Asked Joe doubtfully
“It might be, this is my 1563rd attempt. I've been trying for a year and 6 months now."
"Can I help?"
"Hmm I might need a human to help with the experiments, plus I need a human to fetch my equipment and lots of clean tubes."
" I'll be glad to!" replied Joe happily.
"We won't start yet, too late, we need our sleep," yawned Dr Spook sleepily.
Dr Spook led Joe to a wall with a statue. He pulled the statue's arm, a door opened. Inside was a velvet curtain across the window, soft comfy beds (2), wardrobes and a small bathroom, kitchen and sitting room. Joe saw a picture, it looked like a young man holding a baby. Joe slept, so did Dr Spook.
In the morning, Dr Spook got up, so did Joe. For 53 days they tried potions of all kinds to turn ghost to man, all in vain.
Joe went into the old house's library. He found an old fairy tale book. It said ‘what makes a human is sorrow, joy and laughter.'
Hmm maybe,thought Joe,Dr Spook has plenty of sorrow, no joy.
Dr Spook used to be a sailor, so did Joe's grandfather.Joe felt sure that the picture in Dr Spook's room was of him, as a baby, and his grandfather.
"Dr Spook,I don't think you'll ever become human by mixing odd ingredients,"Joe whispered nervously.
"Why,what else can I try?" enquired Dr Spook.
"Well, my book says real humans hav sorrow and joy.You have to be happy!"laughed Joe. So Dr Spook tried to smile and laugh all day. after a week, he was almost human.His breath was warm, he had blood but something was missing." I don't understand, why aren't I human?" shouted Dr Spook.
" I don't know,maybe you're not trying hard enough!"answered Joe stressfully.
"I am trying,I've cried,laughed, argued, made friends,what else can I do?"argued Dr Spook.
All night Joe thought about hs mum and dad, he felt a bond maryeven though he was in a creepy house,
"I've the answer, it's love! "shouted Joe one morning.
"What's that?" enquired Dr Spook.
"Well, I love my mum and she loves me,it's like friendship, only more powerful,"answered Joe.
"I don't have any family to love,"whispered Dr Spook, tears fell from his eyes.
So Joe searched for a relative for Dr spook to love. Then it struck him, Dr Spook was his grandfather, who sailed to sea and never returned.
"Dr Spook, I'm your...."
"I know, my grandson ," said Mr Spook. He cried. Suddenly Dr Spook had bright blue eyes, dark hair and white teeth."We must escape!" shouted Mr Spook. They ran into a door, they were floating upwards. They found a platform and stopped to catch their breath.
"Why would they hurt us?"spoke Joe, out of breath.
"I am human, so they shall attack," replied Dr Spook. They pushed open the bookcase, and left the crooked house. Carefully they twisted and turned through all the dusty furniture. soon they were back at Joe's house. Dr spook changed his name to Mr Lupin. That was his brother, a werewolf's name . Joe never ever saw a ghost again, well almost never...
By Emily from Carrington
*RUNNERS UP*
Joe crept slowly down the spooky staircase until he reached a cobweb-covered door. Slowly he pushed the door open worried about what might be beyond. Joe found himself in what looked like a large vault full of gravestones and tombs. His eyes found their way towards the largest, most majestic tomb which was in the centre of the room covered in fine carvings, mysterious symbols and dust. Cautiously, he wiped away the dirt from the top of the tomb and noticed the lid was slightly off. He admired the stone and then leaned in for a closer look. He recoiled in horror when he saw what was written.
R.I.P
Joe Sanderson
25.01.01- 18.06.2011
That was his name and date of birth and the death date was today! What could that mean? His heart started to pump and a cold shiver went down his spine. Joe looked down at his watch and saw that it was nearly midnight. Surely this was a practical joke? But Joe wasn’t laughing – he was scared stiff.
A scary sounding creak pierced the silence. A door opened but there was no one there. Joe really was getting scared now. He walked up the stairs and discovered a large dining room. Someone in a tuxedo carrying a tray of drinks was singing a merry tune at the top of his voice. “This is all getting rather weird” Joe said to himself. Joe approached the butler and asked, “What are you doing in this house?”
“My name is Ted. I am the head butler of this house. I should be asking you the same question... What are YOU doing in this house?” Ted answered.
“My name is Joe Sanderson and I wandered in here whilst playing. What are all the tombs down in the cellar and, more importantly, why is one for me?”
“All trespassers are punished by Roger! Everyone knows that!”
“When you say ‘punished’ what do you mean and who’s Roger?” said Joe.
Ted’s reply was even more chilling. “Surely the tomb below shows you what the punishment is and you should be asking what Roger is not who!”
At that moment Joe heard a bloodcurdling yelp and ran!
Peter from Seely Junior School (KS2)
***
As he was going down step by step it was getting darker, then suddenly he heard a child’s voice. Who could that be? Joe thought to himself.
“Is anyone there? Can you hear me?” asked Joe. As it got darker it was getting harder to see where the next step was. Joe treaded carefully. “Hello” shouted Joe and his voice echoed. The staircase was longer than he could see. He knew someone was there, they just weren’t answering. Then eventually, he was at the bottom of the stairs to find a little girl stood staring.
This little girl who looked like ghost had a big frown on her face.
“What’s your name?” mumbled Joe.
“Anne, Anne Rose” the little girl said.
“I’m Joe!” said Joe and they started talking.
“By the way, why are you here? To save me? “ asked Anne.
“To save you from what?” said Joe. Little Anne Rose then began to tell Joe the story of her life. She had an evil step mum who hated her so much she locked her up here for life. She would come every day to give her a little snack and water. Then one day, she delivered something to her that her Grandma gave. It was a necklace.
The day after her step mum who was very nasty, didn’t come to give her food and the same thing for weeks so that she would die in starvation. That’s what he step mum wanted. That’s how cruel she was. So Anne die and was buried in a church graveyard. However, her soul became a ghost and stayed trapped in this place. She now would not rest in peace. Anne wanted to rest in peace and she knew the necklace was keeping her half alive.
Once Joe had heard Anne’s story he was tearful. Anne had tissues in her pocket and gave them to Joe. “I’m going to save you, I’m going to give you what you want” sobbed Joe. Joe didn’t actually know how he was going to save Anne. Joe had to go home, so he carefully went up the staircase, pushed the bookshelf and ran into his bedroom.
Joe’s mum kissed him goodnight.
The next day Joe, who was having nightmares about Anne woke up bright and early. He ran into the dusty room and took a light stick with him. He pushed the bookshelf open and ran rapidly down the spiral staircase. Joe straight away asked, “What can i do to help you?” Anne gave Joe the necklace and said to give this to her aunt, only then she could rest in peace.
“Where does she live?” inquired Joe. Anne gave the address to Joe. He ran up the staircase, pushed the bookshelf and told his mum he was going to the library. Anne’s aunt lived four miles away from Joe so he rode his bike and told her aunt who he was, about Anne then gave her the necklace. He rode back home again and went to check if Anne was there. She wasn’t so Joe had saved Anne!
Saffiyah from Seely Junior School (KS2)
***
Joe went down the creepy staircase and lit the candle. He crept down the last step and he heard snoring. Then when he took his new torch out of his pocket he saw a dragon sleeping. So he quietly tiptoed passed the dragon he saw loads of skeletons. He was frightened but then he saw a giant giant key on the ground. He picked it up and when he was just about to try the key he saw a giant box it was really heavy. He opened it and there was a ruby, sapphire, emerald, diamond and a giant gold pearl. He stole the box and tried the key in the first door. It was too small the second was tinier but the last was just right. Then he saw a baby dragon sleeping. Then in there he saw two keys so he crept to get them and shut the door. He tried the little locked door and saw baby zombies. Behind the last door there were baby ghosts and he saw a tiny door in there but it was too small. But then he saw a shrinking bottle that said drink me! So he drunk it then he got smaller and smaller and smaller. He got hold of the key and unlocked the door. He couldn’t believe it he saw gold everywhere and he just forgot something. He didn’t take the jewels with him. Just then the door shut behind him then a dragon came and blew fire he found a sword on the gold plate and ran out. Woke everyone up and ran up the creaky stairs and shut the bookshelf put the books back got the gold went back to his bed safe and sound he never went there ever ever again.
Isabelle from Northgate (KS1)
***
In that moment Joe thought to himself shall i tell an adult or go in. After thinking to himself, he muttered “I’ll have a look.” As Joe went down the staircase he didn’t like it one bit because it was too dark! Soon as he made it to the bottom he was huffing and puffing. Suddenly there was a big bang the door slammed shut!
Joe could see ghosts Frankenstein and zombies! Frankenstein the leader of the nasty disgusting place! The gruesome leader said angrily “I spelt with the books, DO NOT OPEN. I will only let you go if you beat me but I am the master. Three days until the battle of freedom, be prepared! But here are the rules, you beat me you go home, I beat you I’m free. Clear?”
Meanwhile, up in Joe’s room his mum came to get him for his dinner. It took ages for her to notice he was gone. Meanwhile, back down the staircase day two of Joe’s training went very well. Day three of Joe’s training, now Joe’s been better than ever. Eleven hours until the freedom match. The zombies are refereeing the match. Frankenstein just got knocked out! Joe’s been set free. He was so happy because he wasn’t stuck with freaks. He swore never to go near the bookshelf again. After so long the bookshelf was dusty and never touched.
Dylan from Northgate (KS2)
***
The staircase was very old and weak so Joe tiptoed carefully down. His feet squeaked on the wood and his heart drummed quickly. After what seemed like hours, he reached the bottom.
Joe was worried because he had no idea what was down there. He thought about running back upstairs but he wanted to explore the secret cellar.
The cellar was dark as coal. Joe was searching for a light switch with his hands on the wall. He found one and switched it on quickly and the whole room lit up. The bulb went on and off and on for a very long time.
Joe heard an unusual sound like roaring. A ghost shot through the wall. It looked like it had been dead for one hundred and fifty years.
Joe whizzed upstairs so quickly he fell down a hole. He thought he was going to die! But the ghost was friendly and picked him up and they lived happily ever after.
Billy from Haydn Primary School (KS1)
***
He crept slowly down the winding steps wondering what could be down there. He came to a large dusty cellar, full of old furniture. Suddenly he heard a loud BANG! The bookshelf behind him had slammed and Joe was trapped.
Joe heard a screaming from an old radio in the corner and an eerie tap, tap, scrape, tap, tap, scrape. He was very scared now and ran back up the stairs. He frantically pushed at the bookshelf to get out. It wouldn’t budge. He ran back down the steps to look for another exit. He spied a tiny door at the far end of the large dusty room. As he ran towards it he caught himself in a cobweb and struggled. He finally reached the small door and it opened easily, a bit too easily...
Nobody ever saw Joe again. His family reported him missing but the mystery was never solved. They remember him on birthdays and at Christmas and miss him dreadfully. No one ever looked behind the bookshelf for Joe, but if they had they would’ve heard the buzzing of an old radio and an eerie sound of tap, tap, tap, tap, scrape, scrape.
Perhaps it’s better that they never did.
Jack from Haydn Primary School (KS2)
***
covered in cobwebs and big hairy spiders hanging on long aged webs. Several bats were flying around the room. I ran up the long spiral staircase. At the top was a big tall door with a skull on it, I turned the big brass door knob, as I pushed the door it made loud creaky noises. As it swung open a mummy stood there, it looked old and mouldy. The mummy had big red eyes and chased me out of the house I ran as fast as i could to my mum’s house and hid under the big double bed.
Kyle from Henry Whipple (KS2)
***
The long spiral staircase led Joe upwards to a treasure trove of old books. Each book allowed Joe to jump inside it and become part of the story. There were adventure books, funny books, scary books, nature books, science books, travel books and magic books.
Suddenly he saw a person, or he thought it was a person but he realised it was a ghost. Then he heard a voice and it was very scary.
The voice said "Get out of this cottage!"
Joe said "No!"
The ghost said "I'll get my friends to come and kill you."
He just wanted to run away home. Joe ran back to the bookshelves and found a book with a shiny red cover, but it had no name and all the pages were empty. He jumped into it, but where would the story take him?
To be continued....
Suddenly he saw a person, or he thought it was a person but he realised it was a ghost. Then he heard a voice and it was very scary.
The voice said "Get out of this cottage!"
Joe said "No!"
The ghost said "I'll get my friends to come and kill you."
He just wanted to run away home. Joe ran back to the bookshelves and found a book with a shiny red cover, but it had no name and all the pages were empty. He jumped into it, but where would the story take him?
To be continued....
Ellie from Carrington
