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HAPPY
The rain was pouring down as if had been for the past two hours. Squelching through the trees and bushes in my wellies I ventured into a large open area. Through the drips pouring off my beret I saw a number of buffalo wallowing in mud. I turned my eyes to the right, a sheet of water hit my waterproofs as I shook my head. A Chinese woman worked with
Illustrated by C. Fraser 2A
her Buffalo in a paddy field further down in the valley. I started to follow a wide shallow stream down the hillside. I came to another smaller opening. Green luscious grass in about a foot of water. I gingerly walked around it.
The rain seemed to wash every thought of school away, I suddenly laughed and ploughed through the centre of a large puddle.
R. W. McKinnell, IIIB
TRAIN JOURNEY
The B.R. door rattled open. Everything belonging to B.R. rattles. "Un gros homme" filled the doorway. His small, round, fish-like eyes floated aimlessly around the compartment, they settled on me with some difficulty.
"Hallo, everybody," a soft cheerful voice murmured. "Beautiful weather, eh?" Outside the rain was watering the land. He left his post after some deliberation, stumbled into the compartment and flopped down onto the seat with a dull thud.
From his raincoat pocket was produced a whisky bottle, half-full, clasped tightly by his thick sausage-like fingers. "Beautiful stuff, 100% ! Like some ?"
"Eh, oh, no thank you, teetotaller."
"Oh! I see, I'll have to introduce you to the beautiful vices of this world, what d'ye think o' the footba' game ? Good goal, eh ?"
"Yes, great goal."
I could smell the excessive sweat issuing from the enemy trenches and the stench swirled up into my nostrils. Maybe it was poisonous gas, it nearly choked me.
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"What team d'you support?"
"Hibs!"
"Oh, ah see ! One of those eh ?"
The train was slowing down. The beautiful sign of 'Ayr' appeared. "Thank you. God," I muttered.
"It's okay, no need to thank me !" I gathered my belongings and stepped into the crowded corridor.
N. C. Nelson, Form IV
THE CAFE
As I walked into the cafe I saw a big fat woman with a sack as an apron round her and a tammy hat on her head.
She smiled at me and I could see that she had about three good teeth in her mouth.
There was dust on the counter and it was sticky with coffee stains. The floor was black with dirt and had cigarette ends all over it. The wall was just brick with no paint on it at all and there was a damp smell. Most of the cups had cracks in them and there were no handles on half of them nor any saucers. The sugar had bits of dust in it and was also damp. There were old cardboard boxes in the corner with scraped holes in them as if mice or rats had been trying to find something to eat.
The woman said "What do y' want?" I said "Nothing I" and walked out.
A COW BEING SLAUGHTERED
"Bang" there goes another cow to the happy butchering grounds. Two Cypriot butchers drag the dead cow away with blood pouring from its mouth, most of the blood makes its way to a gutter which leads to the sea while the rest just remains and makes a bloody mess.
Then some Englishman gives orders for another cow to be slaughtered. The cow is dragged in fighting for its life, giving a harder struggle to the two Cypriots than the previous cow.
After a hard struggle the poor and helpless cow is forced onto the ground. All the hard work's just been done, the cow is defenceless. The Englishman who ordered for the cow to be slaughtered, puts his pistol against the cow's head and squeezes the trigger without a mistake, without hesitating.
G. Griffiths, IIIB
THE WAVES
It was mid-afternoon, the sun beat upon my body as I started'down the sparkling white sand to the sea shore. After every step I took on the wet sand, the print was at once filled with a gush of water. The waves thundered up the beach crescendoing into a smooth trickle and then rushing from me, back to the white horses, each retreating wave pulled, twisting and turning little shells with it, down to the breakers. The spray beat upon my face like snow flakes. Each wave struggled to a different
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