Story chain

The magical days of Summer...

Story chain 3: Holidays

Starter paragraph: Holidays, by Nick Fletcher

Janet struggled with the suitcase on the steps of the train. It was a hot sticky day. She sat opposite her son Jonathon as the train left the station. When Jonathon awoke the skyscrapers were replaced by hills and valleys that were a cacophony of colour. Jonathon felt like he was coming home as he gazed at the clouds that hung above the winding track. He loved going to Uncle Sid’s during the school holidays. It was always a magical time and he never wanted the holiday to end.

Chain 1: Helen King

Jonathan was so excited he could hardly wait to get off the train. The thrill of getting off the train marked the official start of the holiday in his young mind. He loved leaning out of the window to pull the clunky old train handle to the open position, and leaping down the steps knowing Sid would be waiting. As the train started to slow down, he grabbed his little case, piled up the comics he’d read on the journey and slid the window down so he could open the door. As the train stopped he pulled the handle, opened the door and leapt out, looking for Sid. “Come on Mum” he shouted. Janet seemed slow to get up. Suddenly Jonathan was lost in the confusion and cafuffle of people and luggage getting off and boarding the train. He began to panic as he could see neither Sid nor Janet. He realised, with horror, he’d got off the train at the wrong station. He frantically began to run back to the carriage he’d jumped from, just as the train slowly started to crawl out of the station...

Chain 2: Paul Spencer

The station was hazy with afternoon sunlight as Jonathan watched the train rumble out of sight. Fighting back tears, he held the small case tightly, staring at the empty platform with wide, frightened eyes. The sky above him was a rich cornflower-blue unsullied by cloud. Beside him, a lush bank of trees were encroaching upon the track, and he looked around for signs of any grown-ups who could tell him what to do. For a long time, he felt numb; unable to remove his gaze from the track, he was absorbed by the shimmering hills of the horizon. Finally he forced himself to turn away. He had no idea where he was. It took him long moments to realise that behind the dense wall of leaves, which trembled in a low breeze like a swarm disturbed, hid the whitewashed walls of a small cottage. Slowly, hesitatingly, he made his way toward the treeline…

Chain 3: Liz Bowering

Jonathan was thinking of his mother as he walked. She would surely have raised the alarm by now and was probably already on the very next train back to him. He wondered how long that would be and remembered how he’d seen his mother earlier studying the large stands listing the times of the trains. There was usually a hanging computer screen too, and a tannoy. He felt the wad of comics stashed under his arm and surreptitiously fingered the half eaten bar of chocolate stowed away in his shorts pocket. He began to feel greatly cheered, excited even; it was going to be ok. A faint breeze lifted the hair from his forehead and as he looked up he noticed the flowering baskets swaying gently from the station canopy. He overrode the niggling voice in his head querying the strange colour of the flowers. Out of the corner of his eye, as the breeze parted the leaves on the trees, he again caught sight of the pretty whitewashed cottage and suddenly he froze. Goose bumps formed on the back of his neck. Something had disappeared at speed around the side of the cottage. He couldn’t have been sure, but it had looked like a small child and he had got the strong impression that it had been watching him.

Chain 4: Janice Rennard

He started to walk towards the cottage and suddenly a girl appeared on the path in front of him. "Hello Jonathan. I was waiting for you, I'm Jennifer and we have to hurry for tea or Gran will be cross". As they got closer to the cottage an old lady appeared at the window and smiled a welcome. "Come on you two, it is tea time". All Jonathan's favourite food was spread on the table and looked absolutely delicious. "Sit down Jonny", she said. The only person to call him Jonny was his mum when she said goodnight. How did this lady know who he was and how did she know what he liked to eat? The cottage looked faintly familiar but he was sure he had never been there before. Jonathan wondered if his mum knew where he was and looked at the clock ticking loudly on the mantle. That cannot be the time he thought, but at that moment the door opened and a large dark shadow spread across the floor. "Hello young Jonny, how are you? Great to see you again, we will have to see what adventures we can have this visit".

Chain 5: Hazel Stevens

The large bulk of a man came into the room. Jonathon cowered at the overwhelming presence of this very tall, very old man. "Sit down Grandad and get your tea." Gran smiled warmly. Grandad lowered his body into a chair by the table and beckoned the two children. Jennifer skipped across the room and claimed her place beside him. Jonathon followed warily. He peered up at the clock. They had been due to arrive at their station at four o clock. Jonathon's Mum had told him this several times during the journey. Yet the clock said quarter past five. The train must have been very late. Jonathon sat down opposite Jennifer. After a meal of ham sandwiches, crumbly scones and creamy sponge cake, Jonathon stole another look at the clock the hands were still on 5.15. They hadn't moved, yet the clock was still ticking loudly. "I have to go now" Jonathon told them in a polite weak voice. "It's my Mum, she will be looking for me." "It's okay lad." Grandad said softly. "She will know you are here." Jonathon felt confused. However he was old enough to realise his Mum would come to the cottage. It was the only inhabited building by the railway. "Let's have a game." Jennifer suggested shyly. Jonathon nodded and watched as she pulled a large green and black box down from the shelf by the fireplace. Gran quickly cleared a space for them on the table. Jonathon stared at the box. It was very old, the corners tatty. He'd seen the game before somewhere but couldn't remember where. Jennifer lifted out the brightly painted figures and placed them on the multi coloured board. Jonathon thought by the time they'd had one game his Mum would be here. Yes, she must surely come here and find him.