500 Words 2024/25: read a finalist's story from the 8-11 category

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This story was chosen as a top 50 finalist for 500 Words 2024/25.

Remember, spelling, punctuation and grammar are not taken into account for a 500 Words story, therefore all the top 50 stories have been published how they were submitted.

The First Day at School by Nawel B.

Left and Right were waiting patiently.

GRAB!

The two shoes were suddenly snatched by a pair of hands! Left was dropped unceremoniously on the hard oak floorboards, while Right was pulled over a smelly, fluffy sock! Left shouted to her sister, "Right, what tragedy has befallen us?"

Right cried back to her poetic sister, "I don't know!".

Immediately after that, Left was stuffed as well.

Jameel then put on his brother's blazer. Old Blazer was a seasoned adventurer, a veteran of the school playground. This was the third year in a row he had answered the call of duty. He knew the joys, and horrors, of school.

Jameel reached for his rucksack. Rucksack's mouth was zipped open and in went Pencil Case and Calculator.

"I've got a bad feeling about this!" Rucksack thought to himself.

It was a pleasant journey to school.

English was first. Jameel fished Pencil Case out of Rucksack and dumped her on the desk. Pencil Case gave a quiet moan. Pencil was enjoying a brief but refreshing nap when he was suddenly plucked from his sleeping bag and put to a lined white plane. Pencil squealed as his fine crop of lead gray hair was gradually shaved off! Before long he was bald! Jameel, noticing his blunt pencil, picked up a dozing Sharpener. Pencil found his head abruptly stuffed into a dark tunnel. After getting spun around vigorously - "Yow! Oof! Eek!" - Pencil grinned at finding his hair restored. But it was too much for dizzy Sharpener, who had passed out.

Next was maths. Jameel was working on a particularly tricky BIDMAS problem and pulled out Calculator for help. Calculator giggled as Jameel started to poke his tummy buttons. However, it soon became clear that Jameel had no idea what he was doing. "Ah, URGH, OUCH, Oy, NO-NO-NO-NO, "AAAAAARRRGH!", yelled Calculator as Jameel repeatedly punched him in the stomach. "I wish someone would teach these kids how to use a calculator!" screamed Calculator in agony.

Lunchtime was not much better. Rucksack, along with all his contents, was kicked around in a game of football. "I didn't sign up for this!" shouted Rucksack furiously. Left and Right felt particularly bad, apologising profusely each time they were made to kick poor Rucksack.

During Art Jameel was tasked with drawing a self portrait. He tried his best but couldn't quite get his hair right so grabbed hold of Eraser. Eraser, who had been casually chatting with Calculator, was without warning, getting her head painfully rubbed against the artwork. Her head pounding with an unbearable headache, she was swiftly thrown back into the pencil case - "OUCH!" - another blow to the head!

Finally the school bell rang. It was pouring with rain; Old Blazer shielded Jameel on the way home.

"Thank goodness that's over!" exclaimed Pencil, who was now half his original size.

"Well done troops, we stepped up and made Jameel's first day at school a success. Be ready again tomorrow!", proclaimed soggy Blazer.

"Noooo!" cried Rucksack.

Everyone else sighed nervously.

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