A Strange Visitor by Fara Ling, 8 years old

(A retelling of Wendy Lawton's "Ransom's Mark")

One fine sunny morning, Olive Oatman heard a shadowy figure appear on the horizon. When the shadow came nearer, Olive recognized it as one of the dreaded Yavapai. Gathering her fears together, she watched her father invite the man to eat.

AS the man neared the tablecloth, Olive noticed that his head had only a war tuft and his eyes were lifeless. he finished eating then raised a club,. Swinging it, he killed Olive's family. Only her and Mary Ann, her younger sister were spared. Olive's thoughts raced wildly, " Where will we go now?" she wondered. Mary Ann gasped, "Has he left?" When Olive shook her head, May Ann only hung hers. The man urged Olive and May Ann onward.Mary Ann suddenly stopped and plopped down in the tracks after two hours of walking.

"Yakoa!"the man angrily raised his club, meaning to beat Mary Ann. Olive got in the way, and the man stopped. Soon, he brought Olive and Mary Ann to the Yavapai village. They were treated unkindly there, until one day, a Mohave chief's daughter came and bought them. AT first, all went well until starvation came and Mary Ann's cough worsened. Even the refreshing tenatas tree fruit did not help the hunger.
"Olive Ann Oatman," whispered May Ann, "I am going to die soon, and you know it. I do not wish to leave you, but I must."
"Mary Ann, don't talk like that."
Even so, Mary Ann died.

Olive yelled, "Why did May Ann die? She served You, didn't she? Now I wishes I could die too Lord, if you'd let me."
She flung pebbles in the annoying brook as far as she could. Only did she stop when her friend, Topeka, the chief's daughter (who was by now her friend) comforted her.

After having Mary Ann's burial, Olive felt more and more forlorn. Even though being with Topeka didn't help. This continued until she heard that her older brother was still alive.

So, accompanied by Topeka, Olive traveled to the fort where their brother was.
"Goodbye Top," called Olive.
"Goodbye,"replied Topeka.

A Strange Visitor by Joyce Phung, 11years old

On a fine spring day, I heard someone knocking softly on the door. When I opened it, I saw a sight I've never seen in my life.

A young maiden, with a tiara on her head, dressed in silk looked at me, frightned as a little field mouse. She said softly, "I'm, a princess from far, far away. Please, my kingdom is in trouble. I...I need your help." I felt surprised and wondered if I was dreaming,. I said, "Come in. I think I can help you." She looked relieved and came into my house, walking gracefully.

Luckily, I was home alone. "I have some old spell books that my granny left me, " I told her. She said, "Please hurry. I have only 5 days left before Siphon takes over my kingdom!" I asked her, "Who's Siphon?"

She answered, "He's an assassin trained to fulfill his mission to the very end."
"And his mission is?" I asked , dreading that the answer would be her murder.
" Me and my parents. You must help me, there's no one else I could trust.My father said so."
I groaned.
'I should have practised magic more before. Quick! I'll pack some things for the battle and journey."
her eyes sparkled with delight and said," Please, stranger, what is your name? I'm Dewdrop."
I took several breaths and said," you can call me Luna."

After we packed, I grew us some wings and we took off immediately in the air.
"Luna, this is wonderful, flying in the air. Let's enter the portal to my kingdon."

Dewdrop and I flew through something that looked like a rainbow fountain and a beautiful sight met my eyes. Green meadows and shimmering waterfalls filled my mind with wonder. Colorful flowers of every kind poured around the fields. Dewdrop saw me gazing at the scenery and rushed to me.
"Please Luna, we have to be quick! It won't be so beautiful when Siphon destroys it."
Suddenly Dewdrop was grabbed from behind. I glanced behind in horror and there was Siphon, drawing his dagger to her neck. She screamed,"Luna!Use the spell book!"
I didn't wait to be told twice. I grabbed the spell book and flipped open a powerful spell.
"Lightning bolt and tornado up above, destroy all darkness that lurks!"
A magic light suddenly flew towards Siphon and made him vanish in a puff.

I was so relieved and hugged Dewdrop. After that, we went to free her parents and subjects.

The king was pleased and grateful to me and rewarded me with a magical bracelet.
"With this bracelet, Dewdrop will always be able to find you."
I stared at my bracelet in delight. Dewdrop finally said, "Luna, you have been a great friend. May our friendship last forever." With that,she sent a magic breeze to carry me back home. I waved a final goodbye to her. But there was a strong connection I felt between us that would never break.

A Strange Visitor by Wei Lynn, 10 years old

One windy morning, the door shook as if someone was thumping it. I opened the door cautiously and peeked outside. I saw a strange figure standing on the doorstep looking very impatient. He was tapping his foot on the store floor.

I realized the big figure was a foreigner from a faraway country. He pushed the door wide open and shook and rubbed my hands, shivering and shaking. I froze like ice although I thought he had no manner at all. The foreigner settled down in a big armchair and commanded me to get him something to eat and drink. Before I went, I took a quick look at him. he had a lock of messy black hair. he wore animal skins, a leopard fur hat and leather boots. He wore a frown on his face and looked fierce. he made a growling noise. I disappeared into the kitchen to get something for this strange visitor and came back with a tray of food and drinks.

"Here sir," I managed to mutter. He snatched the tray and helped himself greedily, without a word of thanks but rude snorts.

After he finished, he stood up and whistled piercingly. A troop of men marched in smartly through the open door and the rude man began to blabber a string of nonsense to them. then, he turned around and asked me whether I had a brother or sister. I answered him that I had both sleeping in the room upstairs,. The men began to hunt dfor them and shouts and screams could be heard upstairs soon.

I rushed upstairs to find war between my relatives and these foreign men. I began to fight too. I fought for my family, for my brother and sister. But, alas, they won and took my brother and sister and tied them up with chains and dropped them into a big bag.

"At last I got some new slaves!" shouted the man gleefully. My mother wept. "Don't take my children!" she wailed. I felt so guilty of telling so many things to these men.

Luckily, the shouting and yelling was heard around the neighbourhood and the neighbours called the police to investigate. Soon, the police cars were parked outside and the sound of police sirens rang throughout the house. The men were caught, thanks to the help of the policemen and neighbours, and everyone was safe and sound.

WE thanked everyone and the police reminded me not to tell too much to any stranger. In the evening, the house was as calm and quiet as night. Everything was cleared up. I would always remember not to talk to strangers anymore.

A Strange Visitor by Charis, 8 years old

When I was having supper, there was a knock on my door. An angry man came and said, "I want you to wash my hair. " I wanted to throw him into the sewage and get him ground up. I hoped he didn't know how to swim. I shooed him away from my house. He ran.

His eyes were sharp like a fat water bottle. "I am not going to wash your hair!" I said. He tried to hide and hit me with a club. I escaped.

I said, "Go away!"

He said, " I want you to wash my hair!"

I said, " I don't care!I am not going to wash your hair!"

The man was trying to make me wash his hair . The argument raged between him and me.
I shooed him away then yelled, "Bye! bye!"

He walked away like a chicken and I went to bed since it was 11:30 pm.I'm glad he left.

A Strange Visitor by Jewel, 10 years old

One fine sunny afternoon, when I was eating some cakes, I heard the doorbell ring. I went to open the door.

There was a long-nosed, beady-eyes and sharp-teethed man. He was wearing an old dusty coat. I was shocked and I gasped. I stepped back. I opened the door and said, "Why are you here?"

"I am starving now and I have no food for me and my family..." cried the man.

After that, I realized his name was Chester. Chester begged me for food, so I let him to come inside my house. Suddenly, Chester took a knife out from one of his pockets and whistled. Many men came in,. I was so scared.

The tied me up and stole my food and money. I kept shouting. Chester locked the door and shut the window. he took a knife to stop me from shouting.

Suddenly, A hunter broke in and shot Chester's leg. Then, the hunter reporter to the police. Chester and his gang were arrested.

I thanked the hunter very much and gave the hunter some money.but he refused. I lernt a lesson and will not believe strangers anymore.

A Strange Visitor by Daniel Kam, 8 years old

“Knock!” I opened the door. The man asked if he could come in. He had a roundish nose and was skinny, sad and dressed in rags and dirty. He doesn’t like to talk a lot. He looked poor, hungry and cold. I invited him in.

“Hello. Welcome in” I said. He said he will return the good favour.

He came so he can have a better life. When he came in two theievs entered. They had pointy noses and big feet.

The thieves told me to raise my hands or they’ll shoot and told me not to call the police or they’ll also shoot. Then they robbed me.

Quickly the stranger jumped on the thieves and killed them.

Later I asked the stranger’s name he said “Mafaca.”

Lisa, 8 years old

It was the brightest day in August. The sun was a golden orb that was about to set and the late evening breeze swept me along the forest path. My map, compass, laptop and food supplies were tucked tightly in my bag. They weighed like twenty rocks but my heart was light. I was sure I was going to find the fake coins today.

Ahead of me was a clump of trees, arching like guards at the doors of the Deep Forest. I went ahead with the dying sunshine on my back.

I was surprised. It was beautiful.

I could smell the smell of dogs and feel slimy sand. I could even see beautiful leaves. The leaves were really dark like dark blue. They were shaking and welcoming me.

At the door , we saw a dragon's face with a ring in his mouth. It was a statue. It was cool!

I saw beautiful trees and the bushes were trembling. I was wondering, "What was that?" It was a samll rat! Phew! I thought it was a big cobra snake . It frightened me. The rat ran away.

There I saw my old barbie doll's head sitting on a tombstone. It had curly hair but it was almost bald. The smile wasn't just a smile. It's paint had come off and it was dirty. I tried to put it in my pocket.

But I did not take it. It was a booby trap! It was an alarm! It rang as I ran away. People came and chased me. They almost caught me but I ran as fast as I could.

On my way, I saw more people but I had a great idea. Maybe it wasn't too good but I had an idea to run the other way and I escaped. I felt exultant because I was safe.