Cathy Cassidy

CELEBRATION COMP WINNERS!!!!!

Judging the winter 08/09 Celebration writing comp was REALLY tough. There were more entries than ever before and the standard of work was really high, but the decisions have been made…
Winners will be contacted now and prizes sent out shortly.

POETRY SECTION….

In the poetry section, I chose three equally fab winners, each one emotional, powerful and moving… take a look!

Celebrate by Ellen Hagerman, age 12
Celebrate
That’s what they say
But the only thing to celebrate
Is the past.
I close my eyes
And the scene before me
Vanishes…

The party lights,
Horribly happy smiles;
Too much icing
Smothering the store-bought cake
I pound the image from my head
Squeeze my eyes tight
Let my mind wander

I see you
At the top of what was our hill
I run up
Effortlessly
Together we race
Through the meadow
Fling ourselves into the lake

Celebrate…
You are all I need
To rejoice.
Is that too much to ask?

Last Christmas by Amy Primrose, age 14

The tree is tall and green
The tinsel green and blue.
The presents are nice and wrapped
But there’s none for you.

The snow is falling outside
It makes the world look pure.
I think that you can see it
But I can’t be sure.

Last Christmas I woke you early
You groaned and chased me away.
But still we celebrated early,
In the dim light of day.

At New Year we made a wish together
As we heard the bells ring.
We laughed and you made fun of me
When I tried to sing.

Later in the year you were ill
None of us knew what to do.
Then you went to hospital
The house was empty without you.

The machines started bleeping
And then you slipped away.
I cried and I still do,
Because I wanted you to stay.

Now it’s Christmas once again,
And it’s like no other.
Me and Mum are alone now.
I miss my older brother.

I celebrate our memories tonight,
I celebrate your life every single day,
I don’t think about your death,
I know you’d want it that way.

New Chapter by Sophie Pilny, age 13
My eyes snapped open
I woke with a start
The whistling wind, the thunderous roar
My sister so small, mouth smeared with jam tart,
Sprawling with carelessness, still, on the floor
She awoke then, face stained with tears
She cried for Grandma, for the passing years.
I knew Gran couldn’t come to us,
Rescue us like before
We were there to stay
Living with a woman we didn’t really know
Someone who wouldn’t even wish me
Happy Birthday.

“Life is like a book.
Some leave you with memories,
make you appreciate what you have;
Some make you wish
you never took the time to read them.
But every year in your life is a Chapter.”
That’s what Grandma used to say.
I thought of her then,
Her long silvery hair, her wise wrinkled face
I thought of her final chapter,
The end of her book, her last year.
She promised she’d stay, look after us, keep us safe.
I felt her hand, pushing me forward
I felt her smile, reminding me.
“Every chapter counts.”

And I took my sister by the hand,
Led her to the nearby beach.
I told her we were moving,
Finding our own way.
Her red raw hand clasped mine,
As we struggled along the windy beach she said
“Happy Birthday, Lilly.”
And it tugged at my heart,
Melting softly like lead.

There are seven runners up in this section, each different, accomplished and original in its own way… Well done!!!!

The House across the Road by Amy Hail, age 11
The house across the road
Number thirty-three
Was alive and happy.
A shadow walked past the curtains,
Told you he was there.
Faint sounds of music played from the window
At Christmas and New Year.

No shadows walk past,
No one goes in or comes out.
The man who lived there
Doesn’t come back from his holiday
To open his door
And switch on the lights.
People come with fancy clothes
But something’s not right.
They all look sad.
Slowly black cars stop at number thirty-three.
Now the house is still.
Curtains closed not to be opened
By the same man again.

(For my Grandad, Peter Mills Livesey 1935-2008)

Celebrate the Seasons by Ryan W, age 11

Celebrations come round again,
A new tree blossoming, The gentle touch of a dandelion Makes your wishes come true.
The tranquility of water,
Softly rippling down an elegant stream The precision of a flamingo balancing on a rock, Choosing a different path to take To lead it to its destiny.
The dawdling seasons that change The flowers that slowly bloom Colours change from blue to red… Winter comes and the year is dead.

The Night Before Christmas by Laura Webster, age 11
‘Twas the night before Christmas, at 14 Smith Road,
My brother was excited, I thought he’d explode,
I was too, but for a very different reason,
Against dear Santa, I’d committed treason,
I’d filled a bucket with water, placed it just above the door,
In the hope that I’d sabotage St Nick’s famous tour,
Last year I had played another funny trick,
I tried to burn the bum off St. Nick.

I awoke at 11, heard footsteps on the stairs,
And I thought in my head, Santa better say his prayers!
He clomped along the corridor in his big black boots,
I was busy bracing myself ‘cos I’d be in cahoots!
Santa came in, soaking wet and sad,
I simply couldn’t help myself, I was laughing like mad!
So he glared me, an angry glare,
And I slid down the back of my watchman’s chair.
Father Christmas stamped his foot,
And he left with a quiet, “Tut tut tut!”.

Snow is falling by Ellie Leona Rogers, age 14
Isn’t it amazing how snow works?
Its falls from the sky out of nowhere,
And just for a minute everywhere falls silent,
At Christmas everyone expects snow,
It’s just how storybooks are,
Everyone gathered round the fire,
Children watching from the window,
The tiny flakes falling to the ground,
Icicles forming on the streetlights,
And everyone happy,
It’s unusual to see snow in February,
But now, as everything and everyone is silent,
You can understand
What those storybooks are talking about.

Truly Magical Celebration by Zoe Screti

Whisper a worry to a winding shell,
Or a pebble smooth and round.
Throw it into the glistening sea,
Where peace of mind can be found.
Stroll down to the beach,
Whatever the weather.
Draw a circle,
Add a feather.

Let the lapping waves,
Wash away your art.
Make a magic wish,
From deep within your heart.
Write a special note,
To someone far away.
Enclose it in a bottle,
Let it drift all day.

With a touch of beach magic,
You can free your mind.
Of worries deep and troubling,
Every single kind.
Celebrate the happiness,
You feel within your heart.
Celebrate your freedom…
And a brand new start.

Just Me by Eavan, age 12

No Balloons Needed…..
No need for cake
Or fancy dress.
Presents,
Ribbons,
Balloons
Aren’t needed.
But i do wish
Some one else
Was here.
It’s hard to celebrate
On your own.

Anniversary by Georgia Stewart, age 13, Australia
A love to share,
of history and hope,
You’ve came along way,
And it’s been hard to cope.
With the smiles all around,
and the congratulations,
All you can do is smile and thank them.
Your love has been there forever,
And it will never stop,
It’s a joyful ride, a long one too,
But you won’t mind.
You have that special someone,
To hold you tight,
Love you, tell you it will be all right.
But most of all you’ll be there,
when he is hurt too.
Yes, you have come a long way,
But it’s worth it,
Because it’s your anniversary.
And you should be proud.
It’s a celebration
To share aloud.

SHORT STORY SECTION…

Again, it was a very tough job to pick just ten prizewinners… the quality of stories was amazing!

After much consideration, I chose three equal winners… each one unique, carefully crafted and truly powerful. Read the short extracts below to see what you think…

Anniversary by Emily Garbutt, age 12
Something I’ve realised is that there’s no use trying to forget, pretend everything’s OK – hold onto the things you have. Memories. I begin the long walk home, remembering. How Ginny was everything I never was: cool, popular, smart, quick-witted. But I was happy just being Freya, Ginny Robinson’s sister. She was more than just my sister, she was my role model, my everything.
I wander through the mass of school kids and crazy Christmas shoppers. The memories I have fought for so long are flooding back. The way her hair used to swirl in the breeze, bright as autumn leaves in the late afternoon sunlight, the way her eyes gleamed in the dark, like a cat’s. Lost in my daydream, I carry on down the high street.
“Freya?”
I stop, dead. The voice is so quiet, it could be in my imagination.
“Frey?”
Footsteps pad lightly on the deep snow behind me. My breathing is heavy, my heart beats at the speed of sound. A glint of green, a flash of red dart across the corner of my eye.
I turn around.
Ginny…

Happy New Year by Beth Owen, age 13
Lying there in her Moses basket, she looks so sweet and beautiful, with her dark brown hair and bright dazzling eyes. Her pale white face is stained with tears. I can’t believe she’s mine, my own daughter, my little Maisie.
I thought running away was my only option. Mom wouldn’t have wanted me if she found out that I was pregnant, she wouldn’t have been able to cope… but then, I’m not exactly coping either. I tiptoe over to the window, the lilac curtains are torn and filthy. There’s noise outside, people singing and laughing as they walk down the alleyway. It’s New Years Eve.
Gazing up at the dreamy night’s sky, with its sparkling stars like a blanket of silver rings, tears roll down my face. I sob so hard my chest hurts. The window squeaks as I push it open. The cold sharp wind hits by face hard and rushes through my hair, blowing it back. The people in the alleyway start to count down. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one… Happy New Year…

New Year by Kirsten Marenghi, age 11
Breathe slowly, take chances, never regret anything that made you smile, always be happy because a new year is about to start. The countdown is coming, a minute until a fresh new year… 5.4.3.2.1. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Party streamers flow around me like fairies dancing in the wind. Everyone is ecstatic, people are smiling and giving each other hugs.
Mum and Dad are taking photographs of fireworks. I’ve never seen so many colours in my life – blue, red, purple, pink and so many more, they make so much noise. Suddenly a single snowflake falls onto my face, then another and another. It’s snowing. What a lovely way to start 2009.
As I said, breathe slowly, take chances… and never regret anything that made you smile.

There were also seven fantastic runners up, each story literally brimming over with talent and feeling… read the extracts below and you’ll see what I mean!

Celebration by Kathy

Out of the fridge I take out leftovers: cold stuffing, turkey and canned corn, dumping everything on two chipped china plates. I marvel at how old my hands look. They used to be nicely shaped, with golden brown, taut skin and clean oval shaped fingernails. Now they’re lumpy and arthritic, pale, the skin looking like cottage cheese, with blue, stringy veins. I put the plates in the microwave, listen to the whir of the machine starting up. I close my eyes and lean my head back. The long, sad sounding beep wakes me and I scuffle to the microwave and pull out the lunches.
He looks so tired now, so dried and feeble, but underneath it all, I still see the lighthearted, ruggedly handsome face I fell in love with.
“Do you know what today is, Cady?” he asks, his fingers curling over my own.
“Our anniversary…”

Bittersweet, by Holly, age 14

I loved her, and she broke my heart in a way a boy never could. She was practically my sister, we were so close. We looked similar, sounded similar, had similar interests. We slept over, watched horrors, read together. We would recommend the other books, and enjoyed the company of just each other. It was always us. Just us. Me and her, her and me. There were always others, of course, she had another best friend, I had a group of “lesser” friends. They were always truer friends, but I chose her. I guess I thought I needed her, she was brave and daring, while I was a meek mouse. She had an attitude you either loved or hated, and I guess I made myself love it, to keep her…

Victoria Sponge by Vicki Clegg, age 11
Love sucks. Just the thought of Valentines Day makes me want to vomit! Since I’m the youngest of 6 girls, I’m always surrounded by cards and truffle chocolates. None of them for me of course. My older sisters are so much more prettier than me. Tomboys deserve love more than anyone. We are nice people. Valentine’s day is a bad day. A Very Bad Day…

Waiting, by Isabel Burke, age 12 *

So there we all were waiting anxiously, family gathered round, occasionally sneaking the odd glance at each other. The tension in the room was waiting to explode like a giant firework on a silent night, but it wasn’t a bad kind of tension. It was a good kind, more of an anticipation than a strain. Waiting, wondering, how much longer? Slowly, slowly the hands on the big white wall clock move. People pass through normally and calmly. Then all of a sudden the white doors open, and there was the answer to all our questions…
” It’s a boy!”
The family race forwards and there before our eyes a tiny baby small enough to fit in my two hands, wrapped in a blue knit blanket, hands so small they can barely fit around my finger.
A celebration today, that we will celebrate every year for years to come.

Midnight by Amy Haslam, age 14
Midnight is a magical time, but for us it signifies something greater. For as the clock struck midnight at this moment time, we were drawn together permanently. Our lives were lousy up until this point. That clock signified the end of our year as loners and the beginning of out year as the STAR gang.
Happy New Year everyone. I hope next year will be just as magical…

Halloween by Lillian Slow, age 12
Me and Mickey emerge from the movie theatre toilet in our lacy Halloween costumes. I’m dressed all in black with fish net tights and a black tutu. Mickey’s a murdered movie star with smeared lipstick and a plastic stick-on bullet mark on her forehead. We link arms and march into the dark, our heels clanking on the damp concrete. We go around the shops collecting lollies and scoffing half of them as we go.
The sky groans. We both look up. Then the rain comes. It’s not the sort of rain that starts really small and gradually gets bigger, the sort of rain that gives you time to run for cover. This is the sort of rain where you feel two drops and then its like a bucket has been poured on you. Within seconds you’re soaked. At the start Mickey and I both try to run for cover but it’s kind of hopeless really. Then for some weird reason I start to dance, swirling around in a strange ballet…

Funeral by Siobhan Kelly, age 11

“May Yvonne rest in peace.”
Yvonne managed a smile. “That’s me! I have to go now, Sunny – keep the promise! Stay sunny just for me – right?”
“Yeah,” I mouthed. “Best friends till the end.” She fades away into nothing.
I kept my promises. I told her Dad she loved him. Hector and the enemies too – they looked so guilty.
Everyday counts, now. Yvonne’s birthday, Christmas, the day we both got a main part in the school show, holidays to Spain together – we spent a lot of time with each other. Every day brings back memories.
And the last promise – to stay sunny – bright – just for her.
No matter what.

HIGHLY COMMENDED
(The shortlist… quite a long list in fact!!!)
Sian Gilbert, Siobhan Kelly, Ellie, Nia Hudson, Emma Bairstow, Adele Swordy, Effie, Maddy, Alex Smith, Alfaina Khan, Alix Baird, Alice O’Brien, Amy Jefferies, Amy-Lea Wright, Hannah Shaw, Aniela Cyrta, Chloe Polston, Anna Clark, Anneliese Amoah, Anya Clarke, Ashleigh Roberts, Ashleigh Roberts, Cassandra Galiwango, Harbinder Mallhi, Rebecca Neale, Rebecca Channing, Rebecca Jones, Beatrice, Becky Mason, Bethany Cowan, Bianca Deladia, Billie Austin, Brynnagh Mulherin, Shelby, Brittany, Caitlin Battison, Isabelle Cannon, Cara Vaitilingam, Angela Lau, Abi, Catherine Doughty, Juliette, Charlotte M, Chelcie Henry-Robertson, Kirsty Dunbar, Mollie Miller, Claire Brindley, Stephanie Cook, Carey Boyle, Ashlee Brown, Charlotte, Saffron Hickey, Darcy, Rebecca Stevens, Chrissie, Emma Nolan, Jennifer Dines, Samantha McLaren, Amber Jay, Jessica Evans, Ella Sackville Adjei, Ellys Bagnall, Emily Hunter, Emma Woodhouse, Emmi Kuivalainen, Evie Webb, Freya, Fiona Paterson, Fiona, Sian Dudley, Francesca Furniss, Cindy, Grace Robinson, Molly Clarkson, Hooly, Rosie, Hayley, Heather, Olivia Milne, India Daniel, Maxine, Aisling McGuigan, Chloe Reeton, Isabelle, Jade Sanders, Jade, Jessica Frost, Tyra Matthews, Cat Tucker, Gemma Nangle, Emma Youngs, Kara Parkinson, Kate Jones, Katherine Leaver, Katie Shotton, Kelly-Jade, Katy Ashworth, Kim Tolkien, Kim Martin, Kirsty Logan, Laura Maw, Abby, Ellie Robson, Laura Tierney, Laura Anderson, Leanne Neill, Emma Bairstow, Rebecca MacLeod, Annabel Kennedy, Cody O’Brien, Jessica Smithson, Charlotte Timmins, Jessie, Elizabeth, Louise, Connie Bowker, Lucy Williams, Miryam Lightbody, Maryam Chaudry, Maddie Myring, Mariann, Maya, Megan, Megan Coote, Mia, Michelle, Naomi Smith, Nayha Sharma, Olga, Laura Clarke, Orlaith Mallen, Hannah Agbeni, Kimia Godazandeh, Piper Booth, Savannah Parker, Jessica Cave, Sarah Iland, Georgia Black, Billie, Rosaline Mcniff, Rebecca Curran, Tasha, Roshane Perera, Rosie Bingham, Shauna, Jessica,
Ruby Alice Parkinson, Ruth McQueeney, Saphina Uddin, Sarah Horne, Sarah McLaren, Sarah, Maya, Sasha Clarke, Shannon Williams, Shannon Welby, Leanne Rudd, Shuruthi, Molly Pearson, Sonibel, Olivia Lowden, Sumayyah, Amarina Nhaynes, Toni Amber Robertson, Victoria Munro, Laura Jones, Vicky, Veronica Bull, Saorlaith Malin, Sarah,
Dolapo Okunuga, Sammy, Anisha Pathan ana Zoe Holman.

COMMENDED
(These entries also stood out for me…)
Lauren, Savanna Hiha, Tennille, Athena, Summer Chan, Becky Evans, Heather Hayes, Charlotte Arundel,
Alex Hawkins, Gemma, Megan Hind, Anna Grainger, Rhiannon Thomas, Alana, Hannah German, Sarah, Hattie Paige, Zoe Morgan, Teri Callachan, Hannah, Laura-Beth Mitchell, Jade Thompson, Ella Sackville Adjei, Jaime Whiteman, Megan Anderson, Isobel Killian, Emma, Jean Coughlan, Sarah-Jayne Ballard, Clemmie Alexander, Lili Harper Wallace, Rebecca Coles, Shalu James, Lauren Hay, Hannah, Niamh O’Shea, Louise Howson, Deborah N’safari, Ashlee Brown, Mollie Miller, Hashan, Alivia George, Lauren Merrington, Chloe Greaves, Ella Smith, Rianna, Safina, Sarah, Linz, Andie, Charleigh Lowe, Chloe Pickles, Shannon Hunt, Niamh Hanns, Emma King, Holly G, Jessica Smithson, Hannah Agbeni, Lisa Melillo, Jacki, Jane, Natalie Kilpatrick, Elin Morris, Aisling Glynn, Rachel, Shehroon, Danielle Bushell, Hannah Earley, Pearlyn Lim Shi Yun, Sammy x, Jessica Corrie, Olivia Andrews, Sophie Hamilton, Lizzie, Anisa, Ayesha, Esther, Imogen Hooper, Marya, Katie, Shalu James, Jess, Marika Varga, Rachel Feeney, Anna, Samira, Ruby Dhal, Amanda Yong, Sawda, Sophie, Samantha Foster, Summer Redford, Ishmam T. Shafi, Chloe Saxton, Francesca Downton, Chelsea, Jessica, Abigail Frayling, Zoe Warner, Olivia Milne, Ashlee, Shannon Fergus, Maya Lingam, Hazal Kirci, Andrea Vesela, Louise, Roisin Loughlin, Jessica E., Georgia Gough, Mikaela, Ellee Madigan, Chynna Greer, @y3sha, Lauren Jayne Lannie, Taylor, Claire, Samaria Simmons, Khadeeja Osman, Breaghanna,
Casey G William, Georgina Merckel, Maya, Devika, Monifa, Fatheha, Rebecca O’Driscoll, Jenny Wright, Emily Parkhouse, Emily Willsher, Ashley Viljoen, Katya, Vidya, Emma Barnes, Elle, Aleeza Shah, Rebecca, Teniola, Charlotte Sedgwick, Adele, Shannon Stewart, Beth, Eve Eccles, Carly, Sunna Mahmood, Becky Dixon, Brie, Bridget, Rachel Newnham, Louisa, Dannii, Lowri Haf Howard, Atarah, Ciara, Sarah-Beth, Clara, Emily Hardstaff, Juhi Khanam, Heather Bradbury, Eilidh Nurse, Somerset, Katrin Daborn, Ffion Davies, Meghan Watts, Andie Vesela, Katrin Harness, Elena Louise Turner,
Tamsin Court, Holly Drover, Georgie Saunders, Haili, Katie McCarville, Catherine, Evie, Caitlin, Ashleigh Ryder, Eve, Temi, Cassi, Ecclesia, Rhianna Mahnane, Nadia Patel, Cloe Chapman, Leah Newcombe, Yasmin Hurd,
Imogen Carter de Jong, Teddy Phillips, Molly O’Reilly, Louise Mayes, Sophie Phillips, Emily Sams, Carmen Barakat,
Zoe Boniface, Jenna Wallace, Chelsea Phipps, Charlotte, Lola, Danielle Stead, Bethany Jayne Rawlings, Shannon Buck, Chloe, Margaret Wells, Jessica, Charlotte Jones, Freya, Chloe Percival, Rebecca Jayne Barrett, Jane Lucey, Zaynab, Chelsea, Alexandra Derbyshire, Molly Joyce, Antonia, Lilly, Chloe, Rebekah, Brittany Richards, Nasteeha,
Rhianna Mahnane, Emily, Lucy Stevens, Haley Cielesh, Tasha, Courtney Ager, Chanel, Jessica Battison, Daisy Hanton, Katie, Briony Bailey, Kyle Blood, Erika, Lorna-Beth, Catriona Aitken, Emma Belfield, Rashida Josiah, Ruth McQueeney,
Wah-shiah, Elizabeth Rose Prentice, Loren, Lia Jones, Kate Noblet, Zoe Broad, Lucinda, Alexandra, Chloe Wescott, Kyra Schlachter, Aisling Creighton, Georgia-Mae Crabtree, Brooke Chadfield, Harmony, Jessica Cleary, Nicola, Megan, Eleanor Hannaford-Hill, Franky, Louisa, Leah Cahill, Rosie, Issy, Meg, Kazia Terry, Annabelle Ha, Sophie Bacchus-Waterman, Rosie, Sophie Simmonds, Emily Godfrey, Eve-Marie Wright, Bethany Caley, Amy Douglas, Chloe Baggs, Elizabeth, Rachelle Winborne, Amy Steele, Lucie Healy, Hayley Jane Smith, Cahlah, Rhea Mc Bride, Lucy, Demi Brown, Louise, Libby Behan, Lucy Smith, Tara Walker, Molly Day, Cerys Davies, Ceri, Shniar Sirwan, Megan Powell, Helena Bostyn, Olivia Jayne Fielding, Ellie Jordan, Grace Brennan, Jodie, Abbie, Isabelle Kenyon, Kate Jones, Natasha, Karis King, Daisy Blatch, Emily Forbes, Georgina Elizabeth Williams, Alexandra Kesic, Sophie Reuben, Shannon Chapman, Kate Rasmussen, Eva Starkey, Farrell Cranstone, Emma Perry, Natasha, Emily, Amelia Groves, Danielle, HHJJ, Niamh Kemp, Lauren, Kasom, Queenie, Kiera, Kerry Wright, Emily, Vanessa Ngolo, Sophie Hall, Elizabeth, Katie, Sarah O’Byrne, Chris Sunwoo, Ayan, Ellie Riley, Emily Drummond, Leah, Samantha Leanne Wilson, Yosha, Sonya Yildiz, Michelle, Coral Chantelle Harkness, Erin Mulligan, Freya, Wah-shiah, Caitlin Black, Bridget, Alex Brown, Nabilah Chowdhury, Georgia Mann, Laura Furner, Sophie Rae, Faye Whelan, Sophie, Libby Armstrong, Lonja Tavcar, Eleanor Swanton, Selin Esendagli, Amy Farrell, Emily Millington, Ruby Hill, Cassandra, Shannon Smith, Amy Haslam, Karla, Sarah Cashman, Gulsen Ahmet, Laura Broadberry, Shannon Quirke, Tiffaney, Michaela, Hannah Tough, Tamika Huckins, Chloe Greaves, Charlotta Boulanger, Josie, Eleanor, Hannah, Esme Higgins, Stacey Rachinskaya, Melanie Sugeng, Abbie, Faye Whelan, Sydney Hogdahl, Heather, Almas Hussain and Ciara.

Thanks to all the other entrants, too… well done. You are all
winners to me.