Cathy Cassidy

FAIRY TALES - THE WINNERS!!!

FAIRY TALES COMP… THE RESULTS!!!

This comp had more entries than ever before, so apologies that it has taken me so long to judge! It was a very tough job. The standard of writing was amazing, and there were some amazing and very original ideas. Well done to all who entered!
Note: winners will be contacted & prizes will be in the post shortly.
Entries may have been edited or shortened for publication.

POETRY RESULTS:

In this section I chose three equal winners… here they are!

Stacey, age 11

Happy Ending

When I look back at my life,
I see a fairy tale book,
But with some of the pages
torn out, missing.
Just like
The Twelve Dancing Princesses,
my sisters and I
sneaked out at sunset,
and partied till dawn.
Just like Cinderella,
I found
My Prince Charming,
by losing my phone
at one of these parties.
Just like Snow White,
I ran away
from my evil stepmother.
Only to find two dwarfs,
who became my best
friends.
All my life
I thought of only
one wish, two words…
Happy Ending.

So now I sit
at the porch
of our cottage near the sea,
at eighty two
with my Rapunzel hair
flowing in the breeze
and like all fairytale endings,
my wish was granted…
_______

Amy Primrose, age 15

Prince Charming

My life is like a fairy tale
Though it’s got its ups and downs.
It’s got its potential story
A supply of smiles and frowns.
It’s got a damsel in distress
That character is portrayed by me.
It also has its monsters
Though they’re in my memory.
It’s even got its noble steed
The funny bike I see you ride.
It’s got all those love cliches
From the butterflies I feel inside.
It’s got the highest room in the tallest tower
Though most just call it class.
The damsel in distress is trapped up there
Somebody! Save her fast!
But then it’s got Prince Charming
Green eyes shine like the sea.
Brown hair that brushes strong shoulders
Soft lips, just for me.
Prince Charming saves the damsel
As the bell for first break sounds.
Sweeps her off her weary feet
Makes her forget everyone else around.
He saves the princess in disguise
Replaces her sorrow with laughter
You see just another teenage love story
But we see a happily ever after…
_________

Bernice Puzon, age 13

Life and Fairytales

“Life’s no fairytale.”
I am often told.
And it’s true, because
There is war, murder, poverty,
And injustice around every corner.
Broken hearts litter the sidewalk.
There aren’t any poison apples to be found,
Or shoes being left behind at parties.
There are no great clumps of hair
At the bottom of buildings.
Be grateful for those things.
You could wear a pretty dress
And feel like a princess.
Or have a wise old grandmother
Who gives you advice.
There is always a chance
You’ll find Prince Charming,
Or find a secret Narnia to call your own.
“Life’s no fairytale,” they say,
That’s true, but to me…
It is.
__________

RUNNERS UP: There are seven runners up in the poetry section, below in no particular order:

Charlotte Jones, age 12

One

One has blonde hair, one has brown,
One wears a smile, one wears a frown.
One is blue eyed, one is brown,
One wears hoodies, one a gown.

One is a princess, one is a girl,
One wears her hair in a bun, one in a swirl.
Appearances are different, but looks deceive,
Inside they’re similar in what they perceive.

They both have friends, both have fun,
They both get their homework done.
One’s royal, one’s royal within,
Thoughts, actions, they’re both able of sin.
But one’s a princess, one’s a girl,
The fairytale ending can only happen for one…
But which one?
__________

ashlee brown, age 12

Cinderella?

When I was younger,
I used to dream of gowns,
White, silver and gold,
Tiaras and jewellery,
Castles and dreams.

As I got older,
Money got tighter,
Whenever I found a prince,
He was the wrong one.
The queen worked hard,
The king was never there,
My brothers were rough.

I looked in the mirror,
And didn’t see a princess
I felt imperfect.
Then I realized,
I’m not Cinderella,
I am me…
______

Abi, age 13

Knight….

In distress
A real mess
Cast down
Oh no
Lost my crown
No more a princess

I cried out for help
You came my way
My knight
In crumpled armour,
My hero…
_________

Daisy, age 13

If

If fairy tales started
with a happy ever after
and ended with a once upon a time
would the princess still marry the prince?

if the hero was the pauper
instead of the prince
would there still be a happy ever after?

if the fairy godmother
never showed up
would cinders still get to the ball?

would it matter?
Isn’t life more fun
when you can make your own choices?
and be your own fairy tale?
________

Saffron, age 12, Canada

Princess Like No Other

Rapunzel’s long, fair hair,
Voice as sweet as Snow,
Heart so good like Cinders,
Beauty’s stunning glow.

Tall as Thumbelina,
Spinning straw to gold,
Gazing from a tower,
In ye days of old.

Kind caring for bears,
Dancing ‘til dawn,
With princes so fine,
Shoes getting worn.

Eating all the porridge,
Cutting her hair short,
Peas under her bed,
Balls with male escort.

Servants, butlers, maids,
Jeweled grand new crown,
She’s the perfect princess,
Talk of the town.
________

Rhianna Mahnane, age 12

Cinderella…

Can’t wait for the ball
I am delighted to be invited
Never thought I would be so lucky
Dreamt of this night all my life
Everyone will be there
Ready to impress him
Entirely excited
Lets party, but not with my sisters
Lets sing, but not with my sisters
A night to remember…
But where is my shoe now, at midnight?
_________

Nettle, age 15

Fairy Tale

My thoughts float outside,
No longer in my head, stolen,
Go to the lost and found,
Only you’ll never find them now.
Someone out there your thoughts please them,
They need a fairy tale to believe in.
Lighting a match, pulling a plug on their despair.
What we’re living is a fairytale
Not glamour-filled, but bulging with malice.
This fairytale will shatter your glass slippers
And rip your heart in two,
Poison your goblet.
This fairytale is bitter.
Although it is anything but real, we must believe its true.
This fairytale is what we call
Real life.
Sometimes I forget I’m living it, too.
___________

STORY SECTION WINNERS:

This section was REALLY tough to judge… the shortlist was VERY long and it took ages to whittle it down to just ten. Here are extracts from the three equally fab winners…

Emily Rose, age 15

Romeo

His name was Romeo and I fell in love with him. He was tall, with a dipping emo fringe which covered sparkling green eyes that sought out my soul. Despite the fact he was seventeen, two years older than me, I couldn’t find any flaw with him. He took my breath away! When we first kissed, it was perfect.
“Ella…”
He had whispered my name so lovingly.
But only three months later he was yelling at me.
“Ella I hate you!”
“Go away Ella!”
“Ella just leave me alone!”
Each time it broke my heart.
After yet another argument, I locked myself in my bathroom crying. In my hands was the reason for all these rows.
As I stared at the positive sign on the thin blue stick I began to cry again.
Was it so wrong to want a fairy tale ending?
___________

Amy Jayne Haslam, age 14

Sleeping Beauty’s Little Sister.

Once upon a time, my sister fell asleep. She slept for a very long time, a hundred years in fact, and one of the fairies put all of the kingdom to sleep too. I wouldn’t have minded sleeping for that long, if it wasn’t for the fact that I was forgotten.
Yes, I slept, but I didn’t wake-up when I was supposed to.
Times have changed. My name is Arista-Mae and I am a 21st century teenager. But I am also Sleeping Beauty’s little sister.
I have no family… they are long gone. They died years and years ago, when there were fairies and dragons around. My sister got her Prince Charming and lived happily ever after, or so the fairy tales say. So why don’t they mention the princess that was never found? I want my own fairy tale, my fairy godmother, my frog prince. I want to be Cinderella or Snow White. Even an ugly step-sister would do…
___________

Elinor Roth, age 14

Recession Fairy Tale

Once they got back home, the prince and princess were married. The dragon was chosen to be the princess’s maid of honour, wearing a nice ribbon tied to one of her spikes and having her teeth whitened specially for the occasion.
After the wedding the prince moved to the princess’s castle, and she took advantage of having an empty palace with a friendly dragon to guard it and sent a bright advertisement around the land. The poster said: Come and live like royalty! Stay at the Prince’s castle! Ultimate comfort and safety!
She rented out the palace at a reasonable price.
The princess was pleased to see that she really did have her happily ever after. She had her prince whom she actually loved. But best of all, she survived the recession with enough money to go through it all again several times.
Bravery, kindness and love – oh, and money of course!
____________

RUNNERS UP: And now for the seven runners-up in the story section, in no particular order… well done everyone!

Helena, age 10

My Fairy Tale

Fairy tales… they’re not all about pretty princesses and hot princes coming to save you from an evil witch. They are not just about girls who live in faraway castles with butlers assigned to sharpen their eyeliner pencil.
No. My fairy tale is to be able to just fly away. Flying away in any random direction and get away from the people you hate to see at school, or to get out of owning up to one of our worst deeds.
I need to think up a new kind of fairy tale.
My mum worries about me. She worries about school and whether or not I am socializing enough with kids my age. She just doesn’t get it.
School is the worst place to be at my time of life…
____________

Sacha Eden Coggle, age 9

Rapunzel

That pesky prince is there again, lurking in the distance.
“Darling Rapunzel, throw me your socks!”
Socks? He is a very strange prince. I find some socks and throw them down.
“LOCKS! NOT SOCKS!” he yells. “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, now throw me your hat!” HAT? Do I need a hearing aid?
“Which one?” I puzzle.
“Plait, not hat!” he huffs. “Forget it. Will you carry me?”
Carry him? What?
“MARRY me, Rapunzel! Now…THROW ME YOUR HAIR !!!!!!!!!!” he yelled like I was deaf or something.
I throw my plait out of the window, and the prince begins to haul himself up.
“YEEEEOOW!!!!!!!” Oooops. My wig fell off mid-climb.
The prince is now in hospital with a broken back, a blood stained coat, one usable arm and half a tongue! Eeek!
___________

Elizabeth, age 14

Make Believe

Since when I was a little girl, I’ve always wanted to be part of a fairy tale and not part of this world. I have seen more bad things close up than most girls my age. Each time something bad happened to me, I picked a fairy tale and pretended I was in it.
I have seen my dad die in front of my eyes when I was barely two years old. That time, I pretended that I was one of the fairies that I saw often on TV and pretended that I flew right away from there. I pretended I was never there.
A few months later I got really sick in hospital, I pretended I was Snow White and that all I had to do was wait for someone who would give me a special kiss to get me out of the hospital bed. I got through it… not because of a kiss, though. But that didn’t matter…
___________

Beckey, age 12

Cinderella Story

“Hey, Matt!” Scarlett’s voice rang out downstairs. Josh sat upstairs, sighing to himself. “Are your brothers in?”
“Yeah, they’re here…”
“Cool. Could all three of you try on this, um, shoe?” she said, awkwardly.
“What? Even Josh?”
“Yeah. Even Josh…”
The three boys came downstairs to try on the Converse trainer. The older brothers tried it on first, but their feet were too big. Then Josh slipped on the shoe, and tied it up.
“It fits!” Matt and Mike whispered in disbelief. Scarlett stared at Josh.
“Josh… crikey,” she laughed.
“Yeah… crikey’s right.” Josh smiled and kissed her even more gently than the night before. “But crikey’s good too I guess.”
___________

Rosie Teasdale, age 10

Beauty & the Beast

I guess when you hear the story of Beauty and the Beast, you think of the girl being the beauty and the boy being the beast. I was so not a beauty. I was ugly, not on the outside, but on the inside.
I was mean and had a witty tongue I just could not control. I was the beast. I had only one friend, and she was just like me. They tried hard to hide it, but I knew the whole year despised us.
Then I met him… you know, the beauty.
He was a year older than me, and a bit of a loner. I bumped into him once in the playground and he immediately turned around and apologized. No boy in our year would ever do that. He was so cute and nice and kind, but he didn’t even know my name, and he couldn’t see that I was ugly inside…
____________

Lishani, age 13

Happy Endings

I remember cold packets of greasy fish and chips, messy, but still delicious. Just like us.
I remember sweet ice cream sundaes, late summer nights, long evenings of whispering sweet nothings in each others’ ears. I remember tasting happiness.
And then, all of a sudden, you went away, just like that. Like Cinderella, at the stroke of midnight. The only difference is, she got her happy ending.
I’m still waiting for mine…
____________

Maddy Parker, age 12

Fairy Stories

I used to believe in Fairy Stories.
I used to love them, I used to sit up until my mum went to bed every night and run down to Dad, say I couldn’t sleep and would he please read me a fairy tale bedtime story?
I used to look at him with big pleading eyes ‘til he gave in. My brothers and sisters would laugh and ask me when I would grow up.
I used to tell them that I was just like Peter Pan. I didn’t want to grow up…

_________

Well done to all of the winners and runner up, listed above.

HIGHLY COMMENDED:

The entrants below really attracted my attention and impressed me with their style, skill, originality and imagination. Very well done!

Alex Smith; Sarah Iland; Emma Bairstow; Xiaman Wu; Angela Lau; Ashley Viljoen; Amarina Nhayes; Nin; Hannah Abgeni; Lilian Slow; Rona Goldman; Zoe Livadeas; Zoe Screti; Danielle Pharoah; Jessica Corrie; Louise Cox; Emmi Kuivalainen; Alexandra Adair; Hannah Farrell; Kate Rasmussen; Katie-Mai Lambert; Jessica Smithson; Fiore; Emily Sams; Shannon Stewart; Aisling Glynn; Courtney Rice; Sarah Brown; Alivia George; Jocelyn Yeow; Sofia Papazoglou; Kirsti-Mai Scrivens; Sophie Rae; Megan Rumney; Jodie Foster; Lucy; Hayley Anderton; Charlotte Bygrave; Aasha Chauhan; Shelby Gibbs; Jessica Fern; Lisa West; Ashleigh Ryder; Cara Wauldby-Tolley; Faye Smith; Rebecca Andrew; Imogen Hooper; Laura Furner; Jessica Frost; Carey Boyle; Brooke Chadfield; Katrin Daborn; Abigail Wilson; Rebecca Jayne; Nicola; Alex; Sarah Cashman; Alice; Kiera Luke; Lola Elliott; Christmas Pudding; Brittany Robbins; Bridget Moylan; Yasmin; Haili Xie; Cassie; Adele Swordy; Beth; Nadia Patel; Sunna Mahood; Talia Ravenscroft; Leah Ingle; Siobhan; Greta Pine; Samantha Winter; Daisy Cross; Eleanor Hannaford Hill; Kylie Copley; Amanda Renwick; Clemmie Alexander; Charlotte Morris; Shannon Fergus; Jenny Antrobus; Aneesa; Kate; Hannah Metcalfe; Lauren Gyte; Stephanie Cook; Ella Sackville Adjei; Leanne; Brittany Leach; Shannon Buck; Katie; Kira Rockett; Emily Lobb; Zohra Zahid; Billie J; Emma Gordon; Rosaline Mcniff; Shreda Raja; Amy Jeffries; Abigail Frayling; Sarah Biggs; Olivia; Rebecca Macleod; Olivia Gordon; Georgia Sutton; Heather Dunlop; Rachel Mckaig; Hannah; Orla Magee; Erin Bourke; Lauren Strachan; Emma Sudol; Shannon Welby; Isadora Stewart Duncan; Sophie Kamlish; Sasha Kamlish; Myah Charles; Rebecca Channing; Laura Broadberry; Chloe Pickles; Mollie Miller; Heather Bing; Cara Jackson; Michaela Message; Oliver Message; Jess; Charleigh; Sonia; Sophie Wardle; Kathryn; Chloe Brown; Alice Currie; Teagan; Andie Vesla; Maggie Bell; Maddy; Molly; Laura McKitterick; Erryn Miller; Michaela Banks; Natasha Froggat; Izzy Graham; Rosie; Sophie Lycett; Ellee Madigan; Chantelle Cooke; Claudia; Heather Mcneill; Salonee; Maria Marshall; Bethany; Mehvish Asif; Emily; Leila Kay; Zoe; Samantha Man; Chelsea Bennett; Alana Finn; Sheridan; Clare Ince; Beth Marslen; Elise Taylor; Nayla Sharma; Ishmam Shafi; Jess Evans; Madeleine Mansell; Holly Jensen; Chermaine Tong; Rebecca Tailby; Isabelle Kenyon; Emma Youngs; Orlagh McCloskey; Jessica Allen; Penny; Emily Mae Stewart; Emily Philpott; Jessica; Marianne; Amy Gregor; Erin Harris; Heleena Wilkinson; Layah; Lauren Henderson; Jasmine Jones; Emma; Anna Hillier; Bethan; Lorna Beth R; Tai Oladimeji; Glory; Mollie; Zoe Petre; Linda Zou.

COMMENDED:

The entrants below showed real promise and imagination… they weren’t quite right this time, but each had a spark of talent that caught my eye… keep on writing!

Hibac; Dolapo; Leigh; Alex; Jessica; Kirsty Dunbar; India Darlington; Andrea Graham; Ella Collis; Molly Clarkson; Falak; Ella Smith; Chloe Reeton; Jane; Nicole; Lucy Hackett; Georgia; Roshane; Charlie Grove; Sarah Murphy; Prudence; Jennifer Dines; Chynna Greer; Alex Hawkins; Niamh; Andi Stott; Abbey Hart; Alisha; Mehftd; Abigail Kica; Clar Mitchell; Ellie Rogers; Louise Chisnall; Demi; Niamh Kerr; Ellie; Sofydey; Kira Dowie; Rebecca Jayne Barrett; Paige Winslade; Lucy Jessop; Ciara Elworthy; Nabilah Chowdhury; Mia; Ashika; Sarah; Rebekah Loy; Lauryn; Louise; Amy Golding; Leanne Wilding; Natalie Tsui; Tamika Huckins; Chanel Webb; Lindsey Saunders; Arabella Petts; Katie Miller; Ingrid; Magan Quirke; Becky Templeton; Ayesha Belald; Jaelle; Danielle; Rosie-May; Mouse; Billie-Jo Carter; Olivia Milne; Katie; Hiyam; Andrea Coetzee; Rhiannon Hilditch; Ciara; Zoe Warner; Siobhan Brady; Leah Herbert; Marie Goodwin; Talie; Clare Healy; Tiffaney; Saloni Sharma; Chloe Shaw; Fajar; Kim Martin; Gayle; Bethan Harcourt; Hasina Khan; Amanda; Chelcie Brunton; Duiheasa; Alice Singleton; Sharlie Lai; Brenda Nguyen; Tia; Danielle Neely; Lola; Jaymee; Emma McCormack; Ani Garvey; Kimberley Rochester; Lorna-Beth Rice; Courtney; Jessica Taylor; Rachel; Amber Langston; Jessie Ferris; Ciera; Megan Grundy; Lily Beards; Scarlett Placito; Sione Kay; Michaela; Neisha Bell; Charlotte Davies; Bonnie McLaren; Kate Fish; Hannah Turner; Lauren Haikney; Lydia Middleton; Lucy Dangerfield; Molly Shreeve; Saskia Cooper; Oleta Robinson; Angeline Tan Jie Ling; Dorine; Phoebe Persey; Lauren brown; Amber; Rhiannon Thomson; Tyler Wilson; Niamh Hanns; Rachael; Libby; Lucy; Megan Turner; Emily baker; Kathryn; Daisy; Cody O’Brien; Amy Dunne; Danielle Olivia Ann Maxwell; Stella Shepherd; Lydia; Alice C; Chloe Clapham; Lauren B; Jessica Whyborn; Aishah; Danielle Neely; Amber Hill; Jazmin; Jonnay; Veronica Bull; Sophie Myers-Reid; Anna Peters; Sabrina Robinson; Martha Morris; Jemma; Elodie; Olivia C; Megan; Haley Cielish; Catherine; Shannon Sallis; Isabella; Lindsey; Isabella Romaldi; Emily; Montana Edgar; Shabdita Singh; Laura Williams; Kate; Ashley; Amber; Abbie; Shannon Chapman; Emma Dillon; Britney Piggott; Sarah; Joy Wang; Emily Alcott; Veronica; Sian; Emma Austin; Sophia; Joanne Alderton; Ellie-Mae; Amy Wells; Tiarney Jane Shannonjeet Kaur-Notay; Darcy Farrant; Taylor; Emma; Alicia Andrews; Hannah Hasim; Sarah Aitken; Karis Chopping; Mia Franks; Megan Williams; Jenny Lauren Andrews; Hannah Brown; Eema; Nicole Doughty; Rebecca; Olivia Fielding; Selene; Jane Ni Luasa; Hayley; Robyn Mateer; Holly Harding; Claire; Chammy Leon; Eve; Anna Boase; Saskia; Cathy; Hally.

As for the rest of you, very well done for your entries… don’t forget to check out the new competition and try again. Practice makes perfect!