2012 Homeschool Writers Anthology

By Beaulah Pragg

Stories included:
Abigail’s Adventure - Luka Reardon
The Adventures of Kitty the Cat - Eva Bedggood
Purple Velvet - Tierney Reardon
Love and War - Ella Somers
Alma - Bailey Reardon
“I Hate You!” - Isaac Giles
Twins Of The Cannon - Thomas Bedggood
Escaping Pirate Island - Serena Jo Greenwood

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beaulah Pragg
• Release date: Feb 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370876624

Beaulah Pragg

Beaulah works for Christchurch City Libraries, as well as teaching creative writing and independent publishing. She is a founding member of the Christchurch Writers' Guild, a free and accessible space for new writers to find encouragement and support. Her novel, The Silver Hawk, is the first in a science fiction / fantasy trilogy for young adults.

Book preview

2012

Homeschool Writers Anthology

Edited by Beaulah Pragg

Smashwords Edition (2018)

Copyright © respective authors (Luka Reardon, Eva Bedggood, Tierney Reardon, Ella Somers, Bailey Reardon, Isaac Giles, Thomas Bedggood and Serena Jo Greenwood) 2013

Thank you for downloading this ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to your favourite ebook retailer to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

www.beaulahpragg.com

Table of Contents

Abigail’s Adventure - Luka Reardon

The Adventures of Kitty the Cat - Eva Bedggood

Purple Velvet - Tierney Reardon

Love and War - Ella Somers

Alma - Bailey Reardon

I Hate You! - Isaac Giles

Twins Of The Cannon - Thomas Bedggood

Escaping Pirate Island - Serena Jo Greenwood

About the Editor

Other Titles

Abigail’s Adventure

by Luka Reardon

Abigail woke to the sound of her grandfather calling her. She scrambled out of bed and went down to breakfast. Her grandfather was retired, but he used to be a wood-worker, which meant most of their furniture was handmade. Abigail sat down at the maple dining table and a large bowl of porridge was plonked down in front of her.

Eat up before it gets cold, he said in his usual gruff voice. Abigail had lived with her grandfather ever since her parents had disappeared when she was a baby. She wolfed the porridge down in seconds, then collected the bowls and carried them to the kitchen. She cleaned up the bowls and put them in the cupboard.

Don’t forget to do your chores, he called as she ran out the door. Abigail’s chores consisted of cleaning the house, chopping wood and feeding the livestock, (which was difficult, because the pigs didn’t like porridge).

Abigail walked into the forest. Birds flitted through the trees, screeching occasionally.

Why is life so unfair? she said to the pig she was walking alongside. My parents are gone, I’m stuck with my crabby old grandfather, and I’m not allowed to leave the farm. I just have to cook and clean all day. She kicked a rock, and it bounced off into the bushes.

Abigail walked down to the lake in the centre of the forest. She picked up a stone, and skimmed it across the lake’s surface.

All I want is for something exciting to happen, she thought. Next, something exciting did happen. Abigail noticed a hole in the cliff face on the other side of the lake.

That wasn’t there before, she muttered. She raced around the lake and walked over to the hole. She climbed in, and then she was falling...

Abigail sat up. She was in the mouth of an unfamiliar cave. She stood and unsteadily walked out of the cave before deciding to follow a nearby path. A rustling noise in the bushes made her jump. A guard in shining armour walked around the corner. Abigail screamed, and ran into a bush to hide. Then she realised that the bush was hiding an underground tunnel. Not wanting to stay much longer, Abigail slipped into the passage.

It seemed like a well-used tunnel, Abigail thought as she walked through. Finally she climbed out into the light. She looked around. She was in a village consisting of many brick huts, a few outhouses, and a castle that towered over everything else, forming a vast shadow. Abigail started to walk around the village. Everything seemed deserted at first glance, but she could see pairs of eyes following her as she went. She didn’t get very far, before she froze as a piercing scream split the air. Abigail peered around the corner. A small child of about six of seven was being dragged away by some guards, very much like the one Abigail saw in the forest. But then one of them ordered the others to stop, pointing at her. They turned and looked straight at her.

She ran, sprinting past the little brick huts, the guards clanking behind her. She spun around a corner, and jumped into an outhouse. The guards ran straight past. Abigail let out a sigh of relief, then heard a small cough. She turned and saw that she wasn’t alone. There was a man sitting behind her.

Sorry, Abigail apologized, and immediately stepped out, only to be grabbed by guards. She struggled and kicked, but it was no use.

Oh, nuts, Abigail thought, as they dragged her to the castle.

So! Isn’t this both evil and lucky to get you here, the king said, pacing the room.

Isn’t it, Abigail said in