The St. Patrick's Day Switch

Vera Y., 10, St. Paul's Coeducational School

        

         When Johnann Glubb received a mysterious clay figure from his class teacher Violet Preston for his birthday, he twiddled the clay figure in his fingers. He placed the figure down. It was actually a leprechaun in Irish fairytales. He scribbled a half-hearted answer on his worksheet. He was more interested in the clay figure. He liked the little leprechaun in his smart green tailcoat.

        Then, suddenly there was a gust of wind and the clay figure flew out the window.

        “No!” he cried as he ran out the door. Amongst the branches, the clay figure thought, “How refreshing!” He sniffed the air and wandered around Johnann’s backyard.

        “I wish I could just switch bodies with that Johnann guy,” he said loudly. Just then, a pair of huge hands reached down and scooped him out. The clay figure wriggled out of Johnann’s grasp and landed on the floor.

        Johnann kneeled down. “You can talk,” he asked, surprised.

        “Of course,” the leprechaun replied in a thick Irish accent.

        “So what’s your name?” asked Johnann. “It’s long, very long so just call me Cler for short.” He settled on a leaf drinking the dew and continued, “You want to switch bodies with me Johnann?” asked Cler.

        “Switch bodies? Cool!” exclaimed Johnann. Cler mixed something like stinky socks and two glass bottles containing pink liquid.

       “Here drink it,” said Cler gulping it down. Without hesitation he drank it. It tasted like strawberries and cream. Instantly Johnann shrank. Flowers looked like trees and trees looked like skyscrapers.

Cler looked at his new body. “Wow!” he exclaimed. Johnann climbed into a flower bed and it felt like velvet. He nestled inside and heard something tinkling  and the noise of water trickling down a tap. He looked up and saw Cler blowing into a cone shaped object. Johnann yawned and thought, “Why do I feel sleepy?” Thinking nothing of it, he began to snore.

The sound of footsteps woke Johnann up. “Hey look what I’ve found when you’re asleep!” shouted Cler. He showed Johnann a rectangular shaped gamebox with a silver joystick in the middle.

“Hey that’s my Electronic Blast 1000,” protested Johnann. He grabbed the gamebox with his hand but the joystick slipped off his hands. “Wow, Combo Blast, this is fun!” said Cler. “Being a human sure does have many profits!” he said. Johnann groaned and just hoped that he would turn back into a human.

“Cler I want to be a human again,” said Johnann.

“Nope,” Cler said cheekily. Leprechauns are hard to deal with, so when you meet one be cautious and never trust them. “I’m having fun and I’m going to find my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Do you want to go with me?” asked Cler.

“Of course!” said Johnann excitedly. “Ok then come now so we don’t miss the Rainbow Express!” said Cler. Cler took a gold coin with a picture of a four-leaf clover on it and put on a pair of green velvet gloves and rubbed on the coin. The coin exploded and formed a gold slide. A minute ago, they were shooting up into the sky and now they were whizzing down like the world’s fastest roller coaster (without seatbelts).

“Ahhh!” Johnann screamed, diving headfirst in somebody’s birdbath.

“Where’s the pot of gold?” asked Johnann.

“Ah, just over there!”

Sure enough, a black cauldron was sitting on a patch of grass. Cler kneeled down and got a bottle of green liquid. With an evil smile on his face he said, “Mwah-haha, I’m gonna destroy this bottle so that we won’t change back ever again!”

“Nooo!” yelled Johnann making a wild grab for the bottle. He grabbed it by splashing water on Cler’s face distracting him for a moment. He guzzled down the drink and turned back to normal.

Should We Put Obese People on a Mandatory Diet?

Kelly G., 14, GSIS

        Today, about 30% of the US population is obese and one of the biggest causes of death is diabetes. This problem in the US is getting worse and worse. However, is putting these obese people on a mandatory diet really the right option?

        Firstly, people have the right to eat whatever they want. This is a basic human right. If you put obese people on a mandatory diet, you are violating their right to eat whatever they want. The government should not have control over one’s private life and therefore should not infringe on one’s right to eat whatever he or she wants.

        Secondly, an obese person eating more unhealthy food does not affect anyone except themselves so why should they not be allowed to eat un healthy foods? If an obese person wanted to be healthier, wouldn’t they have started dieting for a more healthy lifestyle already? It is their own choice and decision what they do to themselves and is no one else’s decision to make.

        Thirdly, there are other alternative solutions such as giving obese people incentives (such as money) to go on a diet or taxing fast food, which would be more effective. Many obese people might want to lose weight but just need that “push” and giving obese people an incentive to go start eating more healthily would be that “push.” The government should encourage and influence a healthy and better lifestyle for obese people. It has a responsibility to shape society. Also, any money spent on reducing the number of obese people will be replaced by life savings for the health service.
        We should not put obese people on a mandatory diet because firstly, it infringes on their right to eat whatever they want to eat and the government should not have control over one’s personal and private lives. Secondly, an obese person eating more unhealthy food does not affect anyone except themselves. Thirdly, there are better alternatives, such as giving obese people an incentive (like money) to start eating more healthily so more money will be saved on healthcare. Therefore, we should not put obese people on a mandatory diet.

Poor Little Snail!

By Beatrice C., 9 , St. Stephen’s Girls’ School

        Wandering throughout the woods, enjoying the gentle wind, Xavier, the snail with a huge shell, could feel the fresh grass under his tummy. He could also smell the colourful flowers filled in the air.

        As time went by, Xavier stopped walking and glanced at the eagle with open wings in the endless sky. “It’s incredible! Awesome! I wish I could fly too!”

        Without warning, an excellent idea flew into his mind. First, he found a pair of leaves, but it was too small. Ohhh…I forgot what was the brilliant idea. He was looking for a pair of leaves that fit his body size to be his wings. Let me continue the story…Next, he found another pair of leaves. It was perfect!

        Next step, Xavier clambered to the humongous mushroom. “One and a two and a THREE!” Shouted Xavier.

        “Bing! Bang! Boing!” What’s happening? Let me look for it—Oh! Poor little Xavier had dropped on the floor. His shell was cracked! “Help!” Shouted Xavier again. While Xavier was asking for help, Joe spotted someone’s cracked shell. Joe rocketed to Xavier and drove his car to the Poor Snail Hospital.

        “Um…Mr. Xavier, let me give you some advice. Don’t ever try to fly again. You should walk properly!”

        This story told us that we need to be happy with who we are and not to do something that you can’t undo forever.