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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Sunset, taken overthe cliff on Larrakeyah Barracks; guitar andConnies, two of my fav items; rain at The Jettyrestaurant; bottles at The Jetty restaurant.

— Photographs by SARAH-TERESE SCOTT

TheShy Girl

ByCINDYMUYear 7

DarwinMiddle School

CREATIVE WRITING

CONTINUED NEXTWEEK ...

‘I sat alone as usual, speaking to no one

’

TOSAY that I wasshy at 10 years ofagewas an

understatement. I was agirl basically scared ofpeople. Kids, adults, prettymuch everyonemademenervous. I was also whatmost teachers and parentswould call a ‘‘good kid’’.

I followed the rules, gotgood grades and neverquestioned authority.

But then one day, onesingle bus ride changed allof that.

The school bus that daywas crowded, hot, humid andsmelly. Thewindowswererolled up— bus driver’sorders, it was simply rainingtoo hard to have themdown.

Only a few ofmyclassmateswere lookingthrough thewindows at the

torrents of water filling thestreet. Most of the other kidswere engaged in animatedconversations, argumentsand games.

I sat alone as usual,speaking to no one.

I thought that the roadoutside looked like a floodedstream. I couldmake out treelimbs, bags, even anumbrella washing down theboulevard. People raced hereand there, grippingumbrellas or covering theirheadswith their bunched-upjackets and papers.

Over and over I wiped asmall circle through thecloud onmywindow so that Icould see thewater outside.

The bus stopped, waitingfor an accident to clear. Thedriver was particularly tensethat day, and had snapped atseveral kids who had beenmessing around.

As I sat quietly, waitingandwatching, I saw a kitty

across the street on theother side of the road. Poorcat, I thought. Hewas all wetand didn’t seem to knowwhere to go to get out ofthe rain.

I wanted to go get the kitty,but I knew our bus driver,Mrs Foster, would neverallowme off the bus. It wasagainst the rules to standup, so I knew I would get intobig trouble for trying torescue a cat across the busy,rainy street.

I also thought that if Ipointed out themiserablecat, the other kids wouldprobably think I wasweird.Maybe evenweirder thanthey thought I alreadywas.

I was sure that some otherkids would laugh at thesoaked dripping animal; theywould see hismisery asentertainment. I couldn’tbear that; I didn’t wantthings to get anyworse thanthey alreadywere.

Mywindowwas hazyagain, andwhen I wiped thewindow clear, I could see thekitty was now struggling inwhat seemed to be a surging,grimy river. Hewas up to hisneck in cold water, graspingat the slipperymetal barscovering the stormdrain inthe street. Twigs and otherdebris rushed past him anddown into the black hole.

His body had already beensucked into the dark openingof the stormdrain, but hislittle front pawswereclinging to the bars. I couldsee him shaking. Heswallowedwater and gaspedfor air as he fought thecurrent with all his strength.

Hismovements revealed alevel of fear that I had neverwitnessed before.

I saw absolute terror in hisdark, round eyes.

My heart was racing.

MOVIE REVIEW

FREAKY: A scene from Paranormal Activity

Paranormal Activity packs a genuinely scary punch

—EMILYHEARN

Paranormal ActivityHHHH

WHEN it comes to horrormovies Iconsidermyself a bit of aconnoisseur. True, after watchingThe Ring I avoided flickeringtelevision sets, and after seeing ITI had a healthy aversion to drains,and clowns ... and balloons.

But all those pale in comparisontoParanormal Activity and I know it

may sound like I’m talking it up abit here but with a tag line of ‘Whathappenswhen you sleep?’

There’s something unnervingabout the prospect of being atyourmost vulnerable while havinga ghostly apparition attack you.

Themovie is based around acouple having recentlymoved intogether, but featuresmore on thewomanwho has been experiencingparanormal activity from a young

age. Cleverly, the partner decidesto set up a camera to capture theparanormal goings on.

What sets thismovie apart fromother horror films of this year isthat it is setmore like a realityshow/doco really drawing you inandmaking it hard to not pee yourpants just a little when theunexpected happens.

As themovie progresses sodoes the intensity, definitely

making youwant to check underthe bed twice.

Considering this filmwasmadeon a budget of $10,000 itdefinitely packs a punch and is notone to see alone or late at night.

It’s been awhile since a horrormovie of this calibre has comealong.Paranormal Activity is atcinemas now.

CHECK IT OUTnWATCHDarwin’s best dancecrews battle it out for theirchance to win $500 atBreakdown’s DanceCompetition.The hip hop, street funk and

breakdancing competition is analcohol-free event andwill be heldon Friday, December 18, at7.30pmat Brown’sMartin Darwin.Cost is a gold coin donation.

Formore information, emailbboyfez@live.com.au or call0432 663 496.

nDOYOUpride yourself on yoursmoothmoves?Orwould you liketo learn some?

Morganics Hip HopWorkshopwill teach you how to breakdance,beatbox and rhyme, fromDecember 14 to 18, at ChambersCres Theatre,Malak.

Call Darwin Community Arts tobook on 8945 7347.

WEWANTYOUR INPUT!Are you aged under 18 and haveany artwork, reviews, creative

writing, comics, articles or photosyouwould like to sharewith our Y

readers? Email your submissions toy@ntnews.com.au