91
Bo r l a s i a n 2 0 1 3
Creative Writing
We entered a number of stories for Radio 2’s 500
words short story competition. Sadly, none of the
Borlase entries won, but here is our favourite.
The Dream Catcher
I have nobody else but the Dream Catcher. He listens to
me; that’s why I like him.
My daddy is in the study all the time writing long
paragraphs with big long words I don’t understand like:
Psychology, Derangement, Lunacy and Instability. I hardly
ever get to see him. He is always stressed. Daddy told me
that mummy has flown up to heaven; he said that she had
a big fall. A very big fall that turned her into a beautiful
angel, all dressed in white. That is why Philippa, my nanny,
looks after me. She sometimes calls herself a doctor and
says that she can help me if there is anything to talk about.
I tell her, ‘That is the Dream Catcher’s job, to keep me
company and keep me safe. He’s my best friend.’
Philippa tells me I should make some friends. I don’t
want friends; I don’t need them because I have the Dream
Catcher. When children are mean to me, he sticks up for
me and sometimes makes me do naughty things in class.
Don’t worry – it’s all funny stuff.
Every night I talk to the Dream Catcher, I ask him to guard
my dreams and make sure they cannot hurt me. I tell him
to keep it a secret, not to tell anyone about my dreams. I
make him promise to keep the bad dreams away fromme.
But last night the Dream Catcher didn’t come; he left me
alone with my dreams, alone with bad dreams.
I still can’t find the Dream Catcher. He’s probably hiding.
Maybe he’s run away. So I’m going to have to find him.
Maybe he has gone to the cliffs where daddy used to take
me. The place where daddy said mummy had a very big
fall and turned into a beautiful angel. I am sure he is there.
It is windy up here and very cold. But, sure enough, I can
see the Dream Catcher. He is telling me to walk towards
him.
‘Oh, Dream Catcher, I thought you had run away. Don’t
worry, I am here now.’
He says he needs me to be brave. He is telling me I can see
mummy again. The Dream Catcher is telling me to fly, he
is telling me to fly down to the sea to see mummy. He says
he will come with me and hold my hand all the way down.
Maybe I will be a beautiful angel dressed in white just like
my mummy.
Tallulah Hindle Y8
