Page 14 - Classroom Overtime Edition 2

Red Shoes - Chapter One

The gentle sound of cars driving along the street and the birds chirping awoke me from my sleep.

The sun illuminated the dust floating around my room and I spent my last few moments of rest

staring out the window watching the sunrise. I slowly rolled out of bed and walked to my

bathroom washing, the sleep out of my eyes but then I realised something was wrong...

The house was quiet, usually, the sound of my parents fighting echoed in the house but

everything was silent. I ran down the stairs and what I saw amazed me.

There were my mum and dad cooking pancakes. Usually mum was cooking and dad was

complaining about how bitter his coffee was.

I ran down the stairs as my mother called out.

“Ruben, hurry up you're going to miss the bus!”.

“Coming” I replied, my bag swinging.

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I hurried out the door ust as the bus pulled into our driveway, the kids all laughing and talking

with each other.

I always hated this part of the day. While all the kids were talking I usually sat at the front of the

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bus with no one to sit next to. I longed to have a friend to make okes, to share food with but no

one wanted to.

I walked up to the bus and towards my usual seat but to my surprise, someone was sitting in it.

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She had long, black hair that was halfway down her back, she had brown eyes and she wore eans

and a pink T-shirt.

“Hi, I'm Amanda Simes”, she said.

My mother had always taught me to be polite so in haste I said, “nice to meet you. My name is

Ruben, and I'm..umm...13,” I said this so fast that Amanda had to ask me to repeat myself. “Sorry

about that, my name is Ruben and I'm 13. Nice to meet you”.

“Well hello, I'm new” she replied, trying to save my embarrassment.

“Do you mind if I sit there?” I said, pointing to the seat next to her.

“Sure,” Amanda said.

6 hours later…

Amanda and I talked for ages. She told me stories about her hometown and her many

encounters with Red Shoes, the most wanted clown in the world. Immediately I knew that was a

lie.

“Amanda, why are you lying?” I said looking at her.

She looked down and said, “I ust thought you were so cool and I wanted to impress you.” After
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saying that she burst into tears.

“It's OK,” I said, feeling bad, “I lie all the time and I also think you are cool”

“Really?” She replied, tears still pouring down her face.

“Really,” I said.

“I have got to get back home now but I will see you tomorrow”.