2002 School Magazine

original works

Life 15 Not a Movie

Harry pulled himself out of the icy water, hardly feeling the cold in his excitement. His Younger brother. Colin. ran down from the bank where he'd been watching 'How was it, Harry?" he Yelled. "You looked great!" Harry sat down on the grass and the boat driver began to remove Harry's water-skis "It was fantastic. Colin!" he said enthusiastically. I felt like I was flying. " "Wow, cool!" said Colin, "I'm going to ask Dad if I can do it too. " He ran off to where their parents were sitting. Harry knew his mother would object, but he followed Colin up the bank. Colin greatly admired Harry and he always wanted to do whatever Harry did, but Mum always said he was too Young 'He's right. in a'am. " intervened the boat driver, who had come up from the river. "I've never had an accident, even with people Younger than Your son. " Harry's mother gave the boat driver a glare that clearly meant, 'You keep out of this', and he stood back respectfully; however, Dad eventually wheedled Mum round. and Colin jumped up and punched the air with joy. Harry was relieved. Whenever his parents argued, he thought they would get divorced. because that was what always happened in the films he'd seen. Harry tried not to think about it as he ran down to the river to give Colin hints on what to do Harry wasn't sure how it happened, whether the boat driver had tied the wrong length of rope on. or whether he simply wasn't driving safely, but as Colin swung round in a wide curve. he hit a tree that had become uprooted and was lying on its side poking over the bank. What followed was a blur to Harry. He thought he was dreaming. it was so horrible. This couldn't happen in real life; it only happened in films As the ambulance men placed Colin on a stretcher. Harry saw a great gash on his brother's side and another on his forehead. He felt faint at the sight, so he turned away Harry's mother went in the ambulance with Colln and Harry and his father followed in the car. Neither of them spoke a word. they were too shocked. When they arrived at the hospital Mum told them that Colin was in intensive care and that the doctor would be coming soon to tell them his prognosis. The three of them sat in the waiting room and attempted to concentrate on reading the magazines. Mum tried to be cheerful. pointing out things in lithe to Harry. but he could tell she wasjust putting on this optimistic face to cheer him up. Harry had already cheered himself up by telling himself that, in films, these sorts of things always ended happily. Mum did not speak to Dad. Suddenly Harry remembered his parents' argument. They would get divorced, he was sure of it It seemed ages before a nurse came to tell them that the doctor would see them now. They followed her into a ward with drips plugged into the wall and lots of nurses scurrying around. Colin was lying on a bed. very white. with lots of machines attached to him. The doctor, who looked very grave, rose from his chair as they came in. All of a sudden it occurred to Harry that this was not the movies. where patients always got better. This was real life. it might not end happily He was right. The doctor told them that though Colin's punctured lung could be fixed and his heart was still beating, his brain was completely dead. Colin would not know whether he were alive or dead. it they turned the life-support off, he would die quickly and peacefully. If they mended his lung. he would live a strange half-life, unaware At this news, Harry turned quickly to his mother. She said nothing. All the colour drained out of her face and she sat down quickly on a nearby chair. Harry's father knelt down next to her and put his hand on her shoulder. She burst into a storm of tears and threw herself into his arms. Harry's father cradled her like a baby, and at the same time turned to the doctor and nodded. Then he led his wife out of the room. Harry took one last look at his brother, lying there on the pillows. waiting unknowingly for death, then quietly followed his parents When Harry reached his parents, they were, as he had predicated, arguing "He's too Young. " his mother was saving "Nonsense. Lisa. " argued his father. "Waterskiingis perfectly safe. He'll be fine. "

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Elkobeth Forrest 8 Himchfold Still 11fo

Anno Keny 8 Hi, schit!d Still Lit

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kilory Moron 9 0'Connor

Anne Hewson 8 Mockoy Still Life