*******Examples+of+GREAT+writing

__ Tides Out __ __ by Gemma O’Connor aged 11 __ It was a beautiful sunny day and we all wanted to go to kariotahi Beach. So we packed a picnic, Dad’s fishing rods, my favourite book and our swimming togs. We were all set to go.

We drove for quite a while and Molly started to get fidgety. She needed to use the loo, and then she kicked me hard in the shin. It hurt terribly and I exploded, “Molly!” I screamed, “that hurt!” This was a terrible mistake. She started sobbing and I always got the blame when she did that. “Jade, why did you do that… You’ve made her cry now… what do you have to say for yourself eh?” said Dad in a corrective tone. Ah well I thought, I always lost a fight against Dad, and with a resigned tone stated to Molly, “I’m sorry Molly!” Molly just smirked and started humming an annoying tune….all the way there, until we arrived at the beach!!! Yaaay… out of the car…finally, now the day can start getting better, I thought with relief to myself. When we arrived we set up the picnic, then Molly helped Dad set up the fishing rods. I was alone at last in my own space sitting on the sand. In my absent minded staring out over the ocean, I noticed the tide had started going out, but this was different. It was going noticeably far out. At first I didn’t exactly know what was happening, there was that moment of uncertainty and intrigue before I finally realised. “TSUNAMI!” I yelled at the top of my lungs…“TSUNAMI….RUN!” Dad looked at me like I was stupid. You could almost see on his face the precise moment of realisation when he too grasped the concept. He quickly leant forward and snatch for Molly, toppling her head over heels. He managed to gather her up and then he ran. I followed, sprinting for my life, but the tsunami waters were chasing me down like a hungry cheater. Dad was out of sight. He and Molly were gone! It’s ok I told myself, I knew what I had to do, I had learnt it at school… I’d never been so glad that I had paid attention that day! I ran through my head my Teacher’s words, “when a tsunami strikes, you have to find higher ground immediately.” “Quick smart!” I instructed myself with petrified urgency. Up ahead was a hill, a very tall hill, in fact it appeared to be ginormous from the angle I was climbing it. I forced myself up the steep ruts, panting fiercely. About half way up I took a peek backwards and SPLASH! I had sea water, being thrashed around me, like I was trapped in a washing machine. I gripped hold of me. I was panicking and screaming. I had to make myself stop, because I knew I was throwing away my fresh air and breathing time. I forced myself to focus. If I squinted I could see through the water. Up ahead was a hanging tree branch, dangling from the hill I’d moments before tried to conquer. I threw myself at it and gripped it tight. Yes! – the branch was firmly in my gasp. I tried to haul myself up, but it was no use, I had no energy left to climb. I felt faint. I could feel myself slipping. I tried to hold on for dear life, and then I fell. But I could feel a strong human arm slide protectively around my waist, someone had caught me, it was Dad. My Dad, the dad that I thought would be dead, and with Molly firmly wrapped around his back with her arms and legs like a backpack. He pulled with all his determination against the churning water, our bodies straining against its clutches. Eventually I was safe on land. I fell to the ground, kissing the damp earth, and then turned my attention to Dad. I threw my arms around him. The three of us stumbled to the top of the hill, only to discover more families huddled up in blankets. We joined them, all of us watched the hungry wave turn and disappear into the ocean, to where it came from. At that moment I didn’t care about anything else. Not the kick in the shins, not the crying, not the telling off, or even the annoying humming. I didn’t even want to be alone.

All I cared about was that my family and I were safe…. we were ALIVE!

By Gemma O’Connor Age 11