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The library is moving location over the summer so all our books will be packed away. This means that the last day your children may borrow is Friday 28th May with all books due back two weeks later on Friday 11th June. Please make sure all your child's books are returned and if you are not sure what books your child has checked out, please feel free to call into the library, telephone or email me at dperrin@bs.esf.edu.hk and I will do my best to help.
The library is in need of parents willing to come in and back books before we have to pack them away - if you are interested please email dperrin@bs.esf.edu.hk
Debra Perrin – Library Assistant
THE TALES OF BLUE
By: Tara Clements
Class 6K Student
Thousands of feet above the ground, on the peaks of mountains in the west of China, glaciers were glittering in the sun. The hot rays blazed down on the edge of a glacier and a tiny droplet of water melted away from the thick blue ice. It slowly fell off the edge of a cliff and started tumbling down the steep and slippery mountain avoiding every object in its way. It landed on a beautiful lime green elephant ear leaf.
“Oh dear, what’s that on my back! Who are you?” exclaimed the leaf.
“Well, I used to be part of a glacier but now I’m not quite sure what I am, “ said Blue (the water droplet)
“You don’t feel cold and hard like an icicle, you feel quite wet like a water droplet!” answered Ellie (the elephant ear leaf).
“Oh no, I must have melted off a glacier!” Blue said in a very worried tone.
“Don’t worry, cheer up. Shall I take you for a ride?”
“I’m not sure where I would like to go, but my icicle friends have heard hikers talk about the south of China and a big city called Hong Kong. Do you know where that is?” enquired Blue. Ellie nodded knowingly.
Blue and Ellie started their journey down the Pearl River, with the water flowing slowly and calmly, the sun reflecting on the river and birds singing their beautiful songs. Fish swimming below them and crabs ready to pinch people. It was a perfect day. Then suddenly the clouds covered the sun, the stream became steeper and the current started getting faster and faster. Ellie was being forced further and further down the river at soaring speed. She pushed down on the water to try and slow them down but it was no use. Together they weighed nothing more than a feather. They couldn’t do anything but hope the current would slow down and the river would level off. They closed their eyes and prayed.
“I think we are slowing down,” yelled Blue.
“Yes, I think you’re right. Thank goodness for that, we are safe!” Ellie exclaimed joyfully.
They glided on top of the water happily, and confident that they knew where they were going. They saw the sun shining again, the water glittering in the sun and bubbles trailing behind them. They were approaching Southern China and things were beginning to change. The scenery around them was becoming less green, less open and more congested. The buildings on the river bank were getting taller and there was less vegetation on the mountains.
“Why is the water dark green?” Blue asked scared something was going to jump out of the water.
“It is just a little bit murky that’s all,” answered Ellie in a calming way.
“What’s murky? Is it going to hurt me?” questioned Blue.
“No silly, it just means there’s less clarity,” explained Ellie.
“Oh” said Blue, still a tad confused.
“Well, the good news is we are almost in the South China Sea!” Ellie said excitedly.
“That really is good news!” Blue blurted.
They had just entered the estuary leading to the South China Sea and the water was getting darker and darker. It was less easy to see what was below them and there appeared to be a lot less fish swimming around them. The river opened into the great expanse of the sea. Blue looked around him and saw things he had never imagined. Big container ships, huge fishing boats with nets trawling through the water, bridges high above the sea and cars speeding along the bridge. As they sailed closer to shore Blue saw bright lights, tall buildings and lots of big shopping malls all crammed onto one very small island called Hong Kong. Blue was very confused by all that he was seeing. He started dreaming about home and gazed up at the sky.
“Why is the sky grey?” Blue asked still staring at the sky.
“There’s just a little bit of pollution in Hong Kong but you’ll get used to it!” Ellie commented.
“I can’t breathe! I have heard pollution is very bad for your lungs.”
“Don’t worry a little bit of pollution won’t hurt you. At least that’s what I’ve heard” Ellie replied.
“Ok, here goes,” Blue took a deep breath in and out. But he was struggling to breathe.
“Ellie please, this is not right. I don’t belong here, my home is in the west of China. Blue cried out.
“I will take you back as soon as the sun rises,” Ellie told him.
It had become dark, there was not a single star in the sky and there was no wildlife around them. All they could hear was loud music from parties on the beach and ambulances going to the rescue.
“This is not at all how, I pictured Hong Kong,” thought Blue.
Illustration by: Nadia Cheng – Class 5C student
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