“H-a-p-p-y B-i-r-t-h-d-a-y!”
His heart pounding, Dad launched out of bed.
“Hurry up and get dressed,” pleaded Olivia, “We’re all ready to go to the castle for your special day!”
A few hours later Olivia was wondering why she had been so excited. The castle was boring! Behind the museum, which Dad seemed to find fascinating, Olivia saw an oak tree – perfect for climbing. The children sprinted down the path and entered the castle garden. Olivia clambered up to the lowest branch, opened her book and started to read. While Olivia got lost in her imagination, Derek played football. Suddenly the ball rocketed over a prickly, green hedge.
Laughing Olivia told him “You’d better go and find it. Dad gave you that for Christmas!”
Slowly trudging towards the hedge, Derek began to search for his ball.
“Hurry up Derek,” she called, “it’s getting late.” But there was no reply.
Where had he gone?
“I’ve found it!” called a voice from behind the hedge, “But you’d better come and look at this.”
Reluctantly Olivia followed her brother’s call. When she rounded the corner, Olivia’s froze…
…Derek had been swallowed by the dark, gaping mouth of a tunnel! All that was left were his feet. The football lay forgotten.
“What do you think you are doing?” she demanded. Unwilling to ruin her favourite, red coat she decided to wait. Surely he couldn’t go very far… could he?
Inside the tunnel, Derek was unable to see anything in the inky black darkness. Blindly feeling his way, the intrepid explorer inched forward. A blast of icy cold air came down the tunnel - the cobwebs shivered.
“Where does this tunnel lead to?” Derek asked himself. Without warning, something, or someone moved up the tunnel towards him. A red eye flashed. What was it that lurked in the depths of the tunnel? Derek tried to turn. He was trapped! Scraping his knees on the rough tunnel floor, he crawled backwards. When the passage widened he stood up. Smash! Derek’s head crunched into the hard, brick roof of the tunnel.
…Groggily Derek opened his eyes. He was unable to make out the unfamiliar shadow.
“Who are you?” questioned Derek warily.
A gruff, angry voice replied “What do you think you were doing down here?” Derek realised he was facing one of the castle tour guides.
“Were you screaming?” asked the guide. “I heard some strange noises and came to investigate. You could have been seriously hurt!”
The frightened boy described the strange rumbling and flashing lights in the tunnel.
“Stupid child! There are railway tracks above this tunnel – not monsters,” chuckled the guide.
Derek grabbed his sister’s hand and walked towards the car park “Whatever you do, don’t tell Dad,” pleaded Derek.
Driving home, Dad turned and spoke.
“Where did you two get to?” he asked, while he changed gear, “I was waiting outside for ages.”
Olivia smiled innocently “Oh you know Derek, so keen to explore.”
Glowing red with embarrassment her brother didn’t say a word.
His heart pounding, Dad launched out of bed.
“Hurry up and get dressed,” pleaded Olivia, “We’re all ready to go to the castle for your special day!”
A few hours later Olivia was wondering why she had been so excited. The castle was boring! Behind the museum, which Dad seemed to find fascinating, Olivia saw an oak tree – perfect for climbing. The children sprinted down the path and entered the castle garden. Olivia clambered up to the lowest branch, opened her book and started to read. While Olivia got lost in her imagination, Derek played football. Suddenly the ball rocketed over a prickly, green hedge.
Laughing Olivia told him “You’d better go and find it. Dad gave you that for Christmas!”
Slowly trudging towards the hedge, Derek began to search for his ball.
“Hurry up Derek,” she called, “it’s getting late.” But there was no reply.
Where had he gone?
“I’ve found it!” called a voice from behind the hedge, “But you’d better come and look at this.”
Reluctantly Olivia followed her brother’s call. When she rounded the corner, Olivia’s froze…
…Derek had been swallowed by the dark, gaping mouth of a tunnel! All that was left were his feet. The football lay forgotten.
“What do you think you are doing?” she demanded. Unwilling to ruin her favourite, red coat she decided to wait. Surely he couldn’t go very far… could he?
Inside the tunnel, Derek was unable to see anything in the inky black darkness. Blindly feeling his way, the intrepid explorer inched forward. A blast of icy cold air came down the tunnel - the cobwebs shivered.
“Where does this tunnel lead to?” Derek asked himself. Without warning, something, or someone moved up the tunnel towards him. A red eye flashed. What was it that lurked in the depths of the tunnel? Derek tried to turn. He was trapped! Scraping his knees on the rough tunnel floor, he crawled backwards. When the passage widened he stood up. Smash! Derek’s head crunched into the hard, brick roof of the tunnel.
…Groggily Derek opened his eyes. He was unable to make out the unfamiliar shadow.
“Who are you?” questioned Derek warily.
A gruff, angry voice replied “What do you think you were doing down here?” Derek realised he was facing one of the castle tour guides.
“Were you screaming?” asked the guide. “I heard some strange noises and came to investigate. You could have been seriously hurt!”
The frightened boy described the strange rumbling and flashing lights in the tunnel.
“Stupid child! There are railway tracks above this tunnel – not monsters,” chuckled the guide.
Derek grabbed his sister’s hand and walked towards the car park “Whatever you do, don’t tell Dad,” pleaded Derek.
Driving home, Dad turned and spoke.
“Where did you two get to?” he asked, while he changed gear, “I was waiting outside for ages.”
Olivia smiled innocently “Oh you know Derek, so keen to explore.”
Glowing red with embarrassment her brother didn’t say a word.
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