chapter 7

Finding the Control room.

When school was finished that day, Rose and Cai went to Martin’s house as plain usual, but this time, Rose had an extremely important question to ask.

“You know, I really think we should start trying to get Martin back to Charon, all me and Cai are doing is coming to your house and cleaning, even though it’s clean enough, and no offence, but it’s boring!” Rose blurted out.

“Come off it, Rose, it’s not like we only have twenty minutes ‘till the planet blows up. Just give it a rest, will you?” said Cai.

“Well, er, actually, I think Rose is right, we’re really just mucking around here, but I do know some info to get us on the job.” Said Martin awkwardly.

Cai, looking slightly putout, said “Why didn’t you tell us this ‘info’ before then?”

Martin, blushing, said shyly, “I was having too much fun with you guys, and I, I forgot.”

“Just spit it out, then!” said Rose eagerly.

Martin took a deep breath, and then blurted, “Well, I do know that there is a secret control room somewhere in the house, we just have to look, I’ve never tried to look, the house was too much of a mess!”

“What are we waiting for? Start looking!” Rose exclaimed.

So that’s what they did, they searched until 7:30, looking behind furniture, behind bed heads, inside drawers and in showers.

But they didn’t make a break-through until the next day.

“HEY, GUYS, I THINK I FOUND SOMETHING!” was the yell that rung through the house, calling from the bathroom on the third floor.

Rose came running from the top floor, while Martin came sprinting from the second floor.

Rose asked triumphantly, “What did you find, Cai?”

Cai, in fact, was looking down a rather large toilet. “Oh, Cai, you’ve found nothing, that’s been out of order for as long as I can remember.” Said Martin, sounding rather disappointed.

But Rose, seeming to have read Cai’s mind, said excitedly “It looks big enough for a person to slide down!”

And then, as though she was waiting for someone to object, she paused for a few moments, and then asked, “I think Cai should go down first, because he found it. Cai, you will go down to see if everything’s OK, and call up to us if it’s safe, right?” she looked quite pleased with herself, as though she had thought up a fool-proof plan, that was bound to work.

Cai was standing over the edge of the empty toilet, and started to protest “But I-“ Cai didn’t get to finish his argument, as Rose had pushed him down the ‘out of order’ toilet.

Martin and Rose heard the pipes rattling, and bumping under Cai’s weight for at least two minutes before they stopped abruptly.

“Come down, come down, guy’s, there’s a huge metal door, oh, I think it needs a code. You two go look around the house for a significant number, or something, we just have to find that code!” came a quite pleased voice echoing through the toilet.

“I think I know a significant number, wait here!” Martin said excitedly to Rose. So Martin ran to the top floor, no, the attic.

Rose wondered what was behind the large door that Cai had found for a few minutes, before Martin came back with an old number plate for a car, reading: vt7bcx5n.

“Well, it’s worth a shot. Come on, Cai’s waiting for us, I’ll go first, you come down straight after, right?” Rose said bravely, and with that, she quickly said “See you down there!” and jumped down the toilet, and Martin copied.

It was a very funny sensation, sliding down the toilet.

It was as though a very slimy monster was squishing them into the hard, cement pipe.

Martin was holding the number plate as though it was a big chunk of gold, while Rose was being careful not to tumble forwards.

At last, Rose landed in a heap at Cai’s feet, and Martin followed.

All of them were in a small, (about five steps from one side to the other) dim, claustrophobic room, with a miniature oak door at the end, big enough for the three to crawl through. “Quick, give me the- a number plate?” said Cai, clearly disbelieving that a number plate would be the correct code. But, he took the plate from Martin’s hands, and darted a few steps to the oak door to try and break the code.

It took Cai about fifteen minutes to type in the code, when finally Cai tried to turn the shiny, brass handle and said, “See, I knew it wouldn’t work.”

And no sooner had he said those words; they heard a strange clicking noise.

Rose, looking very curious, turned the door handle.

Chapters 5 & 6

The School Fair.

The next day, school went slowly and steadily, and when the bell rang to go home, there was a lot of pressure to get out the door.

“OW! You trod on my foot!” said Billy angrily.

“Me first, me first!” screamed Angelina.

“Get out of my way!” exclaimed Clare.

“Don’t push!” shouted Anthony.

“See you at the fair!” chanted Mary.

“You too, Mary!” giggled Sophie.

“What’s the rush?” grunted Jamie.

“Come on, Rose, Martin will be waiting!” said Cai hurriedly over the entire hubbub.

“I’m coming Cai, just getting my books!” replied Rose.

“GET OFF MY FOOT!”

******

“We’ll walk there.” Said Rose to Martin, when he asked how they were going to get there. “The schools just a few blocks away.”

“OK, I’ll get my shoes on.” Said Martin happily, and he ran upstairs to get them.

He came back down with his so-called ‘shoes.’

They were something of an insult to forty-five year old sneakers.

They were a very dirty pair of silver trainers, the laces were light brown, the soles were ripped, and there was something green on them, like moss.

“Are these the only pair you have?” asked Rose, very curious where these had come from, and also wondered when he last wore them.

“Yes.” Said Martin, unsure of what to say next.

“We’ll pass by our house and you can borrow some of mine.”

Cai said kindly.

After they had got some shoes for Martin, they made their way to the fair.

When they got there, Martin gasped; it was amazing!

There really were foods games and toys and rides and more.

They did just about everything.

First they got some fairy-floss, (Rose, pink, Cai, yellow, and Martin, blue)

Second, they went on the Ferris wheel, (Martin loved it) third, they got some nachos, (extra, extra, extra, extra cheese for Martin)

Forth, they went on the ghost train, (Rose screamed countless times, whereas the two boys laughed until their eyes watered)

Fifth, they got lucky dips, (lots of lollies, toys and junk) and lastly they got show bags. (All of them got ‘alien mysteries’)

It was a lovely walk home, getting lots of cool new stuff, and lots to talk about.

When they got to Martin’s house, they tipped all of their stuff onto the floor, and had a good look, and an important conversation.

“That was great, I loved the Ferris wheel, and the fairy-floss!” said Martin happily.

“Yeah, it was.” Cai said dreamily.

“Guy’s, don’t you think we looked a bit suspicious, going to the fair with Martin, when they all think we don’t have any friends?” Rose said

“Oh, Rose, you worry too much, anyway, you were the one that went off that night, I distinctly remember these words;”

And after Cai said that, he adopted a high-pitched voice that sounded very little like Rose: “Oh, they will be so jealous that I have a pen-pal from Queensland!”

Rose blushed, and said “Well I care for Martin, and I don’t want people coming to his house in the middle of the night wanting to arrest him for being an alien, do you Cai?”

Cai scowled and shook his head.

“I’m just watching out for our friend, because I’m not sure if you have noticed, Cai, but he is our only one.” And with that, she stormed out the door, slamming it as she went. Cai just shrugged, muttered “Drama Queen,” said goodbye to Martin, and followed his sister to his house.

Dinner with Mother.

The day after that, as soon as the two siblings came home from school, and were about to head out the door to see Martin, Mother summoned them to the living room for a short talk.

“Hello Children, I just wanted to ask, I mean I hardly even see you very often now that you have this friend, who is it?”

“His name is Martin, and he lives in a house further down the road.

We met him at the playground one day, and he told us his parents died when he was three.

He lives by himself, so when we go down there every afternoon, he is usually cooking his own dinner.” Rose said hurriedly; she desperately wanted to see Martin.

“Oh, the poor thing,” said Mother sounding very sorry for Martin.

“Ok, well you go see him, tell him to pack his things, and he can stay over tonight, how does that sound?”

“Brilliant!” Cai and Rose said in unison.

It would be an excellent opportunity: Martin had not seen their house yet, and it would be so fun!

The two raced to Martin and told him the good news.

He was delighted!

He packed his things, and flew to his friend’s house with them.

Mother was waiting for them at the front door.

“Hello, Martin! Welcome to our house!” Mother said kindly.

“Come in, come in!” Then she ushered them inside.

“I do hope you enjoy your stay. For dinner, it’s a baked meal!”

Mother said, as if a baked meal was more than anyone could ever ask for.

She led them into the dining room, and asked them to take a seat.

The meal was delicious; the potatoes crispy and flavour-some, the chicken whole and tasty and the vegetables nice and juicy.

After dinner was desert: raspberries, cream, caster sugar, ice-cream and chocolate pudding. (Which was damp with chocolate sauce, mmmmmmm!)

Once the last spoon-full of ice cream was swallowed, it was time for bed.

Mother put out the portable foldout bed for Martin, and en-laid it with cushions, said goodnight, and let them watch

‘Harry Potter and the order of the phoenix’ in peace.

“That was an excellent movie, but I didn’t like the part when Sirius got killed, that was sad.” Said Martin, once the credits started rolling.

“I’m t-t-tired, let’s g-g-go to bed now.” Said Rose, with lots of stifled yawns.

“Yeah, goodnight everyone!” said Cai sleepily.

**************

“Hm? Wassup? Wass goi’n on?” This is how everyone awoke the next morning, having stayed up late.

“Come on sleepy-heads! Come and get your pancakes!” Mother called.

So they all got dressed and had some delicious pancakes with maple syrup.

Then Martin went home, as Rose and Cai had to go to school that day.

Chapter 3 & 4

If you need to start from the beginning here are chapters 1 & 2

Martin the Martian

A pale faced, sunken eyed, tall, skinny boy, wearing baggy shorts and a faded Billabong t-shirt, was looking absolutely alarmed at the sight of Rose screaming.

“Rose, shut up!” said Cai sternly. “This is Martin.”

Rose stopped screaming.

“You know him?” Rose said, amazed, pointing at the boy.

“Please Rose, let him explain, you have to believe everything he say’s.” Cai pleaded.

Rose, dumbfounded, let out a sigh and she motioned with her hand as if to say ‘Very well, then.’

Cai smiled, and looked at the boy, who seemed to have been taken aback by all of this fuss, but anyway, he started talking in a shy, sad, and lonely voice.

“My name is Martin, and I am ten, Cai has said that you are Rose, and you are eleven?” He asked.

Rose had an intake of breath, and then nodded.

“You may think that I am lying about what I am about to say, but that is understandable, and I assure you that I am not lying, however much you may think so. I am an alien, who takes human form, and you are in my space ship, disguised as a human house, which crash-landed here ten years ago, three months after I was born, and I must get back to Charon, Pluto’s moon, and my home.

I have been trying to make this rocket fit to live in, and repair the thrusters ever since I was three, I need your help to get me back to Charon, back to my family, and you are the only people who come to this house, the only human’s who know me, and the only people I trust.”

Martin looked very scared, as if Rose and Cai were about to shout out

‘NO WAY ARE WE HELPING YOU!’

But they did not.

All that happened after that, well, Rose had adopted an

I-don’t-like-the-sound-of-that-and-I-can’t-believe-what-I-just-heard look,

And Cai was fiddling with his belt (he had already heard this information and was not surprised in the least.) and seemed expressionless.

All of a sudden, Rose said in a soft, whispered voice “We will help you Martin.”

Cai was startled; he had expected Rose to say, “Sorry Martin, but it would inter-fere with our school work.”

Seeing the look on Cai’s face, Rose said, “I can’t imagine what it would be like to be away from home for so long without any friends.”

Martin smiled, and for the first time since Rose had been here, he realised she was quite pretty; she had long strawberry-blonde hair, brilliant green eyes, long black eye-lashes, she was quite tall, and she had snowy white skin, that reminded him of an alien-tale about an ali-princess.

“So, um, how about we start tomorrow by cleaning up this dirty house?”

Martin said shyly.

“Great idea, we can get to know each other more!” Cai said cheerfully

“Yeah, well, um, er, see you tomorrow then, Martin!” said Rose kindly,

And then the two siblings walked home happily, awaiting the coming day.

The Clean up.

Rose and Cai slept peacefully that night, knowing that they had a friend, yes, the first friend they had had since moving to Maple street, which was three years ago, and the thought that they would no longer care about Billy and his friends bullying them, because they both knew now that they were not going to be so lonely.

And who knows, maybe having an alien friend could be awesome!

So, anyway, the two went to Martin’s house to clean up, as they said they would.

The night they met Martin, they told their Mother they had met a new friend, and were going to his house tomorrow, after school was finished, to find some old stuff for the school fair, which was coming up.

“What’s a fair?” Martin asked curiously.

“Oh you’d love it Martin!” said Rose excitedly. “There’s food, and games and toys, and rides-Hey! How about you come with us, were are going alone, as Mother has a dinner party, we could say you are a pen pal from-hmmmm, how about Queensland! Everyone would be so jealous, because Queensland is on the mainland, and Tasmania is where most people in our class have pen pals, and it’s where we live isn’t it?” Rose stopped for a breath, and Cai whispered to Martin, “Girls talk too much, don’t they?”

Martin laughed.

“Thanks for all these old fair things, Martin!” Rose said after she caught her breath.

“You are very welcome, think of it as an early reward for taking me to the fair.” Said Martin cheerfully.

After that, the siblings visited Martin every night, each time bringing him different luxury foods.

One night, Martin was nibbling on a triple choc-chip muffin, When Cai said “Excited about the fair tomorrow night, Martin?”

“Very, we never have fair’s on Charon.” Said Martin eagerly.

“We will want to be sure we get some fairy-floss too.” Cai said, and he saw the puzzled look on Martin’s face, he added “Oh, it’s a really nice food that looks like a cloud, but it tastes like candy, and you can get it in blue, pink or yellow.”

“Neat! I’ll get blue!” Martin exclaimed excitedly.

They finished cleaning out the room that Martin chose to be his bedroom, and Martin even said that, once the house was fully cleaned and fit to live in, they could both choose a room of their very own, as the house had five bathrooms, three kitchens, two drawing rooms, two sitting rooms, and five small bedrooms. (each bedroom had one bed, one set of draws, and a

Walk-in wardrobe)

After that, Cai and Rose walked home, and rested for the following day.

Chapter 2 - An Amazing Discovery

Rose was sitting on her bed, scared and alone, because Mother did not really mind what she did, as long as it was not disrespectful, naughty, irresponsible or rude.

Mother just let them do their own thing, really.

The minutes ticked by: 6:00…6:15…6:20.

Rose was getting really worried, when ‘BANG!’

The front door had burst open abruptly, and a loud yell filled the house “ROSE, ROSE, RO- OH YOU WON’T BELIEVE- ROSE GET DOWN HERE NOW!”

Then mothers voice echoed down the hallways:

”CAI JULIAN BUSTENBURG, USE YOUR INSIDE VOICE PLEASE!”

Mother’s way of addressing them when they broke a rule was using their full name.

Rose leapt up from her bed, flew down the staircase, and ran to the front door.

“What is it Cai, are you hurt? Are you safe? Are you breathing? What did you see? What happened? Did a spider attack you? Did a monster bite you?” She said in a worried and panicked voice.

“Calm down Rose, listen, I have seen something awe-struck, you have to come to the house, I, I can’t explain, that’s why you have to come.”

“OK,” Rose whispered, sounding very scared, “I’ll come.”

The walk down the street took about five minutes, but it may as well have been five years. Rose was petrified.

When they finally got there, and opened the rusty, creaky gate, Rose was surprised at what she saw.

It was actually quite nice, but she had never seen a bigger house, well it was actually more of a mansion! It was about five stories high, painted dark blue, encrusted with gold flowers, and the house also had vines and ivy growing around it.

“Come on, let’s go inside.” Cai said eagerly.

Rose gulped, and walked beside her brother, clutching his hand.

Rose and Cai stepped onto the front porch, and Cai turned the doorknob, the door creaked open, and the two siblings stepped inside, and Rose gasped, it was nothing compared to the outside luxuries, and she certainly did not expect it, the place was a wreck, floorboards sticking out of the ground, furniture ripped and snapped, photo frames cracked.

All of a sudden, Rose heard a noise behind her, turned around automatically, and screamed at what she saw.

The House on Maple Street

Chapter 1 - The Dreaded House

“Come on chicken, dare you!” Billy Crocker said in his harsh, menacing voice, pointing to the old, run-down cottage.

The sun was setting beautifully; you could just see it over the mountain.

“Rose and Cai are chickens, Rose and Cai are chickens!” Billy chanted triumphantly, once they did not respond.

“Maybe I will, it all depends…” Cai said thoughtfully.

“Don’t be stupid Cai.” Pleaded Rose.

She walked over to her brother and grabbed his wrist, adding to Billy, “Leave us alone, Crock-face!”

She dragged her brother away from Billy, and towards their house, it was getting late.

“Why is Billy so mean to us?” whined Cai, sounding annoyed.

“Because he’s just a big bully, Cai, and don’t keep asking silly questions!” Rose snapped, although for the fifth time this week, she too was having the same thoughts.

“Well, I’ve had enough, and now I’m not going to stand for it!” Cai said, even though he didn’t sound that sure.

Rose groaned and rolled her eyes.

“What on earth could you possibly do, Cai?”

Cai fumbled with his jacket zip for a moment, then said “Well, I, um, well I was sort of thinking that I could, well, maybe go into the cottage.”

“Ha ha ha very funny Cai.” Rose said in a sarcastic tone.

She paused for a moment, then said “you’re, er, not serious, are you?”

“Well, yes.” Then seeing the look on his sister’s face, he added, “Oh, come on Rose, what could possibly happen?”

But his sister gave him one of her Don’t-be-stupid-and-I-don’t-approve looks.

“Look,” Cai said angrily, “no-ones forcing you to come, just tell Mum I’ve gone for a walk, OK?”

“But,” Rose protested, “no-one has lived there in years, and there could be coffins, rats, mad people, or, s-s-spiders!”

It was clearly etched into Roses face that she hated spiders, but Cai had known that for years, and this conversation had gone on for too long and was beginning to get absolutely ridiculous.

“Bye!” Cai said starting to walk towards the dreaded cottage.

“But-“Rose started anxiously, but Cai just smiled and waved, and said ”see you in ten!”

So, Rose started the long journey home, wondering if she would ever see her brother again.

Poem to Locke

Sorry Jen, I've just hijacked your blog ;).

About a month or so ago, I came across this word document on my desk top, which was highlighted and had in capitals PLEASE READ. I got all gushed and though it was for me, after the first few lines I got a little teary, as I read on I realised it wasn't for me, but it still had the desired effect! It was my job to read this to Locke from Jenna. The fonts are all as she had them done up...does it get much sweeter!

You brighten up my life

With memories so fond

When I reach out

You always respond

You're someone I can count on

When I need a helping hand

You're compassionate and loving

You always understand

Oh yes you have your

Off days too

However those days

Are but numbered few

I'm so thankful to have

A brother like you

There is no other

Who could fill your shoes

I just want to say I love you so much my darling little sibling, Locke.

I hope you like this poem I found.

By Jenna

To Dover and back!

All year I've been waiting to go on my first school camp and finally it happened!! Last week for homework we had the option of doing a mini project on Dover and Hastings Caves which is where we were going for camp. I found allot of useful information. I also found out that it would take 2 hours to get there because it is 81km from Hobart. It has the southern most school and town.

In the morning I was very excited so I got up very early to zip up my suitcase and get to school to catch the bus. The bus trip was very long. It was also fun though because I was sitting with my friend Paola and the others were behind us.

When we got there we were shown to our cabins and we had lunch.

After lunch, we had free time, time to make our beds and explore the camp!

Well, that's what everyone else did, but my cabin group was busy studying the

trap-door Matilda had found.

It was in the roof above the top bunk that Tilly was sleeping on.

Paola found a message that said 'GHOST IN THE TRAP-DOOR.'

Matilda was really scared, we all were, so she decided to sleep in my bed with me.

When everything was sorted, we went outside to start the activities!

One of the activities was making a bush art sculpture, my friend Keeley made this with me.

Its meant to be a flower with different coloured petals, and a pollen thing in the middle.

A few landscape pics.....

My two friends, Kimvy and Paola.

This is my favorite picture from camp.

Spaghetti bolognese was on the menu for dinner, with a huge delicious icecream in cone for dessert.

P.P!

Because Matilda was sleeping with me, the other girls top and tailed aswell, Kimvy with Paola, and Chelsea with Keeley.

In the morning, I had some scrumptious porridge and toast for brekkie.

When we were finished, we packed up to go to Hastings Caves!

Kimkim...

cave straws:

I can't remember whether this is a stalagmite, or a stalactite.

Can you guess?

Hmmm, interesting....

We were even lucky enough to see some cave crickets!

And this was the fun part, THERMAL POOL!

Here we had a BBQ and a swim.

And then the loooooooooooooooooooooooooong bus-trip home.

I sat next to Kimvy, and took photos!

When we got home, I was soooooooooooooooooooooooooo tired but had the most awesome time. Daddy said he had never seen me look so tired!

And thats my exciting trip to Dover and back.