Chapter 1 :First Draft:

My Mum was stressed again.

I could tell by the way she thumped down the stairs. I would say that she sounded like an elephant but I have told her that before and she grounded me.

The truth was, she had a big important meeting today. She always got stressed on days like this.

Today was extra special however, because I am going to work with her and I cannot wait! Not because I enjoy seeing my mum work but because when we leave we are going on holiday!

The car is all packed up. I had my suitcase all ready a week ago. I had a range of clothes and swimsuits and I cannot wait to get on the slides that surround the pool at our hotel.

Firstly, I must go to work with Mum. It is going to be boring but I am big now and sometimes that is what big people have to do. After all, I am going to be ten next year. I suppose I have to grow up some time!

“Megan!” My mum shouted from the hallway. “I hope your shoes are on!”

They were. I wasn’t going to let anything get in our way today. I needed to make sure that nothing went wrong because I needed this holiday as much as my Mum.

School had ended last week and it had been a tough year. Learning about the Romans and building the miniature colosseum that Jack destroyed when he tripped over his own laces.

Then there was the Christmas panto where I gave a fantastic performance as Tree Number 3. Everyone says that is wouldn’t have been the same without me. Of course people were more focused on the reindeer. Emily was the front and Suzie was at the back but at the last minute Suzie got ill. She ate all her advent calendar chocolate on the morning of the show and threw up all over Emily, who in turn threw up all over Santa, played by Mr Williamson. He was not happy!

Then our netball team reached the semi-finals of the village cup and we had to play our bitter rivals Lakeview. I still don’t know how they were able to beat us. After all, we had Jemima on our team and she is going to play at the Junior Olympics in a few years time, or so her mum says.

Next came Easter and the school Easter Egg hunt which saw Mr Williamson get puked on again by George. It turns out that one of the Easter Eggs he found was left over from last years egg hunt.

Recently we had our end of year exams and I was so stressed out. We had to know all our times tables. We had to spell over a hundred words and we needed to know the capitol cities of fifteen countries! This was Mr Williamson getting his own back on us! So unfair!

Finally the end of year trip involved going to an outdoor adventure park which was ace! We had to zip line over a river, create bracelets out of flowers and climb an impossibly high wall, complete with harnesses. It was an awesome day until James got stuck at the top of the wall and Mr Williamson had to climb up and get him down. It was all going well until James looked down. The puke landed right in Mr Williamsons face this time.

Overall I think this year was a success but now I needed a holiday and it was important to get my Mum out of the house as soon as possible!

I sat in the Kitchen watching the time tick by on the cooker clock.

Mum was running around unplugging things like the TV and the lamps. I don’t know what she thought was going to happen. I sure was strange behaviour. She started to close the blinds around the house. It was eight fifteen in the morning. I guess she needed the holiday too!

“OK Megan!” My Mum said as she walked into the kitchen. She had her make-up bag in one hand and a gift wrapped present in the other.

“Today is going to a boring day but tonight we go on holiday so I’ve got you something to help you get through it.”

Awesome! It wasn’t even my birthday. I get to go on holiday and I get a present! Could this day get any better?

I took the neatly wrapped present from my Mum and she smiled back at me. I could see that she was as excited as I was.

I tore the wrapping paper off and looked at the contents.

It was awesome! My own doodle pad and set of ‘Paperfriend’ colouring pencils.

Sally from school had received a set like this for her birthday a few months ago. She let me use them when I went to her birthday party and they were awesome.

They glided on the paper better than any pencil I had ever used and I knew I could draw five times better when using them.

How did my Mum know?

I let out an excited laugh and hugged my Mum!

“Thanks! They are the best!” I said, reaching up and giving her a big kiss on the cheek.

“You’re welcome. Now you can draw all the things that you want to do on holiday today while your at work with me.”

What a great idea! I had the brochure of the hotel in my backpack and it listed all the things I was going to do. I had shown my best friend Amelia when I first found out that we were going on holiday. She was so jealous!

“Now come on. Let’s get in the car and get on our way!”

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