Veritas

In November 1999 Third Class took part in a rotating story for Netd@ys.
On Tuesday, November 02, we received the following e-mail from John O'Mahony:

Hello Ursula,
The Dublin West Education Centre Primary Teachers' Computer User Group are organising their third Netd@ys "Rotating Stories" e-mail project for primary schools. The project will run from Monday to Friday - 15 to 19 November 1999. One class starts the story on the first day (Monday) and e-mails it to the each of the other four schools they are working with. The second class continue the story on the second day (Tuesday) e-mailing to the other classes involved. This continues each day until the Friday when the story will be finished. Schools interested in taking part are asked to send the following details to omahonyj@iol.ie before 10 November 1999.
Name of Teacher:
Class:
School:
Address:
Telephone No.:
E-mail address:
When we receive these details we will group classes into groups of 5, endeavouring to keep similiar standards together while at the same time having a mixture of urban and rural classes in the groupings.
Regards,
John O'Mahony
Project Co-ordinator

We had great fun! On Monday Helen O'Mahony's 3rd & 4th class in Scoil Cholmcille, Skryne, Tara, Co. Meath wrote:

The Dare

The O'Sullivan's lived a mile from the village of Nobber in a dark grey house. They were an odd couple and kept very much to themselves. Glimpses of Mr. O'Sullivan in his straw hat shuffling through the unkept garden were spoken about by the villagers. His son Robert left the house five morning a week and waited nervously by the gate for the village bus to the city. He returned each evening and spoke to no one. Nobody in the village would go through the gates of the house as reported strange noises and strange lights over the years terrified the villagers. That was until Jamie and David wished to join the Army Club. This was a club begun by Michael Wilkins. Every boy who joined this club had to complete a dare. Jamie and David had to enter the O'Sullivan's house and bring back the old mans straw hat. Would they be too nervous? The next morning all the club members were to arrive at the house to see the dare. The excitement was only beginning.

On Tuesday Kevin McLaughlin's 3rd Class, Scoil San Carlo, Leixlip, Co. Kildare wrote:
Jamie and David talked long into the night about the dare they had been given to do. Not the nicest dare in the world, not one they really wanted to do, but they had no choice. Which would be the worst to get Mr O Sullivan's hat or have the gang make fun of them? They decided to carry out the dare. They made their plans and agreed to meet by the O Sullivan's gate early the next morning. Jamie and David couldn't sleep that night. When dawn finally came, each of the boys dressed and made their way to the house. They barely spoke, their hearts beat fast, pounding in their chests. The rest of the Army Club arrived. Jamie and David made their way to the house,cautiously and carefully though the thick grass and bushes, quiet as mice.they went around to the back of the house, scratching their faces and clothes in the unkept garden. They tried the back door, it was locked, were all the windows on the ground floor. Now what would they do.? They looked up and saw that one of the small windows upstairs was a little bit open. They looked at each other, for they were afraid to talk, they agreed that there was nothing for it but to try and get in through that tiny upstairs window. BUT HOW ?

On Wednesday Liam Maloney's class wrote:
Just then David had an idea. He beckoned to Jamie to follow him.They crept on all fours to the tall tree beside the house. David darted up the tree. Jamie was having second thoughts. He was sick with worry. What if he fell? What if he was caught? What if his parents found out?He was stuck to the ground. He couldn't move. "Jamie, Jamie", whispered David. There was no answer. David crawled back down the tree. He shook Jamie furiously. "Do you want to join the Army Club" he said angrily. Jamie was speechless. All of a sudden the old man came out the door. He was throwing out the ashes. The two boys ducked into the long grass. The old man shuffled back into the house. Jamie thought of his own grandfather. He felt like running home, but what about the gang?
WHAT WILL THEY DO NEXT?

On Thursday John O'Mahony's Third class, St. Attracta's Senior School, Meadowbrook, Dublin 16 wrote:
The gang had gathered in a circle below. They had a plan. They knew what would give Jamie a boost to go up the tree. "Are you a chicken?" jeered the gang. They made chicken noises at Jamie. David said, "Well if you are not going in, I am." He knew that Jamie would not leave him alone, and he was right! Jamie and David both climbed to the top of the tree. They had found a way into the house. The small oval window was barely open. There were cobwebs on both sides of the window. They broke off a branch to prop the window open. They sneaked in quietly. The room was filthy. They decided to creep downstairs to see what the man was doing. The man was sleeping and snoring loudly in a rocking chair. The straw hat was on his head. They were excited but really nervous. As they tip-toed towards the man, Jamie stepped on an old floorboard. It made a loud creaking noise. The boys both froze!

We finished the story on Friday:
The old man didn’t move. They heard heavy thumping footsteps approaching. The door burst open. Robert stood there. "What are you doing in my house?" he asked nervously. Jamie and David moved closer together. "We are here for a dare" they stuttered nervously. They explained about the dare and the Army Club. Robert relaxed and smiled. He explained that his father was deaf and that his mother suffered from an unusual illness. She needed a machine with special lights to help her at night. Robert had to work to support the family. He said that he had no friends and that he was very lonely. He said his father loved his hat and it wouldn’t be kind to take it. He looked under the stairs and found one the very same. He gave it to Jamie and David. "Come and see me again" he said. The next morning the Army Club assembled to see the dare. They did not believe that Jamie and David could have done it. The boys marched proudly in with the hat. "We got the hat" they boasted, "and we made a new friend". The villagers of Nobber are no longer terrified of the O’Sullivans and the Army Club spend Saturday afternoons helping Mr. O’Sullivan in the garden.