THE CRANKY POODLE

by JANETTE

There once was a girl called Grace. She lived in a little village called Kinvara in Co Galway. She lived in a little bungalow. It had a little driveway up to the house, surrounded by flowers. She was 11 years of age. Grace was the second youngest in the family of three children. Her Mum and Dad were Sharon and Arthur Hanley. Her sister Melanie was fourteen and had started secondary school. She had a baby brother named Daniel and he was two years old.

After the first day in her new school Melanie came home in a big fuss. Then Grace heard her talking to Alison on the 'phone. She talked about this girl getting her into trouble. In one second Grace was around to Jim's, her next door neighbour. They talked about it for hours. They finally got an idea that they would go down to her house and tell her to leave Melanie alone.

After dinner they went off. There was only one problem - she lived over the hills. So they packed their things up. Grace put in a torch, some biscuits, some sandwiches, a bottle of water and a pair of gloves. They could not get a lift from their parents. They told them that they were on a sleepover because they planned to be out all night.

They walked for hours, then got a taxi to bring them over the hills. They got to the house. They knocked on the door. The girl's name was Stella. She had red hair, green eyes and she wore a purple top with black jeans. Grace shouted at her "Leave my sister alone". Stella replied "Only if she does my homework". Grace roared "She won't do your homework and if you don't leave her alone I will tell my parents and they will ring yours".

The next day Grace was really tired. All she did in school was daydream and think about Melanie. She got in trouble and she got 150 lines. She went home and had started the lines when Melanie barged in the door. She was crying. Grace ran after her but all she did was slam it in her face.

The next day in school a new pupil started. Her name was Julie. She was Stella's sister. Jim and Grace asked her did her parents know about the bullying. She said "That is ridiculous, my sister does not even know a girl called Melanie" "When you go home, ask your sister if she knows Melanie, then tell your parents I think Stella is bullying someone" Grace whispered into Julie's ear.

They went off different ways. Grace shouted back "Ring me on 2845321". Then Miss Keiths heard her shouting in the corridor. So she got another 50 lines. Then Miss Keiths walked away, with her long dress waving along her ankles and her thin, brown, curly hair around her ears. She nearly tripped with those high heels.

However, the next day Stella got caught. She got into lots of trouble with her parents. And Julie and Grace grew to be best friends.

The End