Escape The Eruption

• Saksham Bhatia, Grade 6, Homebush West Public School
• Short Story
• 2015

Excellence Award in the 'The Write Track 2015' competition

A usual winter night in Karabaru Island would be as cold as ice but today James felt it was unusually humid. He lay on his bed that was built out of hay and straw. Because of the scorching heat it was impossible to doze.

James vaulted off his bed so he could pour water down his parched throat. James dawdled over to the well and filled the crimson bucket with water. Suddenly, he was astonished to see that the water in the well was boiling. James knew why the tempreature was so high, and he knew why the water was boiling, it was because of the active volcano that towered over the entire island.

Suddenly, the volcano ruptured.

James bolted away from the volcano that was spewing out magma and ash. Large boulders that were steeped in blistering magma hurtled down the volcano. A gigantic boulder was about to leave James as flat as a pancake but in the nick of time, he dived to the left. It was just a close shave. Suddenly, James spotted a motor boat in the crystal clear sea that sparkled like diamonds. He darted to the boat and screamed for help. The passengers of the boat spotted him and rowed towards him. James somersaulted into the boat.

James stared at the ruins of his birthplace. He felt downcast because the island was destroyed. He decided that he would live on a mainland settlement even though it doesn't provide the beauty an island does.