The Hope Of London

• Elena Robertson, Grade 5
• Short Story
• 2022

His money was gone.
His wife was gone.
His house was gone.
His life might as well be gone too. All hope seemed to be lost. Mathew was just a homeless
mess living on the streets of London with hardly any food and no bed to sleep in.
Just as things couldn’t seem to get any worse, they got worse. His best friend Mark, who he was
relying on to continue his once happy life, came up to him and said words that he’ll never forget.
“Mathew, I know life has been hard for you lately and I just want to say that I don’t want to be
part of it. So that means that I must say goodbye.” These were the last words Mark ever spoke
to him.
Every day was hard. Yet he was living in one of the most exclusive cities in the world. That was
the only thing that seemed to give Mathew hope. He was a clever man with multiple degrees
from the University Of Oxford, it just seemed so strange that no-one knew how capable he was.
Mathew was stuck on the same street with the same filthy rag as a shirt. Although one day that
all changed.
During Mathew’s ‘thinking time” an old lady came up to him and bade him to make a very
strange deal. The old lady told him her name was Liz and if Mathew gave her a single car she’d
give him a mansion and a fortune. This deal seemed to be too good to be true but he thought he
might as well see what happens. So day after day, week after week he begged for money on the
streets. Until he reached his goal.
Three-thousand pounds was enough. It had to be enough. Mathew had stayed in this city long
enough to know where most things were and he certainly knew where the car dealership was.
There was a Mini Cooper 1964 that was the newest model and he had always admired it but
Mathew knew he couldn’t afford it. But there was an old Toyota that no one seemed to want.
Mathew knew how to drive because of his life before. Conveniently Liz was out walking and
Mathew pulled up beside her. “Well a deal is a deal” she said. So without hesitation she jumped
into the car and told Mathew where to go, and within twenty minutes Mathew arrived at an old
English style home and had his Mini Cooper parked out front.
On one extraordinary day, the mailman knocked on Mathew’s oak door and handed him a fancy
looking letter. Mathew opened the envelope and began to read.
Dear Mathew,
Just to let you know why I offered this deal. It was because of my little foundation I have started to help people
in need. I do wish you well in the future.
Signed
Queen Elizabeth ll