Faraway Competition - First Prize Winners 10-13 age group

​The Red Hood: The Classroom of Doom by Katie Henderson
First Prize Short Story 10-13 year olds

The stars shine high above my head, casting a pale glow over my destination: the Tower of London. That's where the Queen's precious crown jewels sit on their ancient velvet pillow. Tonight was the night. Tonight The Red Hood was going to obliterate the record as the youngest thief ever to steal the crown jewels. A challenge worthy of my talents. Shame I wouldn't get to keep them – GRANDMA had made me promise to return them after two weeks. Still, it would be hilarious to see the fuss I caused; a plain 13-year-old with braces. I crept towards the tower and started scaling the wall, fingers slipping easily into the gaps between the bricks. Soon I was at the top of the wall, a guard started to turn towards me and...

“Jasmine, could you please answer question 15?” the voice asked. Strange, it sounded just like Mr Grem. Before my eyes, the Tower of London melted away and I was left sitting in a hard plastic chair, with Mr Grem, the owner of the voice, staring at me desperately. Blinking, I looked down at the book on my small, white desk. I began searching frantically for question 15. There it was, second last.

“110, sir,” I answered, hoping it was correct. 

“Finally,” he roared. “Someone who has been paying attention to my lessons!” I couldn't help smiling. If only he knew. Around me I heard my classmates whisper 'teacher's pet' and 'geek', followed by 'freak'. I groaned inwardly and wished, not for the first time, that I didn't have to be undercover. In fact, they should count themselves lucky that I was; otherwise, I probably would have made their school experience a lot more uncomfortable a long, long time ago.

I looked up at the the clock above Mr Grem's balding head. It proudly proclaimed that 2:30pm was, rather unfortunately, the time. I scowled at it. Why was it that when I was on a job, time was my best buddy, but here in the classroom, my immortal enemy? Why did it make home time – and those beautiful gems – so far away? Mr Grem started talking again and I tried to pay attention as best as I could. Slowly, painfully, the seconds trickled by, followed sloth-like by the minutes. After what felt like an age, it was 3:00pm. Home time, precious home time, was only half an hour of boredom away. 
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At last the bell rang. The beautiful bell, freeing me from the classroom of doom. In a blink I packed up my things and shoved them into the depths of my backpack. Around me, other kids were doing the same. Finally I would be free of Mr Grem and his navy blue suit. Free of the whitewashed halls. Free of the screaming jostling kids. I raced through the winding corridors and out the front entrance, my mind already far away, sneaking towards those royal jewels. 

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Untitled by Artche Maligat
First Prize Illustration 10-13 year olds

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Why you Shouldn't be Tempted by Callum Farquhar
First Prize Poetry 10-13 year olds

Confectionary surrounds me,
Pink, blue, green colours filling me with joy,
She’s standing straight, looking down, foot tapping angrily.
My knees thud on the floor, hands grasp together,
She turns around rudely and storms off,
I clench my fist and grind my teeth together,
Then shrug my little shoulders and stare at the candy again,
I finally pick a sweet raspberry lollipop,
I swivel around, but I don’t see her paying.
I start to feel butterflies and look around me.
My tiny scared heart bangs up against my chest.
Everything makes me seem small, faraway, vulnerable.
I drop my candy and sprint around the aisles in panic,
I race out the store, my mother sitting down on a bench.
Relief fills my body, soon turning to guilt as she yells at me over and over again.