BY YOUNG READERS ‘Egbert Elf’s Travel’

Press, 4 August 1987, Page 14

BY YOUNG READERS ‘Egbert Elf’s Travel’

By

TRACY WILLIAMSON,

aged eight, of Ashburton

A long time ago there was a village called Ashburton.

It was quite a pleasant place to live. It was protected by two big mountains, so it was quite safe. One day a small elf called Egbert came to the village looking for a home. He did not have a home and he had been looking for days and days. He walked up the streets smiling at the people. They smiled back at him. A kind lady even gave him a lollipop. “This looks like a nice place to me,” Egbert said to himself. “I think I will try to find a place to stay.” He went from house to house, asking and asking, but everybody said the same thing. “Sorry, but we have as much children as we can care for.”

Egbert kept saying to people, “I do not take up much room.” But they had an answer for everything he said. Egbert felt sad, but he knew that there was not enough room for him so off he went to find a home, somewhere different.

Egbert walked and walked until he was tired and hungry.

He found a nice place to sleep for the night. It was pretty spooky. All the animals came and surrounded him. Egbert felt scared, he dozed off to sleep. In the morning he woke up and packed up his stuff and began walking. After he had been walking for nearly three hours he saw a clearing. It was the end of the forest.

He just caught a glimpse of a magnificent castle. Egbert was very excited. He ran as fast as he could and knocked on the door.

Nobody answered. He knocked again, still nobody answered. So Egbert excitedly ran in. He saw a table laden with lots of wonderful food. Egbert soon discov’ered that the table was too high. He saw a tree and started climbing up. When he was almost at

the table he heard some shoes thumping.

Egbert was afraid. A girl came in. She came and sat at the table. She looked friendly to Egbert. But Egbert wondered why she was crying. He climbed up to the top of the table. The girl saw him. Egbert said: “Why are you crying?” “I am very lonely,” sobbed the girl. “My name is Egbert, what is yours?” "My name is Roberta,” bellowed the giant girl. “I could stay and keep you company,” suggested Egbert, when he had picked up his courage. “Where would you sleep,” roared the giant. “I do not know,” said Egbert. “I know, you could sleep in my old dolls' house I had when I was a little girl.” “Okay,” said Egbert. “But I would like to ask one more thing.” “Anything,” roared Roberta.

"Could you please soften your voice down because my ears are getting sore.”

“Certainly,” Roberta said in a much quieter voice.

So Egbert had a new home and Roberta had a friend and was not alone. They may be living happily ever after.

This week’s winner

A story about the travels and adventures of an elf called Egbert, by Tracy Williamson, is this week’s $lO winner from the Junior Press Mail Bag. Please post' neatly written work to Junior Press, “The Press,” Private Bag, Christchurch.