The Vow by Adam Alani

     I could not take it any more. I kept running and dodging bullets that were fired at me. One of them almost got me, but I managed to take cover. Bullets were everywhere. It was like fireworks at night in Disneyland. Bombs, missiles fell from the sky like maple leaves shed of trees in autumn. I took cover behind a half roasted metal. I could not tell because it was dented with bullets and painted with dry blood. A pick-up truck or maybe, it was. I sat down and decided to take a rest, resting from all of this holocaust. I took a deep breath in but all I could smell was the scent of burn tyres and gun powder. I was used to it now because it had been three days we had been holding of the enemy. I looked around I saw my team mates fight for their lives to protect our nation. But what for? If only men did not learn to kill. If only the word 'war' did not exist.

Red by Aishah Shahidi

     "Red," said Nicol to Anna. Anna rose her eyebrows.

    

     "Since when you love red?" Anna questioned while looking at the brochure, containing many optional dresses.

     "Since now. Just a few minutes ago." Nicol laughed while shaking her head. Anna's eyebrows started to knit together. 

   

      "What's wrong with her best friend?" She questioned herself.

Red by Anais Adila

     Red is a beautiful colour. The colour of leaves in the autumn. The colour of the sky when the sun sets. The colour of the lights at a concert. But, seeing red will make me frown and grit my teeth, trying to choke down the sobs building in my chest. Because red reminds me too much of him, of us. Red is the colour of the blood that seeped out of my skin as I pulled a razor gently across it. Red is the colour of the envelope he left on his drawer addressed to me and red will always be what I felt when I fell in love with him.

An unexpected Guest by Adriana Alfi

     It all happened when I was 16. Kids my age would be creating unforgettable and noteworthy memories, so that when they grow older and reminisce the past, a smile would be carved on their faces. But not for me, it was totally the opposite for that chapter of my life.

Blue on white by Anais

     Change is inevitable. The sea changes from cold in the winter to warm in the summer. The sun shines during the day, while the moon takes its shift during the night. You're a child at one point of your life - then Tada! You're all grown up.

Comics in the classroom: A Fighter's Lines

Comics in the classroom: A Fighter's Lines

The persona in the poem is an old soldier. He is tired as he is old and weak. He and his people suffered in the past in their fight for freedom of their country and they made many sacrifices. People lost their lives and some remain nameless or unknown.
The persona, who believes that he will be in the wheelchair for the rest his life says he can only watch the happenings around him. Physically, he is helpless and he has no energy left. He was either seriously injured when he was a soldier or is very ill. He finds that times have changed and being a crippled man, it is too challenging for him to fight the injustice he sees around him. He is troubled by many lies being told everywhere.
Being highly spirited, he calls on the younger generation to wake up and fight on. They have to realise that they have to form lines or ranks irrespective of racial, religious and social differences to fight courageously for justice. He wants the young people who inherited the country's freedom to be united and denounce lies which may threaten the country.
The persona feels helpless that he is not heard. He urges the younger generation to fight or speak up for what is right because it is now their turn to do so.(Copied from Teacher Nuha's blog)

Comics in the classroom: QWERTYUIOP

Comics in the classroom: QWERTYUIOP

It is a short story of a young girl named Lucy Beck who got a job as a typist at Ross and Banisters. She had difficulty handling a haunted typewriter. The ghost who haunted the typewriter was Ms. Broome. Ms. Broome was reluctant to leave the typewriter because she still regarded herself as the secretary there. At last, Lucy Beck managed to make Ms. Broome leave the typewriter. Please read the short story to know more about it.

These are some examples of comic strips done by my students based on the short story QWERTYUIOP.

Survive by Azim Tarmizi

     I could not sleep throughout the nigh. Holding my guns while my eyes checking each part of the room. Being cautious and beware of them. Bang! I heard the door smash into pieces. Their red eyes could be seen clearly in this pitch black room. Calmly I took out my guns and katana, a long, very sharp, hard and slightly curved sword, from its sleeve when they were all rushing towards me with a really bad intention. Fresh stained blood was all over my body when I started focusing on killing them all, one by one. Using every part of my body, kicking and punching with all my strength. The fight lasted for quite long. While holding back my katana, I climbed up the stairs to get into my plane. Safer than here, I guess. I took off in the morning when the sky could clearly be seen.

Secrets by Wan Nur Diana

Secrets by Wan Nur Diana

     I lay under the safety of the tree trunks above me. I could feel the cold, damp grass beneath my skin. It was cold but I did not care. It was just about to rain when I drifted into a deep sleep. I dreamt of my mother.  Her beautiful smile. Her reassuring eyes. I missed her so much. She was at home now. I wondered what she was doing. She was probably crying her heart out on the empty bed of hers. I wish I could hug her, calm her down but I was 2000 miles away and I could not do anything.

Secrets by Anais Adila

Secrets by Anais Adilla

     She loved secrets and she had loads of them. I think it was just because she loved them so much, she became one. When Romeo called out to Juliet on that fateful night, I knew it would have taken a lot of courage. As I dropped onto my knees to scoop a handful of pebbles, I weighed my options again. What ever, I thought, as I sent a pebble soaring onto her window pane. A couple of throws more and then she appeared, her wavy hair messy and on her left cheek, a bruise. As she climbed down the tree to meet me, I grinned up sheepishly at her. She looked beautiful no matter what.

Secrets by Amir Aiman

Secrets by Amir Aiman

     Secrets. Talking about them makes my body shiver. Secrets. They sound creepy and also scary.My family has secrets. It is originally dated more than a thousand years back. My family has a big family tree. My family is rich and big. I am an American but I have a distant relative in China, Japan, Taiwan and also Australia. My family is scattered all over the world. All of us know this one thing, one secret. Secret of the mankind. We are isolated. We can't go to school. We can't socialise. It is all for the sake of keeping this one secret. We can only talk to people of our own blood. It is boring. That is why I don't talk much and my eyes are always glued to books. Back to the secret, do you want to know what it is about?

The Imprisoned Dragon by Bulat

The Imprisoned Dragon

By Bulat

     ''I could not sleep throughout the night" Alfred kept on repeating in his sleep.

     The cold wind came in through the little gap in the wall. It was freezing cold almost comparable to the south pole. The dim light given would dull any person's sight who looked upon it, Alfred woke up realising that he was lying on a cold hard floor. The cold seeped into his veins to render him either paralysed or dead. After being knocked out, Alfred's memory was wiped out clean. His body stared feeling numb again. Then, he fainted continuing his endless sleep.

Are You Afraid? 

By Students of 404

Picture 1 - One-eyed Girl

Horror in one eye

Beauty in the other

Beware of the wrath

of bewitching one-eyed girl

Picture 2 - Along Came Spider

Close your disgusting mouth

When you sleep

Or the hairy tarantula

Will get into it!

Picture 3 - 360 degrees head

I might be watching

Though my body is

Facing away but my

Head is towards you

Picture 4 - Pumpkins on Halloween

Pumpkins look innocent

At first sight, but at night

It can make your nightmares

come true

Picture 5 - Faceless Lady

If you look into the mirror

For too long, you might see

someone else behind you!