The Secret Passageway

I wrote this story with my creative writing teacher. Her name is Mary and we wrote this as a project. I loved writing with her and I hope you will enjoy this story.

The Secret Passageway

      One warm day in London the Florence family decided to go on a walk in the countryside. Six-year-old Angelina was bursting with excitement. Her family had a house in the country and she couldn’t wait to go. Angelina hated the city; there were no animals, and it was a boring life in London filled with business and people. Her eight-year-old brother Andrew was less than thrilled. When he heard the news he stomped to his room and slammed the door behind him.

Angelina pranced to her room and began packing her clothes, photo album, and her favorite camera. This camera was her most prized possession. It was light green and she had gotten it from Andrew when she was only three. She only took pictures of nature. Without noticing, Angelina started humming while in the next room there were loud banging noises.
          “He’s so excited he’s jumping off the walls!” she thought. But Andrew was doing no such thing. He was very displeased about this plan because he didn’t want to leave his friends behind.

When the Florence family had finished packing, they piled into their dad’s town car. In the car Andrew did not complain because he knew his sister was very excited. He would have to make the best of it…

* * *

Angelina sat down quietly on a rock. She and Andrew had been traveling with their family at the lake. Angelina had spotted a baby bunny, grabbed her camera and chased after it, her brother following close behind. When Andrew had finally caught up to her she was sitting on a rock. Andrew looked at her questioningly.

“The bunny disappeared,” wailed Angelina. Tears streamed down her little cheeks like a waterfall.

Andrew was about to comfort her when something suddenly occurred to him: his parents could no longer be found.

“We’ve lost our parents! Look what you did,” exclaimed Andrew.

This only made Angelina cry more.

          Andrew took a small pebble from beside him and tossed it at the lake. The pebble sunk like the Titanic. This made Andrew more frustrated. He kept picking up rocks and trying to skip them. No matter how hard he tried, each pebble was swallowed into the depths of the waves. Angelina was still on the rock, looking desperately at her brother. She knew it was all her fault that they were lost. She scolded herself.

Though she was very sad, Angelina was also curious. “Where did the bunny go?” she wondered.

Andrew threw another rock. This time instead of sinking, he heard a loud clank.

Angelina noticed something open up in the water and pointed to it. Andrew looked at where she was pointing and stared in awe. A passage had opened at the edge of the lake as if by magic. The water had been sucked away in a small whirlpool. In its place was a metal tube that stood out in the water. Andrew was frozen but Angelina was excited.

“That must be where the bunny lives!” she exclaimed.

          Angelina slid into the cave happily. Andrew took a deep sigh and hurried after her. The tunnel felt hard and wet and even the air was damp around him. All he could hear was the echo of Angelina screaming with delight. The tunnel was short and when he reached the bottom it was dark. He began to feel around for signs of Angelina.

“Where are you, Angel?” Andrew asked.

“Somewhere dark!” she replied. “I don’t think the bunny really lives here!” Her voice faded.

Andrew felt around and felt something poking out of the wall: a switch. He flipped it and light poured into the room from a light bulb dangling from the ceiling.

It looked like a house in one room. There was a kitchen in the corner, with a refrigerator and stove. In the middle of the room was a stack of blankets and pillows, and ragged looking boxes.

Andrew noticed that Angelina was nowhere to be found. That was when his eyes fell on a tiny, dusty door in the opposite wall. He heard clanking noises coming from behind the door. Andrew wondered if it was a monster. “What if that thing got Angel?” he worried.

The door flew open suddenly, scattering dust everywhere. Andrew prepared for the monster to attack. He closed his eyes and leaned back. After a few moments the dust cleared and Andrew opened his eyes. In the doorway stood Angelina holding a chubby white rabbit in her arms.

“What a terrible place to live!” exclaimed Angelina.

Andrew gave a little chuckle. “I guess Mom and Dad will have to let you keep him. What are you gonna name him?”

Angelina paused to think. Then her eyes widened as an idea struck her. “Tunnel!”

Andrew rolled his eyes, “Yes, Angel, we are in a tunnel.”

“No! His name is Tunnel!” Angelina corrected him, imitating the voice of their mom.

Andrew predicted that the day had gotten dark, so he took some of the blankets and spread them out. “We’re gonna stay here tonight.”

“Oh wow, I’ve never been to a sleepover!” Angelina replied.

“Uh- never mind.” Andrew said.

Angelina and Tunnel crawled under the rough, dusty blankets, and Andrew followed after. He was freezing but the bunny seemed to keep Angel warm. Tunnel looked like a fuzzy white blob on top of her.

* * *

Andrew woke up in the morning to search for water. He got up and looked for Angelina. He found her at the corner of the room playing with her bunny. Angelina treated Tunnel as if he was a benediction from god. Angelina looked up at Andrew. “ HI,” she screamed. “Angel just because you’re in a tunnel, doesn’t mean you have to yell,” replied Andrew in a soft voice. In the morning Andrew was the complete antithesis of Angelina; she was loud and hyper while Andrew was quiet and cantankerous. “I know, but if you talk really loud someone will speak back to you,” replied Angelina. She must be talking about the echo thought Andrew. “Angelina stay right there I need to find some water,” commanded Andrew. “I already found some; but it tastes nasty and salty,” said Angelina while smacking her lips together. “Really where,” said Andrew excitedly.  Angelina pointed to the lever on the wall. “Every time you lift it up a black hole appears,” explained Angelina. Andrew took Angelina and Tunnel over to the lever. “This could be the way out,” exclaimed Andrew. He put his hand on the cold dirty bar and pulled it down. Sure enough the same metal tube appeared. “Angelina, it’s time to go home.”

* * *

Andrew spread his arms out wide feeling the rays of the sun tickle his skin. Angelina was very tired because she had to climb out of the tunnel holding Tunnel. Andrew had offered to help but Angelina insisted. “Look pictures of us,” said Angelina pointing. Andrew looked in the direction of her finger. He saw a big white poster with pictures of a little girl and boy. “Mom and Dad are looking for us! We have to call them,” said Andrew. He took Angelina’s hand and ran. When they found a lady on the side of the pond feeding ducks they decided to stop. Angelina stood on her tippy toes and tugged on the lady’s jacket. “May I borrow your phone?” asked Angelina. “Sure,” said the lady. She took her phone out of her purse and handed it to Angelina.  Angelina dialed her parent’s phone number and explained where they were at. “Mommy and Daddy are on their way,” said Angelina. Andrew and Angelina thanked the lady and left. They ran to the entrance of the lake and waited for their parents. “Angelina, Andrew, we missed you so much,” screamed a voice. The kids looked up and ran to their mother. “We missed you to,” said Andrew. “Are you guys hurt,” said another voice. It was their dad. “No we are fine,” said Angelina beaming. “What is that,” asked Angelina’s mother. “His name is Tunnel, can we please keep him,” begged Angelina.    There was a moment of silence, “okay.”  Angelina screamed with joy. “Now tell us what happened,” said their dad. “Well, it all started when Angel spied Tunnel…

THE END

This is what my creative teacher wrote to me as a good bye letter;

     Dear Lynne,

Sorry to hear you got sick! I hope you will feel better soon! I have missed getting to work with you these past few weeks. Thanks for a great semester, though-you are an awesome writer. I still brag to my classmates about what a great partner you've been. Always remember to enjoy what you write. Maybe someday I will read something published by you!

                                  Take care!

                                                  -Mary F.