The Short-cut

The metro service had just started in the city and the bus routes and train routes had all changed. Although Emma did not know much about the changes yet she kept hearing her mom and dad complaining about it. “All the buses have changed their routes. We will have to re-plan our daily journeys from now on,” they grumbled. “Emma will also have to travel by the new bus routes. The bus stop is further away, and Emma will have to walk a lot!” they discussed worriedly. Emma felt her parents were worried unnecessarily. Next day, Emma got ready for her school. She drank a glass of milk and ate some biscuits. The she set out for school. Despite her parents’ warning, she went through the swampy area, which was the short-cut to her bus-stop. She was walking happily, when suddenly she heard the rustling of leaves. And then, there was a glugging sound. Emma didn’t think much of it. ‘It must be the wind or a toad in the swamp,’ she thought. GLUGG! GLUGG! BUBBLE…bubble!

The swamp made a loud noise, and to Emma’s horror, the bubble began to become bigger. It grew and grew in size, until it was a giant, oozy, dirty, dangerous looking monster with big bulb-like eyes! The monster was just too scary to look at and it was heading straight for Emma! Waving its giant hands, it swayed and bumbled towards Emma, grabbing her in a deathly embrace. She struggled but it just made her sink deeper in the monster’s embrace! Emma panicked! Heart thudding furiously, head dizzy, Emma struggled to breathe. Breathing in deeply, she calmed herself and stayed completely still. She knew the swampy monster had her in control only if she tried to get out. Without moving, she thought fast. Looking around, she saw a tree-branch just over her head. Then, she took her bag off her back and threw it towards the branch. The bag’s loops got stuck in the branch. Emma pulled at the bag sharply so that the branch might get pulled with it, but did not break. The branch swung back in place and with it, Emma too was pulled out of the swampy embrace. Swinging cleverly, Emma landed on dry land. Picking up her bag, she ran back home as fast as her little legs could take her. Never again was she going to take the short-cut to the bus-stop. The longer route was much safer!

Leave a Comment

Shopping Cart
×

Hello!

Click one of our contacts below to chat on WhatsApp

× How can I help you?