Model Essay II

A Great Experience

Written by Veralyn (also a student from the 2002 batch)

With whoops and shrieks of joy, Lily and John bounced up and down on the sofa. They were going to Rali Park for a picnic.

Armed with baskets of fruits, sandwiches and cold drinks, they trooped out of their garden, heading happily for Rali Park. They scuttled about looking for a place. At long last, they settled down under a wide-spread angsana tree. It was a lovely day. Birds sang lustily and butterflies and bees seemed busier than ever.

The surroundings blended perfectly with the weather. John began to sprawl out like a starfish while Lily fished out a piece of bread, munching at it hungrily.

The two children felt chirpy that day. Suddenly, John let out a shrill cry. He pointed a finger at what seemed like a massive cave. Lily squealed.

John, who was trembling with excitement tugged at his sister’s sleeves frantically. Lily looked at the mouth of the cave, which sent shivers down her spine.

“Don’t be a baby, your big brother is here to protect you,” boasted John, hopping around with his nose high up in the air.

Hands clasped together, Lily and John walked in. Lily was really petrified and clutched John’s hand like a vice. Lily, by now, was slick with sweat.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, both of them, John and Lily, heard a deep churchyard groan. They gasped. Then they heard it again. John, out of curiosity, decided to go further. “Don’t, John!” cried his sister who was by now terrified to tears.

John put on a grave look. Lily looked on, trembling. John towered over the girl who was trembling like a jelly. Lily knew that she was beaten. Nothing could change her brother’s mind.

Rather reluctantly, Lily merely nodded her head while tears trickled down her cheeks. It was relatively quiet in the cave. Suddenly, what seemed like a stench filled the cave.

They pinched their noses and gave disgusted looks, when all of a sudden, John spotted a bear. No, two bears in fact. One was lying helplessly on the floor and the other, quite dead.

Lily gave a terrified yelp that woke the bear up. It stared at them with dangerous bright sparkling eyes. It growled and snarled.

Lily almost jumped out of her skin. John, bold once again, went up to the bear. The bear began to arch its back like a cat. Then, in a composed voice, he said, “ It’s all right, we’ll help you.”

The bear seemed to understand and calmed down a little. Then, it gave a little whine. John saw that it must be injured. Lily watched all these with bated breath.

Time seemed to stretch like eternity for Lily - she was so afraid of bears. John then gave a terrified yelp. Lodged in the bear’s stomach was a bullet.

John beckoned Lily to come over. Legs wobbling, she walked small steps towards the massive, once snarling bear.

“Go and get Mr. Thomson!” cried John. Mr. Thomson was a veterinarian who often gave their dog, Blackie, regular checkups.

Lily ran as swiftly as an arrow to Mr. Thomson’s house, panting all the way. She finally reached there and at last caught some fresh air. Lily explained everything in a jiffy, gasping for air every now and then. Mr. Thomson then quickly packed up the things needed and rushed to the scene.

John was there, trying his hardest to console it. Mr. Thomson without a moment’s hesitation, tried his very best to save it. However, his effort was fruitless.

After an hour of hard work, Mr. Thomson announced sadly, “I’m so sorry, but I can’t save it. The bullet has beem there for too long.”

John’s face looked forlorn. Lily who was by now, very friendly to animals looked doleful while Mr. Thomson looked crestfallen. The bear had died!

From that day onwards, when the two children walked past the cave, they always remembered what happened. The memory, to them, was as clear as tinklebells.

Now, Lily found it hard to resist animals and became an animal lover too like John when she found out they were quite harmless except when provoked.