Disintegrated By Amelia Bryant

Thump! Thump! Thump! Oh no, I thought as I cowered under the bed, here she comes. Mum has noticed. But it was so big even a blind person would see it. She has come to punish me. It was a completely usual Sunday afternoon – Mum wanted something, Dad was complaining about the heat plus Georgina and John were fighting in the background. I was only trying to help – but no – all I had done was make things worse! How had I managed to get myself into this mess? I thought back to how it all started...

I was sitting quietly trying to enjoy a particularly good part of my book when I decided I had finally had enough. I screamed at Georgina and John to stop it with so much force that they actually listened! I yelled at Dad to toughen up and I offered to Mum to whizz down to the Fordell Store and buy her a paper.

It was like a cheeseburger in a weight loss shop. She jumped up, grabbed my hand and slapped ten dollars into it. “Keep the change,” she muttered. I sprinted out and jumped, unfortunately, headfirst. Oopsies. Oh well. Vroom! The ranger growled into life. I careered down the driveway at top speed so I only just managed to slam on the brakes and pull into the Fordell Store.

As I hurriedly scrambled through the door I caught sight of all the lollies screaming “Buy me! Buy me!” No, I thought, I must get Mum a paper. Cha - ching! The deal was done. I rushed home thinking distractedly about how proud Mum would be when the house raced up to meet me. The brakes screamed but it was to late; I drove straight into Mum’s office.

So that is how I am here now, stuck under my bed and praying for dear life. “Amelia, why is the ranger parked in my office surrounded by sheets of shattered glass and splintered wood?” Mum spluttered, angrily. Silence. I held my breath. Praying. She turned and prepared to leave. Whoosh! My breath came out as a swirling mist. “Amelia come out here and explain this mess!”

I had to tell her and she charged me five years worth of pocket money to pay for the mess that I made and Dad never let me drive the Ranger again.