"Frank" by Chris

This is another entry from the Elm Class story competition.

Frank

Chapter 1 - Old Hicklebottom

The wind whistled through the air as the sun went down on Old Hicklebottom Farm. Frank was playing with his play revolver while his mum, Maddie, was inside the little hovel cleaning up. The wind howled once more and Maddie knew something was up. 'It never howls more than once at sunset,' she thought. 'It's a sign of bad luck.' At that exact moment, a flock of birds scurried from behind a hill. 'Get down to the cellar now Frank,' said Maddie cautiously eyeing the hill. 'Yes ma.' KAPOW! Around a dozen men, on horseback, armed with pistols, came riding from behind the hill. 'What's that noise mama?' enquired Frank quietly but worriedly. 'Don't worry, sweetie it's only... gguuunffirre,' she tried to say confidently, but deep down she knew that she was frightened and had hairs sticking up on end. BANG! 'Take everything useful, loot the food, then burn it down,' shouted a masculine voice. 'Quick, down the trapdoor,' said a majestically mysterious voice, which was coming from behind them. Instantly they swiveled their bodies around and there was a man there. Maddie suddenly got a rifle, loaded, aiming at the man. 'Don't move or you'll be in fairyland,' said Maddie with a sense of humour. 'My name is Otto and I come in peace,' Otto said calmly. 'Also we should move otherwise our heads will be burnt by fire,' once again, said calmly. Otto opened a rainbow coloured trapdoor. BANG! Maddie had pulled the trigger on the rifle. Otto disappeared. 'Did I tell you I can teleport?' he laughed from behind them. 'C'mon then down the trapdoor,' he said as he descended down it. Speechless and ammo-less, Maddie and Frank followed silently.

Chapter 2 - Mankata

'Where are we going ma?' asked Frank. 'Mankata,' answered Otto. 'Where is that?' asked Maddie. 'Near the Outback,' replied Otto. 'What time will we arrive?' enquired Frank. 'Around 17:00,' said Otto, now getting a little impatient. 'Quiet,' hissed Otto suddenly. Footsteps could be heard above them and they said, 'That farm in Old Hicklebottom was a great place to raid, had everything.' Noisily the raiders stumbled along for a minute straight. Under the ground, the trio stood silently for a minute straight. 'I think they've gone,' whispered Otto. 'Hey, is someone down there?' said a male voice from the surface. 'RUN!!!' POW POW POW. As the trio ran away bullets came slicing through the earth. 'AHHHHH.' The scream was horrifying. Frank and Maddie turned around right away. 'Keep going... NOW,' said Otto. Suddenly, another bullet came down but this one silenced Otto. 'I got him!' shouted the raider. Then he ran away. 'We can't leave him like this,' said Maddie sadly. 'C'mon lets bury him... give him some respect.' 

Chapter 3 - The Armies Calling

A few hours later Maddie and Frank found a fork in the tunnel. 'Left or right mama?' whispered Frank. Maddie didn't say anything but went left unknowingly. 

As the next day dawned, the birds were singing and tweeting away. Frank was still asleep as was Maddie. Suddenly, they both woke up at the sound of a masculine army voice. 'Only 12 more hours to go soldiers,' shouted a man from above. 'Quick Frank, run!' A few seconds later, Frank must've been at the speed of light. Dragging a 9 stone woman was hard heavy work for a 10 year old. 'Slow down, Frank,' said Maddie, with a face full of dust. 'Look mama, light,' Frank half-shouted. Frank had just got the Earths surface and was questioned by an army officer. 'Name?' he shouted in an instant. 'Maddie and Frank Latingo, married to head of The Official Army,' said Maddie like a royal. 'Sorry for wasting your time, ma'am,' he said humbly. She smiled, waved her hand and walked away.

After they had passed security they went to see Mr Latingo. They burst in through the doors and shouted, 'We need help from the army attack some raiders that raided our farm!' 'Why?' he enquired. 'Because they just ruined our future,' said Frank forcefully, holding up his toy revolver. Mr Latingo didn't know that the pistol was a toy. 'Very well, then, I shall recall Australia's Armies.'

Chapter 4 - The fight in the Outback

'Send the scouts to recall the army then return with them to me,' Mr Latingo said, 'then I shall need to chat with you all.'

'Where shall we go mama?' asked Frank. 'Somewhere that I shall be able to command the troops,' she said quietly. 'Your troops are ready for battle, destroy the enemy at all costs... good luck,' intervened a voice. 'I am Co-captain Wilkinson,' he said. 'Fred Wilkinson.' 'Let's roll out.' 

The next day they located the camp of the raiders. 'We should win by a breeze,' said Fred humiliatingly. 'On the count to 3 we shall charge!'

'1'

'2'

'3' 'CHARGE!' Fred screamed. 'AHHHHHRRR,' the soldiers screamed. A few of the soldiers got ahead of the others, cocked the rifles, turned around and fired at... THE AUSTRALIANS?!? 'The army has mutinied mama!' said Frank worriedly. It was now even-Stevens: the raiders and a third of the army against two thirds of the the army. Blood everywhere... screams everywhere... men falling everywhere. After a while the battle field was completely silent. Frank, Maddie and Wilkinson also on the other side of the field there was... MR LATINGO!?! BANG! Wilkinson fell flat on the floor. BANG! Maddie had gone as well. MAMA! Frank shrieked. Mr Latingo approached Frank. 'That stupid toy pistol of yours, don't do anything silly or you'll be sent to fairyland with your mother.' Frank was determined to kill him. He cocked his pistol and aimed. 'Go on, shoot me!' shouted Mr Latingo with a laugh. BANG!

Mr Latingo fell on the floor,

Mr Latingo lived no more,

Frank's bullet had hit the head,

But Mr Latingo is truly dead,

Mr Latingo always doubted Frank,

But Frank is also one to thank,

Although this story wasn't long,

It was written by Christopher Long.  

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Thanks for your story, Chris. Next time: "Australia Hassle" by Oli. 

(Photo courtesy of: http://free-photos.co)