THE PLANETS

Welcome back to a new term of Writing for Page and Stage! This week, we were delighted to welcome some new faces, as well as welcoming back some familiar ones. After introductions, we got started by listening to some music and free-writing in response. We listened to three short extracts (without revealing the title/what the piece was about) and there were some really original and imaginative responses - some stand along short responses to each extract individually and some longer pieces which incorporated the transitions between the three different extracts. Tess, who did the latter, wrote the compelling short story below:

Thunder is rumbling in the distance, we are on a train,
hurtling towards a tunnel in the mountains. It's raining and people are anxious
in the carriage. Is the man going to make it? He's standing on the edge of the
window sill, looking out at the dark landscape that surrounds us. He jumps.

Unwillingly, we all rush towards the window he just
disappeared from. For a second I've lost sight of him, and I grasp for any hint
of movement between the sky and the lake beneath the long bridge the train is
riding on.

I don't see him. No one does. Until… is that speck up in the
sky-? Is that him? Has his crazy idea turned into a miracle before our eyes? It
cannot be. And yet, we all watch the elegant flap of the white wings high above
our train. He's flying. It really worked.

We all gasp, laugh, applaud. We’re speechless and crying as
we watch him soar through the sky like an angel. He has performed what no one
thought was possible. Now we know everything is possible.

The next day we're all back at base camp. We get to work.
Everybody knows their task and moves smoothly between supply closet and
workstation. We’re an oiled machine, surrounded by motivation and driven by
awe. We all put our best selves into this, mad as it may be. We pour hours and
hours of work in, because we know that in a few months time, we will fly again!

Once everyone who wanted to had shared their pieces, it was time to reveal the title of the suite of music, and the consequent theme for this term - it was The Planets Suite by Gustav Holst, and the theme for this term is SPACE! We look forward to exploring the different prompts and connotations inspired by this theme over the course of the term.

Next, we looked at images of the planets from Holst's suite, and the characters he gave them - Mars, Bringer of War; Venus, Bringer of Peace; Mercury, The Winged Messenger; Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity; Saturn, Bringer of Old Age; Uranus, the Magician; and Neptune; The Mystic.

Inspired by this, using either the characters as Holst has attributed them, or their own ideas about characters for the planets, the writers were encouraged to write about a planet as a character - here's Charlotte's clever and witty story below:

Mercury looked up to the stars and sighed. Everything seemed
so far away. The storm last night had reminded him of the arguments between
Mars and Venus. The icy cold wind had reminded him of Neptune's coldness and in
some odd way the bright light after the storm was like Jupiters laugh!

Being sent down to Earth had been difficult to swallow.
Messengers never remained in space long, which he knew before taking the job,
but he never imagined he would miss the things he used to dread. True not
listening to Saturn talk about the old days was some consolation and there were
only so many tricks from Uranus that a planet could put up with!

“Don’t worry Merc.” Saturn had almost laughed at him for
being so worried. “One meeting with Earth and you’ll be back with us before you
can say ‘asteroid’.”

Saturn had told him that two hours (Earth time) before
Mercury had left for the meeting with Earth. He was beginning to wish that was
true! He stared at his watch. Late. Earth never seemed to be on time. He
flapped his wings with impatience as they yearned to catch the sun's rays or to
be of use once more.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.” A soft voice made him jump.

Mercury turned around to see Earth standing there in her
usual calm manner. Being away from the other planets was obviously doing her
good. Maybe he should try it some time.

“No worries. I was just wondering whether you would turn up
or not. There’s some sort of sweepstake between Mars and Neptune about it.”
Mercury joked before handing the message Jupiter had given him, to give to
Earth.

“Thanks. So how is everyone then? Mars’ still as bad
tempered as ever?” Earth smiled seeing Mercury so tense.

“Got it in one. Neptune seems to have closed up a little bit
but I mean he’s always been a bit of a loner and a mystic.” Mercury clicked his
fingers wanting to get back.

“Missing Pluto I guess. They were close after all.” Earth’s
mood changed mentioning their former friend.

“Aren’t we all?” Mercury shrugged. He had never felt great
towards Pluto but it was never nice to lose a planet.

Mercury then noticed something on Earth’s face. It seems to
have grown larger from the last time he saw her. He was probably going mad but
it seemed to even grow as they stood there talking to each other!

“Don’t worry about me Merc.” Earth could feel him staring at
her. “Moons getting a bit too far away is all. It always changes something.
I’ll have to do something about it otherwise my face will be filled with
craters!”

“But you two are okay aren’t you?” Mercury said moving his
eyes away so Earth didn’t feel too pressured. “I mean there’s nothing we need
to get involved in.”

“Was there anything else? I just have a lot going on and I’m
sure you’ll want to be getting back.” Earth snapped quickly.

“Yeah, suppose so. If there is anything….”

“I know where to find you Merc. Send my love to others for
me.” Earth blew a kiss at Mercury before disappearing into the night.

Mercury looked up into the sky where Moony had been watching
over them. He kissed his teeth before he spoke.

“Don’t you dare Moony. Don’t you dare.”

Moony had always been a bit of a troublemaker. Earth was a
saint for putting up with him for this long! Earth had put it down to being
ignored by the other planets. Merc had put it down to teenage years which Moony
was currently going through.

Merc was interrupted from his rant to Moony from his space
phone. Another message from Mars complaining about Venus flashed up on the
screen. A second later and another message from Venus backtracking what Mars
had just complained about flashed up. He wouldn’t be surprised if Jupiter sent
a joke to calm them all down.

His left wing batted his arm which was a sign to go. He
wagged his finger at Moony, spread his wings and drifted off into space.

“Take care Merc.” Mercury heard a whisper in his ear from
Earth. He took a deep breath and went to see what the other planets were
complaining about.

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