Back in May we asked you to write a short children's story of about 500 words or less based around the theme of 'dreams'. From all the fantastic entries we received it's clear that people were inspired to get writing and use their imagination... Well done to everyone who took part!
The competition was part of the BBC's RaW campaign, which is all about getting people reading and writing more! There are lots of fun ways to get involved in RaW, take a look at the website to find out more. Dreams The judges have picked a winner from all the entries, and were also impressed by a story from a junior writer. The winner received a collection of 'Quick Reads' books - short, fast-paced books by bestselling writers! The stories will be read out on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's Afternoon Show presented by Sue Dougan, and you can read them here too: 'Cobweb Cottage' by Stephen Cooper Through the wet grass and past the bushes. Brush against the leaves and shudder as the fresh, icy raindrops skitter down your arm. In front is the wooden house. It huddles under a low roof that is shedding water onto the pansies that grow around it, their bright colours almost shining in the gloom of early evening. Fumble with the wooden bar that holds the door and pull it open ever so gently so the hinges only... just... creak... a little bit.
 | | Pansies |
The smell is strange and lovely. Old wood, dust, the scent of cakes eaten long ago. It is dark inside. The light still comes in through the 3 windows. One heart shaped, one diamond shaped and one round. Small windows, not much wider than my head. If they opened I could possibly put my head through although I think my ears might get scraped. But these windows do not open. They are firmly shut and have thick dust on the glass. Look carefully and you can see the names and drawings that have been traced on them. People who were here before, and who might come again. The house lets me in so long as I bow down to half my height and slip through the door. Stooped, I settle on the floor, my back against the wall and my head almost touching the ceiling. I can see onto the first floor, up over the ladder and through the railing. A gentle breathing, a noise so quiet it is almost not a noise at all, just a sensation. The little girl stirs slightly, paws weakly at her face and settles back to peaceful sleep. On her face is the trace of a smile. I know she dreams, her eyes flicker gently under the lids. I hope she dreams of me and this dream is a happy one, of joyful memory. I try to influence her dreams and spark a pleasant memory. To let her know I see, hear and care for her still. That's all that's allowed of course. Just a gentle hint that we still love those we left and watch over them with as much concern as ever. Too much and we confuse and frighten those we try to talk to. Time to go and leave Cobweb Cottage, the playhouse in which my beautiful granddaughter sleeps and dreams. Oh I wish there was more than this, but then again, why should there be? Close my eyes and slip upwards, through the roof into the darkening sky. There is not a need to slip through wet grass, brush against the lavender and slowly open the creaking door. But sometimes it is nice for even such as I to do this. Farewell my grandchild. I will always be here to care for and to love you. I will be near you, even if only in your dreams. 'The Dream Room' by Molly (age 7), typed up by Mum Once upon a time there was a little girl called Ella, who wanted to dream all the time. She dreamed in school. She dreamed at home. And she dreamed especially in bed.
 | | Molly with presenter Sue Dougan |
One night, she sleep walked to the fireplace and slid down through it. Soon she found herself in the dream room. It was big and round and had lots and lots of slides in it, with signs leading to different dreams. There was a lion sign, a monkey sign, a sheep sign and lots lots more. Ella decided to choose the bird slide and excitedly slid down it. The slide whisked her out into a tree. Ella suddenly realised that she was a bird and she was very hungry. So Ella tried to climb up a tree, but it was very difficult with wings. She struggled until she got to the top and ate the juiciest berries she could find. Ella decided to see if she could fly. She stretched out her wings, she jumped and flapped and flapped. She felt a little bit scared, but she managed it. Ella realised that she was actually flying, she felt really proud of herself. She looked down and could see tiny ponds and blurs of flowers and small creatures. When she got the hang of it, she glided and looped the looped. It gave her a very funny feeling in her tummy. Finally she looped the loop one last time and soared back to the tree where she had started. Puff, Ella landed back in the dream room. She looked round once more and slid down the slide that said 'sheep'. Ping, she was in New Zealand! Ella looked around and saw lots and lots and lots of sheep. She felt very woolly and warm and realised that she had turned into one too! Ella walked around and asked another sheep "will you be my friend?" It came out as "baa, baa, baa, baa". But the other sheep understood her. The other sheep said "baa" which in sheep language meant yes. She felt happy that she had made a new friend and they jumped around the field. "Tag!" exclaimed Ella to the other sheep. They played tag for ages and had lots of fun. Finally Ella panted: "let's stop playing now". Two seconds later, Ella was puff, back in the dream room. She climbed the steps back to her bedroom and plonked onto her bed and pulled her duvet over her. She was really tired and Ella had had enough dreams for one night! She was so tired that in one minute she was asleep. | 
