The Heart's Journey

Chapter 7-2

The other fish were eating them too. Finlay growled at them “get away.”“Stop!” Said Sabrina, “remember you have to be nice Finlay. You have to share.”

“Stop!” Said Sabrina, “remember you have to be nice Finlay. You have to share.”Slowly Finlay learned to share.

Slowly Finlay learned to share.Slowly Finlay learned to be nice.

Slowly Finlay learned to be nice.Slowly Finlay learned to play.

Slowly Finlay learned to play.All the other creatures in the ocean began to like Finlay. Finlay wasn’t mean

All the other creatures in the ocean began to like Finlay. Finlay wasn’t meananymore. Finlay was nice.

anymore. Finlay was nice.He swam with the penguins and let the affectionate octopus hug him.

He swam with the penguins and let the affectionate octopus hug him.He played hide and seek with the baby fish and even let the trout with the big lips

He played hide and seek with the baby fish and even let the trout with the big lipskiss him.

kiss him.Finlay stopped growling and shouting.

Finlay stopped growling and shouting.Finlay started to laugh and have fun.

Finlay started to laugh and have fun.He helped the old walrus up onto the rocks.

He helped the old walrus up onto the rocks.He even stopped snapping at the greedy seagulls.

He even stopped snapping at the greedy seagulls.At night Finlay slept on the sea bed with the stingrays.

At night Finlay slept on the sea bed with the stingrays.For the first time ever Finlay was happy. He snuggled up to Sabrina the Angel Fish

For the first time ever Finlay was happy. He snuggled up to Sabrina the Angel Fishand gave her the biggest, gummiest smile in the whole ocean.

and gave her the biggest, gummiest smile in the whole ocean.“Thank you Sabrina for showing me how to be kind and nice. Thank you for being

“Thank you Sabrina for showing me how to be kind and nice. Thank you for beingmy friend and helping me.”

my friend and helping me.”As they darted through the sea together Finlay chuckled, “maybe losing my teeth

As they darted through the sea together Finlay chuckled, “maybe losing my teethwasn’t so bad after all.”

wasn’t so bad after all.”

The library is silent. I look around at the familiar faces, trying to gauge if they like my story.

“That’s lovely that is,” Raveena breaks the silence.

I exhale with relief as the others join in.

“How did you come up with the idea?” Asks Mrs Montgomery, “I’ve tried to write children’s fiction and failed miserably.”

“It’s not an easy genre to write,” I admit, “I tend to think of a theme or a place initially. With this story I was thinking about creatures that live in the sea, I’ve got a whole list of draft stories at home I’ve concocted, now I just have to knuckle down and write them.” I reach in my bag and pull out the chocolate eclairs, “so shall we have a break?”

We’re all grateful that Martha lets us use her kettle and teabags. I leave some money on the side to thank her for her kindness. Marvin follows me into the small staffroom area. He’s chewing the end of a pen and looking uncharacteristically nervous.

“What’s up?” I ask, as I lay the cups and sugar on a tray.

“I’ve got something to tell you,” he begins, “we’ve got something to tell you.”

we’veI notice the rest of the writing circle have crowded into the room and are standing behind Marvin.

“What have you done?” I joke. Marvin has that serious look on his face, the same one he gets when he’s piping icing onto the biscuits at work. I swallow, “you guys are making me nervous.”

Esther walks towards me, her hands outstretched, “it’s good news darling.”

Behind her Albert nods, “terrific news.”

I allow them to lead me back to the table. Freya carries the drinks back and passes them round.

“So Lou, remember a few months ago, that erm… local writing competition you told us all about.”

I scratch my ear, “you mean the West Midlands New Talent competition.”

“That’s the one,” Marvin points his two forefingers at me. I watch as a huge grin lights up his face.

“Oh my gosh, have any of you entered?”

“Urm… not exactly,” Marvin’s back to looking shifty.

Esther Montgomery pats Marvin’s hand, “what Marvin is trying to say is that all of us in the writing circle think you’re very talented Lou.”

“Thank you,” I smile graciously, “and you are too!” I wait for her or anyone to continue, but everyone remains tight lipped.

“For goodness sake what is it?” I prompt.

Then Marvin does something quite comical. He exhales deeply and says the following in a rapid monotone. “when you weren’t looking I photocopied one of your children’s stories and sent it off to the competition.”

I stare at him, “is this a joke?”

“You’ve won Lou!” He punches the air, while the others whoop with excitement.

“Let me get this straight,” I look round at the circle of apprehensive faces. They must be worried what my reaction will be, because the fact is they’ve gone behind my back and tampered with work that is clearly copyrighted, without my consent or approval. I feel a bud of indignation flicker in my stomach, “you sent off my work to a competition on the sly?”

“Er… I suppose,” Marvin coughs, hops from foot to foot.

Esther steps towards me, “we knew you’d never enter. You’re so humble about your talent Louise.”

Alfred continues, “so we thought we’d do it for you.”

Raveena grins, “and now you’ve won.”

I glance at Freya, “you knew about this too?”

She nods, “I wanted to tell you, but the others… we all thought you’d never agree to it.”

“Too right she wouldn’t” Marvin says with a snort, “does any of this matter? You’ve won Lou, you’ve bloody won.”

I allow my face to break into a smile, “I did?”

“Yes!” They all chorus.

“But which one did you send off?” My head is spinning slightly and I hold onto the table unit for support.

“The one about the rebellious ladybird,” Marvin says with satisfaction.

“It’s safer on the sunflower?” I recap over the title, “had it been proofread?”

“Yes, we checked it for typos but it was perfect Lou.”

“Just like you,” Esther smiles warmly.

“I suppose.” I let out a shuddering breath, “I should thank you.”

“No need,” Marvin says primly. “They had almost a thousand applicants y’know. Just proves my point that you’re good enough to make it as a published author.”

I shake my head, “I can’t believe I’ve won. What have I won by the way?”

haveMarvin clicks his fingers, “prepare to be amazed, because you Louise Henry have won a week at a writer’s retreat. Isn’t that utterly marvellous?”