Praise for young Devizes writer Grace Mckenna

Grace Mckenna is in Year 5 at Wansdyke School, in Devizes.

As lockdown has resulted in home learning once more for the year group, Grace decided to use her longer evenings to put pen to paper.

The 10-year-old, who credits Harry Potter creator JK Rowling as one of her inspirations, said she “couldn’t believe” the response.

The story came about due to her love of magic and fantasy novels, and she fused two ideas together to create Mist.

It follows the main character of Luna, who gets an unexpected surprise at school, and follows the mysterious twists and turns that follow.

She said: “I was amazed, I didn’t expect the story to go so far. I really like writing and it didn’t take long to write this.

"I really like the idea of a book about seasons next as I find that idea quite interesting.”

The ten-year-old, who also plays piano, hopes she can encourage other young people to start writing.

And Year 5 teacher Lindsay Hann added: “We’ve been giving them writing topics on our space topic at the moment, and this was something extra Grace had done.

"She’s always been a super keen writer, but when she sent this through it was more than I expected, it was so in depth and well written for someone so young.”

Read the full story below:

Mist

Hi. I’m Luna. I was normal until yesterday. I was by the locker room then, I suddenly started feeling strange. Dizzy, sick and almost like there was some kind of mist in front of me somehow. I don’t remember much, only that I told my best friend Lilly and she started walking me to the nurses office. I tried to turn away and go back to the lockers. Everyone hates the nurses office. It’s dark and gloomy and the nurse is centuries old. There’s a rumour that if you throw up in there she’ll beat you with a cane.

But it was then I felt even more sick. I had to go to the nurse. As I was walking with Lilly I got a few sympathetic glances and some people whispering, wondering what was wrong with me. To be completely honest I was wondering the same thing.

It wasn’t as bad as I thought because I asked (more like told) Lilly to stay with me the whole time. I don’t trust that nurse. (I think her name’s Miss Johnson.)

She only spoke once after taking a look at me. I really don’t know what she does all day, she just sends all the students that are ill away.

“Go to the principal’s office,” she groaned as her words echoed through the small, dusty room. Me and Lilly headed to the door without hesitation.

We walked through three grey, gloomy corridors and then arrived at the red door with the little rectangular window at the side. I peeked inside. Mr Anderson was sat behind his usual wooden desk with an old computer and mug of tea rested neatly on top.

He was dressed in his usual small black suit and his voice was so quiet most of the time he had to have another teacher speak for him in assemblies.

“Lilly, go to your English class. Luna, I will phone your parents,” Mr Anderson squeaked.

“Your Mum and Dad said they needed to have a serious conversation with you,” he basically whispered after he got off the phone with my parents.

The next thing I know my parents are sat in the red, velvety chairs in the office.

“I will leave you alone now Mr and Mrs Smith,” the principal said nervously.

I was shaking. My parents had never looked this serious before. I thought they were never going to speak when suddenly my mum looked me in the eye and said, “Luna, you’re magic.”

Obviously, I didn’t know how to respond to that in the slightest way, so without meaning for it to, my jaw dropped open, like a 5 year old being told that they would be living in a house made of pure gingerbread. Then I moved my hand in a motion you’d move to point, but with my fist outstretched and there, without warning or any sign anything was going to happen, smoke arose from tips of my fingers and floated around the room like a fog or a mist making its way to a different part of the world.

As it reached the ceiling my mum whispered “Oh no....” Then the fire alarm started beeping rapidly. Every student ran outside to the fire point then Mr Anderson made his way to the front and told everyone that it was a false alarm.

After that incident, the principal thought it would be best if I went home for my parents to explain. We live in a normal 2 bed house, quite nice and cosy.

“Why do I have these powers though?” I asked, confused.

“You were born at exactly 12:00 at night, and when we finally brought you home, we realised there was something wrong. You never cried and as soon as we got through the door you floated to the ceiling. Then a fog of smoke appeared. It was strange,” Mum explained.

“I forgot to take my vitamin at snack today.... does- does that stop my powers from- from working?” I replied, quivering.

“I’m afraid so,” muttered Dad.

Then there was hours of arguing from me, asking if they were ever going to tell me, when suddenly my Mum piped up.

“Darling, you’re 1 of 2 people in the entire world that has this disease thing. Nobody knows what’s actually wrong with you, except for your doctor, me, your Dad and yourself. We just tell the teachers and nurses you have something wrong with you but they don’t know exactly what’s wrong,” she explained.

After a few more minutes of silence, I stood up and went to bed. And that leaves me where I am now, on a Saturday morning, writing in a diary my Mum put on my bedside table when she went to bed, with a note saying, “Me and your Dad are sorry about not telling you sooner, but you can write your private feelings in here if you like.”

After I wrote that last part I fell back to sleep. Typical me. Anyway, I spent most of weekend sat in my room looking at social media and texting Lilly and trying to use my magic. At mealtimes my parents just left the food by my door and knocked then went back downstairs. I actually appreciate that since I just wanted a bit of alone time. Anyway, have to get ready for school now, and not look like I’ve been hibernating in my room since Friday evening.

OH MY GOD. Okay so today was manic. I’ll explain.

I went downstairs and my parents had made me pancakes for breakfast. We all spoke to each other like everything was normal. Which was unusual considering everything that happened on Friday. I arrived at school, and I saw people glancing at me strangely. I didn’t really think anything of it as I felt like it was just a normal day. I continued to see people whispering when I passed them and as I walked outside to lunch with Lilly I realised. They knew. I had stopped walking, and started swaying so Lilly brought me to a nearby bench in a deserted part of the field.

“Luna. Your parents told the principal and me. They said you wished they’d told them sooner so they assumed you would want me to know. And some girl overheard them telling the principal. She’s spreading rumours you’re a werewolf because your name’s Luna. I’m so sorry,” Lilly said as she started crying.

“Its okay, you’re the most loyal and kind friend I’ll ever get Lilly, none of my other friends would’ve told me that. And that’s all that matters,” I sobbed.

I think the reason me and Lilly get on so well is because we were both adopted, so we understand each other.

Then all of a sudden, the loudspeaker muttered “LUNA SMITH REPORT TO THE PRINCIPALS OFFICE NOW PLEA-” then shakily cut the principals voice off, and somehow it still sounded meek.

I headed towards the principals office, this time alone as me and Lilly agreed he might not want her there, and that I’d tell her everything afterwards.

I slowly knocked on the wooden door, then peeked through the little window on the side. After about 5 seconds someone said “Come in.”

“Ah, Luna.” The principal sighed as he glanced at my face.

“It has come to my attention that some people have been spreading some little rumours about you lately, am I right?” He said, as if he was talking to a child in nursery .

“Yes they’ve been saying I’m a werewolf and, and saying that, that-” I panted.

“Yes, yes Luna, a few unkind words have been said. But I’ve spoken to a few of those people and they agree it isn’t very nice of them okay?” I hated the way he was speaking to me.

“I’M NOT DIFFERENT! YOU DON’T HAVE TO TALK TO ME LIKE I’M 5!”

“Oh umm, okay, as you wish,” the principal muttered passively.

I returned to the spot me and Lilly were sat at before, and I told her everything that happened in the principals office.

“Luna.... did your parents say you were the only one in the world that has this disease?..” She spoke slowly when she said this, almost as if she was thinking every word through.

“I’m not sure..... No I don’t think s- wait! I know! They said I was one of two people,” I remembered.

“Well then, we can find them!” said Lilly, determined.

“But they could be anywhere in the world!” I cried, feeling like there was no hope left.

In History I got a note passed to me from Lilly. “Meet me in the treehouse after school,” it said in her neat handwriting. The treehouse is a tree in the middle of our gardens (we live next to each other by the way) that we put a ten with blankets on the floor and we meet there every time we wanted to speak in private outside of school. It had been there ever since she moved to our neighbourhood when her sister Charlie was born. We have been best friends ever since.

I had one more class after History, PE. I hate it. I’m not really much of an active person to be honest, but it was even worse than usual because I kept daydreaming and Miss Winchester, our coach had a good shout at me for not listening. Now I have detention. For a week. But I told Lilly I’d come to the treehouse straight after as long as she waited for me and I’d even skip dinner if I had to.

I got home and climbed straight up the old, oak tree. At least since it is Summer nobody could see us in the tree as its dark, flimsy leaves covered its branches. Luckily, Lilly was there. Well I say she was there. I found her, asleep with 2 bars of chocolate and her phone by her side.... her phone was unlocked and on an app. As soon as I crawled inside the little tent I noticed there was a little cloud of dust at the top, a little like what rose to the ceiling in the principals office a few days before. “Lilly...?” I whispered.

She didn’t respond. I felt her heart. It was beating as fast as lightning. “Lilly?” I said, louder than before. I shook her, still no answer. I quickly pulled my phone out my pocket and phoned 999.

“999, what’s your emergency?” the operator asked. By that time I was already sprinting toward my house to get my parents. I got there, explained to my mum and let her speak to the phone as my voice was shaking.

“Go tell Lilly’s parents. We’ve messaged them but they don’t look at their phones often,” My Dad told me.

I took Mr and Mrs Adams outside heading towards the treehouse, then the ambulance arrived. Mr Adams helped to heave Lilly out of the tent, then went with her to hospital. Mrs Adams stayed. “But why?” I thought. Your daughters in hospital, why aren’t you going to make sure she’s okay?! I wanted to scream.

“Luna, I know it’s a lot to take in right now but you can go and visit Lilly tomorrow and take the day off school as we know it’s a lot of pressure,” Lilly’s Mum said softly. She’s always treated me like a second daughter. I love that about her. She’s also my godmother, and Lilly’s Dad is my godfather so if something happens to my parents they will be my parents I guess. After all that drama, I went to bed when Mrs Adams went to the hospital in the car, since there apparently wasn’t any room in the ambulance. I couldn’t sleep though. Nobody in their right minds could if they were in my situation. It was all my fault. If only I told her we could go to the treehouse a different day. I wonder what she wanted to tell me.

I went to visit Lilly in the hospital today. It was nice not being at school, and I’m happy that I don’t have to deal with detention with Miss Winchester as I’m off for a week. When I got to the hospital my parents waited in the car for a while, then the nurses took me to Lilly’s room. Her parents were there, and they looked like they’d had no sleep in the red, rock hard chairs. She asked them to leave the room. She had tubes coming through her hands and nose and looked like she’d been in a car crash.

“Luna I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” she said as she burst out crying.

“Sorry you didn’t tell me what?”

“I have the same powers as you.” She cried

“So you’re the other person?” I asked, shocked. And before I knew it I had also started crying.

“I woke up this morning and my parents said they had to have a serious talk with me. They told me to tell you, and your parents are okay with it if I tell you so don’t worry,” she said, trying to calm herself down.

“We’re twins. We’re not identical but we’re twins,” she cried tears of happiness and sat up with all her might to hug me.

I was in disbelief. We always said we were sisters as that’s how close we have became over the years.

We realised when my Mum said “Honey, what did Mr and Mrs Smith say about her having powers?” I’d never thought about it before.

“Why are you here though? What’s wrong with you?” I asked.

“When the full moon comes our powers start to work. We’re not allowed out at night when there’s a full moon. The other day since it was your first time not taking your vitamin it didn’t have to be dark outside. Also you might have noticed my phone open on an app. That tracks when my powers are going to overflow/ when the moon is going to be full. I made the app. I’ll transfer it to your phone to help you if you want,” she explained. I was still in shock.

Then I realised.

I gave her one last hug then headed back to the car.

“Mum! Dad! Me and Lilly are sisters” I cried.

“Oh my! What makes you think that?” Mum explained.

On the way home I explained about us both having powers.

When we got home my parents said “From now on you will have a room in Lilly’s house since they have a spare room. Every other week you will go and stay there. We’re all a big family now.

I was so pleased by this! I get to live with my best friend (or I guess I can call her my sister now!)

And now that leaves me here. I always knew there was something blocking me and Lilly from the truth. A sort of mist that can drift away at any time, no matter where you are or what you’re doing.

By Grace Mckenna