The Vanishing Planets

Ria leapt across the meadowy hills, a skip in her step. She finally had a solution, but it had been a difficult one.

Let me tell you the tale from the start…

Chapter 1: The Camping Trip

It began when thirteen-year-old Ria went on a camping trip.

“Daddy,” she began, “aren’t we going to Penrith Camping Park?” she asked, hoping her father had forgotten. Her friend was going there too.

“No, sweetie, we’re going to Meadowy Hills, remember?” he replied in a sweet, loving voice.

Ria just grunted. It was the worst answer ever, she thought. But just then, Dad said something that would own up a lifetime.

“But we’re going to the beach first, ok?”

“Yeah! Of course!” replied Ria.

Chapter 2: The Strange Orb

As the two drove, Ria noticed something out of the corner of her eye. It was as shiny as the moon and stopped outside her car window, but Ria pretended not to realise. Even as they neared the orb, it still followed.

It gazed at her with loving…well, let’s say stitches of thread. However, when the car stopped at the beach, it zoomed away at the speed of lightning.

“That was weird,” Ria muttered to herself.

But as she went outside, she realised she was nowhere near the beach.

“This isn’t the beach!” she screamed in fury. “This is the Meadowy Hills!”

“Look honey, I knew you didn’t want to go, so I had to lie about it… so… sorry,” Dad replied.

Ria stormed off muttering words unknown.

Chapter 3: The Anger

On the outside, her fair white skin glowed as she leapt, her dark hair neatly braided behind her back. (But because of her father’s menacing act, she tied it under her beanie.)

On the inside, her heart pounded with rage. Angry voices filled her mind, blinding her eyes.

Before she knew it, it was dinner time, and soon Ria was in her tent getting ready for bed.

But then she noticed something really weird, the planets were disappearing.

Ria dared not tell her father and found it hard to keep her mouth shut. In the end, she did it and finally managed to get to sleep with one thing on her mind: She was going to get the planets back.

Chapter 4: Master Gina

The next day, early in the morning, Ria set out to Master Gina’s tent. (One of her friends had spread a truth or rumour, Ria didn’t know which.)

There was one problem though, Ria didn’t know where it was. So, as any young teenager would do, she texted her friend.

“Hi Chloe, do you by any chance know where Master Gina’s tent is? If not, do you mind passing the message?”

But then she realised the time was 4:18 a.m.

This was the reply:

“RIA!!! DO YOU NOT KNOW THE TIME??!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!! IN CASE YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TIME IT’S 4:22 A.M!!! -YOUR FRIEND, CHLOE!!”

Ria was devastated and had to find Master Gina’s tent herself. But then, as if by magic, a shimmering blue tent with little cards on it appeared not too far from smashing into Ria.

Suddenly, Ria didn’t think lame ol’ Meadowy Hills was bad anymore.

Chapter 5: The Solution

Ria went inside and found an old woman with a purple crown on her head. Her hair had turned grey, and wrinkles spread across her face. She spoke in a sweet voice, like your grandmother would.

“Hello, Ria darling, I’ve been expecting you.”

“You have?” replied Ria, feeling warm at the heart.

“Yes, and I have a solution to your problem. Go to the Bubble Maker and look for the planet restoration.”

“But where is he?” asked Ria.

“Why, next door of course!”

Ria was confused. Before, Master Gina’s tent had been the only one around.

So Ria left, as slow as a turtle, her mind filling with questions.

Chapter 6: The Bubble Maker

As Ria slowly entered the next tent, there were potions everywhere but the Bubble Maker was certainly not there. Instead, Ria found a potion labelled:

“PLANET: RESTORATION - $10.00”

Ria took it, left a $10 note on the desk, and took her leave.

Chapter 7: Restoring the Planets

Ria skipped along the meadows, a skip in her step. She had a solution, and it was right in her pocket.

Ria opened the test tube and took out the bubble blower. She took a deep breath and blew.

Suddenly, the planets started appearing one by one.

It was a beautiful sight…it was!