The Unlucky Volunteer

Splat! A huge mound of grotesque mud sprang up onto me as I dug into the scorched ground with an old rusted shovel. Up above me the sun belted rays down upon us like we had done something naughty. Gardening is not something to do for fun, especially if you prefer to be the one getting drenched from head to toe. Right now anything would have been better than having to garden in the hot sun all day long. As perspiration dripped down my face a shout of “Snake” ran out across the grounds of weeds and vegetables. I shiver was sent down my spine as I thought about the dreadful snake. At last the hand bell went for us to stop the never ending day of gardening. We had only been going for three hours but for me it felt like months had gone by.

Slowly we made our way to the house for lunch. The chattering of people all eager to have a bite to eat was all to be heard among the forest of oak trees. Birds soared above, using the wind current to glide safely to a tall tree to rest or to have a lunch of their own. The insects were humming and clicking loudly by now. As the sun made its way to the middle of the open blue sky the a certain crunching noise had taken its place in my mind. I figured it was obviously the adorable chipmunks and squirrels making the noise as they chowed down on some nuts from the big oak trees, overlooking us as we made our way to our own lunch.

The warm delicious smell of freshly made pavlova filled the area around us. Everyone began to take one of the beautiful plastic plates aligning the table. In around five minutes people were rushing to get some of two of special, New Zealand recipe, pavlovas. My bewildered nana watched amazingly as the Canadians all came to take a slice of her pavlova. She never thought that they would like it that much! As it started to grow dark everyone reluctantly walked away from Keppal Croft, a smile spread across their faces, as the night sky made them vanish behind the overgrown shrubs.

By Grace