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It had now been quite a while since Alex had stayed at his Grandma’s and met the little people who lived under the big rock on the Bolehills. Everyday he thought about how the big rock turned into a real ship in the middle of the night and sailed on the sea. He couldn’t wait to go back and see them all again and sail with them on the ship. He kept asking his Mum when he could go and stay at his Grandma’s again because he had enjoyed himself so much. His Mum was rather surprised. Usually when Alex went to stay with his Grandma he missed all his friends and was always pleased to come back home, but this time he kept pestering to go back. Of course, she didn’t know the real reason why he was so eager to visit his Grandma again. Alex hadn’t told anyone about the little people and the magic rock. He had promised the little people that he would keep their secret and that’s what he had done. Nobody must ever know. One day when Alex came home from school, his Mum had a surprise for him. “Alex, would you like to go and stay at your Grandma’s this weekend, I know you enjoyed yourself so much last time and Grandma says you can help her with some jobs in the garden?” Alex felt so excited. Now he would be able to visit the magic rock and see all the little people again. He could hardly wait for Friday. As soon as school was over on Friday his Mum came to meet him and they set off to Grandma’s house. It was quite a long way and when they arrived Grandma had got the tea waiting for them. She was really pleased that Alex was going to stay and after tea Alex asked if he could go onto the Bolehills for a little while. “Yes, but don’t be too long” said his Grandma “it will soon be dark”. Alex made his way over the fields towards the Bolehills. As he approached he could see the big rock shaped like a ship, standing out, so big against all the other rocks. He began to run towards it, he hadn’t got much time before it went dark and he really had to see the little people before he went back. But as he got nearer Alex was in for quite a shock. He couldn’t get down onto the rocks. Big fences had been placed all around the rocks and huge bulldozers and cement mixers were stood lined up at the end of the field. Whatever was happening. It looked as if something was about to built on the Bolehills. He tried really hard to squeeze through the fences, but it was no good he couldn’t find any opening to get through and it was starting to go dark. He would have to try again tomorrow. He ran back to his Grandma’s as fast as he could. His Mum was just about to set off back home. “I’ll be back on Sunday for you Alex” she shouted and the next minute the car had gone. Alex raced indoors. “Grandma, what is happening on the Bolehills, I couldn’t get onto the rocks it has all been fenced off?” “Oh, I forgot to tell you. The next time you come here the rocks won’t be there anymore. New houses are going to be built and all the rocks are going to be blown up”. “When?” Alex shouted “Well, I think it will be on Monday after you go back home” said his Grandma “Why Alex, whatever is the matter, you look really upset?” Alex was really upset. What was going to happen to all the little people if they blew the magic rock up, they would all die. “It’s just that I really like playing on the rocks and it won’t be the same anymore” Alex said to his Grandma. “Don’t worry about it, I’m sure you’ll find other things to do” said his Grandma and went back into the kitchen. Alex sat down feeling very shocked. Whatever was he going to do. He must try and save the little people or they would be blown up. He thought and thought until at last he came up with a plan of action. Tomorrow he would somehow get through the fences and go down the hole at the side of the big rock and warn the little people what was going to happen. The
next day after breakfast, Alex asked his Grandma if he could take a picnic
onto the Bolehills like he had done before. His Grandma packed him lots
of nice sandwiches and fruit and Alex set off once again to the big rock.
This time when he reached the fencing he could see a small gap which he
hadn’t noticed the night before because it had been going dark, and he
managed to squeeze through. He was inside the fencing now and nobody
could see him. He ran over to where the big stone was over the tunnel and
quickly rolled it to one side and jumped down the hole. The little man stared at Alex looking very frightened and then said “Put me back down on the floor, I will have to tell the others”. Alex put the little man on the floor and watched as he told all the little people about the new houses that were going to be built where the magic rock was standing and how the workmen were going to blow all the rocks up on Monday morning. The little people started running around and squeaking at each other. Alex could tell they were all very upset and stood up ready to climb back up the hole. But the little people surrounded him and the little man climbed up his leg, up his arm and onto Alex’s shoulder. He whispered into Alex’s ear. “You are our very best friend, and if you come back tonight, you can join us on our very last voyage on the magic rock, will you do that?”. “Yes” said Alex, feeling very excited “I’ll be back tonight. You are my very best friends and we must think up a plan so you can all escape from the rock before it is blown up”. Alex crept back up the tunnel, placed the big stone over the hole and ran back to his Grandma’s. He went straight to the hut to get the torch, because that night when everyone was asleep, he was going back to the magic rock for the very last time to sail with the little people once again. When Alex went to bed that night, he placed the alarm clock under his pillow and got into bed fully dressed. He was all ready for the night ahead and knew this would be his only chance to make sure his little friends were safe. When the alarm clock rang, Alex quickly turned it off, put on his shoes and by the light of the torch made his way down the stairs and out of the door into the darkness. He felt very excited as he ran across the fields. By the light of the moon he could see the big rock in the distance. When he reached the fencing round the rocks he carefully shone the torch up and down until he found the gap he could squeeze through. Once through the gap he could see that on the top of the big rock were hundreds and hundreds of little people all jumping up and down with excitement. Alex climbed onto the rock and as he did they all ran towards him squeaking in their tiny little voices, trying to tell him something. “I’m sorry, but I can’t tell what you are saying when you all talk at once” he told them. He sat down and one of the little people ran up his leg, up his arm, onto his shoulder and whispered in his ear. “Alex, we have a plan. Tonight will be the very last time the rock turns into a ship because we are going to sail away forever. When the workmen come on Monday to blow up the rocks we will have gone. Will you come with us?” Alex shook his head “ I really want to sail with you tonight, but I have to go back home to my Mum and Dad and Grandma and all my friends at school” said Alex. The little man looked really sad, then he ran down Alex’s arm, down his leg and went over to where all the little people were waiting. Alex could hear their squeaky little voices but didn’t know what they were saying. After a while the little man ran back up onto Alex’s shoulder and whispered in his ear “Alex, because you have saved us and have been so kind to us, when the rock turns into a ship, you can sail with us on the sea and then we will bring you back before we sail away forever” then the little man ran back down and joined his friends. Alex started to laugh. He felt so happy and excited all at the same time. He stood up just as the moon appeared from behind the clouds and the big rock was suddenly transformed into a huge sailing ship. Very, very slowly Alex felt the gentle rock of the ship from side to side and once again he could hear the sound of the sea as waves crashed against the side of the ship. The little people screamed with excitement as the wind blew against the giant sails and the ship was blown up and down, further and further out to sea. Alex could see the flag on the mast with the picture of the magic rock on it, blowing in the wind and he too jumped up and down with excitement. All night long they sailed on and on passing other boats, but none of the other boats were like the magic ship. The magic ship was different because it was really a rock with hundreds and hundreds of little people sailing on it that nobody could see. As it was tossed up and down on the mighty seas | Books on CD | Christmas Gifts |
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