2009 Naplan Test

The crisp frost and thick snow that blankets an old pine tree are the first indications that it is a white Christmas. All the happy children opening presents and spending the day with there parents, except for one kid... Joel Turner. Joel was abandoned at a young age by his parents and grew up in a stereotypical orphanage in London. The year is 1850 and the poor orphanage could not provide an enjoyable Christmas. The only gift was the gift of snow which gave the Joel frostbite on his hands and feet. His whole life Joel felt lonely, sad and depressed with the world. His whole world was a disappointment until one day when he made a pleasant discovery. The discovery would change his life forever.

The sound of merry rich kids on Christmas made Joel sad. The cold snow frozen his feet until they were numb. He wanted out of the orphanage. He jumped the gate and began to run. Tears flowed down his cheek and frozen into a icicle before hitting the ground. He ran and ran until he hit a nearby forest; he only then realised what he had done. The punishment for running away was severe, ten lashing with the wooden stick on the back. He couldn't return. His whole world began to spin and he fell to his knees. Staring into the pale white snow made his notice something, something peculiar. I was a gold coin the size of his palm with an inscription on the back. The inscription read: "If found please return to ... France". The address was scratched out but France was readable. How was he to get to France. Travel was limited as it cost a lot of money which Joel didn't have. He would have to sneak in.

Getting to the docks was easy for the train guard was busy sorting out a problem with some passengers luggage. The docks were all new to Joel as was the water and the big ships. He had only every seen pictures in photos. He never imagined them to be so big. With his head bowed and his hands in his pocket he boarded the ship with ease. That was until he tripped and knocked over a policeman and was taking into custody. By then the ship had left.

The jails in France resembled his orphanage but now he had his own room. He had been in jail for 3 weeks now and was beginning to take a toll on Joel. He grabbed the coin that he found and threw it at the wall. As this happened a man walked in. "That coin is very valuable. Please do not scratch it! I am willing to offer 10 000 franc for that coin that belonged to my grandmother."