Stories inspired by Australian family finding a koala in their Christmas Tree

In Creative Writing Club, students wrote stories after watching the video clip below of a koala bear named Daphne who was found in a family's indoor Christmas tree. 

Family in South Australia find live koala in their Christmas tree | Environment | The Guardian - 

click on the link to read the article and view the video.

Secret Agent Daphne

A Christmas story by Cerys H - Y8

I approached the house; the gold shiny star twinkled like a diamond on top of the fake pine tree. It was sealed behind an impenetrable fortress known as a window. Whatever it was, I knew it was no match for my amazing secret agent skills. That is why I was given this important job, to steal borrow the golden star and give it to the Koala Secret Intelligence, where they would investigate all about the holiday called Chrasmas.

Thanks to my secret agent training, I noticed that one of the windows of the house was open. I expertly slithered in and ran to the base of the tree. I looked up: my goal was in sight! I hurriedly started climbing but spheres of litter rained down on me from above. This was obviously a booby trap set by the humans trying to ruin my fool-proof plan, my secret agent training taught me as much. It didn’t matter anyway; I stretched a paw out to grab the star, but it eluded my grasp. I tried to inch closer to it, but some sort of glitter rope prevented me from going any further! I cursed the human trickery and was about to try again, when I heard footsteps coming from the other room. I hastily tried to escape from my sparkly imprisonment, but the glitter held tight. I desperately thought back to my training, but I couldn’t think of a scenario that applied to my current situation. I looked back at the door and saw a dumfounded human staring at me as though I was from the moon. I froze. Maybe she wasn’t looking at me - she might just be shocked that she had left the window open.

“Hello? Adelaide and Hills Koala Rescue?” said the girl.

Okay so not the window, maybe there was a Koala outside?

“Yes, there’s a Koala on my Christmas tree!”

I started to panic; she was definitely talking about me. I tried to think of a plan but all I could think of was: “Maybe if I am very quiet and polite, she won’t mind me being on her Chrasmas tree.” Before I could think of anything else, I felt strong hands grab my waist and smother me in a blanket. Immediately I knew who it was: my arch-nemesis, the Adelaide and Hills Koala Rescue Service. I fought ferociously, but they were too strong and before I knew it, I was back outside the house where I started.

A very different story about koalas - in memory of all the animals killed in the Australian bushfires.

Orange – a story by Kezia P – Y9

Alone, wandering, feet scratching on the bark of my tree. It wasn’t always like this. My life I mean. Even only a year ago I clutched around the soft fur of my mother’s back. But that was before it came: The Orange. At the time no one knew what it was. An unstoppable force gradually taking over the forest. Our land. All it left was black. Ashes of the past. And among those ashes the body of her. Mother.

It’s a natural instinct to try and push bad memories away. Back to the depths of your mind. As much as you want to stop it you can’t. You are helpless. I wish I could remember her face, her voice. Anything.

After the orange came and went, I was lost. No landmarks or trees. No bushes nor fields. Where was I? Since that day I fled. Running from the destruction like a criminal. Running from the death place of my mother. I’m still running now, every night my claws on a new tree. Edging further and further away.

Sighing, I climb. Higher and higher. What’s the point? I’ll never be free. Free of the guilt I mean. Why couldn’t I help her? Why didn’t I save her? The fur beneath my eyes goes damp, my foot trembles.

I drop.