The Starfish who wanted to see the Great
Wall
Vincci Chan, Group 2: Fiction, International Christian School
ing! Ring! It was morning. Quadrie the little starfish woke up to the sound of his alarm clock in the
deep, deep dark blue ocean. Quadrie dressed and ate his breakfast. He grabbed his school bag and
headed off to school. Quadrie’s first class of the day is Language Arts. Quadrie picked up his
Language Art books and headed off to class. The teacher announced,” Today we will especially……”
“
What does especially mean?” interrupted Quadrie. A circle of laughter passed through the room.
Quadrie felt so embarrassed! Instead of answering Quadrie’s question, the teacher replied angrily,
“
No interruptions in my class!” Your punishment is to write an essay about interruptions.”
R
During lunch, Quadrie sat by himself at the corner table. Other starfishes came by and jeered at Quadrie.
Oh! How much Quadrie wished to impress the other starfishes so they will like him! Suddenly, he overheard a
group of starfishes talking about the Great Wall. “Do you know that none starfishes have ever seen the Great
Wall?” asked a starfish. ”Yes, everyone will be so impressed if one ever saw it.” Quadrie’s brain lighted up
light bulb. If he visited the Great Wall, everyone will be so impressed, they will forget that Quadrie didn’t know
what “especially” meant and won’t ever tease him.
Right after school, Quadrie raced home and prepared all the materials and tools he needed. Rope? Check!
Camera for proof? Check! Snacks? Ooops! I forgot! Finally, Quadrie put on his backpack and headed to the
whale bus-stop. He took out his whale horn and blew it. Once the whale came by, Quadrie announced, “Could
you take me to the wisest octopus of the sea?” Shortly afterwards, Quadrie arrived. He hopped off the whale’s
smooth, gray back and walked into the octopus’s home. At the left corner, the octopus sat on a comfy-looking
couch that was covered with lush green pillows. “Hello,” the octopus bellowed.” What did you come here for?”
Quadrie answered bravely, “I came to find out how I could go to the Great Wall.” The octopus laughed, “That’s
easy! All you need is to follow an ancient, old map. Wait for me for a second!” The octopus slinked into the
shadows of the dark cave. A while later, the octopus came back and in his hand was a torn, ragged map.
Quadrie asked, “How am I going to read this paper?” The octopus chuckled and answered, “Don’t you worry. I
will let you wear my transforming glasses.” Quadrie sighed with relief. “Here you go, use this ancient map
carefully or you’ll be sorry,” the octopus warned and slinked quietly and softly back into the shadows.
As Quadrie walked out of the octopus home, he placed on his glasses and peered carefully at the rotten map
which looked clearer with the glasses on. “Ha! This route is so easy! It may be hard for octopuses, but not for
starfishes!” Then, the little starfish blew his shimmering whale horn. Again, the whale came and Quadrie
exclaimed, “To the Sprinkle Coral Reef!” Along the way, Quadrie studied the yellowish map. When they
arrived Quadrie jumped off the giant whale and started to search for a rock that was marked with a tiny star
stamp.
“
Ah ha! I found it!” shrieked Quadrie. He fumbled in his knapsack until he found the rope. The little
starfish wrapped the rope around him and the rock so he wouldn’t be bruised by the rock when it shuddered.
Quadrie reached out and twisted the rock clockwise.
Suddenly, a loud rumbling sound came out of nowhere and a small narrow path appeared. It led down to a
glittering, shiny, pure white door. As the little starfish got closer to the door, Quadrie found out it was actually a
magic portal. When Quadrie reached the shiny door he hesitated. Should he go in or not? Quadrie decided to
give it a go. The little starfish took a deep breath and stepped inside. Then, there was a zap of shinning dust and
Quadrie was whirled inside.
“
Wow! I am at the Great Wall!” squealed Quadrie. He took out his camera and snapped dozens of pictures.
Quadrie admired the structure and reached out to feel the bricks.
After some time, the little starfish had seen enough of the Great Wall and wanted to go home, but the portal
had disappeared! Then, Quadrie remembered the octopus’s words. If the map wasn’t used carefully something
bad would happen. At least, when he will find a way to go home everyone would be so impressed. Well, it looks
like a new adventure to the little starfish!
* * *