Litmus Year: 2024
‘Ambush’ by Ethan Robertson, Year 10, Thomas Clarkson Academy
There I was, sat on the scorching floor of a UH-60. I had done this too many times to count, had I become numb to the feeling of the heat radiating through my equipment and uniform; The radiant desert heat and lack of water had not helped my situation. The last supply run our company …
‘A Hard Landing’ by Gabriele Mirzinkeviciute, Year 10, Thomas Clarkson Academy
It was late and I was walking home after a hard day of school. It was only me and my thoughts now, as it always is, after my best friend and I parted ways. I was crossing the street and now had to cross an alleyway. I despised coming down here, especially when darkness falls quickly, but …
‘Run’ by Daniella Kaupaite, Year 10, Thomas Clarkson Academy
I was in Daugavpils, Latvia, around 3:05 p.m., and everyone was talking about a war, but I didn’t believe them until I heard it on the television. Throughout the day, I kept hearing whispers about a coming conflict, and gradually a part of me began to believe that this might be true. I just got …
‘Tragic Night Out’ by Austeja Peleckaite, Year 10, Thomas Clarkson Academy
It was a Friday afternoon at school, and my friends and I had planned to go out later. We heard of a new nightclub down the street that had just opened, so we were eager to check it out. We were so excited that we planned our outfits all week. We were also thrilled to have …
‘The Beast’ by Maddie Edwards, Year 10, Thomas Clarkson Academy
In the void of the night, a sinister stillness enveloped me. The air throbbed with an undercurrent of danger, pressing down upon me like an immense weight. As I cautiously navigated the shadowy streets, the grim exterior of buildings loomed like silent guardians. Each eerie streetlight cast an ominous glow, revealing long, menacing shadows that …
‘Trapped’ by Shauna Davies-Fernee, Year 10, Thomas Clarkson Academy
The secluded street echoed as my steps pattered against the concrete; the still puddles of rainwater reflecting the incandescent streetlamp-being my only guide through this passage of darkness. The air grew sharp, the taste of ice withered on my tongue. The indigo sky began to blanket over with a sea of ragged clouds-cutting through the …
‘The Capture’ by Samuel Davallou, Year 10, Thomas Clarkson Academy
In Paris, riding a bus moving in the opposite direction. We were meant to be returning home that fateful day, but as soon as we left our accommodation, we turned left rather than right. Right was towards Calais, the ferry, and home, but we were travelling towards Luxembourg, Belgium, and Germany. Then, shooters armed with …
‘The Great Escape’ by Ruby Speke, Year 10, Thomas Clarkson Academy
It was a cold winter afternoon, and I was returning home from school when I heard someone yell my name. I looked around and noticed a car parked, so I approached it and looked through the window to see who it was, when someone grabbed me from behind. I began to scream, but the person …
‘Toxicity’ by Natalia Lakatosova, Year 10, Thomas Clarkson Academy
Living in the modern era Or are we are stuck in the past? We call ourselves human! But just without a heart, When all we think about is woman versus equality. Tick tock, tick tock… Don’t we think it’s about time to see woman versus durability. Tick tock, tick tock… Mixed with flexibility, Tick And …