Barnet Tales winner: behind the wooden gate
By Nikita Mittman (aged 14)
At the end of my garden, is an old wooden gate. Beyond this gate endless adventures occur…
Looking back on my childhood, the first memories that always bounce back to me are the thrilling adventures and experiences I had in the public but peaceful fields behind my house- a different, magical world compared to the hectic, pollution filled air, of London. Every time I passed that gate, I went on a different adventure whether it was climbing the monstrous oak or willow tree with my sister, creating stepping stones to clamber across Dollis Brook or enjoying a picnic near the mole hills in the verdant fields! I felt just like Lucy from ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’. I would go out there whatever time of year: if it was spring, I would make an endless daisy chain, when it was summer, I would pick berries and play in the fields while watching the tractor cut the grass, during autumn I would catch the falling brown leaves or squelch my way through the muddy stream and when winter approached, I would have a snowball fight!
My favorite days out were with my Grandma and sister, Anushka, who is three years older than me. Every summer, we would grab our wellies and amble through fields, then clamber over Dollis Brook to discover the vast rows of blackberry bushes. We would fill two or three plastic boxes which my Grandma would make jelly jam from.
My favorite story I remember was when I was ten years old. During my summer holiday, my Grandma, sister and I were out picking our yearly amass of blackberries. The smell of freshly cut grass lingered in the air as we reached out to pick the beautiful, succulent berries. The brilliant purple, juicy berries glistened in the warmth of the sunlight. They always reminded me of jewels protected by a mess of laser beams. The thorns scraped my soft skin, producing tiny beads of blood that I licked away. I popped a few of the sweet, juicy blackberries in my mouth replace of the taste of blood.
‘This year is brilliant for blackberries! I can make at least four or five jars of jam for you this year!’ exclaimed my grandma. I smiled whilst chewing on a handful of berries.
After our boxes were full to the brim with blackberries we stopped on a field back to enjoy a small picnic. I eagerly sat down and scoffed down the carrot cake that my Grandma made. Suddenly my sister shrieked.
‘Nikita!! You have blackberries smeared all over your face! I thought it was blood!’ I started to roll on the floor with laughter.
Suddenly a small but fast, chocolaty brown coloured dog raced up the footpath and started to lick my face! I shot up like a bullet and scrambled back to the blackberry bushes with the dog chasing at my heels. I was terrified but still could not stop laughing! I bolted through the brook up until my garden gate although I felt my lungs about to burst open! I quickly stole a glance back…just my grandma and sister in the distance ambling towards me.
I collapsed into my garden, my heart racing. I was in shock but still laughing at the same time. That was definitely the most exhilarating experience I had in the fields!
All my adventures, including this thrilling one, are the fondest and most exciting memories I have of my childhood and ones that I am lucky enough to be able to revisit any time I wish…
Email this pageLast modified by: Mike Godleman on 06/11/2009