Shark
By Gunes 4L

It was a warm, sunny morning in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Thirteen-year-old Emmie Coffs and her best friend, Alicia Kahale, were enjoying the day the typical Hawaiian way—out in the surf. The girls had hit the waves early, eager to catch the morning swell. They were lucky, managing to ride some foamy, four-metre-high waves that made the early start worth it.

By noon, the sun was high and the surf had calmed. The girls sat on the beach, munching on chips and chatting about the cute boys they had seen.

“OMG, that boy is sooo cute!” Emmie gushed. “What was his name, Allie?”

“Brian, I think,” Alicia replied with a grin.

They giggled and chatted some more, soaking in the sun and the salty breeze. Then, with a stretch and a sigh, Emmie declared, “It’s time to tan.”

Chapter 1: From the Shadows

by Matthew 6H

It was a crisp, cold winter’s night in a small town nestled at the edge of the sea. Snow drifted gently from the sky, blanketing the coast in a shimmering layer of white, transforming the landscape into a frozen wonderland. For decades, this quiet town had remained a hidden paradise—until now.

Inside a modest wooden lodge, a small family of three—Luke, aged 11, his younger sister Sally, 8, and their mother Nancy—lived a simple but happy life. They didn’t have much, but they had each other, and a cupboard full of food, which was more than enough.

One chaotic evening, as a fierce blizzard howled outside, a massive chunk of ice struck the power lines. In an instant, the town was plunged into darkness. Silence, confusion, and fear swept through the streets. Inside the lodge, Nancy gasped for breath and shouted, “LUKE, SALLY, FIND THE FLASHLIGHT NOW!”

The children obeyed without hesitation, dashing down into the basement where they had last seen it. The basement was a dark, dusty space filled with cobwebs, old boxes, and forgotten relics. Among the clutter stood an old family tent—once broken, now repurposed by the kids into a secret hideout. They had filled it with blankets, cushions, stuffed toys, and drawing supplies. Their mother didn’t know about their little sanctuary, so they always limited their time down there to just thirty minutes, claiming they were “just doing some dusting” whenever she asked.

The basement lights had long since stopped working, so the children relied on a tiny three-inch flashlight their mother had bought during the first blackout. As they hurried down the creaky stairs, the air grew colder and heavier. Just as they reached the bottom, a chilling whisper echoed from the shadows:
“You must join us before it is too late!”

Try These Debate Prompts at Home!

These were a hit in our first session—give them a go at home:

1. If you ruled the world, what would you do?
→ Keep asking: “But why?” to explore deeper reasoning.

2. Zombie Apocalypse Scenario:
Only a few can enter a survival bunker. Who do you choose—and why?
Options: nurse, florist, teacher, delivery driver, artist