THE JOURNEY
Sophie Harris, 10
York
I was useful once. I have to tell myself that. Once I was loved. Once I was special. Now, I am sitting in this drawer, this old, dusty drawer with nothing to do except remember…
When I was young, I was given to someone- a child - as a present. I remember her face when she tore off the wrapping paper, when she opened the box. I remember her hugging Mum and Dad and telling them that I was the best present, the best present in the world. I was carried around everywhere (at the time) - to her friends’ houses, to school and, later on, to work. She cared about me so much. She would talk to me - I remember that - she would say that I was the best phone in the world, and she was right. I was the best, the newest phone (at the time).
I remember her growing, getting older and older. And I was getting older and older too. I didn’t work as well as I used to. I was slow - I could feel her - the girl that I had been with for all my life - getting more and more annoyed with me. I wasn’t the best phone in the world anymore. I was just a stupid old thing that no one wanted, no one cared about.
And then the day came. She had left me at home and went somewhere - I didn’t know where. When she came back, she had a new phone, one that was much better than me. She picked me up, took me to her room, opened a desk drawer and threw me into it. And there I’ve been, ever since, alone…
All of a sudden, the drawer fills with light. What on earth is happening? A hand reaches down and picks me up. A familiar voice comes from above me, ‘What’s this?’
It’s the girl - the one who I used to belong to. Another voice answers, one I don’t recognise, ‘Just an old phone. Chuck it away.’
The girl takes me over to the bin. I am anxious that I will be thrown out and forgotten about yet again, and this time for good but the other voice interrupts, ‘Hang on, don’t they make coins out of old phones?’
I can’t believe my luck! The girl sits down at the table and starts writing on an envelope. She grabs me and stuffs me inside.
It’s quite hot and stuffy inside the envelope but for once I don’t mind. I’m getting another life and this time as a coin!
It takes quite a while for me to get to… wherever they make coins. When I finally arrive someone rips open my envelope and peers down at me. And then I hear the words that fill me with joy: ‘Amazing, the parts from this phone will be perfect for making a coin!’
The feeling of happiness shoots through me. I’m finally perfect again.