Writing a narrative 2

Transition words and time linkers

Let's get down to the nitty-gritty

Complete the following text with the verbs in the correct narrative tense

 (Past Simple, Past Continuous, Past Perfect)

  

The Expedition

‘When Professor Sutcliffe, the famous archaeologist, …………………….. (invite) me to take part in his expedition to find a lost city in South America, I ………………………. (not hesitate) to accept his invitation.  Sutcliffe …………………… (discover) an ancient map showing the exact position of the city.  In fact, most of Sutcliffe’s colleagues in Cambridge either ………………….. (believe) that such city ………………………………. (never exist) or ………………. (feel) that it ……………………. (vanish) a long time ago and …………………….. (become) simply a legend.  According to the Professor, the builders of the city ……………………… (hide) it among the mountains in order to protect its immense riches, which ……………….. (consist)  mainly of gold and precious stones.  He …………………….. (believe) that the modern inhabitants ……………………… (still keep) themselves apart from the rest of mankind for the very same reason.  So when we ………………….. (set off) on a cool April morning towards the unknown, each of us …………………….……… (look forward) to exciting discoveries.  For a week we ………………………… (climb) higher and higher, following the map, which Sutcliffe ……………………….. (study) from time to time.  Then one morning, while we ………………………. (rest) near a valley, we ……………………….. (notice) that a man on a horse …………………….. (wave) at us from the other side of the valley.  A rider whose clothes ………………………. (shine) like gold!’

MODEL SHORT STORY

Possible titles

Short and punchy:

• Creepy Manor Mishap: A Birthday to Remember
• Rain, Ghosts, and Grub: A Spooky Sleepover Survival
• Blackwood Blues: When Plans Go Bump in the Night

Descriptive and intriguing:

• The Night We Faced Our Fears (and Almost Starved) at Blackwood Manor
• Birthday Bash or Bust? A Haunting Adventure We Won't Forget
• Teamwork Makes the Dream Work (Especially When the Food Turns to Mush)

Humorous:

• Axe, Snacks, and "Ghosts": Our Not-So-Haunted Birthday Sleepover
• When Your Ex, a Genius, and a Prankster Save Your Birthday (and Your Stomach)
• Rain, Rain, Go Away...Come Back, We Need Water (and Maybe Less Scary Shadows)

Last October, six of us 17-year-olds were super excited about my birthday. We had a crazy plan: sleep over in creepy, old Blackwood Manor, which everyone said was haunted! We had Leo, the geek/mega-brainiac, Maya, my ex (awkward!), and Ben, the prank king. We grabbed sleeping bags, lanterns, matches, even an axe (just in case!), some canned food, cards, and a big rope for "fun," and headed out in the rainy, foggy afternoon.

The mansion was creaky and gave us chills! Inside, dust danced in the lantern light, old furniture was hidden under cobwebs, and shadows played tricks on us. When night came, a storm raged outside, making it even scarier. We told scary stories, played cards by candlelight, and Maya even dared Ben to check out the dusty attic (he chickened out, funny!). But trouble came faster than a speeding ghost. Rain soaked our food, turning it into mush. Even worse, I forgot Maya's special food, which she needs to avoid her food allergies – oops!

We almost freaked out, but Leo, the super-smart one, remembered a hidden basement from stories. With Ben's trusty axe, we opened a boarded-up door, and guess what? A pantry full of old, but okay-to-eat, cans! Leo, the plant pro, helped us find yummy weeds to eat too. Another problem: we had run out of fresh water! But we were teamwork champs, so we used the rope and a tarp to collect rainwater. Boom!

By morning, the storm had died down, leaving a bright, sunny day. We left the mansion, tired but happy. The birthday celebration hadn't gone exactly as planned, but fixing problems together made us closer friends. Maya and I even patched things up over laughs and almost-starving! Back in the real world, hot chocolate tasted amazing after our spooky adventure. Blackwood Manor might have been creepy, but even with rain, "ghosts," and forgotten snacks, our friendship and quick thinking helped us survive, making it an unforgettable birthday!