From the moment I got up, looked into yesterday's bowl of Coco Pops and found ants forming the word UNLUCKY, I knew that today was not going to be a good day. The hot water was not working and I had a cold shower. All my undies were grubby and I missed the bus.

How much worse can this day get? I thought gloomily as I trudged the muddy route to school via an old cow paddock littered with thistles. I was sure I had it as bad as it comes until 'Ouch!' I hadn't been looking where I was going and had trodden on a particularly large thistle. The spikes made tiny holes in my uniform and lodged their tips in my skin. One had even found its way into my shoe, getting stuck between my big toe and second.

Great, I thought miserably, now I have to pull them all out.

I sat down on a thistle-free patch of grass and started dislodging thistles. Each one felt like a tiny needle determined to bury itself in my flesh and wouldn't come 1out. I winced as I pulled an enormous thistle spike out of my knee, then another one. The one in my foot hurt a lot. I only just managed to pull them all out, but I had temporarily forgotten my other problems.

I checked my watch. "8:50!" I yelp. "I'll be late!" I started sprinting to school, not caring about how muddy I got, though I was cautiously avoiding thistles. But even though I ran as fast as I could, it was still 9:15 when I slowed to a walk outside the school gates.

I peered up at the sign as I usually do. 'Liliac Primary School,' the sign read, then underneath, 'The Only and Therefore the Best,' was the motto engraved in the granite arch looming above me and casting a shadow over the school, making a giant sad face. The buildings were worse, painted lavender purple in a disgusting attempt to make the place more welcome and friendly. They looked like giant purple toes to me, but I walked inside my grade's building anyway. Now, I thought, which room is my class in? Do we have Music or Maths? I prayed silently for Music as I listened for the sound of students talking.

By the time I got home, I was exhausted and convinced that I had a curse hanging over me. I don't even want to think about what happened at school, how much trouble I got into for being late and muddy, and that it was Math Test Day.

It was the worst day of my life, I thought as I slipped into bed a few hours later, but I was partly relieved.

At least tomorrow can't get any worse!

The next morning I woke up, feeling rather happy. When I got into the kitchen I found not my old Coco Pops, but a new Cornflake box, complete with honey and milk. And no ants in there either, just a spoon. I wolfed down the breakfast, grinning, and then returned to my room, elated. In my undies drawer were stacks of clean undies, ready for wearing. I was on the bus early, but when I sat down all the students and driver were staring at me. Why was that? When the bus arrived at school, I stepped off and suddenly felt cold. Then I realized why they were all staring at me and muttering. Oh no! I realize with a horrified jolt or shock running through me. I've left my clothes at home!

Tzigane - Hawkesdale P - 12