Rebecca Symonds and Catherine Smith have been friends since nursery school.

Now that they are in year four they are even closer. However they have one problem, their fathers! They won't speak to each other, and don't like their daughters socialising together. Dr. Symonds is a physician and his wife is a minister at the St.

Mary's Church. Mr. Smith is a fisherman and his wife is a Nurse at the King Edward Memorial Hospital. Why don't they get on together, because the Symonds are black and the Smiths are White and the fathers don't believe in mixing.

Today it is an exciting day for the girls, they are going with the girl guides to Nonsuch Island the Nature Reserve on Christmas Eve. They had only been there for about one hour or so and it was time to leave.

They were heading to the boat when Catherine tripped over a rock and sprained her ankle. All of a sudden they heard the boat going, Rebecca ran to the dock to call the boat but it was gone. They were stranded! Rebecca got Catherine and told her the news.

They sat there and cried but it didn't help so they went to find shelter because it was getting dark and windy. They looked around the island and found some shelter in a cave. It was just big enough to fit two small girls so they went in and talked.

Their parents were worried by now, the girls were supposed to be home an hour ago. The Symonds called the Guides but they didn't even know they were gone.

So Mrs. Symonds convinced her husband to call the Smiths. The call was made, but they didn't agree and hung up, but Mrs. Smith knew this was a serious matter and told her husband that he would have to call the Symonds.

He called the Symonds and they made plans to go in Mr. Smiths boat. Both families met at the dock and got in Mr. Smiths boat. Mrs. Symonds as a minister said for them to pray for the children and they all did.

They finally got to the Nonsuch Island. They took everything they needed from the boat, like safety kit, warm coats and other things then they were off.

They had no clue as to were they were, but all of a sudden they saw a star flashing it was the brightest one in the sky, and as you know Mrs. Symonds was a minister she said that was a sign of hope so they followed it.

To they're surprise the beautiful star took them to the children and found that Catherine had her ankle sprained and that they were safe. Mr. Symonds and Mrs. Smith worked together to help Catherine to feel better. They arrived back at home safely to their home and found that Catherine did not have to go to the hospital.

Both families realised that it was good that they worked together and it was foolish of them to think that skin colour was a problem. Now every Christmas they come together and rejoice about the adventure of the girls. That year the girls didn't ask for any presents because for their families to be at peace together was the best present they could ever have.

SHORT STORY COMPETITION CPN