Department of Education, will present a full page of students' compositions and illustrations.

April Winters sat trembling in the stillness of the night. The proposition which had just been put before her was overwhelming. Derek Pett knelt across from April, staring intently into her eyes.

"Will you do it?'' he inquired softly.

As if propelled by an unknown force, April slowly nodded her head in acquiescence.

"Good. This is all that you will require.'' Derek pressed a small package into her hand and then disappeared into the night. April stood up and hurried into the mansion, tightly clutching the sinister bottle.

April rolled over in bed as sunlight streamed through her open window.

Recalling the events of the previous evening, she groaned softly.

April Winters was the housekeeper of a wealthy widow, Audrey Pett. Mrs. Pett had one son, Derek. Recently, he had contacted April, arranging to meet in the back yard of Audrey's mansion at midnight.

His proposal was simple. April would cause Mrs. Pett to suddenly lose her life. As a result, Derek would be the sole inheritor of her fortune. Mr. Pett would then divide the healthy sum equally with April.

Derek had assured April that he would take all necessary precautions in order to divert suspicion.

Reaching underneath her pillow, April felt the small bottle containing cyanide. She simply needed to mix a portion of it in with Mrs. Pett's tea, and Audrey would be dead within minutes.

"Oh April, do hurry with lunch,'' and agitated Audrey Pett called out later in the day.

"Coming!'' exclaimed April with a touch of nervousness in her voice as she fumbled with Derek's bottle.

"Never mind,'' she mumbled to herself. April grasped the tray and carried it into the dining room.

"Ms Winters! Your inefficiency will be the death of me. I've waited for fifteen minutes. What took you so long?'' demanded her agitated employer.

April blushed deeply and apologised, thinking about the irony of Mrs. Pett's words. Suddenly, she realised that her conscience would not allow her to kill a fellow human.

Derek had assured April that his mother was aging rapidly, but this fact did little to clear her mind.

After removing the lunch dishes, April telephoned Derek and informed him that she would not comply with his plan.

As Derek reminded April of the sum of money she was to obtain, greed reared its ugly head. Overcome with a desire for money, April assured her evil partner.

"Without a doubt, your mother will be dead before the sun rises tomorrow morning.'' Audrey and April chatted casually later in the day. Ms Winters felt a surge of emotion while speaking. She had a caring mother who would be shocked at her daughter's behaviour. Could she really perform such a task? What would happen if her secret was ever discovered? Pushing all of these thoughts out of her mind, April consoled herself by thinking of the small fortune which she would acquire.

Mrs. Pett retired for the evening at her usual time. Eventually, April heard the gentle tinkle of a hand bell. This meant that Audrey wished a cup of tea, served in her room.

April ran to the kitchen and poured the beverage into a delicate tea cup. Then with shaking hands, she added a sizable amount of cyanide. Grasping the poisoned drink firmly, she carried it to Audrey Pett, keeping her part of the bargain.

CHANTELLE SIMMONS Aged 16 Warwick Academy.

EDUCATION MONTH