POST 24- NAHLA

Abby clutched Lizzie's arm making her flinch out of pain. "Did you just see that?”. “Ouch!!! Abby, that hurts," moaned Lizzie. "See what?” asked Ethan. Before even Ethan could get an answer, Abby had already begun to follow the shadow. Within no time, Abby was joined by the rest. "What are you up to, Abby?” asked Ethan. "Shh..!! Quietly follow me,” replied Abby. "But where are we heading to?” Ethan barged in again. Abby was enraged. "Fine, guys. I'm following the shadow we just saw. Get it. Now will you guys just zip your mouths and follow”, said Abby with a tightened fist. "Ok, now we get it”, said Lizzie. They continued silently dragging their feet, until they reached a deserted corridor of the school, laid with dirty sheets of linoleum. Ultimately, they found their target. The shadow was cast by a small fat girl. She was too round. She suddenly disappeared behind a door...........

POST 23- SANIA

“Yes, Meenakshi. I can understand what you are saying. But where are they?” asked Mr. Mathew. “I…I don’t know!” replied Mrs. Meenakshi. “They might have entered the school. Come with me. We’ll have to go and check.” He said. Meenakshi just nodded her head. Her day was already bad with her son sick at home. She sighed and walked with Mr. Mathew.

At the same time, the four kids of the future were busy searching for Zoe. “That class we entered was horrible! Terrible! Nasty! Ghastly! NEVR enter that class again!” said Abby. They had entered ‘V D’ by mistake. “Will we ever find them?” Ethan asked. “Hey…look at that girl. She looks big. She might be in Zoe's class. Come. Let’s follow” he said.

Suddenly… “Where do you think you kids are going?” a stern voice behind them was heard. The kids turned to see who it was. A huge man with a pot belly stood behind them. It was Mr. Mathew. “Are these the kids Meenakshi?” he asked a lady behind him. “Yes. Who asked you to enter the school without permission?” she asked. “umm…actually, we are here on a purpose. Its about a ball” said Ray. Ethan, Lizzie and Abby suddenly jumped. They obviously didn’t want anyone to know about the ball. But thankfully, Ray was invisible…so was his voice! None heard him except 4 de 3 kids. Relieved, Ethan tried making up a story. But Mr. Mathew interrupted and said “I have been in this school for more than 10 years. And I have heard a hell lot of stories from these kids. After all that, you still think I am going to take in your story? Please kids, I am an old man. Don’t make me talk more. Go out of this school. Please. Or I will have to call your parents.” He said. The kids looked terrified. They moved out. Abby started crying. “Why are you crying?” asked Ray. “I don’t know! We are stuck in this freaking year and the time machine is broken. We can’t find the ball any where and Ray is invisible for no reason. All this mystery of the history is making me go mad. I want to see mom.” Abby wept. “Abby, please, Stop crying. We will get over all this. I am your brother. And that is why I am standing right now next to you, holding your hand and I promise I won’t let go. We…will get over all this, positive and no one can ever come between us. Just stop crying…for me!” Ray said, trying to console his little sister. Abby stopped crying.

They were standing outside the school. They didn’t know what to do. After a very long time…ray said “hey! Look at that” everyone turned to see. A shadow slowly moved along the walls and disappeared to the side.

POST 22- SOUJANYA

She stood up and asked in a calm voice, “May I help you?" Lizzie didn't know what say. She told the others to come inside. Ethan, after pondering for sometime said," We..... We have come to inspect the school." Baffled Mrs. Meenakshi asked, “You children??" “We are the school authorities' children. Since they were busy they sent us." said Ethan. “Really?" After sometime Mrs. Meenakshi told, “I will have to ask the principal first." “Ya, sure." Ethan replied. As soon as she went inside the principal's room, Ethan held Abby's hand and ran to the left. The others followed. Finally, they had got into the school. When Mrs. Meenakshi came out with the principal, she was astonished to find none. The principal asked, “Where are they?" “I had left them right over here." "Are you sure?" “I am hundred percent sure." “Where are they then?" “I don't know" " It's not the time for joking Mrs. Meenakshi." said principal with a stern voice. “I am not joking, sir. Three children were there. One was a boy and two girls." said Mrs. Meenakshi anxiously.....

POST 21- RIDA

Lizzie, planned to enter the school not caring about what would happen next. She climbed up the few stairs at the beginning and entered an office- like place. Her vision met an extremely fat lady, whose hair had been neatly tied up in a bun. She had worn something like a huge colourful cloth(the traditional indian "saree") tied around her. She was fairly fair, or near darkness. There sat Mrs. Meenakshi Iyer, with her sweet and welcoming smile............

POST 20- SANIA

“What are you guys doing here? Get inside.” Alexa said. “uhh! Alexa. Leave us alone. Will you? I am at least your vice captain. And that means I get to order you. Not you order me! We will get back to class when we have to. I know the rules better. And these people. They are OUR friends. And that doesn’t include you” Said Kelly. “Why are you so angry man? Chill! I didn’t do anything! I just asked…” Alexa said. But Daryn, a very sweet girl, who could never see anyone angry or sad, interrupted Nahida and said “oh! Alexa! What Kelly just said was that we will come back to class. Please don’t fight like this. Can’t you both EVER get together?” she asked or rather pleaded. Kelly and Alexa frowned and turned their faces. Zoe was still giggling “these both! Always like this. No wonder Mrs. Flucher gets angry at them. They fight like cats and dogs.” Laughed Zoe. “Zoe, you can stop. I am your vice captain too” said Kelly eyeing at Zoe. Zoe stopped talking and just sighed.

“Guys guys! We are still existing! Now tell us. Can’t you guys see Ray?” asked Abby. “All I can see is a RAY OF LIGHT.” Giggled Allanda. “Very funny! I am serious here and you people think this is funny?” asked Abby.

The bell rang.

“We have to go now” said Alexa. “We know Al, you don’t have to remind us!” said Kelly. “Will you both EVER stop???!!!” asked Allanda, who was really fed up of all this talk. “Where are you going?” asked Lizzy. “To our class” said Daryn. “Maths is about to start. Oh no! Did you complete the volumes exercise?” she asked. With some noddings and whisperings, the group of girls entered the school. The four kids from the future were standing right where they were. No one moved. They didn’t know what they had to do next.

“What should we do?” asked Ethan, talking after a long time. Ray just stood silent. He had not spoken at all. “That eyes.” He said at last. “What eyes?” asked lizzy. “I don’t know. I was looking at Zoe. Her eyes! I have to admit it. I was admiring her. She was so beautiful!” he said. And as usual, Abby interrupted. “When did you start looking at girls…AAAHHHH!!!!” started Abby. Again Ethan and Lizzy said “shh! Let him complete”. Ray closed his eyes. Took a deep breath and said “when I looked into Zoe’s eyes…I saw something. I am not sure what it is. But it has something to do with the ball. I felt like I was pulled into her eyes. Something somewhere….I know she has some thing to do with the ball. We have to ask her.” He completed. “But first…we have to get into the school how will we do that?” asked Ethan.

POST 19- NAHIDA

"What's your name?" Allanda asked.
Ray answered, "I just told you........."
But Daryn interrupted abruptly "Why are you not answering?"
"What do you mean? Ray is answering you right now." Said Abby, pointing at Ray.
The girls in uniform just stared at the place where Ray was standing as though he was invisible.
"What are you pointing at?" Kelly asked, confused.
Puzzled, Daryn enquired," You mean to say that there is someone standing right now where you just pointed? But no one is standing there!".
"My cousin Ray is standing right here." Lizzie cried as she went to Ray and held his hand high to make some gesture on his mere existence! Ray was left standing dumbstruck.
"What are you guys crowding around for?" A voice from behind them suddenly shouted.A tall, dumb-looking girl with glasses approached them. "Here comes the MOUTHY one, Alexa!" Zoe said in an undertone, giggling............

POST 18- SOUJANYA

They were Daryn’s friends. "Hi! I'm Allanda." " Hey! I'm Zoe." “And I'm Kelly. You can call me…” Kelly tried to continue. But Daryn nudged her and whispered “Enough”. Kelly then asked, “Who are they?" As Daryn was going to open her mouth to answer, Ray interrupted her and said," Hi! I'm Ray. This is my sister, Abby and these are my cousins, Lizzy and Ethan." Allanda with a bamboozled tone asked, "But why aren't you guys in uniform?" Abby said vacillately," Actually, we came from...." Lizzy suddenly stopped Abby. She said," Actually, it’s our birthday today." Zoe asked flabbergastly," Eveyone's?" Lizzy said, " Yup."

Post 17 - DIVYA

The school was medium sized, but it was nothing compared to the campus they went to. "And to think WE considered OUR school small!!" Abby shouted out. They were standing near the main entrance, when they saw a small group of children of their age, talking anxiously! Ray, Lizzy, Abby and Ethan overheard them speaking of some glowing object which looked like a ball.
Abby squelched Ray's hand and asked, “Do you think they know about the ball?" Ray replied, “Maybe. Remember what the man in the ELEVE's cave said. He said we would find the ball in the year 2008, and according to the prefect badges worn by these children, it is the year 2008!!"
One very thin girl came up to them and asked politely,"Who are you guys? I have been noticing all of you for quite some time. You have been lingering here and observing us for the past 10 minutes. Tell me, what do you want?"
The girl introduced herself. She said her name was Daryn. Ray asked her about the gleaming object. She said she was not the one who had seen it and then called a few girls. Some girls came up to them and introduced themselves. They were...

Post 16- RIDA

In what seemed to them like a few minutes or so, the time machine hit some hard surface with a loud bang! All 4 of them hit the floor of the machine with a jerk. When they were straightening up, suddenly, the door of the time machine opened and the some bright sunlight struck them all. Ray, who was the bravest one, stepped out, and to his great astonishment, there in front of him was the age of the dinosaurs!!! There was one big trinosaurus walking between the thick forests in front of him! "WOwwwwwwwwww!!" he exclaimed and called out to the rest of them, "Hey you guys, take a look at this! Hurry up!!" The rest of them stepped out of the machine and followed the same expressions as Ray. Then, they followed Ray, who was heading towards the forest. "Hey Ray! Where do you think you're going?", shouted Abby. "Who knows what might be in there! Wait up!" Abby was followed by Ethan and Lizzie. After running through the forest, they reached a huge wet and marshy place. As they approached it, they saw something glittering inside it. Ray went closer to investigate what the thing was. He didn’t have to go much close because it was floating on the sides of the swamp. He took it and wiped it on the grass.
On getting it clear, he just stood there staring at it. It was nothing but the very ball they had comet o find more about. Awestruck, he went to the others and showed it to them. "Is it really what we think it is? What if it's something else?" questioned Lizzie. "No you idiot! It is the real ball. Don't you see? It's showing our lies!" shouted Ethan. "Oh stop fighting you two!" Said Abby.
"Let's take the ball and head back to the time machine before it's too late." Said Ray. So they all went back the way they had come.
But what they found on reaching there was horrifying. It was too late!! The trinosaurus had smashed the time machine into a billion pieces!!!! "Nooooooooooooooo!!!!" shouted Ray! He ran towards it and stood there staring at it. But all was over! He looked at the gleaming ball in his hand when it showed brighter than ever and exploded!!!!
After a while, they woke up to find themselves in some kind of a backyard. Ray went a little way ahead and read the big white board saying: "Attenborough American Academy". Oh no! They had landed in the backyard of a school!!!! ..........

POST 15 - RIDA

"Lizzzieeeeeeeee!!!!!!!" shouted Ray! What have you done??? Now we're never going to find out anything about the ball!!! "Oh man!!" sighed Abby. "You're going to regret what you've done, Lizzie!" said Ethan furious. "Stop shouting at her!" said Abby, who was apparently on Lizzie's side. "It was a mistake! She's a human you know!! It's not like we've lost everything. We still have a chance." Ethan and Ray, speculated for a while, and looked at Lizzie in a look which asked Lizzie to stay away, and then turned and went towards the control panel of the time machine. On reaching ther, both of them stood perplexed. All the numbers and alphabets seemed to be dancing. They knew that if they would meddle with it, then things would change for the worse. They did'nt know what to do! "Guys, I have a baaaaad feeling about this!" said Ray. All 4 of them, stood there, feeling helpless, not knowing what to do....

POST 14- DIVYA

He looked out and saw a huge traffic jam. Suddenly he heard a strange beep from an ackward looking van waiting at the traffic signal with an advertising poster. It read - "NEW INVENTION! COME SEE DR. RICHARD'S LATEST INVENTION : THE TIME MACHINE!! FREE DEMONSTRATION FOR THE FIRST 10 WHO REACH ON THE 21st AT 5:30 AT THE NATIONAL PARK."
By the time the van had started moving, everyone had read it. Ray suggested that this must be the only way to find the ball. Everyone agreed. So, the next day (which happened to be the 21st by luck) everyone got ready by 4:30 to reach the destination before the scheduled time.
But unfortunately, they got delayed by the huge traffic and reached only to find themselves the 11th in the queue. As they were about to leave, disappointed, there was an announcement that the 10th person was a small child and since he could not travel alone, he was disqualified.
Ray shouted and screamed so loudly, but when he turned back he found the others unhappy. They told him that only he could go in the time machine. This certainly was a huge blow for them.
Very soon the children approached Dr. Richard. On seeing their unhappy faces he asked them what the problem was. They told him everything as they felt he was a trustworthy guy.
Dr. Richard felt pity for the children and allowed all of them to go in the time machine together. The children sat in it and soon Dr. Richard was pressing some buttons and 5.....4....3...2..1.Off they went to 2008. OOPS!! Lizzy pressed a button accidentally and the year changed. A picture of a huge dinosaur appeared. Soon they realised that they would be going to a time when DINOSAURS existed.

POST 13- NAHLA

Ethan, Abby, Lizzie and Ray were now left with another riddle to solve. The man in the black robe or the warrior of eleve (that's what he calls himself) had given them a clue about the ball but to crack it was not an easy job. The only way to find about the ball was to get back to year 2008. The children set out back home. They went to Ray's house.

A warm fire was crackling. The four of them sat around the fireplace drinking hot cups of chocolate. Ray brought the topic of the ball again. He said, "Don't you guys think there was something suspicious about the man we met today". Ethan had a frown on his face, "Oh c'mon Ray, this ball think is driving us all crazy". "But Ethan, this ball has changed our lives a lot, perhaps not for you people, but mine. I have developed this certain kind of bond or what you call it a strange connection with that ball."said Ray. "I think you have gone all Topsy Turvy" said Abby with a tone of sarcasm. Lizzie who was silent for such a long time spoke out, " I think Ray is right, we ought to unfold the mystery behind that ball. But the thing is, the idea of goin back to year 2008 is just...just.. impossible. I mean, it sounds absurd." Ray opened his mouth to speak, when he again had the familiar feeling of the bond between him and the ball. "What happend Ray?" asked Ethan. Ray walked towards the window. He looked out and saw............

POST 12- VANTHANA

The cave didn't look like an ordinary one. It was completely dark and there seemed to be nothing living in it. Ray was searching for the ball with his watch, which had a torch in it. Then suddenly, he heard some sound. He looked infront of him. He saw a man with a ragged black cloak. He was bearded and looking like a man of the 90s. He was looking almost like a warrior. The ranger asked, "What do you want you suspicious looking tadpole?". "Well, have you seen a small ball with some ancient engravings on it?". "Shhhhh! My cave never allowed anyone to talk loudly. Then, the ball, tell me something more about it", asked the man. Then Ray said everything about that ball which was bothering him a lot during the past few days. "Ray! Ray! Where are you?", said a voice. It was Lizzy. She was followed by Abby and Ethan. Then the warrior took the kids to his chamber. He then said to them, "The ball which you kids have found is a treasured one. It has all the powers to rule the world. To know more about the ball you have to get back to the year 2008. You can bob for my help whenever you need it. Thats what I can say now because there are many suspicious characters spying around....

POST 11- DIVYA

The next day the four of them went out for cycling. As they neared a deserted cave, Ray suddenly felt the same feeling he felt the previous day; the feeling of a bond between him and the ball. He told the others about it. Everyone said that it was his imagination, but he insisted that the ball must be somewhere close.
He suggested, that all of them search the cave to find the ball. None of them thought that this was a good idea. So an argument broke out.
Finally Ethan, Lizzy and Abby decided to go back home and Ray could come with them if he wants to. But Ray was too stubborn and he decided to investigate the cave by himself.
He entered the cave only when the others had completely vanished down the lane.
The first thing that Ray laid his eyes on as soon as he entered the cave was the symbol of 'E'. There was a mark beside it, so Ray immediately understood that this was the house of the ELEVE GROUP. But he still continued his search...

POST 10- SANIA

“Proof? Why proof? This might be your area. But I found it and finders keepers” argued Ray.

“I guess you are new here. I come under the Eleve group. And the Eleve group is the richest group in the rag-pickers group. Get that? Now buzz off unless you are an Elevean yourself.” The rag picker said.

“Well. Um…I do come under the Eleve group. Um…that means I am an Elevean too. Sooo…don’t I get to keep the ball?” asked Ray.

“Well, well, well. What is the proof that you are an Elevean?” asked the Rag picker narrowing his eye-brows.

“Why on earth do you keep on asking for proof?” asked ray, irritated.

“Hmmm… because I don’t believe you. Show me the mark. Show me the Eleve mark on your body.” said the rag picker.

“Eleve mark? Umm…uhh….you know what? Keep the ball. I don’t care. Hmph!” said Ray turning to go away. He was furious. He couldn’t control his anger. If he was not this angry, he might have pleaded for the ball. But as the rag picker had asked for the mark and as he didn’t have any, he had no choice left other than go away!

“Hah! So you are running away huh? So you were lying all this time. Liar!” teased the rag picker.

Ray could no longer keep his anger under the lid. He walked right up to the rag picker and said “dude, watch out. You don’t know me. If I were you…I would keep my mouth shut and mind my own business because NOONE talks to Ray like this. One more word from your freaking mouth and you’ll see what I mean. Mind it!”

The rag picker looked shocked. He slowly opened his mouth to talk. But just in the speck of time, Ray looked straight into his face and screamed “WHEN RAY SAY’S IT…RAY MEANS IT”

Ray moved on towards a tree where Ethan was standing, waiting for him. Ray had not been this angry for a long time. He felt a sense of loss without the ball. He felt a connection, a bond between him and the ball.

POST 9- SOUJANYA

As he walked on and on, he found the ball. His happiness knew no bounds. He started jumping all around. It was all dusty but still shining. Another rag picker was observing all this. At once he came running and snatched the ball from him. He said, " This is mine because this is my area. Everything over here is mine." Ray said, " But....but...... this is mine." The boy said," Any proof??"
Ray didn't know what to do. Suddenly...

POST 8- DIVYA

The ball suddenly changed into a gleaming golden colour. Lizzy and Ethan feared that the ball might get stolen. So Ethan took the ball, put it in his pocket and they went home. Lizzy asked for the ball so she can keep it in a safe place. Ethan searched for it and was shocked...he couldn't find the ball. "Oh no! I forgot about the hole in my pocket", he said. Lizzy slapped him on his face and said,"We made a big mistake by taking the ball in the first place....and...and now, you tell me that it is lost!!! You are the most careless guy in the whole world".

The next day, when they met at Ray's shed, Abby and Ray were shocked after they heared the story. Ray then asked them if they heard any sound of the ball dropping when they had gone home, the previous night. They answered in the negative. Ray knew that the ball might have fallen onto a soft ground as it did not make any sound. So he decided to go and investigate for himself. He disguised himself as a rag picker so that no one suspected anything.

As he walked on and on, he saw...

POST 7- SANIA

Ethan replied “I don’t know. What about taking it with us? We’ll keep it safe. There might be some secret hidden beneath all this words. We’ll come back after lunch and find out”.

“Just get rid of that weird thing. Don’t you people understand??? This freaking ball reveals out our deep secrets… it is a cursed ball!” Lizzy spoke out, embarrassed and hurt as her secret was out. No one took notice of what she said. Ray’s frown deepened as he thought for sometime. He always took decisions properly. So, every one actually listened to what he says all the time. “This ball…is not just a ball…” Ray paused. “Right now, the ball is purple. It was purple the last time I held it too. And now, it is not inscribed that I broke Abby’s necklace. Something else, which I don’t wish to read out, is written. A mistake of mine actually.” Ray paused again, now thinking more deeply that his frown was drawn too thick and no one dared to interrupt him then, except for Abby. “So, what do you think?” she asked. “shhh” Lizzie and Ethan said suddenly keeping their finger at their lips. “I am not sure. I need more time to figure it out. But right now, what I think is that this ball shows us what wrong we have done. Anyway, we’ll talk about this tomorrow. Abby and I have to finish our homework after lunch. I don’t think mom will allow us to come out.” He completed.

Together, the four kids walked to the house. One the way, Lizzy nudged Ray and asked him “So, do you think me liking Ryan is wrong?” Ray just smiled and put his hand on her shoulder.

Hunger stole all their patience as they sat at the table. They did not talk about the ball anymore that day. But secretly inside, they all knew that a mystery, a fantasy, has just begun.

After lunch, Lizzie and Ethan peeped inside the shed to have a look at the ball again….

POST 6- NAHLA

The ball turned into a light green colour. And on it something was inscribed again but with a differance. Lizzy concentrated not take her eyes of it and then she read out "I have a big time crush on Ryan Brown of grade 12" and she blushed like an apple. Ethan chuckled in a very wicked manner and said " Hah! So that's why you always creep around the basketball court during recess because he stands there with his flirty friends. "Shut up Ethan!" said Lizzy going even red at the mention of his name. Abby, who stood watching all that had happend spoke out " It's already time for lunch. Mom will be waiting for us". "What do you think shoud we do with this thing, Ethan?" asked Ray. Ethan replied........

POST 5- SANIA

The heavy ball stood silent. It looked as if it did not dare to move. Ray heaved a sigh, took a deep breath and moved towards the ball. “This is JUST a ball. What can it do? The sound might have been something else. Let’s not waste our time bothering about it” he said, turning his back towards the ball. “Then, why Ray, is the ball changing it colour? Asked Abby, scared as usual. All four of them surrounded the ball in no time. Again, Ray being the bravest picked it up to examine it. It turned into a dark shade of purple. “Strange”, whispered Ray “there’s something engraved on it. See” Everyone came closer to see. “Are you really blind Ray?” asked Ethan, “There’s nothing inscribed on it” Ray looked surprised. “You can’t see anything? It’s written ‘I broke Abby’s necklace and didn’t take the blame’” he read. “So it was you who broke my chain. You liar! I’ll tell mom” screamed Abby. “Yes Abby. I did it” said Ray, narrowing his eye brows, “but, how is it that it is inscribed on THIS ball? And that too, only I can see it” saying that, Ray’s face changed into a deep frown. Lizzie, who was quiet till now said,” give me the ball, let me try holding it” She snatched the ball from Ray’s hands. The ball change into a light green colour. And on the ball…

POST 4 - AFREEN

they did it. The heavy ball could hardly roll on the ground. As the ball rolled on the ground some crackling noice was heard from the ball. The kids started running away from the ball. Suddenly, the ball stopped rolling. The kids held their breath to watch what would happen next. the heavy ball......