Logan Mackay, Castletown Primary School Commended in Neil Gunn Awards

17th June 2013

The only Caithness person to be mentioned in this years Neil Gunn Wrrting competition was Logan Mackay from Castletown Primary school.

"Marshmallow Mission" was one of the 'Commended' entries in the Primary Schools section of the Neil Gunn Writing Competition, 2013. It was written by Logan Mackay, Castletown Primary School.

The theme for the Primary Schools section was "They're gone, he whispered. They never saw us", a quote taken from Highland River by Neil Gunn and suggested by Naomi Munro of Alness Academy. Writers were invited to interpret this theme in any way they wished.

The Neil Gunn Writing Competition is organised by library staff from High Life Highland in partnership with the Neil Gunn Trust. It was first established in 1988.

For all the results of the competitions go to
http://www.highland.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/libraries/neilgunn/

Marshmallow Mission by Logan Mackay

"They're gone," he whispered "they never saw us", as two oversized marshmallow soldiers walked past. Then Roger and his spy partner moved across the path to the pretty, brick cottage. Roger told Ross (his spy partner) to jump down the manhole and use the sewers to infiltrate the cottage. Ross dared not disobey so he just replied "Yes sir!" trying to sound enthusiastic. The sewers were smelly and not very pleasant, but Ross tried to think of happy things like bunnies and picnics.

Unfortunately whatever he thought of, bad smells invaded and made him puke. Finally Ross reached the drain, a stagnant smell of evil and hate filled his lungs. It was so bad that he felt like sprinting outside and getting a taxi home. But he was a Z300 agent and a Z300 never gave up. Then he continued his brave journey through the dark cellars.

Meanwhile outside things weren't going too well for Roger because a patrol of evil marshmallow soldiers were sent to investigate a clashing noise that came from outside. The marshmallows were trained to be silent so poor Roger didn't hear them approach. They put a sack on top of his head and dragged him inside. When he woke up he found himself in a cramped windowless room with only a dim lamp on the ceiling for light. A miniature man with a voice recorder stood in the centre of the room and he had a menacing grin on his evil face and then he broke the silence.....

The man's grin turned into a chuckle, then his chuckle turned into a laugh before he said the heartbreaking words. "I will turn you into one of my evil marshmallow minions!" he snarled without showing any sympathy what so ever. "Never!" cried Roger angrily.

Luckily for Roger, Ross had been listening to every word of the conversation through an air vent leading to the interrogation room. Ross knew he had to do something before it was too late. He had known Roger since he became a Z300 agent. He began to climb up the air vent in an attempt to save his best friend. The grating to access the interrogation room was small but he managed to squeeze himself through the gap. Roger was dazed but awake so he didn't struggle when Ross cut the thick ropes bound around his bleeding wrists. Roger only just managed to walk unassisted but after a hard effort he managed to slide down the metal air vent. The pair ran through the sewers and made it to the van parked across the dark street. Just as Ross's hand touched the door handle a ferocious shout came from inside the house. "Where is that spy I captured earlier?" cried the terrorist that owned the house they had just escaped from. Then Ross said cheekily to Roger, "I think he wanted you to stay for dinner!" Then Roger replied sleepily, "I'm not going back there in a hurry".