• It was a crisp, frosty morning and as I crept silently across my neighbours lawn, I was trying my best not to be discovered by their slumbering dog, Yeti. My breath crystallised in front of me and with every step I took, I was one step closer to my goal.

    Across the yard was the tool shed that belonged to Mister Grey. It stood tall and imposing, casting its shadow heavily over the dewy grass. Within sat the object of my desire, only the greatest ball the world has ever known. Last night it bounced over the fence when my sister Hayley and I were playing. I'd kicked it too hard and it landed over here when mean Mister Grey got mad. He locked it up in his shed and said he wouldn't give it back until he'd talked to our parents.

    I made it to the shed and slowly pried it open. I moved the doors slowly, keeping the noise to a minimum, and when there was a gap big enough for me, I slipped inside. There was a dull light coming in through the translucent ceiling and it threw shadows about everywhere. I found the ball quickly afterwards. There, up on a high shelf, sat our ball in all its glory. It was higher up than I could reach but there was a lawn mower near by that I moved forward to step on. I put my hands tightly around it's rubbery surface and held it triumphantly over my head, the expedition had been a success!

    I jumped down and pushed the lawn mower back, but it went in at the wrong angle and knocked into a rake. The rake fell to the side and started a chain reaction that knocked over tools, boxes, nails, planks of wood, you name it. I threw my hands over my head and braced myself but luckily nothing hit me. I had made quite a racket, though, and I heard someone yelling at me from outside. I stuck my head out to hear Hayley yelling at me.

    "Alex, he's coming," she cried and I looked up at the house to see the door opening and Mister Grey stepping out. He looked furious so I tucked the ball under my arm and dashed across the grass, running to where my sister was waiting, perched on our side of the fence.

    "You darn kids," Mister Grey yelled at me, shaking his fist. I didn't stop to look, though, I kept my eyes forward as I heard Mister Grey lumbering after me. I made it to the fence and jumped up as high as I could, but I couldn't reach the top. It was too high.

    Behind me I could hear Mister Grey getting closer and the yapping of Yeti getting roused from his sleep. Digging my toes into the grass, I lunged towards the fence again, managing to curl my fingers over the top and pulling myself up.

    I was just about to pull myself over when I felt a weight pulling me back. Yeti had clenched his jaws around the leg of my pants, trying to drag me back down. There wasn't anything I could do now, so I looked down at Hayley.

    "Here," I yelled, passing the ball down to her, "take it and run!"

    Hayley ran off inside and the last thing I saw was the door closing behind her as I fell back down at Mister Grey's feet. I was beyond saving now, all that I could do was hang my head and wait for the inevitable.

    Mister Grey told my parents what had happened and they grounded me for a month. Mister Grey is so mean.