The Opposite by Tom MacRae

When Nate woke up one morning, The Opposite was standing on his ceiling, staring down at him. "You can't stand on the ceiling, " said Nate. "Get down!"

But The Opposite happened, and it stayed where it was.

"Dad!" cried Nate. "There's an Opposite on my ceiling!" "Where?" said Nate's Dad, poking his head round the door. "There!" said Nate, pointing upwards. BUT, the Opposite had already disappeared, and it wasn't there anymore. "Come on Nate," said Nate's dad. "You don't usually make up stories to stay in bed."

Nate came downstairs to start his breakfast. His mum poured out a bowlful of cornflakes. "You can do the milk yourself," she said. Nate always did his own milk. It was one of the things he was best at. Nate took the milk in both hands and gently poured it over the cereal.
But then, The Opposite happened...

Instead of the milk pouring down, it poured UP, splashing all over the ceiling , then dripping down again all over the tablecloth. The Opposite grinned in the corner. "Oh Nate!" said Nate's mum. "Look what you've done!" "It wasn't me!" cried Nate. "It was The Opposite over there!" And Nate pointed at the corner.

But The Opposite had already happened, and it wasn't there anymore. "Come on Nate!" said Nate's mum. "You're not usually so clumsy."

Nate walked into school and got ready for the first lesson. Nate's teacher asked the children to paint a picture of their favorite animal. Nate decided to paint an elephant. he took out his paint and paper and brush, and made a start. But then The Opposite happened.

Instead of the paint going on the paper, it went on Nate's head. Then on the floor. then on the walls. Then on his teacher. the paint went everywhere, except on the paper, which stayed as blank and clean as ever.

The Opposite giggled from under the teacher's desk, right by the teacher's legs. "Oh Nate!" said the teacher. "You're usually not so messy." "it wasn't me!" cried Nate. 'It was The Opposite under there!" And Nate pointed at the teacher's desk.But The Opposite had already happened, and it wasn't there anymore.

Nate stopped and thought for a moment. Then he had an idea. Slowly, he pointed at the empty space in front of him. "I mean to say,"said Nate, "that there ISN'T and Opposite standing right in front of my finger. But then, The Opposite happened.

Suddenly, The Opposite WAS standing right in front of Nate. It blinked with surprise, and it looked a little worried. "I mean to say," said Nate. "That the work I have already done today is messy and untidy."
But then The Opposite happened.

The Opposite bared its teeth, but it was too late. Nate's painting was now as tidy and perfect as you please. "And," said Nate, smiling, "I mean to say that I have SO enjoyed having The Opposite with me today, and I DO ever hope it will stay around for ever and ever and EVER!" But then The Opposite happened...

With a shriek.....and a hiss....The Opposite disappeared in a puff of green and yellow smoke. And that was that.

Very quickly, Nate's teacher and the rest of Nate's class persuaded themselves that they had never sen The Opposite and none of it had ever happened. But Nate knew what had happened, and now you do too. And if you ever met an Opposite, you will know how to deal with it.

The next morning, when Nate woke up, The Opposite was standing on his ceiling, staring down at him. "Oh good" said Nate. "I hope this story goes on for ever and EVER!"









THE END