Narratives can take many forms. Historical narratives are stories based on facts from the past. In many cases, the characters are fictional, but the events can be based on historical evidence. Even if the characters are real-life people from the past, this type of narrative can still be written using your imagination. These narratives are fun. They can also be very educational if you include details and information that are real. Sometimes this means doing some research. If you go to a library or a museum, not only can you find out things to put in your narrative, you might even get some ideas. The Hong Kong Messenger Man Yee was playing a dangerous game. Although he was only 13 years old, he was mature beyond his years. The Japanese soldiers had occupied Hong Kong and some were staying at The Peninsula hotel. They were busy rushing around Kowloon trying to find people who were their enemies. When they found them, they put them in a special camp that was just like a prison. Many people in Hong Kong were afraid, but Man Yee was brave. He had volunteered to be a messenger for a Japanese colonel. This was daring because he was only pretending to be helpful to the soldiers. Instead of taking the messages straight to the place he was told, he went to the walled city and gave them first to his Chinese friends. The colonel began to suspect. His messages seemed to be taking a long time. He decided to set a trap. The next day, the colonel wrote a fake message to some soldiers in Kwun Tong. He warned his soldiers that the message would be coming. He instructed his assistant to follow Man Yee. His assistant was disguised as a rickshaw driver. But Man Yee and his friends were cleverer than the colonel thought. They had a feeling something like this might happen. So they decided on a cunning plan. They wrote another message. As Man Yee left The Peninsula, his friends followed him from a distance. They spotted the rickshaw driver immediately. Just as the disguised man was turning a corner, they abducted him and tied him up. Then they gave Man Yee the other message and sent him to a different place. When Man Yee arrived with the message, he was very nervous. His hand was shaking as he handed it to the soldier. The message read: 'Take your soldiers to the Star Ferry and wait for further instructions.' When the Japanese soldiers left, the Chinese soldiers took their place. It was a victory. Then Man Yee had to stay in hiding for the duration of the war. He stayed in his uncle's house in the walled city. He was a local hero! Glossary mature (adj) - responsible, grown-up to volunteer (v) - to do something for no reward to disguise (v) - to change appearance cunning (adj) - tricky to abduct (v) - to capture someone using threats or violence Comprehension 1. How old was Man Yee? 2. Where were some of the Japanese soldiers living? 3. Why were many people in Hong Kong afraid? 4. Who began to suspect? 5. What did the colonel write? 6. Where did Man Yee hide? Writing style The Japanese soldiers may have been clever, but Man Yee was cleverer. To make an adjective mean something stronger, you can often just add the letters 'er' on the end. This is a different form of the adjective. Choose the correct adjective to complete the sentences below and write the correct form. brave, cold, short, hard, fast 7. The boy soldier was __________ than the adult soldiers. 8. A lion is _______________ than a mouse. 9. The North Pole is _____________ than Hong Kong. 10. A dog runs ___________ than a tortoise. 11. Diamonds are _________ than grains of sand. Crossword Soldiers need lots of things. Look at the list below and write the answers in the crossword. List: bomb, bullets, helmet, boots, sword, uniform, army 1. A metal one of these protects a soldier's head 2. A soldier fires these from a gun 3. When itexplodes, it makes a loud bang 4. These are tough and worn on the feet 5. A long time ago, soldiers used this metal weapon 6. What a soldier's outfit is called 7. Lots of soldiers fight together in this Answers: 1. 13 years old; 2. The Peninsula hotel; 3. they did not want to go to prison; 4. the colonel; 5. a fake letter; 6. his uncle's house in the walled city; 7. shorter; 8. braver; 9. colder; 10. faster; 11. harder Crossword 1. helmet; 2. bullets; 3. bomb; 4. boots; 5. sword; 6. uniform; 7. army