Section 6 - All is well

• Mum

Mum knows that both James and Tristan are nervous but excited about their first day at their new schools.

She is proud of both of them. On one hand, James helped Tristan to finally decide to go to Chesterlea Grange. On the other hand, Tristan helped James by speaking to Kiara Jones and asking her to be James' special friend during his first few days at Highfields.

Tristan had met Kiara Jones earlier at aan under 11s football tournament and Mum found out that James had actually wanted to make friends with Kiara too.

• James

James thinks that Highfields is brilliant because he met many of his old friends there and made some new friends too. Both Kiara and James have been chosen for the football teams they tried for. James is eager to tell Tristan all about Highfields at the weekend.

• Tristan

Tristan thinks there's only one way to describe his new school, Chesterlea Grange. He says it's Flipping Fantastic.

Section 5 - the right choice

• Tristan

Now Tristan thinks he has really 'blown it'! James has just talked to him about Chesterlea Grange and reminded him about all the exciting things they saw where when they visited the school and how friendly the teachers were. The more they talked, the more certain Tristan was that he really wanted to go to Chesterlea Grange. He realised what a marvelous place it is. He must have been nervous about going to a new school and that's why he was so unsure. At least after that chat, he has learnt one thing. He now understands how James feel about a lot of things. But how is he going to tell Mum that he does want to go to Chesterlea Grange after all?

• James 

James was angry with himself for opening his 'big mouth' and persuading Tristan to go to Chesterlea Grange. This made Tristan change his mind again and he has finally decided to tell their mother that he had a bad case of 'collywobbles' and actually wants to go to Chesterlea Grange after all.

Now James feels it will be a nightmare going to Highfields without Tristan.

• Tristan

Tristan is relieved that Mum is not upset that he has changed his mind again. However, Tristan knows that James is unhappy because of the old sad look in his eyes. He wonders how he can make James feel better. Tristan thinks that James is just as scared about going to Chesterlea Grange. Tristan wants to talk to James and see how he can help James. Tristan knows that James doesn't want Tristan to leave him.

Section 4 - Chesterlea Grange or Highfeilds

• Tristan

Mum has just asked Tristan whether he really wants to go to Chesterlea Grange and his answer was 'no'. He wants to remain in his old school where it's safe, friendly and everyone knows him. However, when he had visited Chesterlea Grange on Open Day, it had looked like a lot of fun. There were activities like horse-riding, swimming and wheelchair games which he liked best, and they also hold the Paralympics every summer, archery contests, wheelie marathons and basketball tournaments, which were all new to him. Tristan was excited that he could now be good at sports too like James.

But Tristan is confused now because he has just told his mother that he doesn't want to go to Chesterlea Grange so she might be arranging for him to go to Highfields with James.

• Mum

Mum doesn't know what to do now because Tristan has just told her that he doesn't want to go to Chesterlea Grange.

• James

James is now relieved that Tristan has told Mum that he doesn't want to go to Chesterlea Grange, which means Tristan will be joining him at Highfields. James was so worried about how he would cope without Tristan that he was thinking up many excuses so that he would not have to go to school on the first day. He knew that no matter what illness or excuses he came up with, his mother wouldn't believe him at all.

James thinks that if they're together, he and Tristan can look after each other. James can push Tristan in his wheelchair up the ramps, through the corridors and automatic doors. He can also take Tristan to the toilet and tell his PE teacher what Tristan can and can't do.

But his mother thinks that the best thing about Tristan going to Chesterlea Grange is that he will have to learn to manage on his own and not depend on others to do things for him. His mother wanted him to stand on his own two feet.

James knew that Tristan thought this was hilarious. At first, Tristan was looking forward to all the games and computer facilities at his new school but now James can't understand why Tristan has changed his mind. James feels that he has been so busy thinking about his own feelings that he has not taken much notice of Tristan and therefore, he should have a chat with Tristan to find out more. 

secction 3 The day after

• Tristan

Tristan was ecstatic after the school play last night. He said his lines and was told how wonderful he was as Tom Sawyer. Everyone and everything else was great too.

Today, he feels really down, like a burst tyre! Tristan realises that last night was the last time James and he would be together before being separated when they have to go to different schools.

Tristan's mother is more worried about James but Tristan feels that he is not ready to be on his own. He thinks that James will be fine because all his friends and classmates will be going to his new school at Highfields. But Tristan will be alone at Chesterlea Grange, which is miles away, and he can only go home on weekends. He is not ready to leave his familiar surroundings and be on his own.

• James

James felt awful at last night's play, but is feeling better this morning because he knows he won't ever have to take part in a play again.

He is also thinking about another good thing. For the last six years in Peter Hill Primary, he has had to put up with Jessica Parker and her 'stupid laugh'. But since she is moving to another school, James won't have to worry about her anymore. Tristan says that Jessica laughs because she wants James's attention but James does not want her attention and thinks that, in his new school, there will be other girls whose attention he may enjoy.

Kiara Jones, who plays football for the Country Girls' Under 11s team, is going to Highfields, the same school as James. He is hoping Kiara and he will go to the same football practices, although this will make Tristan jealous because James knows Tristan likes Kiara too. James remembers that Kiara once pushed Tristan's wheelchair to therefreshment counter while James was playing.

Although James relies on Tristan, James knows that Tristan relies on him too, and wonders how Tristan will cope in his new school without him.  

• Tristan

Tristan notices that James is unusually happy today. Tristan, however, is feeling quite down and cannot understand why James is not upset too because they are finally leaving Peter Hill Primary and going on to different secondary schools. This seems final to Tristan as they will never go back to Peter Hill Primary again.

Tristan is sad that he won't see his favourite teacher, Mrs Roberts, anymore. She taught them Maths and he hopes his new Maths teachers at Chesterlea Grange will be as nice as Mrs Roberts. Tristan feels very sad to leave Peter Hill Primary as he will surely miss his teachers, friends and brother. He feels he is losing 'something special' and wonders whether the others feel the same way too.

• Mum

Mum thinks that Tristan is bewildering because he has always been 'a live wire' but over the last few weeks, he has been unusuallyquiet.

Although James too has been quiet, Mum has not worried about him because that is quite normal for James. She has noticed that since the last day of school, they both seem to be depressed and she does not know why. She is wondering whether it is because they are going to different schools. As twins, maybe they are affected by theseparation so she is going to ask them if this is what they really want.

She does not want her sons to spend the rest of the summer holidays looking like they have won the lottery, then lost the ticket down a drain.

section 2 - the school play

• Tristan

Tristan has been looking forward to his year end play at school for ages. It's the school tradition for the year six students to put up the play. They are doing 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and Tristan is Tom. He has to thank his English teacher, Mr Sewell, who taught them their lines for the play.

Tristan hopes the English teacher at his new school will be as good as Mr Sewell. In the new school, they do drama twice a week in their school drama studio, which is like a mini-theatre. Tristan can't wait toperform on a stage where there is plenty of room for wheelchairs and there is ramp leading to the stage. Where they practise now, it is awkward because there are four steps leading up to the stage and Mr Sewell has to carry him while James lifts his wheelchair. 

Next year, his present school will put up a ramp leading to the stage but Tristan won't be there.

Tristan, however, feels bad about James.

• James

James thought the night of his school play was the worst night of his life! He was so embarrassed. He feels that the only good thing about his new school is that he won't have to do drama if he does not want to and he is sure that he does not want to.

That night everyone's parents were there and the hall was packed. His Mum was in the front row so she could watch Tristan as he was the star of the play. James feels that Tristan was brilliant and was amazed that he could remember all his lines. He had only onemeasly line of just seven words to say and he had got it wrong. Although Mr Sewell told him that no one noticed his mistakes, he did not believe him because he thought Jessica Parker laughed at him.

His Mum said that both Tristan and James were great but James did not fall for that because he felt he was awful. He accepts that Tristan and he do not have to be good at the same things just because they are twins. He thinks that his Mum should accept that too.

• Mum

Mum was so proud of her sons that night. She thought they were the stars in the school play. Tristan spoke his lines so clearly. He waswonderful as Tom Sawyer. The lady in the seat behind praised him and his English teacher said that he was a real 'pro'.

She was amazed that James, who, unlike Tristan, was actually very shy, now had the confidence to take part in the play and spoke his line in front of the whole audience. Although he stuttered a bit, he was great.

Mum has never been worried about Tristan. In spite of his physicalhandicap, he is more able, confident and can think better.

She was more worried about James as he was always morenervous. She was concerned about how he would manage in his new school which was bigger, with more rooms, more subjects and more teachers.

She was especially concerned with how James would find his way around his new school without Tristan, but after watching the play, she is now more confident that he will manage somehow.

section1 meet the twins

• Tristan

Tristan hates the way he feels. He is not sure how to describe his feelings but he thinks it's a mixture of feeling unhappy and feeling bad. He is sad because he is leaving his old school and he feels bad because he is leaving his twin brother, James. 

Tristan thinks that his twin brother, James, is much smarter than he is because he can do everything. James can dress himself, walk, play football and write with a pen instead of a computer because he doesn't have a disability like Tristan does.

His mum doesn't like him to use the word 'disability'. Instead, she prefers him to use the word 'ability'. She is not interested in what he can't do but only in what he can do.
Tristan thinks that his mum is a very determined person. James is shy, and more unsure and scared of life. Tristan, in the other hand, is not like that. He is sad to leave his old school but he is excited about his new school because it is a special school to help children get 'able'. Tristan feels his mother will be pleased as he is not using the 'dis' part of the word here.

He feels his new school is 'cool' because it has horses and a hugepaddock where he can practise riding, and a swimming pool so he can swim every day as he is a good swimmer. 

There is also a games room filled with videos, DVDs and computer games. 

Tristan feels that the only disadvantage is that it is a residential school and since James is going to another school, Tristan won't be be there for him at night to listen to how his day was and what a rubbish day (bad day) he has had. Tristan is sure that James will miss him.

• James

James can't believe it is the last week Tristan and he will be together in the same school. James and Tristan have always been going everywhere together and doing things together as James has always been pushing Tristan's wheelchair.

Next term, however, things will change but James does not want to think about it because the thought itself is really horrible.

James thinks Tristan, being smarter than he is, will be able to describe more clearly how bad he feels. James also feels that Tristan is smarter than he is because he is able to work out Maths problem quicker, he always gets 'A's in his homework and he understands how computers work. James is concerned about how he is going tomanage in his new school without Tristan.

Characters

Summary/Synopsis

This story is about twin brothers, Tristan and James, who are about to be separated and sent to different schools when they leave primary school for secondary school. They have mixed feelings about going to their new schools and are anxious about this. Besides being worried about their separation, they are also concerned about whether they can adapt to their new schools, especially without each other's help. Their mother, who loves them both dearly and cares about them, is equally anxious.

The climax occurs the day after the school play. Tristan and James react very differently to the school play. They both realise how much they depend on each other and how difficult it would be to adapt to their new schools on their own. Tristan is not sure whether to go with James to Highfields or to go to Chesterlea Grange on his own.

After some thought and discussion, Tristan, who is disabled, finally decides to go to a special school, that is, Chesterlea Grange, while James goes to Highfields. In the end, the twins find that their worries are unnecessary as they both adapt to and enjoy their new schools. The twins realise they have made the right decision and are both very happy in their new schools. Tristan describes his new school as fantastic...hence the title, Flipping Fantastic.

Characters

Main Characters

Tristan

• Tristan

Tristan is the twin who has a physical disability. He moves around in a wheelchair and cannot walk or move his arms easily. He is also unable to dress himself or play football. Tristan is good in Maths and computers. He is also good in drama and acts very well as Tom Sawyer in the year-end school play. Although Tristan cannot play games, he is good at swimming.

Even though Tristan is disabled, he is emotionally stronger and more confident than James. However, Tristan is indecisive and changes his mind three times about going to his new school. He is also concerned about how James will manage without him and ask Kiara Jones to be James' 'special friend' and help him get used to his new school.

James

• James

James has no physical disability. He is good in sports and plays football. James hates drama and does not like Jessica Parker. He lives in fear of her and her 'stupid laugh'.

James is shyer and less confidence than Tristan. He is also more nervous and very worried about going to new school without Tristan. This is mainly because he is very dependent on Tristan. 

Mum

• Mum 

Mum is a loving, caring mother who supports her sons and wants the best for them.

She is very concerned about her sons and does not get upset even when Tristan changes his mind a couple of times about going to his new school.

Mum sees the good in both her sons and is extremely proud of them. She is a very determined mother and always has a positive attitude. Consequently, she does not like the negative word 'disability'.

Minor Characters

The teachers

• Mr Sewell

         
         He is the twin's English and drama teacher. 
         Tristan likes him very much.

• Mrs Robert

         
         She is Tristan's favourite teacher in Peter Hill Primary. 
         She teaches Maths.

Schoolmates

Kiara Jones

• Kiara Jones

        Kiara plays football and Tristan arranges for her to be James' 

       'special friend' at Highfields to help him adapt to his 
        new school. 

        Both James and Tristan like her very much.

• Jessica Parker

        She is with the twins at Peter Hill Primary. 

        James does not like her and hates her 'stupid laugh'. 

        However, Tristan fells that she only laughs at James because

        she wants him to notice her.

References:
Shanta, R & Anthony, R (2011). Longman Light on Lit Form 1 Selected Poems, Short Story & BLACK BEAUTY. Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia: PEARSON, Longman.

Sidhu, R. (2010). A Quick Guide to Literature: A Collection of Poems, Short Stories and Drama. Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia: Penerbit Ilmu Bakti Sdn. Bhd.