Give an ending to this story, explaining what might have happened to Boppa.
Boppa, the thief who had been terrorising the colony, encountered something extraordinary that night. When he entered Anand's room looking for valuables, he accidentally triggered the time machine. The strange combination of wires, springs, levers, and the humming control panel created an unexpected phenomenon.
Perhaps the machine emitted a bright flash and transported Boppa to a different time period—maybe to the past, as Anand believed, or to a distant future.
Alternatively, Boppa may have been so terrified by the unexpected activation of the machine—the crashes, whines, and humming sounds—that he fled through a back window or another exit the children hadn't noticed, dropping his green scarf in his haste to escape.
His disappearance without a trace remains one of the great mysteries of the neighbourhood, and Anand continues to believe his invention worked, inspiring him to create even more ambitious projects.
Explanation
This creative writing task allows students to use their imagination while staying connected to the story. The ending should be plausible within the story's context—either explaining Boppa's disappearance through the time machine (supporting Anand's belief) or through a realistic escape route (supporting the adults' skepticism). Good responses will reference story elements like the green scarf, the strange noises, and Anand's conviction.
Solution Steps
Boppa entered Anand's room looking for valuables and accidentally triggered the time machine
One possibility: the machine transported Boppa to a different time period—either the past or distant future
Alternative possibility: Boppa was terrified by the machine's sounds and fled through an unnoticed exit, dropping his green scarf
The mystery of Boppa's disappearance remains unsolved in the neighbourhood
Anand continues to believe his invention worked, inspiring future projects