Megan, Marie, Grace, Anika, and Claire

Megan, Marie, Grace, Anika, and Claire

By: Emma Ladner

Chapter One

My name is Megan. I have a sister named Grace. My mom Sarah is a brown headed. My dad on the other hand has Brown hair. My sister Grace has black hair. And I have black hair. My horse Marie is white. Today my mom has sent me to water. I was getting water. When I was there I heard rustling in the grass ahead of me. I looked and saw a little girl a lot different from me and who I knew. She had black hair with her hair and braids tight. She was very tan but lighter then the doctor that helped Grace get well. She had a bear dress with many beads. And she had little shoes made out of the same fur as her dress and with many beads too. “Hi.” I said. She looked up and stared at me. I saw she had a package on her pack strapped to her back with arrows and a bow. Then I knew what she was. She was an Indian. I jumped up in fright as my sunbonnet flew back with me. I ran for Marie and tried to get on fast but she grabbed me by the shoulder. I turned in fright but instead of blue eyes like me and my family she had black eyes that shined as if god was shinning a bright light in her eyes. She whispered in my ear “How.” My papa had taught me how to speak Indian so I said “How.” I smiled “How do you do?” She stared at me. Then at my horse. She pointed at her horse. It was black with no saddle nor bridle. It was black and white. “She let me go and I tumbled to the ground landing on the ground. She lifted me up and put me on my feet. Her smile was pretty. She waved and ran across the bridge jumped on her horse and galloped away before I could open my mouth. I jumped on my horse and galloped away on Marie. When we reached my house I ran to the door and opened it. Grace was playing with Claire. She jumped up and hugged me. “Papa! Papa! I saw an Indian!” I yelled. Ma took off my bonnet and said to me “Darling the Indians are gone there is no way that was an Indian.” She sighed. “But ma this was real she had beads and her hair was black and her clothes were bear fur and her shoes too! She had her hair braided!” I said. “Claire turned to face me. So did Grace. “Honey that’s nothing. But dinner is almost ready.” She told me. “But ma!” I said sadly. Come let us come into the room we were in. I nodded and handed her the bucket of water. I could hear our cows mooing as the night moon came upon her little house. I sat by the fire and played with Claire and Grace. At dinner I heard the wolfs howling in the night and heard the owl hooting. Ma unbuttoned me and my sister’s clothes. Grace and I slipped her gowns on. Ma helped put Claire’s gown on. She put on our nightcaps. Pa came home and sat a huge duck outside in our storage house. I heard the cows moo and then the chickens clucked. I heard the wind whistle. I closed my eyes hearing Ma say a pray for me and her family. Claire was in the middle of me and Grace’s bed. Her crib was brown like ours because Pa had made it with wood himself. I closed my eyes and heard the fire crackle but then there was silence because I drifted into a deep sleep.

Chapter Two

The next morning I woke up by Ma. Her brown hair rested on my cheek and her smile was on. I saw through our windows the morning sun. I sat up and stretched. Ma lifted the covers off me and took off my gown and night cap. She reached into my closet and pulled out a nig puffy dress and its sunbonnet. I got up and slipped it on. Ma sat me down on her lap and gripped our brush and she brushed my hair. Then she slipped my bonnet on. We weren’t to be outside in the morning. I looked at Grace and Baby Claire who rested in their beds. I put on my bonnet and leather shoes on. I sat by the fire. Ma gave me a few beads and a string. “Make something for the girls.” Said Ma. I nodded and set to work. Ma stepped outside closing the door with a basket. When she came back I was working on Grace’s necklace. She had the hen’s eggs, the corn, the grapes, the watermelons, and the ham. She sighed and put away everything in our storage house and cracked some eggs on a pan. She held it over the fire. She scrapped some eggs on five plates and sat them on the ground. “Ma I am done with the necklaces.” I whispered. “Set them on their covers.” Said Ma. I walked over and put them on the covers like Ma said too. I sat down and started to wait for the milk into my cup. Ma got the tin pot of milk and poured it into two cups and another in baby Claire’s tin cup. I sat and ate and drank my breakfast. Pa woke up and put on his clothes. He sat down to drink. Grace woke up and so did Baby Claire. Ma lifted Claire out and she let them eat their breakfast. Then Grace and I washed the dishes. Ma held Baby Claire to her chest in a lamb fur blanket. I couldn’t see Baby Claire’s feet resting out on Ma’s arms. Ma whispered “Megan go get Claire and Grace’s necklaces.” I got them. Grace jumped for her’s. I handed her hers. I gave the other to Ma. Grace and I could hear Baby Claire clapping and laughing and we saw the necklace disappear. Pa got up and grabbed his boots and went out on the street to town. “You two can go out now.” Said Ma. “Remember stay on the side of our island not on the British’s.” Me and Grace nodded and ran out. When Ma closed the door Grace asked “Can you show me the Indian?” “Grace you know what might happen if Baby Claire is to follow us and is to get hurt or die.” I said. “Please just for a little bit?” Begged Grace doing her puppy face. “Fine!” I said madly. And I held her hand and marched to the creek. Good enough the Indian was where I got the water from. “Wow. And Indian.” Whispered Grace happily. Her black hair bounded to go to the Indian. “Stay here.” I whispered to her and slid down the edge of the hill. I landed on the nice sand. I walked to where she was and sat beside her. Her hair was braided like yesterday and she had her face above the water. Then she seesded her hand into the creek and pulled and Salmon out. “How?” I said. She turned and hugged me. “Goodly.” She said back. “My sister wants to meet you.” I said “My name is Anika.” She said. “Hi Anika my name is Megan and my sister Grace would like to meet you.” I said. She nodded and I went to get Grace. She was sitting in a patch of flowers and I carried her down to the creek and set her on her feet. “This is Grace. Grace this is Anika the Indian.” I said to Grace and Anika. They both waved. Anika looked up and I and Grace looked up. There was a man like her just with no long hair and braids. He had a mow hack. He had a deerskin around his rear and he had beads and the same shoes as Anika. I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. I held Grace to my chest and held her on my side. The man was tall and had a mad face staring at Anika. “Anika Eesta and papa are looking for you.” He said. He grabbed her hand and strapped her horse to his horse’s side. He lifted her on his horse and sat behind the he whacked both horses and they all galloped away. Me and Grace ran up to her yard. Ma was inside with Baby Claire. We opened the door luckily not dirty. “Ma I saw the Indian too!” said Grace. “What?” said Ma walking towards us and bending on her knee. “Megan took me to see her. Her name is Anika she is nice.” Said Grace. Ma looked at me. “Where is this Indian?” she asked. “By the creek down by the edge of the small hill.” I said. Ma looked strened. “You two better be careful or I am going to be mad.” Said Ma as she turned away. Me and Grace stood holding hands. Soon Pa returned. He had four bags. He sat one in front of all of us. “These are presents from me.” Said Pa holding his hands together. “Oh Charlie! Presents?” said Ma happily. Pa nodded. “Let Baby Claire open hers first then Grace then Megan and then you Sarah.” Said Pa. Ma helped Baby Claire open her bag. Claire reached in and pulled out a doll. She sat it down. She reached in again and set a bottle on the floor. She reached in again and pulled out a bag of candy and sat it down happily. She reached in and pulled a Cinderella night light out. She sat it down and Ma turned it on. Baby Claire reached in again and took and rubber duck bib out. She reached in and pulled out a red dress with a black Bonnet. “Oh Charlie! A bonnet for Claire! She will look cute in it!” said Ma. Baby Claire reached in again and pulled out a book. She sat it down and felt again but nothing she clapped her hands. “Wait.” Said Pa and pulled a pillow from behind his back it read, you are my flower the one I love, but when I see your smile, a horse is coming on your way. Claire clapped her hands and lay in Ma’s lap and she put a few small blankets on one other pillow and she climbed on and put her head on the pillow. “Grace now you.” Said Pa pointing at Grace. Grace opened her bag and she reached in. She pulled out a book. She sat it down. She pulled out a doll. She sat it down. She pulled out a pair of pink bunny slippers. She slipped them on. She pulled out a pink bunny robe sat it down. She pulled out a pink bunny night cap and sat it down. She reached in and pulled a doll out she had the same matching bunny pajamas as Grace. She sat it down. She reached in and pulled a pillow out it read, you are my baby doll. The one I love. Carry yourself on a trip to Candy land. Grace put her pillow down and closed her pack. I opened my pack. I reached in and brought a bible out. I smiled and sat it down. Then I reached in and found a candle that you twist to light. I smiled. And sat it down. I reached in and pulled a dairy book out. On the front it said, God guides me through the day but I have to keep secrets sometimes. I sat it down. I reached in and pulled out a big pillow it read, you’re my biggest girl you love the lord the one that died for us. And it showed roses and the holy Bible on the pillow. I sat it down and reached in again. I pulled out a first aid kit. I loved acting like a nurse. I sat it down. I reached in a brought a China doll out. I looked at it. It was glass with her hair up. She had a Chinese robe on. It had a case around it. I sat it on my bedside table. I put the Holy Bible and the candle on the bedside table too. Ma put Grace and Baby Claire’s things in a toy chest. Ma made Grace dress herself. She made me dress Baby Claire. I put on Baby Claire her new outfit. And sat her down. It was thundering. I looked out the window and it was pouring rain. But I saw Anika on the ground her eyes closed. “Ma I’m going out!” I yelled going out with a raincoat on and boot. Before Ma could say a word I was running for Anika. I picked her up and put her in front of me on my horse. I held her head on my leg and her feet on the other leg. Pa came out running and I handed Anika to Pa and put Marie up. And ran back in. I took my raincoat off and boots. Ma was holding Anika with her arms. Pa was setting a bed out. After he had the bed laid her picked Anika up and laid her on it. I ran over her felt her head. She didn’t have fever though I got a wet cold rag and placed it on her forehead. Anika woke up. She stared at me. And jumped. “I must go!” she said and ran out. Pa picked it up we had ate lunch and dinner. Ma was now dressing us for bed. I had my candle on. Ma took off my clothes and put my gown on me. She slipped my nightcap on. “Megan! You forgot stuff!” said Pa handing me my bag. I brought out a bible robe and bible slippers. I brought out bible pajamas and nightcap. I slipped them on and climbed in bed. Ma took hold off my candle and put it on Grace’s bedside table. I heard Ma as she dressed Grace and Baby Claire for bed and tucked them in. “Megan read some off your Bible.” Said Ma. I opened my bible and read. After a few minutes Ma said “Stop.” So I did. Ma said our prayer and she sat my candle on my table and she went to bed with Pa. The door was locked and the fire was off. So I twisted my candle and it turned off. I finally fell asleep in my bed. Dreaming of where Anika lived. But I knew it was far away.

Chapter Three

The next morning,

Ma let me and Grace and Baby Claire sleep as long as we were. I woke up at 7:50 a.m. Ma was out of the house and Pa too. Grace and Baby Claire were still asleep. The fire was off and the sun was dim. I turned on my candle and put on my robe and slippers. I took hold of my Diary and sat by me and Baby Claire and Grace’s window sill. I sat down. The candle was beside and I wrote in my Dairy, Dear Dairy Today is Monday, December 30, 1601. Ma is out working in the garden and Pa is hunting. My sisters Baby Claire and Grace are asleep. I stopped. And closed it and put the feather and ink away. Grace was standing right in front of me. Baby Claire was tugging at my pajamas. I picked her up and her long silky nightgown was down to my fingers. Grace sat down close by me and held on to me. I let Grace hold the Candle. It was 8:00 a.m. Ma wasn’t in nor Pa. I finally wrapped Baby Claire in her blanket and over her head. Grace slipped on her robe and slippers. Me and them walked out on the porch. Pa and Ma were talking with the Indians. Ma seemed happy and so did dad. Anika was by the tallest one. I handed Baby Claire to Grace and ran to Anika and hugged her. Anika hugged me back. She opened her fur purse and gave me a few beads and beautiful shells. I stared at them my eyes were bold. I hugged her and put them in my robe pocket. “I got them West from here. That’s why I ran away last night. But thank you for the rag.” Said Anika handing me my old rag. I thanked her and gave it to Grace. “You are welcome. Can you come in?” I asked. Anika nodded and I and she ran into the log cabin. Anika helped me put the seashells on the shells beside the books on the bookshelves above me and Baby Claire and Grace’s bed. She helped me make a little sashed purse with the beads. I taught Anika about the Bible and told her about God. She nodded and liked God. Soon she had to leave. “Bye” Anika said.  “Bye” I said. Then she left. Ma and Pa came in with Grace and Baby Claire. Ma made me dress Grace and
Baby Claire and me for she had to make breakfast. Pa ate a few pieces of old cornbread and left for town with Anika’s Pa. I showed Ma the purse Anika helped me make and she smiled. I told her about the beads. Ma smiled and continued to cook.

Pa came back with a silkly long 18 feet long silk and a few tall wooden poles. Pa nailed four poles on me and Grace’s bed then Ma and Pa’s bed. He cut and Ma sewed the silk on the top of our beds. Ma started to sew new sheets for our beds and new covers. Ma placed on mine. It had roses on the pillows and covers. She placed on Grace’s it had bunny rabbits on the pillows and covers. Ma placed blue covers and blue pillows on Pa and her bed. She placed matching rugs beside our beds. “Ma you didn’t open your package.” Grace said. Ma sat down on the bed and opened her pack. She pulled out sliver where and plates and bowls. She pulled out cups and new clothes. She pulled out a card and money and a purse. After that she put them away. Pa went out to milk the cow. Ma held Baby Claire and let her play with her doll. Grace read her book. And I read the bible. Pa came back and we ate lunch. We had turkey and chicken and corn and corn on the cob. And green beans. Grace stared at my China doll but did not dare touch it. Baby Claire’s black hair was still under her sunbonnet. I put on my petticoat and shoes. “Ma Pa and I are going to find where Anika lives today.” I said. Ma opened the door and closed it. I and Pa got on our horses. And we rode down the trail of the forest. “Pa look smoke!” I said pointing in the distance. “Good Megan come on!” said Pa and me and him whacked her horses. I heard a yell “Megan! Megan!” Me and Pa stopped and saw Grace running down the trail out of breath. Pa lifted Grace in front on me on my horse and she hugged Marie’s neck. I and Pa whacked our horses. And we went down the trail. I saw the smoke. Iran ahead of Pa and Pa came behind me. I stopped there was a camp. There were Indians. “How!” said Anika’s father and ran to Pa. “Where is Anika?” I asked him. He pointed at one tippy. I tied Marie to a tree and left Grace to play with the younger Indian girls. I opened the tippy. Anika was in there on her bed making a necklace. She looked up. “Hi!” she said. “Hi!” I said back. I and she went to dance around the fire where some Indians were and doing. “Yah-yah!” yelled an Indian. “Ohh-ohh!” yelled another. After minutes passed Pa lifted me and Grace on my horse. Pa got on his. And I followed him home.

   Chapter Four

I and Pa and Grace came home. Baby Claire was asleep because she had eaten dinner. I and Pa and Grace feasted on the sweet food. Me and Grace ate and ate. Pa was done first. Ma had my candle lit and the fireplace lit. “Did you find the camp today?” asked Ma. “Oh yes it was beautiful Ma.” I said. “Good.” Said Ma. I hung my petticoat on my hook. After dinner I and Grace got dressed. I climbed in my new bed. I had my nightgown and nightcap on. “Megan will you let Claire sleep with you tonight?” asked Ma. I looked at Baby Claire that was asleep in Ma’s arms and nodded. Grace was in her bed waiting to be tucked in. Ma tucked me and Grace in. She read some of the bible to us and stopped. Grace was asleep. Ma twisted my candle and it was dark. The house was quiet. I felt my eyes shut and I drifted to sleep with my family.

The next morning,

Ma woke us up for church. I loved going to Church. I dressed in my Church clothes. I put on my petticoat and church shoes. 

We ate breakfast. Ma gave me and Grace a booklet for Church. I grabbed my feather and dumped my ink into a plastic can and put a top on it. I put it in my purse and my binder and booklet. Pa was hitching four horses onto the ropes that pulled our wagon. Marie was one of them. Ma and Baby Claire sat in the front with Pa. Me and Grace sat in the back. Pa told Ma and Baby Claire to go back there with Me and Grace so she did. I and Grace and Ma and Baby Claire ate our breakfast. We arrived at a big stone building. It was made of stones and clay. The bell rang eight times. Me and Ma and Grace and Pa went to our Church rooms. I took out my booklet and Bible and set it on the table. “Good morning Angels.” Said the teacher. ‘Open you booklets and take your ink and feather out please.” I already had my stuff out. “Ok today I want you all to write this. Once a man went to the creek. He was a blind kind man. Jesus our lord was walking and sat by the man. He put his eyes on the man’s eyes and lifted his hands off. The man could see.” I wrote it down. The bell rang. I went to Grace’s class. Grace held my hand and I went down the hall to Baby Claire’s room. I checked her out and held her on my side and I and they walked to Ma and Pa. I handed Baby Claire to Ma. And me and Grace sat down beside Ma and Pa. Two girls dressed as angels came down the rug to two candles and lit them. The preacher told us to open our bibles. Baby Claire played with her fingers. Grace listened as he read the story in the Bible. Ma watched her Bible. And Pa listened to the Preacher. Soon the church bell rung loud. Everyone marked that place in their Bible. I put my stuff in my purse. Pa helped me and Baby Claire and Grace in the back of the wagon. Ma climbed up front with Pa. We rode down the trail pass town. We came home. I got out and helped Grace down. Ma got Baby Claire and Pa carried the plates in. As I sat Grace on her bed, she got one of the shells and stared at it. She looked and looked. I giggled. “What’s funny?” asked Grace looking up from the shell to me. “Oh nothing.” I said. I went over and put my booklet and Bible on my bedside table. Ma sat down to wash the dishes and I put Baby Claire on my bed. Grace came over on my bed to play with me and Baby Claire. Pa went out with Anika’s father. Later we heard a knock on the door. “Girls hide in the closet.” Said Ma. I grabbed Baby Claire and Grace and pulled them into my closet. Ma opened the door. “Megan someone is here for you!” said Ma opening the closet door. I stepped out and went to the door. It was Anika! “Hi.” I said.  “Hi.”  Said Anika. Ma pulled my sisters out of the closet and lifted them on my bed. Me and Anika went on the bed. Baby Claire stared Anika. Anika smiled a nice smile. She didn’t have her bow and arrows. Ma started to cook supper. Baby Claire fell asleep on my bed. Minutes later she woke up. Anika nodded at the door. “Bye.” I said. Anika slipped out the door. I opened my curtains and saw her with her mother. Her mother was beautiful! They walked down the path to their camp. Pa opened the door open. He sat his gun down. Me and Grace raced over to Pa. We jumped and gave him hugs and kisses. Ma sat dinner on the ground. We all sat and ate dinner. Minutes after dinner Ma tucked us in and she read to us from the bible. Pa left the fire on and Ma twisted the candle. After that we had a great sleep expect the pitter-pat of rain. And we lay asleep.

Chapter Five

Winter came. Snow fell more and more every day. Our plants died of coldness. Pa kept some of our food. Pa had cut a tree down for Christmas. We hung our stockings. Ma and Baby Claire and Grace decorated cookies and me and Pa went out to the shop to get our Christmas dinner. We brought a turkey, raw beef, chicken, sweet patios, carrots, milk. I and Pa set the table for Christmas dinner. Tonight was Christmas. Grace and we were excited. Ma poured some milk in a cup and sat the cookies on a plate. She pulled a table up by the tree and put the milk and cookies on the table. Me and Ma put ortamans on the tree. She lit candles in the windows and put a sign up. It said, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!” We ate our dinner and we put on our pajamas. I pulled out my bible slippers, pajamas, robe, nightcap, and new mittens Ma had made to match. I unbuttoned myself and put my pajamas and nightcap on. Ma put Grace in her bunny pajamas and nightcap and Baby Claire into her gown. Ma started to read in the bible to us. She stopped and twisted the candles. Ma and Pa kissed us good night. Ma and Pa left the fire on. After my candle was out we fell asleep of the dreams of what Santa had got us this year.

The next morning, Instead of Ma Grace woke me up. “Megan! Megan! It’s Christmas! It’s Christmas!!!” I looked up. The candle was lit. Ma told Grace it was around 6:00 a.m. “But Ma don’t you see our presents?” asked Grace. “Yes Grace I do. But don’t wake Megan.” Said Ma. I got up and put on my slippers and robe. Grace was holding her doll. I got up and ran to the Christmas tree. We saw one present that was open. It was a train. It was on tracks going around the Christmas tree. Ma gave us our stockings. Baby Claire crawled to Ma. Ma sat her down. Pa was sitting by the table. “Santa was hungering.” Said Pa looking at the plate. It was true. Santa had eaten every cookie and drank all the milk. “Girls open your presents.” Said Ma. Grace ripped hers open. Inside was a dollhouse for her doll. She speauled. Ma helped Baby Claire open her present. Claire got a new bottle. “Megan you go.” Said Pa. I looked at all my presents and big the biggest one. When I opened it… it was my own wagon for Marie. It was a small one but could fit Grace and Baby Claire. Then came Grace again. She ripped the paper. She saw it was a stroller for her doll. Then came Baby Claire. She opened it. It was a ball. Then came me. I opened it. It was a China doll man. I looked at him happily. I sat it by my China doll. And returned. Grace was ripping her’s open. She saw it was a pet hamster. She speauled and sat it in its cage.  Claire sat down in Ma’s lap. She opened it. It was a learning computer. I opened by present. It was hamsters. One was a girl and another was a boy. They were black. I picked them up. And I felt their fur. I sat the boy down. I stared at the girl then the boy. “I will name you Shadow.” I said pointing at the boy. “And I will name you Patty.” “I’m am going to name mine Beth.” Said Grace staring at hers. “Grace and Megan those ones over there. They have you two’s names on it.” Said Pa. Me and Grace rushed to them. We ripped them. They were both tables. Pa carried Grace’s and sat it by her bed. Then he did mine. I put mine in their cage. I put my cage on the table. Pa put Grace’s on her’s. “Girls don’t forget your stockings.” Said Ma as Claire digged in her stocking. I beated Grace to the stockings. I grabbed my stocking. I ripped out a bag of candy. I   reached in again. I pulled out a teddy bear. I hugged it. I tipped my stocking upside down. And bubbles, a book, a compass, a water bottle, a basket, a blanket. I grabbed my stuff and stuffed it in a chest. It was my chest. And it was Christmas morning.

Chapter Six

After that morning Ma put Grace and Claire’s stuff in a chest. Pa went hunting with the Indians because they said “If you come we will give you meat.” So Pa went. Ma was harvesting our food from the hens and the cornfield and the wheat.   When Ma came back I was holding baby Claire and Grace sat by me as we sat by the fire to keep warm. Ma set the things on the ground. “Girls your Pa said he was going to make a top of the house. He said he was going to make your beds up there.” Grace stood up and clapped.  I gave Ma Baby Claire and Ma sat her on her bed. She carried a tub of water in and sat it in front of me and Grace. She laid two piles of laundry by each of us. We used to washboards. As we washed the clothes Baby Claire played with her toys. I and Grace lay the clothes in a basket. We were soon done. Ma dumped the water out and sat it in the storage house. Pa came back with a pack on his back. He laid it on the table. Ma opened it. Inside were duck meat, bear meat, deer meat, wolf meat, and fish. Ma clapped her hands on her mouth. Pa opened the cabinet and put everything in. Ma took the duck meat out and said “This is for breakfast.” She cooked it on an pan that stood on the spider. It was silent. Pa took plates out. He took his axe and went out. I and Grace rushed out to see what he was doing. He was cutting a tree. I and Grace got on our horses. And rode it the big field we owned. The horses whined. I put them off when Pa went carrying wood in. We followed he was nailing the planks on long logs. He made four skinny logs onto four planks. He nailed two skinny logs to a thick plank and pushed four chairs in. He put them at the table. Ma put my candle in front of a tall candle and lit the candle. She turned mine off and she rushed out with a vase. She came in with roses in the vase. She sat it in front of the table and set it. We sat down to eat our breakfast. Our cornbread had butter on it. We had water that night cause our cow had not have any milk. We ate our cornbread and meat. We ate corn and scrambled eggs. We drank and ate till we were filled. As I and Grace washed the dishes Pa decided to work on the top. He worked as we did the dishes. We tried not to be naughty. As we dried the dishes we could hear a hammer. But we still didn’t look. “Girls I am going to move yours and Baby Claire’s beds up here. You two can look.” We turned. There was Pa carrying our beds up there. We could see my candle up the ladder. “Girls don’t go up yet.” Said Ma looking up as Pa smoothed our ground so there wasn’t a stitch. Ma was holding us beside us. She held Baby Claire in a wolf blanket that was in front of Ma. It was strapped from the front to the back. Claire’s face faced Ma’s chest. We could hear breathing from Claire. Pa waved his hand. “You two can come see your room right now. But it isn’t finished with the furniture.” Said Pa. Me and Grace rushed for the ladder and started to climb. We came to a room. With three beds in. There were two side tables and my candle was by my bedside table. There was one on Grace’s table. My diary and Bible and China woman and man were there too. Our shells were up above our beds. The shells were on there. We had a rectangle cut on both sides. And we saw the poles in. We had our chests coming up next. “Girls get down.” Said Ma. We climbed down. Pa grabbed us and set us down. Ma held us by here sides. Pa carried our chests up. We could hear him sliding it. We saw Pa go out. He came in with a bunch of logs. He carried them up and he cut and sawed at them. We then heard him call “Girls come see your room right now!” said Pa. Me and Grace climbed up. We saw our room. Pa had made desks for me and Grace. It had books on both of them. There was a bottle of ink and a feather on both of them. We jumped up and down and he sent us down again. Ma handed him our clothes and we and her climbed up the ladder.  Pa and Ma hung our clothes in our closets. Pa had put doors on me and Grace’s closets. They had knobs for us to pull it open. Pa sat a bookcase in the middle of our beds. Pa had cut a square in the wall. The air was blowing in. Ma was sewing the curtains on the poles. Pa sent all of us down again and he came in with four square glasses. We heard the nails. “Your room in almost done!” said Pa. He carried Baby Claire’s crib up there. And we heard a thump. “Your room is done now!” said Pa looking down at us. We climbed the ladder. We had a glass window that we could open and close. Me and Grace Speauled. Ma lay Baby Claire in her crib. Pa climbed down with Ma. We climbed down too.

    Chapter Seven

     We sat on the ground. Ma sat in her rocking chair sewing cushions. And she was sewing pillows. Pa was nailing a few pieces of wood to a dew planks. Ma laid the cushions on the chairs and the long ones of the long one. Ma put the pillows on the chairs and the couch. We clapped our hands Ma and Pa had made a couch and chairs. We climbed on them and hopped up and down. Ma kissed Pa and watched us play on the couch. Pa started to work again. He started with four square logs and he glued them on the planks. He placed a glass top on it and he glued it on the table. He sat a vase of roses on it. Pa placed a rug under the table and under the cushions. We had a living room. Pa started to place a wall on every room. Ma painted the walls and the doors Pa made. We had a good house. Pa was proud. He kissed us and headed for town. He came back with a station wagon. We ran out. It was black and the rumble seat bounced. “Oh Charlie!” Said Ma hugging Pa as he got out. “Where’s the wagon?” asked Ma as she stared at the horses Pa led to the stable. “Oh I traded with a man.” Said Pa closing the stable doors. “Oh.” Said Ma. Pa started to make another few walls and he drove the wagon in as soon as the walls were nailed together. He cut a huge square in half and he put windows on both of the doors. He nailed those to the walls and he closed the doors. He patted Ma and whispered to her “We are going to have a fan next.” Ma kissed Pa on the cheek. Pa went in where the station wagon was and he nailed planks to the wall. He placed his hammer and stuff on it. Ma started to paint the walls white. Pa placed a huge stone and made it a rectangle. He cut a rug in the same shape and placed it on. He painted the side of the porch sides white. The swings swung in the air. He laid a rug in front of both of the swings. Pa had made a fence around the field. He took part of it down and made another part of the fence that went around the house and the stable and the well and the cornfield and the hen house. He made a sand path to the gate and to the creek where frogs croaked. Pa made a well house. He came in at lunch time. Ma had made peas and corn on the cob and meat. We sat at our new table and started to eat. Pa got up and placed his plate in the tub outside. He brought it in and went out. Ma shaked her head and placed our dishes in. She said “I will get to them later. Pa was cutting the grass outside. I and Grace watched excitedly. Pa trimmed the bushes. Ma watered our roses that were beside the steps to the porch. Pa made a door in front of the porch and placed a wall with holes in it around the porch. He made two other tables like inside and placed it in front of the swings and on the rug. Ma went in. “Girls your father is a good man. Too he was a good man younger too.” We listened but still watched Pa. He still was cutting the grass. Our wood gate was perfect we could open and close it. Pa lifted two white poles on the side stands by the steps to the porch and glued them on the wood. We watched from the porch with Ma. Pa screwed a wooden white top on the poles. He got down and we had roof over the steps. We got up and jumped and kissed him and hugged him. We went in. Ma an d Pa sat in the living room. Me and Grace were upstairs whispering. Claire was asleep still. We opened our chests. We weren’t instresed. Claire woke up and cried and cried. We heard the steps moving. And Ma came up. Ma lifted her and Pa grabbed our hands. He pointed at all the beautiful packs of butterflies coming back. Pa got an idea. He went out and we followed. He grapped one long log and shaved it skinny. He placed a triangle wood shape screwed with three sides and he put a wood flag on it. He painted the thing white and he painted the flag red. We went in for dinner. Ma was cooking and Baby Claire was playing with her blocks. We sat down to do a puzzle. Pa hung a circle with a few candles in and he placed a few planks and painted them white. We had a fan! He put a wire to make it go on and off. Ma put dinner on the table. We sat down and ate. Ma unbuttoned our dresses. And our bonnets. She placed them on the floor and we slipped our pajamas on. We put on our robe and slippers. Ma cleared the table. We climbed up. Later Ma came up with Baby Claire in her arms. She tucked Baby Claire in and then Grace and then me. I leaned over and blew my candle out. Ma closed our window and our curtains. She climbed down the steps and she and Pa blew the candles out. It was still snowing. We wore our nightcaps fluffy and warm. We closed our eyes lightly. We heard the snow blowing outside. We drifted to a cold nice sleep.

Chapter Eight

The next morning we slept as long as we wanted. Ma and Pa drank coffee. And Ma was hanging the laundry on the lines. I woke up. It was warm in the house. I opened the curtains. It was bright. I looked at the trees. It was covered with snow. Grace woke up. “I held her up in her robe and she lifted on side of my robe on her and snuggled by me. I held her. She looked at Ma hanging the line. Birds were singing. Pa had gone hunting for us. I climbed down followed by Grace. I held Baby Claire. Claire awoke and cried. I patted her back and she stopped. We went out with our jackets and shoes and hats and gloves. I let Baby Claire crawl in the soft white snow. I picked some of the carrots and fed them to Jack and Marie and Laura and Miranda and Lexis. I walked towards Ma. I helped her hang and watch Grace and Baby Claire. We saw Pa and his gun coming. We opened the gate and he came in with a deer. He put it in storage. I saw Anika. She was running down the path with Pa’s friend Mr. Johns holding his gun aiming at her. The other Indians were running. We brought her into the house as Pa talked to him. We soon brought her out. She said “I have to leave but I will be back next spring.” She ran with the other Indians. I waved good-bye to her. Pa brought his gun in. As Ma finished the laundry she came in too. Ma walked to the cupboard. And she took out four plates and four glasses and sliver were. As she sat them on the table I and Grace did the dishes from last night. Pa sat down and he played his fiddle. He sang: “Hey diddle diddle. The cat and the fiddle. The cow jumped over the moon.”  Me and Grace turned and laughed. We countuied. As Ma cracked eggs on the spider she scrambled them. She used her spoon to lay eggs on the plates. “Megan darling. Please take this bucket and go milk Betsy.” Said Ma handing me a bucket. “Yes ma’m.” I said. As I walked to the stable Marie whinnied. I told her to stop so she did. I went to Betsy’s stall and milked her. Our bulls we owned stayed in the field. I let out all the girl cows and their calves. As I brought back the bucket I handed it to Ma. She dumped it in a pot and she poured some in every cup. Then she put it in the cupboard. We sat down to eat our breakfast. “Honey did you let the cows and bulls out?” asked Pa looking into the field. “Yes Pa.” I said looking into his eyes. “Good.” Said Pa looking back at his plate to eat again. I shrugged and ate and drank. Once I was done I placed me and Grace’s plates and cups into the tub. I and Grace climbed the ladder to our room. We took off our gowns and reached in our closets. We took out our dresses and our bonnets. We put our jacket in boots in our closets. And we put them on us. Our dresses were red and our bonnets black. We put on leather shoes and we brushed our hair. I sat down on Grace’s bed as she put my bonnet and tied it on me. Then she sat down I put her bonnet on her and tied it. We came down as Ma and Pa were bringing in the laundry. “Girls come get your laundry and put it up please.” Said Ma handing us our clothes. We went up the stairs and hung our laundry in our closets. Baby Claire came up the stairs. She reached for her crib. I walked over and picked her up. I swung her into her crib and she laid her head down on her pillow. I untucked her blanket and out it on her. She lay down and looked at her items dangling down above her. She played with those. Me and Grace walked to the bookshelf and got a book. As Ma was cleaning the house I and Grace sat on our beds reading our books. Pa came up with two pillowed chairs in sat them in our room. We jumped up and hugged him. We sat in the chairs and read. Ma came up and kissed Baby Claire on the head. She climbed down with her broom and swept the floors clean. Pa was outside making another kind of small house and he carried a wooden table and tools and chairs in there. He was now cutting a tree down. He went into his shed with the logs and he sawed and measured the rectangle. He placed a knob on both sides and carried it in. Pa screwed one side into our wall where a rectangle shape was. He screwed and cut till it was the right shape. He screwed the doorknobs on both sides. And he closed our room door and climbed down. Pa headed out again to his shed. We saw him carry candles and white planks in. He cut and screwed the things together. He brought it in. It was our own fan! He screwed it into the ceiling. And he out wires to make it turn on and off.

Chapter Nine

He climbed down as soon as he was done with our room. And sat down in the living room and sweated. Pa went to his bed and laid down for a nap. He was tired from working for us. Marie neighed and Ma walked out to feed her. Ma came in and went straight for the spider. She kneeled down and switched the pan into a pot. She cut carrots and put noodles and chicken in. She cut the chicken. I and Grace could smell the sweet soup cooking downstairs. Ma took bowls out and she poured some soup into each bowl. She took four spoons out and she sat them on the table by the bowls. As she pulled out the four cups she pulled the teapot out too. She poured milk into each cup and set one by each bowl. “Girls and Charlie come eat!” she shouted cupping her hands around her mouth. I picked Claire up and I opened the door. I let Grace go down and then I climbed down with Claire in one arm. I put her in her high chair. We sat at the table for lunch.

Chapter Ten

After lunch,

Ma cleared the table me and Grace and Baby Claire and Ma sat down to listen to Pa play his fiddle. Ma sang along too, “Once there was a boy.. He lived on the seas ashore. He bumped his head and there he lay. His name was Filly bob.”

We clapped. As we played a game together we heard the birds. As we played and played we ate and ate. When it was dinner we washed the dishes. Because we had filled our self up the bellies. Ma locked the doors of the barn which was the stable. The garage and the shed. Then when Ma was in Pa locked the house door. He locked the windows so no one could get in. Pa closed the curtains of every room. Ma lit me and Grace’s fan on. She lit the one downstairs too. Me and Grace climbed upstairs and opened the door. We closed it and unbuttoned our dresses. Grace untied my bonnet. And I untied hers. We slipped into our gowns and nightcaps. When it was time for bed. Ma came up and tucked Claire in. She blew out the fan and lit our candles. She tucked us in. She went down. I and Grace sat up in bed waiting for the door stair’s light to go off. When it was off I cuddled up. During the night Grace came to my bed. She woke me up. I turned and she was trembling. “What’s wrong?” I whispered to her. “I’m scared.” She said holding onto my arm. I sat up and it was very dark. I let her in my bed. I and she had steps to get on our beds. They were very tall. She held on. I and Grace fell asleep like sisters that night. We prayed in our sleep to god. Only the wind blew in the night.

Chapter Eleven

It was spring. It was March. Ma and Pa sat in the living room having coffee. Grace’s, Claire’s, and my breakfast waited at the table. Grace woke me up. Drums were playing and Claire and Ma and Pa weren’t in. I heard shouting from outside. I got out of bed and opened the curtains. There were floats throwing beads. I jumped into my clothes and bonnet and leather shoes and petticoat and Grace and I rushed outside. Ma was holding Baby Claire. Ma had a bag filled with beads. We put our beads into the bag. As soon as it was over everyone went home. I and Grace and Claire climbed into the rumble seat. Ma buckled Baby Claire in a car seat. Grace and I were buckling our seat belts. Pa threw the bag of beads into the trunk and he and Ma climbed in the front. They shut the doors. Pa turned on the station wagon and we rode down the sandy path leading for town.

We arrived at town. Pa set up a stand and pulled out the bag of beads. I and Grace got out. We got out and ran to the playground. Ma, Pa, and Baby Claire stayed at the stand. We sold our beads for 100 gold coins. Some were sliver but we didn’t care. We felt the wind but we had a good life. And that’s how my life was for now.

                                        The End

Annabeth #1 The Lies

   This Book is

 For Von Jackson

Chapter One: The Movie and the mess

“I hate you!” I said. Mom stared at me. So did Dad. “Dad did nothing wrong! You’re the one blaming him for something he can’t stop doing!” I said. “He can’t help what he did. Nobody can! Once he starts it is so hard to stop!” I yelled. My eleven brothers and sisters watched from behind, all younger. My twelve year old sister held my baby sister Anne. “Go to her room! All of you!” yelled Mom. I turned and led the way to my bedroom. I have a large amount of bedrooms. I have five bedrooms. I have my office, my closet, and my personal bathroom and my bed room, and Anne’s room. And by personal bathroom I mean, nobody expect me and my friends use it. I sat on my bed and my twelve year old sister, Kate handed me Anne. “Is mommy and daddy going to depart?” asked my five year old sister, Jenny. “Of course not.” I said. I positioned Anne in a more comfortable position. Jenny sat on my bed. “Of course they are Jenny! Stop being dramatic!” said Thomas, my fourteen year old brother. Jenny began to cry. “Stop being a jerk Thomas.” I said. The boys laughed and sat on my couch. I walked into my office and laid Anne in her crib, then came back in. My room was already a wreck. My red covers and white sheets torn off the bed, my white pillows with stains of them. My rug curled at the end, popcorn on the floor, books on the floor. I saw the boys were nowhere in sight. I went into my closet. “Oh my god.” I said. There were clothes on the ground. My bra’s on the ground in plain sight I mean how humiliating! Shoes on the ground! My underwear! Dirty clothes! Boxes of photos and old pictures! My Teen Pop magazines! And then I heard noise in my bathroom. I ran in. My deodorant, my shaver, my toothbrush and toothpaste, and shampoo all across the floor! My mirror was covered with spit, my toilet used, with the whole roll of toilet paper in it! It wasn’t even flushed! Disgusting. But my brothers were nowhere. “Eek!” said Kate. I ran over everything into my office, my old drawings I had thrown in the trash were on the floor. My laptop, floor. My I Pad? Floor. My phone, floor. My I Pod, floor. My I Phone, floor. And my paper and pens, floor. Book bag, floor. My brothers ran out of my room and my mom and dad entered my room. My dad looked angry. Then he saw my room. I ran after my brothers but they stopped right in front of mom and dad. “Everyone out!” said Dad. Everyone walked out I made my way out. Dad stopped me. “You clean!” he said. “But I-“I said. “No buts!” said Dad. He closed my door. Nice, my brothers mess up my rooms entirely and I had clean their mess. Now I know how maids feel! I began with my room. I smoothed out my carpet and took the sheets off my pillow and placed them on the window seat. Then I took my sheets and smoothed it on my bed. Then I took my covers and smoothed that on my bed too. I closed my drawers and took my books and reshelf them. This took a while because like in my school library I have them in ABC order! I turned and headed into my closet. I took the hangers and hung my dresses, my jeans and T-shirts. Then I turned and put my coats and hats on the hanger. Then I took my underwear and bras’ and put them into my dresser. I also took my pajamas and put them in my dresser. I pushed my shoes, matched them and put them against the wall. I sat down and labeled my photos by date. From black and white to color. I then took my Teen Pop magazines and put them away then I put them on my took shelf. Then I put my dirty clothes in a basket. Ring! I ran into my office and picked up my phone. Peter. Peter is my boyfriend I am in my freshman year. I flipped the front up and placed it between my left ear and left shoulder and went into the bathroom. “Hello?” I said. Hey Annabeth, it’s Peter. “Yeah it said.” I was wondering if you are free Saturday. Yeah, totally. Ok, I’ll pick you up at 1:00. “Ok, bye.” Bye. I hung up the phone and placed it on my counter. I put my shaver in my shower and wiped up the shampoo, closed the shampoo and put it on the shelf. I took my toothpaste and toothbrush and washed them and then put them up. I turned to the last/worst thing ever; The Toilet. I took my brother’s scissors and dumped into the trash and then I flushed the toilet. I opened the door under my sink and took a new toilet paper roll. Then I put it beside the toilet. I wiped my mirror and went into my office. I pick up my papers and drawings and threw them away. I took my paper I hadn’t used and put it up. I hung my book bag on a hook and then picked up my I Pad, my I Pod, my I Phone and put it on my desk. I took my laptop and placed it on my desk and plugged the charger into it. I went into the bathroom, used it, wiped and pulled up my jeans and flushed. I washed my hands, took my phone and placed it in my pocket. I took my dirty clothes basket and went downstairs. I entered the laundry room and put in my dirty laundry into the washing machine and then I took my clothes out of the dryer and put them in the basket. Then I turned on the washing machine and went into my room. I put my pajamas and underwear and bra’s away, I put away my jeans, my T-shirt, and my dresses away, placed the basket in the corner and went downstairs. My parents were arguing again. Waa! Great! Right when I’m about to leave! I went upstairs into Anne’s room and picked her up. I went downstairs handed her to Kate and picked up my keys. “Hey Annabeth, what’s a good class president slogan for my name?” asked Kate. “Go through the gate, vote for Kate.” I said. I opened the door and went outside and went to my red convertible. I unlocked my door and climbed in and sat down. I fastened my seat belt and plugged in the keys and turned them. Room. I reversed and backed out of the driveway. Then I went forward and drove to the movies. My friends Katie, Marcy and Ellen were there. “Hey!” I said. “Hey!” I rolled up my window, unbuckled my seat belt and took out my keys and opened my door. I picked up my red purse and put it on my shoulder, I locked my door and greeted them with air kisses. “Ready to go see the movie Twilight?” they asked. “Yeah!” I said. We all ran up and got out tickets. And got a drink and popcorn.

                                      *********

“No offense Twilight makers but your movies of Twilight are terrible!” I said after the movie was over. “The ending is so weird! It is just like, Will you marry me?” said Marcy. “Yeah and then Bella is just like staring up at him!” said Katie. “And then the movie is over.” Said Ellen. “Hint, hint. Let’s never go to the next Twilight movie.” I said. “Did you see Taylor? It was with Jessica Simpson.” Said Ellen. “Shut up!” we said. “Yep! Jessica acted so scared that he felt bad and put his arm around her! And she grinned!” said Ellen. My phone rang. “Hold up.” I said. I picked up my phone. Dad. “Hold on.” I said. I opened up my phone and placed it to my left ear. “Hello?” Where are you? “At the movies with my friends, why?” Well what are your plans now? “Um…hold on.” I put the speaker to my left shoulder. “Can I come to your house Ellen?” I asked. “Sure.” Said Ellen. I put the phone up to my ear again. “I’m going to Ellen’s.” Be home at 9:00. “Sure whatever. I closed my phone and we all got in our cars and drove to Ellen’s house. Ellen’s house was made of brick. Mr. and Mrs. Boston greeted us at the door and we went up to Ellen’s room. Her brothers ran passed us. Ellen grabbed them. “Leave us alone.” She said. “Yeah.” Said her brothers and ran into their rooms. We entered Ellen’s room which was like perfect! Her walls were green, her bed covers purple! No childish things like my window seat! I collapsed on her bed. “Bonjour’! I come from France!” I said. We all started laughing.

    Chapter Two: The Ladies

At 9:00 I headed home. My dad had friends over and when I looked in the driveway Mom’s car was gone. I went inside, beer bottles on the table. My siblings were on the couch watching TV. I walked over to the couch. Kate gave me Anne and I took Anne and her bottle and began to feed her. Dad came in with his swim suit on and two women, one with blond hair and blue eyes, kind of like Taylor Swift wearing a red bikini and the other kind of like Selena Gomez, with a purple bikini. We all looked at him. “Girls, say hello to my new girlfriends?” said Dad. The women waved at us. Everyone turned away. “Annabeth come here.” Said Dad. I walked over. “I need you to clean up our beer mess and you need to go make the beds.” Said Dad. I rolled my eyes walked over to the couch and handed Kate, Anne and then walked into the kitchen and picked up the beer bottles. Dad went to his room with the women. I wiped the counter and then I went upstairs, making beds. When I came to Dad’s room. They were watching a love movie and Dad had his arms around both women. I rolled my eyes and made his bed. “Hey Annabeth, go get us a beer would ya?” asked Dad. “Yeah sure.” I said. I went downstairs and opened the fridge and got three bud lights and went upstairs and gave it to them. Then I came down and began to make hamburgers with fries. When dinner was ready I placed the hamburgers on a plate and took the buns and placed them on a plate. And with one plate on one hand and the other plate on my other hand I put it on the dining room table. I took some plates and cups and placed them on the table. I took ketchup, mustard, pickles, and manias and put it on the table. I clapped my hands. “Dinner!”

                                  *********

We all had a nice dinner. The food was great, thanks to me and the best part was Thomas had to wash the dishes. After dinner, I burped Anne and took her upstairs and laid her in her crib. Then I put on my pajamas and put my dirty clothes in the basket. “Alert! Alert!” said my Mac book. I went into my office and sat down. It said; Ellen, Marcy, and Katie want to video chat. I accepted. All of their faces pulled up. “Hey!” they said. “Hey.” I said. “Heard about your date.” Said Ellen. “How?” I asked. “Have you checked Face Book lately?” asked Ellen. “No hold on.” I said. I moved the video chat over to the left of the screen and pulled up Facebook.com. I signed in and where it showed comments there was Peter’s picture saying: I got a special date, with a special girl tomommrow. “Wow.” I said. “Well good luck.” They said. “Bye.” I said. “Bye.” They said. I closed my computer and shut it down. I turned around. There was Thomas. “What are you doing in my room?” I asked. “So you’re dating Peter Wilson aren’t ya?” he asked. “Shut up!” I said. And I pushed him out and closed my door behind. I turned on my lamp, turned off my big light and climbed in bed and picked up The Notebook and began reading it. Then when I was on page three-hundred and three, I turned the corner down, placed it on my desk and turned off my light. Then I went to sleep. 

                                           *********

I opened my eyes. Something was crawling underneath my covers. I opened the flap there was Jenny. “Hi.” She said. “What?” I asked. “Can I sleep with you?” she asked. “Fine!” I said. She climbed up beside me. Thunder alarmed me. “Let me guess you came in here because you were scared of the rain storm?” I asked. She nodded. “Well good night.” I said. And I closed my eyes.

Chapter Three: The Date

The next morning I woke up. Sunlight poured through my window. Jenny was gone and my door was open. “Nice.” I said. I got up, and stretched. I went to my I Pad, pulled up Music and turned on Hey Monday. I went into my closet, placed my I Pad on my dresser and took off my night gown. I put on a white dress. It had puffs ate my shoulders and white sleeves to my wrists. I went into my bathroom with my hairbrush and combed my hair. I pulled I back with a barrette. I opened my makeup box and took out Long Lash. Then I put it on my eyelashes. I took Red Rose Makeup and put it on my lips and rubbed it together. I put the top of both of them on. Then I put them up. I put on blue eye shadow and then I brushed my teeth and then I used the restroom. I put on deodorant. Then I went into my closet again, put on white pumps and went downstairs with my phone in a white purse. Dad was asleep. The ladies’ cars were gone but I had a feeling dad was marrying them. Everyone expect Dad and Anne were awake. All of them were laughing and watching TV. I went into the kitchen and made some pancakes with bacon. Then I put it on the dining room table. “Breakfast!” I said

                                   *********

Breakfast was awesome and again, Thomas washed the dishes while the other boys mowed the lawn and I got the mail and newspaper. When Dad came down he was wearing his classic suit. His tie wasn’t done. “Morning.” Yawned Dad. I walked over and tied his tie. Then I kissed him on the cheek and gave him his coffee. I also handed him his breakfast and the newspaper. He sat down in his big armchair, opened the newspaper and began to read. “Did you know Annabeth, there’s a store for rent.” Said Dad. I threw the mail on the counter and ran over. “Really where?” I asked. “28 Maple Street.” Said Dad. I took a piece of paper and a pen. 28 Maple Street I wrote. “For how much?” I asked. “Five hundred in cash.” Said Dad. Five Hundred- Cash I wrote. “Ok, I’ll drive by there today.” I said. I stuck it into my purse. “If you don’t mind I need to go to a date.” I said. “Anything goes wrong, call me.” Said Dad. I know. He kissed my cheek. Peter honked his horn on his red truck. “Peter!” said Jenny. Peter walked up to the door he was wearing a black tie with a red shirt with a black jacket with blue jeans. His blond hair was combed. “What is it today, Wacky Tacky day?” I asked. “My clothes were in the dryer.” Said Peter. “You take good care of her.” Said Dad. “Yes sir.” Said Peter. “Have her home no later than three.” Said Dad. “Yes sir.” Said Peter. “And watch her.” Said Dad. “Yes sir.” Said Peter. “Ok have fun.” Said Dad. We walked outside and we climbed in his truck. Peter turned on his truck and we drove to a restaurant. It was called Café Lights. “Oh Peter!” I said. Café lights was a nice place. I had always wanted to go! I kissed his cheek. He parked and opened my car door. I got out and closed my door. Peter locked the car door and we went inside. The café was awesome!

Chapter Three: The Guy gets Mad

When the show during our date came on I sat beside him. Just when he was putting his arm around me a note fell from his jacket sleeve. I picked it up. “Hey give that!” said Peter. I opened the note; Sally Anne- Hey do you want to go out Friday? Peter- Sure. Sally Anne- XOXO Peter- Love you too. I froze. “Peter!” I whispered. Peter grabbed the note. “Why did you read this?” he said. “Why didn’t you want me too? Did you want to keep me from knowing that you were going out with my sister from me?” I asked. “No, just-“ said Peter. I ran out into the parking lot. Everybody watched my leave. I sat on the bench and took my phone and dialed Dad’s number. Hello? “Dad! I need you to come pick me up!” I said. What’s wrong Annabeth? “I will explain when you come.” Ok, bye. I closed my phone. When Dad pulled up I got in the car and drove away. Peter ran out and watched as he saw the car drive away and sit on the bench and put his head on his hands. I opened my purse. On our week anniversary he told me he would never cheat. He would only love me. “Well?” asked Dad. “He’s cheating.” I said. “On who?” said Dad. “Sally Anne.” I said. Dad pulled the side. “What?” said Dad. “Sally Anne.” I said again. Dad pulled on the road and we drove up to our house. He marched inside and brought Sally Anne out. “Why!” said Dad. “Why what?” asked Sally Anne. “Do that Annabeth?” he asked. “Because she gets everything.” Said Sally Anne. “Cause I save my money!” I said. “So! You get the star of the football team!” she said. I ran inside and crashed on my bed. My phone rang. I didn’t bother to look. “Hello?” Hey Annabeth, I didn’t write that! Didn’t you notice it wasn’t my hand writing? I froze. It was Peter, and yes I hadn’t noticed. It was only Sally Anne! “Oh Peter I’m so sorry that I blamed you!” I said. “PLEASE FORGIVE ME!” Sure, I know it kind of looked like my hand writing. So I don’t blame ya. “Thanks.” I said. I closed my phone and went downstairs. Sally Anne was talking. She turned to look at me. “What?” she asked. I punched her and she fell. “That’s what you get!” I yelled. Then I realized I better go, before Dad arrives. I grabbed my keys and went to the bank, got five hundred dollars and drove to twenty-eight, Mable Street. I went up to the owner. “Can I buy your store?” I asked. “Sure.” Said the woman. I gave her money. Now all I had to do was think what it was going to be like and I need employees.

                           The End

Allie

Allie

By: Emma Ladner

Chapter One

If there was anybody just like Steve I would puke. See my life isn’t the normal, fashioned life. When my little triplet brothers were born my dad died so it wasn’t a nice life. My ma, Debby Lucy Johnson, then married a strong man named Steve. And now Steve lives with us. And five years ago, my brother Mike, left for World War 1. Mom says he will return but when my mom is asleep Steve prays to god that Mike will die. My sister, Mary, is five years older than me. She’s into boys and stuff. But me, no way. I’m only nine, nine and half to be exact. We live in a little log cabin with only two bedrooms, and three free rooms. Mom and Steve’s is on the first floor and the other bedroom is in the attic. That’s where all of us sleep; Lucy, Mary, Peter, Stephen, James, Jennifer, Cole, Will, Sam, and I. And yes it’s crowded. The triplets share a bed [Cole, Will, and Sam all two years] and the twins [James and Jennifer both four] share a bed, and Peter and Stephen [a year apart, Peter is older] share a bed, and Mary and I share a bed. We aren’t the richest family. The Smiths are. The Smiths are the top people. Steve works for them. And all of us expect Cole, Will, and Sam go to only school in town. The Smiths crowned the town and called it; The Smith Town. Now that doesn’t mean only people with the last name Smith can live there. It’s just their family have lived their longer than all the animals [cows, horses, pigs, chickens, and roosters]. But the Cherokee Indians moved out when the first generation; Mr. Smith, began cutting down trees. And now the woods is by a big lake and in the woods the Indians live. We have a good farm… so far we have tons of crops going right. Two years ago when my dad died the crops began to die and the only food we had left could only fit eleven people. Dad left the food to us kids and mom. And he died from starvation. Mom sometimes whispers to herself that it’s her fault she didn’t share her food. And when Dad left he gave me the biggest hug and kiss and then held looked at all of us and then died. Then we buried him on Maple Hill, the tallest hill in Smith Town. Steve is a smith. Not related but like a hardware smith, that makes axes and swords. Mostly guns to keep out the raccoons. Dad only left us a small fortune and we spent it all by buying crop things. Steve sometimes brings home new things. Steve even has his own smithing house in our backyard. Steve is a very stubborn man. Sometimes most of us [expect Mom] wish we weren’t even born. When Mom isn’t around Steve is pretty much the Devil. But when she comes back he acts like the sweetest dog ever. Steve killed our dog when Mom was asleep and when Mom woke up he said a wolf killed it. We haven’t had a dog since. We still haven’t forgiven him. And then another time I was writing a letter to Mike and Steve stole it and wrote I hate you in it and then sent it. Then Mike wrote back to me and said me too. At first I didn’t know what he was talking about when he started saying I was a cow and all and then I found out that Steve had written it when Mike wrote, It doesn’t look like your handwriting. And then I knew it was Steve and slapped him and then Mom spanked me with the row boat paddle. At school there’s a couple of boys who love me. There’s Chris Smith, the mayor’s son, William Griffin, a smith’s son, and Pete Samson, a annoying man’s son. Most of my friends object all them because guess what? I don’t have any friends that are girls! They are all boys! I don’t have any dollies or stuff like that but Mom sometimes make me do girly stuff like sew or knit when I would rather be outside playing in the lake with my friends in the rain. I a lot of the times do it. We have our own little fort and sometimes hang around Deal’s, a candy store. One time at two in the morning my friends woke me up and we did a prank on my sister. That was the time they stayed the night at my house and that was the day I found out that Mary snored. But when Mary woke up she screamed like a wart was growing right atop her lip, sealing them shut. We laughed our heads off outside. I know I might be a girl but that doesn’t mean I can’t be friends with boys. I’ve never been really good with making friends with girls because when they want to play dolls I want to draw on the dolls’ faces. And when they want to play dress up I want to go play in the mud. And when they want to sew I want to go throw eggs at the ground. So I’ve never made a friend that’s a girl. Only the boys like that kind of activities says Stephen and Peter. I hope they are right… I don’t want to make girly girl friends. My mom says I should try making friends with girls but I just… can’t! See when I try to make friends with girls they run away screaming. We have the nicest teacher ever; Mrs. Dennis. A lot of the times the gang of boys; The Birds, have detention. And no I’ve never kissed one of the boys. Mary says I can’t call myself a woman until I do. So that’s why I’m trying to avoid the kissing mood. One of the top girls, Sara Batman, has kissed Chris Smith and they were dating for two weeks and then Chris broke up with her for me and now she hates my guts. Anyways now you get my life… it’s pretty simple, isn’t it?

Chapter Two

“Wake up Allie!” said Stephen. I opened my eyes and Stephen’s green eyes poured in my face. “It’s time for school, booger.” He said. I threw my pillow at his face and he fell laughing. I got out of bed and went behind the curtain and dressed in a brown dress and brushed my hair. Then I put on brown shoes and then I went to breakfast. Steve and Mom hugged and kissed and Steve left. Then we all sat and Mom served us to breakfast. I sped ate and then grabbed my books and threw open the door. Then I ran outside and crashed into my friends; Dylan, Drake, Ethan, and Sam. “Hey.” They said, helping me up. “Gosh, you wouldn’t believe this.” I said. “What?” they asked. “Last night I had a dream that Sara ripped my guts out.” I said. “Could happen.” Said Drake. I shrugged and took out my journal. “Hey, look at this picture.” I said. I opened my journal to a page of one of my drawings. I had drawn a picture of me hugging a dog. “My mom says we are getting a wolf pup.” Said Ethan. “I want a dog but I’m scared Steve will kill him or her too.” I said. “What does your mom see in Steve?” asked Dylan, burping. “Yeah, he’s a jerk.” Said Sam. “I don’t know but- Oh god.” Sara was walking over to us. “Run.” Said Dylan. “Stop John.” Said Sara. I looked at her. “What?” I asked, crossing my arms, ignoring the name ‘John’. “You owe me big time.” Said Sara. “Why?” I asked. “You took Chris from me.” Said Sara. “I didn’t take him, he wanted me probably because he didn’t want a sassy ugly girl for his girlfriend.” I said. There was an ooh. The bell rang. “You got away John.” She said and ran up to school. We all walked into the classroom where Mrs. Dennis stood. “Okay, children. Take out your boards and chalk.” Said Mrs. Dennis. We did as told. “Now tell me, Allie, what is the answer to X divided but Y?” asked Mrs. Dennis. I wrote  it down. “Z.” I said. “Correct.” Everybody wrote it down. Dylan elbowed me and pointed to the right. I looked to the right and saw Chris staring at me. I elbowed Dylan and he snickered. “Something funny Mr. Carson?” asked Mrs. Dennis. “No.” said Dylan. “Ok… if you laugh any more times straight detention.” Said Mrs. Dennis. “Ok.” Said Dylan. Mrs. Dennis went on blabbering about lessons and I just kept looking over at Chris. He kept staring at me through class.

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After class when we got out my friends chanted, “Allie and Chris sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g! First comes love,” Then I said, “Shut up you vultures!” Then they laughed. When we got to the creek we took off our original clothes and under we had other stuff. Underneath my dress was one of my real dad’s old shirts and some shorts. I then put my books under the tree along with my dress. And then I climbed up on a stone ledge, grabbed a rope hanging from a tall oak tree, and holding onto the rope, I pushed off the ledge and then dropped from the rope into the creek. Then when I came to the surface Dylan jumped in. Followed by Drake, Ethan, and Sam. When we got to the ledge again Drake grabbed my shoulder. “Hey you know what?” he asked. “What?” I asked, taking hold of the rope. “You’re not like most girls… you know you hang out with boys. Most girls hate boys… but you don’t have one friend that’s a girl.” He said. “Yeah, girls don’t work for me.” I said. “And guess what else.” Said Drake, taking the rope from me and hanging it to Ethan. “What?” I asked. “SNEAK ATTACK!” said Drake and he pushed me off. “Ahh!” I screamed. I curled into a ball and hit the water. When I came up I felt a sting on my thigh and turned where my back faced the water and squinted my eyes. I heard my friends, “Allie? ALLIE!” And then I heard four giant splashes. And then I felt hands touch me. I felt myself being lifted and then I felt the grass. There was a pain on my side. “Allie…” said my friends. A shadow covered me and I opened my eyes. It was blurry but I could make out the faces of Drake, Dylan, Ethan, and Sam. “Allie, you alright?” I opened my mouth to speak but then my eyes closed.

When I opened my eyes I was at home in bed. Mom was sitting beside me, holding a bowl. I smelled her chicken noodle soup and sat up. “Bought time you stir.” Said Mom, taking a pillow and putting it behind me. I laid on the pillow. “What happened?” I asked. “Doctor Samson came… and he said you have a big giant red spot on your thigh.” She said. “So he wrapped your stomach up. You been asleep for two weeks. He finally came back and thought you were dead. He removed it and said now you were fine. But you’re dead.” Said Mom. “So I’m in heaven?” I asked. “No, no you’re alive.” Said Mom, stroking my hair. “You’re alright sweet girl.” “Where’s my friends?” I asked, looking around. “They’ve been coming every day to check on you. They’re at school right now.” said Mom. She looked outside. “School’s about to be let out, come on, come get dressed.” Said Mom. I walked outside and grabbed the t-shirt and shorts I’d been wearing. Then I walked inside and put them on and then I  grabbed my books. It was filled with homework and essay assignments. I took a quill next to my bed and began doing my homework. I did every single sheet and then my friends came in. “Hey Allie.” They said. “Hey guys, where’d the homework come from?” I asked. “Mrs. Dennis, she wanted you to keep up on class work and essays.” Said Dylan, taking a piece of paper and handing it to me. I opened it and read;

Dear Miss Allie,

I’ve seen you in your pain but have kept giving on your work. Probably by the time you read this you will have a two week stack of papers. Your friends have been bringing them to you.

Hope you are well,

Mrs. Dennis

“She’s been giving homework out crazy ever since you’ve been hurt.” Said Sam. I laughed, “Maybe she’s crazy.” I said. We laughed. “Oh… where’s Ethan?” I asked. “He um… felt so sorry for you that he…” they laughed. “What? What’d he do?” I asked. “That he kissed you.” Said Sam.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kissed you… Kissed you… Kissed ME?! I sat up straight. “He kissed me?” I said. “Yeah, he’s been shy to come ever since then.” Said Dylan. “He kissed me…” I mumbled. “Yeah, it was pretty funny…” said Sam. “He kissed me…” I whispered. “Yeah he kissed you.” Said Drake. “He kissed me.” I said. “Ok now you’re being weird.” Said my friends. I got out of bed. “Allie, where are you going?” they asked, following me. “Out…” I said, putting on my boots. “Where to?” asked Drake. “Allie Johnson…” said Steve. I turned around. “What Steve?” I asked. “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked. I looked at the door and then at him. “Out.” I said. I opened the door. “You come right back here.” Said Steve. “You’re stupid Steve.” I said and then I marched outside. I ran down the street to the lake and then I took off my boots. “Allie, what are you doing?” asked Dylan. “I have a feeling… that Ethan’s here.” I looked up at the tree. And then I began climbing the up to the ledge. “Ethan, here?” asked my friends. I took the rope and began climbing it. And at the end of the branch sat Ethan.

Chapter Three

I pulled the rope up and walked over to sit by Ethan. Ethan looked up and then down. I heard him gulp. “Did they… did they tell you?” asked Ethan. “Yeah…” I said, sitting down beside him. “Knew it.” Said Ethan. I looked at the view. “Nice view you got here.” I said. “Yeah…” said Ethan. I looked at Ethan. “You don’t have to be shy… I’m still the same.”I said. Ethan looked at me. “Yeah but we… we kissed.” Said Ethan. “Doesn’t matter Ethan, okay? There comes a stage where you have your first kiss.” I said. “But we are friends Allie. Not boyfriend and girlfriend. We’ll never be boyfriend and girlfriend.” Said Ethan. “You say that now because your nine.” I said. “When you get older you’ll like girls.” I said. “Yeah but I won’t love you!” said Ethan. I felt my heart break. Yeah, a little nine year girl who wasn’t even into boys had her broken by a boy. “Allie, something happened when I kissed you. We’ll never be the same.” Said Ethan. “Ethan, it’s alright, you just had to kiss me.” I said. “NO I DIDN’T ALLIE! YOU DON’T GET ONE STUPID THING! YOU JUST THINK I HAD TO KISS YOU! I DIDN’T HAVE TO!” he yelled at me. There were crickets, I felt tears. And I felt rain. I nodded. “Okay…” I stood up and began walking to the end of the branch. “What are you doing?” he asked. I put my hands so I could dive. “I’m diving.” I said. “You’re kidding me! What if you do a belly flop! Then you’ll die.” Said Ethan. “I thought you said you didn’t care about girls.” I said. Ethan  was silent. I closed my eyes and I dived. And I shot into the water like a bullet. And when I came up. Ethan was at the end of the branch. I shook my head, grabbed my boots and began running away from the creek.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On Thursday, I turned in my homework, essays, and assignments. “Good job Allie.” Said Mrs. Dennis. I nodded. “Thank you.” I said. “Take your seat.” Said Mrs. Dennis. I walked over to my desk and sat again. I looked over and saw Chris staring at me again. I looked at Mrs. Dennis and she began our lesson.

After school, when it was let out Chris came up behind me. “Hey.” He said. I turned around. “Oh hi Chris.” I said. “Um, I wanted to know if you wanted to go to the school dance?” he asked. I had forgotten all about the school dance. Every grade was having it. Even kindergarten. “Oh… um, I guess Chris. Thanks.” I said. “See ya tomommrow.” He said. When he walked away I ran up to my friends. “Hey have you heard about Ethan?” asked Dylan. “No what?” I asked. “Patty Sherlock asked him out. And he said yeah.” Said Sam. “Ethan? He said he didn’t like girls.” I said. “I know right? Oh I’m taking Claire Simmons to the dance.” Said Dylan. “I’m taking Rebecca Black.” Said Drake. “I’m taking… Well I’m wanting to take Taylor Creeks but she’s always having friends around her.” Said Sam. “Oh I’ll  ask for you.” I said. I walked over to Taylor Creeks. As always she had her friends around her. “Hey Taylor.” I said. “You don’t have boy cooties do you?” asked Taylor. “Uh… no.” I lied. “Anyways Sam is wanting to know if you will go to the dance with him.” I said. “Is he?” asked Taylor. “Yeah.” I said. “Hm… tell him… Y-E-S.” said Taylor. “But mix the letters up.” She said. “Okay…” I said. I walked over to Sam. “She said S-Y-E.” I said. “S-Y-E? What does that mean?” asked Sam. “The letters are mixed.” I said. “YES!” said Sam. “Yeah ‘bout time.” I said. We passed by Ethan. He was holding hands with Patty. I looked at Dylan, Drake, and Sam who were in the middle of talking about the dance then slid over to Ethan and Patty. “Hey Ethan.” I said. “What?” asked Ethan. “Hope you have fun at the dance and all.” I said, bowing my head. “Who would take you?” asked Patty. “Chris Smith.” I said. “The Chris Smith?” asked Patty. “Yeah.” I said. I looked at Ethan. “Bye.” I said. And then I slid back over to Dylan, Drake, and Sam. “Hey Allie, does your Mom have cookies?” asked Sam. “No, and today I can’t play today. I have chores.” I said. “We’ll help.” Said Dylan. “Okay.” I said. We arrived at my house. Mom was outside on the porch with my triplet brothers. Everybody else was on the farmyard with Steve. We walked out onto the farmyard. “Allie and your weirdo friends,” said Steve. My friends growled. “You kids… can um… feed the animals, and brush the horses.” “Okay.” We said. And we began with brushing the horses. We stroked their hair and put new horseshoes on them. Then we fed them and we were done. My friends went home and then I was left to do homework.

The next day I dressed in a blue gown. My mom brushed my hair and put it up nicely. Then she let me wear her special, special, special white high heel shoes. After a good breakfast and grabbing my books, my mom put lipstick on me. “Mom, I’m not twelve.” I said. “You are to me dear.” Said Mom, patting my head. Then I ran outside to catch up with my friends. They were wearing church pants, and a t-shirt and a belt. There were wearing nice church shoes. And their hair was greased. “Wow, are you going to church?” I asked. They gasped when they looked at me. “You aren’t Allie.” Said Dylan. “Of course I am!” I said. They laughed. And we walked up to school. I gasped when I saw everything there. Inside the classroom was a juice bar. There was Mrs. Smith, who was playing the harp and there was food table. “Wow, this is better than my house.” Said Drake. Chris came up and offered me his arm. I looked at my friends. “Bye guys.” I said. I took Chris’s arm and we walked to dancing stage. Mrs. Smith began playing music when there was a lot of people. Chris put both hands on my hips. I put both of my hands on his shoulders. And we began dancing. “You’re light on your feet.” Said Chris. “You’re the same.” I said. He twirled me and led me back, holding my back then brought me up again. “Wow, you take dancing lessons?” I asked. “Yeah.” Said Chris. “Whoa.” I said. He twirled me again. The music got slower and slower and at the end Chris stared me in the eyes. I stared in his eyes too. I mean his eyes were really blue. And then we both…. Kissed. I opened my eyes in our kiss. I was nine years old my family was around me. My friends were around me. Everyone had probably just seen me kiss Chris Smith. But Chris is popular so maybe they’ll think I’m cool for once. Maybe I’m not stupid to them. I closed my eyes again. And then I thought, What if he can taste the apple cinnamon lipstick?

Chapter Four

On Sunday we walked to church. Me and my family. When we got there we sat by the Smiths. Chris looked at me and I looked at him and then when nobody was looking he tossed me a note. I took the note and opened it and it said;

Do you want to go out with me?

Write yes or no

Out of the top corner of my eyes, I looked at Chris, and smiled and then I looked at the quill and ink bottle in the chair. I took the quill and dipped it in and wrote;

Yes

Then I slid it back to him and he opened it and then grinned at me. I smiled and took my bible and began to read along with the preacher. And then the preacher began saying a pray. I thought about what had all happened. I was now dating Chris Smith, I had kissed Chris Smith, Ethan had kissed me, I had skinned my thigh, Ethan yelled at me, I dived from the tallest oak in town, Ethan hated me and even most of all… Steve was actually pretty cool.

                The

                      End