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Winter Nights

Chapter 1
One night a small skinny little girl named Winter at about the age of 9 rolled around helplessly in her bed wondering what to do at a time like this. Her and her three sisters were home on Winters break so they called it and there parents were screaming at each other. Of course they thought Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter were all sleeping in there cozy warm blankets that Mama had knit for them but no Winter laid awake staring at the ceiling and wondering what to do. Another scream from her papa and then there was a crash Winter jumped up in bed and walked softly over to the door where a crack of light shone through from the bottom kneeling down Winter wondered what had crashed but she soon found out with one eye under the door she saw what appeared to be her mother and father sprawled across the floor in undoable positions, she shivered as she looked around the room and saw what looked like the door to there small cabin blowing softly in the wind. Winter wondered aloud ‘Why is the door to our cabin open? Mama and Papa never go outside after dark.’ Then came the sound of boots walking across there wooden floor and they weren’t the boots of her Mama or Papa or sisters there were all huddled in the beds behind her. These boots were a strangers boots and from the looks of it they were bringing the stranger with them towards the door to her and her three sisters room, stiffly shaking each of her sisters awake she told them “Get under your bed” as Autumn the stunned six year old spoke “Oh, but won’t we get in trouble from Mama and Papa, Winter?” thinking fast Winter replied “Oh no they are coming to find us we are playing hide and seek.” That was enough to pull the four girls out of there beds and onto the floor sliding under there beds the door opened Winter looked around at her three sisters to see them quietly muffle there laughter then the door closed. Winter rolled out from her hiding spot and all the sisters did the same Winter motioned them to sit on her bed and they did as she wished then she began to tell them what was happening. She started from the fighting of her parents to the death of them and finishing with the boots in there room. Quietly walking to the door Winter motioned for her three sisters to follow peeking through the keyhole, Winter whispered ‘there gone’ and with that Autumn flung the door open and ran to her parents screaming “Mama, Papa, Mama, Papa” as she ran. Winter also ran but not to her parents she ran to the still open door, shutting it hard and forcefully then carefully locking it with the bolt. Summer and Spring stood back by the bedroom door softly crying, there tears staining the wood floor. Winter mumbled something about a phone under her breath and then guided Autumn back to their room, closing the door she locked it from the inside and tucked her three sisters in though it was dark all around he eyes seemed to glow with fury. As she passed Summer and Spring’s dog’s bed, she wondered where April had gone. Was her sister’s dog out howling at the moon, in the cold melting snow or was there dog dead along with their parents floating up to heaven hopefully. She shook the thought off and crawled into her bed thinking about what she would wake up to tomorrow.

Chapter 2
The next morning Winter awoke to a bright light coming in from there poorly curtained window… rolling over she peered at her sister they also rolled in there beds trying to wake up completely before leaving there beds and stepping onto the harshly cold bedroom floor. Silently Winter crept to the door and looked under it through the slight crack peering anxiously at the door then back to the place her parents had been laying. Calming sighing she realized what had happened last night was defiantly not a dream. Unlocking there quaint bedroom door she briskly walked towards there only phone in the house, this phone was connected to only two places, the police station and the fire station which stood next to each other in town. Quickly dialing the number 1 she listened as the phone rang in her ear. Ring, ring, ring… click! Wow! Winter thought someone is actually picking up. This was pretty exciting for her because she had never used a phone before, they were only recently invented but her parents had been quick to buy one in case of emergencies. “Hello, is this an emergency. We will need your address, name of caller and type of emergency and we will come right over.” Said a voice from the other line, Winter thought it sounded muffled and recorded but she answered anyways. “Hello. Address is 592 Hollow Ln. and Winter Season is calling. Our emergency is late last night our parents we killed by a person that broke in we have yet to investigate but they might have also killed our dog April and stolen some items. Please come as soon as you can… Me and my three sisters are quite worried. Thank You!” Winter tried to say it calmly but it came out all in one breath. A quick reply from the other end said “Thank you for your call! We will be right over. You may now hang up.” Winter briskly set the phone down and ran to wake her sisters. They all quickly dressed then Winter and Summer waited for the police to come near the front door while Autumn and Spring huddled not to closely but lovingly near their parents. Winter and Autumn both held worried expressions on their faces while Summer and Spring gave of a look of grief and sense of sadness. Winter suddenly decided she should make some breakfast.. Normally food was hot on the stove for them when they woke up but from the sun it looked to already have been 2 hours since they should have woken up… the sun was now high in the sky. Winter said aloud “I am going to make breakfast, I hope you will be able to cover our parents and the door without me, I will be right back once breakfast is made. Call me if the police get here before I am done.” As Autumn moved towards he front door, Winter walked into the kitchen. As Winter checked there supplies of food and grabbed some cooking utensils she sighed. She had only seen 9 years of life and she had never cooked a single thing. Opening the freezer door and cupboard after cupboard she grabbed the things she had seen her mother use to make muffins and oatmeal. Turning on the stove Winter glided through the kitchen fixing this and that. Just as Winter stuffed the muffins and oatmeal into the oven side by side there was a knock on the door and a holler from Autumn. Peeking out the window she saw the grand police carriage and she hurried to the door.

Chapter 3
Winter flung the door open and glanced at the man before her. He looked grand in his royal blue uniform and matching hat. Winter remembered her mother saying only a few suns ago, “The police have changed there uniforms. Now they look quite grand.” Her ma had said to pa while reading the paper. Smiling she thought of that day and how they had been one happy family. Then she zapped from her memories to real life again and opened the door. She smiled and led the police man in, giving him a cup of coffee she quickly began telling him there tale and how her three younger sisters were quite scared. The police man grabbed a pen and pencil and started writing down what Winter said. When Winter was finished he closed the book, got up and questioned “So have you and your sisters been her all night? Around what time was it when you first saw your parents dead?” Winter swiftly replied, “Yes, we have been here all night but when I saw the boots leave I quickly bolted the door and locked our bedroom door. The sun had just finished setting when I first saw them so it was probably near 11 o’clock.” Finally he questioned each Autumn, Spring, and Summer separately but they couldn’t tell him much being young they didn’t really know how to answer the questions plus they had just heard the story last night, they hadn’t really even seen anything but the boots in there room. The police man volunteered to take the bodies with him for evidence but the Season girls wanted to be able to see there parents, not just smell there rotten stench that was beginning to form. Winter went and got some cooking spray from one of the cabinets and sprayed there parents, that at least made the smell go away for awhile. They waved goodbye to the police man who said he would be back in the afternoon, to tell them what the office thought of there case. As Winter closed the door behind him a worry formed in her mind. We can’t hold out here for more then day with the food supply running low and nobody being able to really cook, but of course she didn’t want to worry and of her sisters so she kept the thoughts to herself. As everyone awaited the police man’s return they started there morning choirs dusting, making the beds, moping and picking berries from the bushes just outside the door. They all began work without talking, and then they ate some bread for lunch. With the day coming to a close they tried some of there daily lessons but when they got stuck on a problem of two they would just skip it knowing they might never get help to do the problem. The Season hated skipping things because if you skipped something you could run into a serious problem and that was confirmed later on when the police man returned.

Chapter 4
Coming Soon

Nature’s Ear

Green trees blow as the
wind is whispering in my
ear with nature’s music.

The Pickney’s

Description: This is a story about one family and how it downsizes when a tragedy happens. It shares news from being orphans to having a baby brother. This story would probably more be liked by girls because they are the main characters but if you look beneath them you will find boys in different chapters.

Side Note: This story is sort of lame I started writing it just for something to do over the summer but it got way out of hand and now I’m still adding bits and pieces to it. This is somewhat like the Series of unfortunate Events but not… it is sort of a mix between mystery and reality and life. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: The Beginning
The Pickney’s are a bright, funny, adventurous family that seemed to go on a vacation every other week in the summer. They had friends all over the world that often referred to them by the six Pickney’s because of course there were six of them Janet the mom, Joe the dad, Susie the six-year-old that always had a question, Jamie the nine-year-old brain that outsmarted all of the younger Pickney’s, Bren the twelve-year-old drama queen and fashion guru extraordinaire, and Amanda the concerned sixteen-year-old. Now the Pickney’s weren’t any old ordinary family they were rich! Not that they cared for there lifestyle, they donated most of there money to places like Goodwill. Having nice parents and a lovely house was going to make the Pickney’s good parents with great kids, right? Well ok you decide. Having four kids on a street of sameness was nothing normal everyone had one boy and one girl only. The Pickney’s liked their big family though, and didn’t know how their neighbors had such small families. One night Janet and Joe gathered there kids together in there large family room, Amanda got the feeling that something was wrong with her parents and began crying on reflex. As Joe began speaking he announced that “We, your mother and I, are looking forward to being called the seven Pickney’s instead of six, what I mean is your mother will give birth in a couple of months to another child,” smiling he added, “Are you excited?” Amanda’s tears turned from sadness to joy as Susie and Jamie shouted “Ya, we are the six Pickney’s graduating to seven,” Bren frowned then opened and closed her mouth almost speechless she sighed and asked “Boy or girl?” Taking a deep breath Janet put a smile on her face and answered “Boy.” That sudden remark dropped the smile off everyone’s face, thoughts swarmed the silent room finally Susie squealed with sadness and anger “I have to be a big sissy to a baby boy, I want girl, I want girl!” Amanda squealed and ran to Susie Amanda yelled at the opportunity to leave “It’s time for her bedtime, I guess I’ll get her ready,” winking at her parents quickly Bren took the moment to escape and ran out the door to find her CD player. Jamie sighed, plopped down on the couch and opened her latest read, a new law book, being the smartest kid in the family she wanted to catch up to her parents. She knew there was no reason to be mad at her parents because they don’t get to choose the gender of the baby, obviously. Sighing softly she wished she could write a best-seller someday. Then Bren came back in dancing around the room, she obviously found her CD played muttered Jamie, Bren began shouting out lyrics to her favorite song, Sk8er Boi by Avril Lavigne. Suddenly Amanda hopped off the last step that lead to Susie’s room and pulled the headphones off of Bren, then shaking her saying “set an example, no screaming, Jamie and Susie, taught, be quiet” Jamie only heard bits and pieces from her place on the couch and the still blaring music coming from the headphones. Susie being the baby of the family started crying loudly so everyone could hear her so Amanda ran back to Susie’s room so she could calm her down. Bren then put her headphones back on and Jamie got up and walked towards her room passing her parents bedroom on the way, suddenly screaming aroused from the room. Seeing Amanda running towards the door Jamie decided to investigate as well. When she got to the room she heard Amanda loudly crying not knowing what happened Jamie sat next to her until Amanda stopped and led Jamie out and pushed her towards her room then running towards her room Amanda slammed the door shut, Jamie thought she was about to call someone s she cut into the phone line and listened, Amanda was practically screaming “Help! My parents have been killed! No sign of weapon! Address is 1543 Summerset Ln. the Pickney mansion. Get here fast!” she said it fast and in one sobby breathe, Jamie, beginning to understand what was happening, hung the phone up and stormed to her parents room looking around there big summer exclusive suite sniffing the smell of blood, she walked briskly towards it flinging one of the two closets open and slipping on…on…on… blood! Looking into the new bright closet she muffled her scream both of her parents were curled up dead! Then, with a flash of twirling lights, her and her three sisters where whisked into a cop car, drove down to the nearest Hoppleton donut hat, bought there favorite donuts, and started eating, then began the questioning, Amanda was questioned the most, for the Pickney fortune was at stake… they finally came to the conclusion that someone had came in stabbed the parents with a knife pushed them in the closet then escaped through the open window while Janet and Joe bled to death. Being a rich family the cops thought it was for the fortune and that Amanda would now be in danger. As the car pulled back onto Summerset Lane they saw a panic arise from there end of the street. Amanda, being in the front seat, saw what was happening first, and when she did she muffled a sobby scream with her hand.

Chapter 2: “All that Ends, Starts Again”
Once the family of four (no longer six or seven) arrived on there doorstep or what used to be a doorstep they saw that there whole house has been burned except for the stainless steel box that the cops say holds the Pickney fortune. Yet it lays untouched in there house because the police say it is only to be opened when Amanda turns 18. She is the one true heir of the Pickney fortune. But for the sake of the family Amanda asked the police “May I open the box? You know to see if there is some kind of will inside?” the police did not agree instead they strapped the box closed and put it in the car. As the Pickney’s were looked up and sorted out the police found that there were only 2 real Pickney relatives yet 4 other good friends, the relatives were the first to get looked into. The very first on the list was Aunt Margie and Uncle Davis Pickney, 2 people the children had never heard of, but they found out that they would be living with them and there other three children, for now. The next morning they were awaken with a shove, they had fallen asleep in there old front lawn with the few belongings they had, Susie’s blankie, Jamie’s law book, Bren’s MP3/CD player with headphones and Avril CD, and Amanda’s red nail polish. But the push that had awaken them, well ok more like a kick, was from there new mom or Aunt Margie who was trying to get them up. She kicked Susie again, Susie then broke out into tears. Aunt Margie screamed ‘Get up you homeless dishrags! Into the Dar! Mooove It!” swearing a few words under her breath she got back into the car, Bren mumbled to herself while Amanda helped them into the car. Then quickly stuffed herself into the front seat, smiling she tried to make the best of the situation, the car smelled of garlic and had trash everywhere, the seats were stained and the windows dusty. A couple of hours later the car stopped with a bang in the driveway of a small one story house with no garage. Getting out of the car they walked up to the house through the rickety door they saw many unpleasant sights. This was where they were supposed to be living? It looked like the dump two blocks away from the old mansion and the whole house was about the size of Amanda’s old bedroom!

Chapter 3: Save Our Sam (SOS)
As the four girls were shoved into the dark, dirty, musty house they were greeted by the bark of a dog and three children, whispering excitedly. All four girls were pushed into a room with nothing but garbage and a small desk with a chair. Amanda sighed “Well guys I guess this is our new home. Should we clean it up?” then Bren sighed and began to think Amanda was trying to take there mom’s place. So Amanda shuffled around in the mess and found a bag and they began to clean up a couple of minutes after they finished cleaning the three children came into the room the oldest or at least the tallest looked straight at them. “Hey, thanks for cleaning up our room, well I guess it’s all of ours now but still, thanks!” Amanda looked puzzled then she put her hand out for the boy to shake, he ignored it but said “My name is Josh and these are my sisters Isabel and Sam.” Amanda trying to be polite replied “Hi, my name’s Amanda Pickney and these are my three sisters Bren, Jamie and Susie. So Aunt Margie and Uncle Davis are your parents, right?” Sam the littlest one squeaked “Nope” then Isabel finished “We came here last week when our parents died from poison and our house caught on fire.” Then Josh reached over nudged his sisters and made a quiet sign with his finger. Then Josh added “We weren’t supposed to tell anyone we didn’t know. But it’s because of the fortune that travels around our family, our older brother Tilo died too, so now I’m in danger. What about you four?” Amanda sighing replied “Same, I’m in danger though.” The dog they heard before barked again and Isabel jumped “That’s the dog that ate Tilo, Josh.” Squealed the little Sam. “Margie said we would be like Tilo if we disobeyed her.” Josh whispered. Then Margie busted into the room and yelled “dinnertime for biscuit” pointing to the big dog she grinned and grabbed Josh and crying Isabel by there arms pointing the dog towards them, Biscuit sniffed each one and started biting at Josh, Margie pulled Josh towards her and pushed Isabel back, Isabel now silent hit the floor hard as she crashed into it. Margie, Biscuit, and josh all left the room. Amanda stood up and tried to follow them but the door was locked, they heard a loud scream and then they smelt smoke. Isabel stood up and sniffed the air “Smoke!” she cried out. They heard another scream “Fire” said Amanda running to the window she unlocked it and slid it up then she popped out the screen and yelled to her sisters and new friends “Hurry!” as they all raced to the window Amanda lifted them outside when Amanda got out, Sam was the only one left inside but the door burst open at that moment it was Margie, Margie reached for Sam but Amanda grabbed her and then so did Margie it was a tug of war until flames burst into the bedroom and swallowed up Margie there was a distant coughing as Amanda pulled Sam out of the room then they ran they all hopped into the min-van that was unlocked and out in the street, Amanda pulled a cord by the steering wheel and everyone shut the doors they started to race off when Josh stepped by the car, the door popped open and Bren hopped out moving into the back, Josh got in the front door and closed it, then they raced off to where they did not know.

Chapter 4: The Wallet
Amanda seemed to drive for hours on end until finally it got dark, nobody knew where they were or what time it was, so they locked the doors and fell asleep. Everyone but Josh fell asleep right away, shifting he leaned forward and opened the glove box. Shielding the tiny light that came on, from his eyes he looked around. All, he could see was some tissues, napkins, towelets, hand soap, a wallet, a book, a CD and some change. Wait a wallet he better tell the others. Wait no he shouldn’t wake them, cool, inside was a credit card, $12, car keys, a movie ticket stub, drivers license, permit, parking ticket, ISA, checkbook, and a couple of receipts. Excellent! He was so happy with his find. Putting the wallet back he curled up and fell asleep. Smiling, at thoughts of money.

Chapter 5: The Sun Awakes
Bren rustled under her blanket shivering at the cold air, was that sound she heard someone screaming? Wait, that sounds like Susie. Rolling over she hit something, what was that, opening her eyes she saw Susie, all of a sudden wondering where she was she stood up. OW! My ceiling was never this low, wiping her eyes she saw the truth, she was in a mini-van! Looking towards the front seat she saw her sister, Amanda, in the drivers seat. Next to her in the passenger’s seat she saw some really cute boy, uh! Amanda has to have all the cute boys! Well at least I have my dignity still! Well the sun was up, she was up, she figured everyone else should be awake as well, so she screamed, “Wake Up!” she smiled as everyone’s eyelids fluttered.

Chapter 6: The Guardian
They heard sirens, not far away; they saw lights, not far away. Amanda told everyone to put there seat belts on as she started up the engine. Pulling onto the highway, Amanda slammed the gas and off they were. As the lights closed in on them, Amanda sighed “Sorry guys, I have to stop. Drat! My license burned in the fire,” said Amanda. As she pulled over Josh screamed over the sirens, “Amanda switch seats with me! I’ll explain later!” pulling open the glove box he grabbed the license, slamming the glove box shut he switched seats. As the cop walked to the window Josh calmly rolled it down. “Seem to me, we have a problem here, good sir. I saw you parked back there in the gravel and that’s a no parking are… hey wait a minute you in there, aren’t you Amanda Pickney! I heard ‘bout you, where the youngings?” said the cop. Squealing out from the back seat Bren said, “Oh my god… did you just call me a youngin as in child, more like teenager!” “Shut up, Bren!” yelled Jamie “you’re a pre-teen and So am I.” “Alas, the missing Bren and if I’m not mistaken, Jamie as well. For all I know ya’ll probably got Susie back their too. So, who are you kid?” asked the cop.
Smiling, Josh looked the officer straight in the eye
**To Be Continued**

Carl Croc

I’m all Wet! You’re all Wet!
Hi, Carl Croc, here. I was just at the Great Barrier of Fish. It was like swimming in a giant pool. The temperature is always a wonderful 80 degrees. The animals were so amazing that I couldn’t believe my eyes when I spotted them. Most of the sea life is very colorful. But there was a jellyfish named “Jelly” that was an awful beast. I’ll never invite that fish over for dinner. Anyway, you must go with me next time. Oh, yeah, when we do… don’t forget to order the peanut butter and jellyfish sandwich! Yummy!

Something Seems Fishy!
I’m here interviewing Sammy the Great White Shark here at the Coral Reef. Tell me Sammy, “What’s it like to be you?”

“It’s terrible, Carl. Everyone thinks I’m mean and nasty. That all I do is go around and bite people. But I’m a nice guy, really I am. But nobody will believe me.”

Well, folks, that is interesting. “Why then do you have all those huge teeth, Sammy? Sammy, are you listening? Hey, hold on a minute! Get your teeth out of my tail! Ladies and gentlemen, I seem to be having some technical difficulty! Sammy stop it! Yikes! This is Carl Croc signing off till next time!” If there is a next time!

An Octopus Loves Me
I just left Olivia the Octopus and must I say that she almost squeezed me to death with all her eight arms. No one ever hugged me as tight as Olivia. She says she loves me, but does she have to hug me so hard with all those arms to show me? I am squished!

I don’t know what to do, but I think I’ll only visit her when I’m with Sammy the Great White Shark!

The Dog Who Thought He Was Human
Hi, folks! I came up on land the other day because of a big storm brewing over the sea. I thought I would be safer there.

I traveled around the state and meet a dog who thinks he is a human.

It was funny. He thought he was a human, but looked like a dog. He tried to convince me. He sat at the table like a human. He ate with a knife and a fork like a human. He even drank a glass of milk with one paw. But he still could not convince me. Maybe it was because he was covered with fur like a dog. Or because he sniffed me with his little dog nose. Or because he sniffed other dogs with his little dog nose!

He’s silly. He may think he is human, but he will always be a dog. On my next trip to visit, I will bring him some glasses!

Willy or not???
Hi, Carl Croc here. I’m interviewing Willy the big blue whale. “Tell me Willy, how is it like being a whale?”

“It’s really interesting Carl, it’s just most of the fish think I’m a mean nasty whale all because I’m big! I try to be nice but nobody believes me.”

“Well that’s interesting Willy. Then why are you so big Willy? Willy, are you listening? No wonder all the fish think your nasty your eating them!” This is Carl Croc signing off till next time.

A Little Girl

Once upon a time, there was a little girl. Her name was Elizabeth. All her friends called her Lizzy. She had a friend that was five years old. His name was Daniel. Tomorrow is Lizzy’s birthday and she will be seven years old. Her friends Daniel is going to be at her party. Lizzy doesn’t know where her party will be of what to do. She hopes everything will be all right.

LATER THAT NIGHT
That night Lizzy had to think a lot about her party. Here she had given it no thought, and tomorrow was her birthday.

THAT MORNING
It was Lizzy’s birthday. Daniel came to her house. So did some of her other friends. They all brought presents. They were all wonderful, but she liked Daniel’s best.

TEN WEEKS LATER
Today is Christmas Eve. You know what tomorrow is? Yep! You guessed it, Christmas. And soon it will be dark. Lizzy will have to go to bed so Santa will come to her house and give her presents.

CHRISTMAS DAY
Santa brought Lizzy everything she wanted. He is so nice sometimes. He left some kind of baby stuff, too. But Lizzy could not figure out why.

FOUR WEEKS LATER
Lizzy’s mother had a baby girl. Her name is Rachel. Now Lizzy knows why Santa brought all that baby stuff - - for Lizzy’s new sister. She cries too much, but Lizzy still likes her. Lizzy is lucky she doesn’t have to change Rachel’s diaper. Well, at least not yet!

THREE MONTHS LATER
Lizzy has been very helpful to her mother. She has learned how to get the bottle ready for Rachel to drink. First, she has to hold the bottle under warm water for several seconds. Then she has to squirt a little on her arm to make sure it is not too hot. The first time Lizzy did it, the milk squirted all over her face! What a mistake! Now, Lizzy is an expert and always prepares the bottle for her mother at feeding time.
One day, while her mother was feeding Rachel, Lizzy asked her mother how Santa knew a baby was coming to their house. Her mother explained Santa knew everything. Whether you were naughty of nice, and even if you were going to have a new baby arrive in time for Christmas. Lizzy thought this was incredible! Not only did Santa know about kid’s already snug warm in their own beds, but he knew about babies being delivered by the stork! Santa is amazing, and so smart, that Lizzy thought he should be a professor at college.
Lizzy told Daniel how smart Santa was. It scared Daniel. Was Santa spying on them? Would he tell his mother if he was bad or sneaked a cookie? Lizzy did not think so, but what if Santa did? He did not seem like a Santa that would tell on them, if they were bad. At least not the Santa she saw at the store. He was a jolly Santa. Very nice and friendly. He told Lizzy she would get everything she wanted for Christmas. And she did! Santa always seems to be right.

SIX MONTHS LATER
Lizzy and Daniel were playing a game on the floor while Rachel lay next to them on the floor. All of a sudden, Rachel flipped over and giggled! Lizzy and Daniel’s eyes grew as big as saucers! What did Rachel do? It most have been magic because Rachel never did that before. Lizzy ran to tell her mother what happened. Her mother started to laugh and explained to Lizzy that Rachel is growing up. In fact, Lizzy did the same thing when she was a baby - -and Daniel, too! Lizzy did not remember being so little. But she was sure her mother was right. Her mother is always right – just like Santa.

WEEKS LATER
One day Lizzy and Daniel were doing homework at the kitchen table. Rachel was sitting in her high chair. All of a sudden, a piece of apple flew into Lizzy’s hair! Daniel started laughing at how silly Lizzy looked. At first, Lizzy thought Daniel did it. But then she looked across the table, and saw Rachel smiling, with another big piece of apple in her hand. She threw it! Lizzy started to yell at Rachel, when BAM, another piece of apple hit her in the chin! Daniel laughed even harder. Even Rachel seemed to giggle at the sight of Lizzy covered in apples. Lizzy did not know what to do. Why was a little baby throwing yucky apple slices at her? Should she throw them back at Rachel? No, she decided. She sat there and giggled herself. How silly she must look. One day, she would tell Rachel what she did - - when Rachel was older.

MONTHS LATER
As Lizzy sat watching her favorite cartoon, she saw Rachel stand up for a second and then, just as quickly, fall down. She watched again as Rachel stood up, all wobbly, and BOOM, falling back on her bottom. Lizzy went over to her and grabbed her hand. She held on to Rachel, and helped pull her up. Rachel giggled. She looked scared, but happy. Lizzy called for her mother. When her mother saw Rachel standing, she started to cry. She was so happy. Her baby had started to walk! And Lizzy was there to help her. Lizzy hoped Santa had seen what a good job she had done. She was going to be the best sister she could be.

DAYS LATER
Soon after Rachel started walking, she started talking, too. And crying and yelling! Sometimes Lizzy and Daniel could not even hear their cartoons on TV because Rachel was so loud. Couldn’t her mother do something about her being so loud? It made Lizzy and Daniel very mad. It was hard to concentrate with all that noise in the house. Lizzy wondered if the stork had made a mistake when he brought Rachel to their house. Maybe she belonged to some other family. She was so loud, and her house used to be so quiet. Lizzy was sure that Santa was watching Rachel be bad. She hoped Rachel would at least get some toys for Christmas.

I am starting a story about a teenage girl writing to her daughter. The daughter’s name is Cece and she will be turning 8 soon why her mother is trying to get full custody when she turn’s 20. These are letters written by both of them and about what they are going to do once Liza (Mommy) is able to bring Cece home.

Introduction:
Dear Cece,
I have sent away another letter to your father, he has been talking to the court about you coming back to live with us. Sadly that means he had to go to Virginia. I hope the Washers are treating you well, my beautiful daughter. Did you get your school pictures yet? I want one if you have! Never seeing your face has surely done a number on me. You would never believe how nervous I have been for you lately, I wish I could give you a proper 8th birthday; it’s in a month, right? I’ll be 20 tomorrow and me and Joe will finally be able to have full custody, what a wonderful present that would be. I have decorated your room in pink and purple and bought you a good bedspread. I got you a desk so you can do your homework at night but I will need it as well because I’m taking a mail-in class to get my high school diploma. Well, I must go do the daily chores and fill out the application of a school nearby. We hope to have you in our presence soon.
Smooches!
Love,
Mom

The Story Starts (Continued from Introduction):

Dear Liza,
The Washers are treating me well; they bought me a laptop last week for school. I have not received my school pictures yet, but they are to come soon, probably in the next week. I look forward to seeing you soon. Not to worry about my birthday party the Washers plan to throw me a grand sleepover. My new room sounds quite adorable; I hope to move in soon. I hope your doing well at your mail-in class but as you know the Washers pre-read my mail going in and out. I’m sneaking this letter though! They don’t approve of you not having a high school or college diploma; I suggest you not mention it if you would like to win their approval since they judge some of your custody score. My 8th birthday is in two weeks. The Washers and my principal think I should skip 3rd grade next year and move on to 4th, so know to write that in my application and I would like to finish the school year at Greenville Elementary for Youngsters.
Love Always,
Cecelia (Cece)

Dear Cece,
Cecelia? That’s not on your birth certificate! Your certificate says Cece Anne Cortez, why did you make your name Cecelia. Anyways I sent this to your school so I know you’ll receive it. I’m appalled you have decided to skip out on knowledge and go straight to a higher level. Why didn’t you tell me before you made your decision? Didn’t the judge say you had to consult me first? I don’t care what they think of me, but for your sake I will no longer mention it. So who are your friends these days? Or do the Washers not let you have anyone over? A laptop?!? They must be crazy! Well my new workbook may arrive today so I’m checking the mail. I will need some new stationary soon this notebook is quite a bore. Joe should be here tomorrow, let’s hope with good news! Until then we will leave the school decision up in the air but I don’t believe we can afford to send you to a private school and to transport you there. Three hours away isn’t the best commute, we will have to talk later. Believe me Joe would not agree with moving because of a school, even if I’m not employed he is and I can’t move out on my own either. The money comes in from him!
Lots of Love.
Mom.

Piczo