Today we are featuring Inklings Book Contest 2016 finalist, Thi Nguyen! Thi finished 5th grade this past school year. She wrote a story about a teenage girl learning to appreciate her family. Enjoy!
Gratitude
by Thi Nguyen
Chapter 1
“Krissy! Krissy! Wake up! Wake up! Happy Saturday!” he screamed.
I turned over and groaned. Five-year-old wild, irritating, and crazy Teddy Sanders and his curly chocolaty poodle-like hair were all over the room, rushing here and there. Having Teddy in my room meant trouble for me.
For some random reason, I always get in fits with Teddy, I thought. I pulled my favorite purple polka-dotted blanket over my head.
“It’s too early Tedd,” I murmured, “Go back to…” I fell deep into a deep dreamy world where nothing would get to me. Florence, Abigail, and Jesse, my friends, were all there smiling with Crazy Crape’s sweet smelling drinks, waiting for me to join them…join them…
“Krissy, Krissy, it’s morning you and you promised to…er…take me to the fair!”
“Go away. You’re not allowed in my room without permission,” I yawned sleepily. I flung my pillow at my now scampering poodle headed brother. Throwing the pillow revealed the time which threw me out of my bed immediately. I jumped at the window, tore apart the curtains, and stared. The brilliant Saturday sunlight blinded me as robins sang their morning songs. I shot a glare at my brother. I tackled him, pinning him down, brought my face as close as it would ever go and hissed.
“Why didn’t you wake me earlier? You knew I had a party! I’m almost late!”
“I did. I woke you as early as I woke,” His scared, cracking voice and innocent green eyes starting to well up stopped me. I knew Mom wouldn’t approve.
I pulled him into my arms and howled as loud as the thunder, “This little piggy goes to breakfast downstairs with the big bad wolf!” I imagined Mom’s nod of approval as I carried Teddy into the kitchen and sighed of relief. If Mom knew what I was doing to her son, she would rage.
I dropped the act as soon as I passed Mom’s room. “Teddy, no matter what, you will not ruin my Saturday at Jesse’s,” I said through clenched teeth. “No ifs or buts. You will stay with Mom, Dad, and Miss Latera from upstairs.”
“Krissy?”
“Don’t call me Krissy. Only my friends call me that.”
“Kristina? I still have my butt.”
Chapter 2
Mom came while we ate breakfast. “Hey kiddos,” she croaked, “what’s for breakfast?”
Teddy was slurping his Honey Cheerios and milk. “I LOVE CEREAL AND THE FAIR!” He gurgled. The poodle threw his hands in the air flinging honey covered donut shaped wheat o’s all over the place. “Mommy, Mommy are you taking me to the fair?”
“I’m sorry honey, but I’m busy today. I have a meeting at the office, and I can’t take the day off. I’m so sorry.” She coughed. “Daddy’s busy too. He has some important work to do. Poor Teddy, no one to take him to the fair. Oh! Maybe Miss Latera would take you,” Mom rambled. “I’ll call her now.”
Mom got on the phone, and all we could hear was, “Hi, I was wondering if you would take Teddy to the Saint Florent County Fair today…Oh, I’m sorry for your loss…No, it’s okay, I’ll get Kristina to take him…Yes, yes, Kristina is a wonderful teenager…Yes, I’m sure she won’t mind…Okay. Buh-bye.”
It took me a while to comprehend, but before mom got off the phone, I dashed to the bathroom and slammed the door. I breathed deeply with both great concern and relief.
It’s okay Kristina. Calm yourself girl. You’ll still find a way to go, I thought.
I knew that if mom saw my face, I would have to take Teddy to the fair. The only way to go to Jesse’s was to sneak out. Gee. Sneaking out is kind of a harsh way to deal with my parents. Shouldn’t I just ask them? No, mom will make me take Teddy to that kid’s fair. I shivered.
I knew that there were 3 doors to the outside world from prison. One from the living room, and one from the garage. Both doors had bells that dinged when the doors opened. If I wanted to go outside being unseen and unheard, I would have to go through a window. They only windows in the house were in the kitchen, the dining room, the bathrooms, and my parents’ room. I couldn’t go through the kitchen or the dining room. Mom and Teddy were occupying that area. The bathroom windows were too high to reach, so I would have to go through my parents’ bedroom.
Even though dad is sleeping there, it’s the only way. Without completely thinking it through, I crouched in the room where dad resided and stared. You can do this girl. I know you can! If you want to get there, move it! You know that Jesse, Abigail, and Florence are the coolest friends you can ever get! Be there to let them know that you care about being cool and about your friends. No. Mom will find out I’m gone. Jesse, Abigail, Florence! Just do it! I argued with myself in my head some more, but then, I went on. But then, I stopped. Why should I do this? I’ll get grounded. But, if I don’t go, I won’t be their friends anymore. Go for it girl!
Dad snored soundly as if he was reliving the time he met mom. As I slunk past him, he rolled on the floor right on my foot. With a yelp of panic and pain, I slowly shifted my weight on my free foot and wiggled my other foot out. Opening the window I crawled on the grass and out the gate. Before I could to close the window, Teddy came in. I felt like a gazelle with a cheetah hot on my tail. Without thinking I left the window open as and escaped out to liberation.
Running off into the distance, I heard Teddy’s voice, “Hey mom! Dad’s on the floor!” As much as I tried not to, I snickered feeling elated and free all at the same time, being able to carry out such a feat.
Chapter 3
Running along, I thought that I was responsible for taking care of Teddy. Being fourteen, I wasn’t supposed to act all silly. I was supposed to be mature.
“Sorry I’m late!” I breathed to Abigail and Florence when I got to Jesse’s house, “I had trouble leaving the house.”
It was 11:11 a.m. and I was 11 minutes late for the party. After panting, I took a glance around and soaked in my surroundings. As I stared in shock, I thought that I was literally standing on Mars. Everything around me was red. Red carpet, red walls, red…oh wait. There was blue chairs, blue tables, and blue ceilings. And that’s when it hit me. Have I been hanging with a gang this whole time? I shouldn’t be here. This-this is dangerous! I need to go home. What about Jesse’s birthday? He didn’t come to mine! What about Teddy? Poor Teddy. No one to take him to the fair. Wait! Poor me! I’m in danger! I thought.
Out of the blue, Florence snorted, “You’re always late because you have a little brother.”
Abigail let out a loud whoop of laughter. I remember just yesterday, she was a shy quiet girl, though we were always were giggling around boys, especially Florence and Jesse. Now she was different. She even cut her hair short and dyed it red. I thought the best thing to do was to run.
Florence snickered. I never really liked Florence. He had a nasty tongue, but he knew what was happening around town, so I asked him, “Where’s Jesse?” As if he was on cue, he came.
“Whattup, whattup?” Jesse questioned casually.
“Surprise!” I shouted to him, but then as soon as I exclaimed it, I wish I could pull it back. None of the others chimed in, and I sounded like a fool of a baby. I received several glares from my “friends.”
I’m so impulsive, I thought, saying things and then looking around and thinking. Jesse too was wearing those two colors, red and blue. I started backing towards the door.
“I was busy picking up the phone.” Jesse began, “It was for you, Kris. Your mom wanted you to come home.” As soon, as he said my name, I felt a wave of admiration. He smoothly swished his head my direction and grinned. Then, I remembered where I was.
“Your mom?” Abigail giggled. “By now, I can do whatever I want!”
“Excuse me! As my mom always says, ‘Family is most important,’” I retorted.
“Yo momma’s wrong, miss goody-two-shoes,” squawked Florence.
And that was what infuriated me. These people were my friends for so long. Now, they make fun of my family?
“We’re here to celebrate, not fight.” I shrieked. “And FINE! I’ll go home. I’d rather take my brother to the county fair. I can find better friends than you lot.” I stomped out, not caring about Jesse’s surprised face, blinking away tears, feeling alone and surprised.
I knew our relationship was breaking down, but I never thought that they would suddenly turn on me. Though they have been unfriendly before, I thought, they’ve never been rude. Marching home, neighbors would think that I was angry. But inside, I felt a wave of sadness. Who would be my friends now?
Chapter 4
Getting home, I was summoned to the kitchen table by the queen of the house. (Not me.)
“Kris, dear, we know where you went, who you were with, and how you left. What you did wasn’t good.” Mom scolded. “Family is more important than friends.” She lectured.
I sat there gloomy and sulking.
“Honey, if you want to go somewhere you have to tell me. We all knew you wanted to go to that party.”
I stared down at my striped kitten socks feeling a warm rush of anger flowing through my body.
“We were worried.” The angry flow ceased and instead, I felt gratitude. Gratitude for such a great family, gratitude for an understanding mom.
“Okay, so what happened?” she prompted.
My eyes started filling up, and one solitary salt wet drop fell on the table.
“When you’re ready, I want you to tell me.”
For the next 6 hours, I wasn’t ready. I paced back through my brightly painted purple room preparing what to say, what to say. By dinner, I had a whole speech all planned out. But when I reached the table, my throat grew a dry lump. Everything I thought of those past six hours blew out of my mind, and instead of traveling into my mouth, it flew away.
“So m-mom, about what h-happened today, my f-friends were m-mean to me and our f-family. I decided to not be their f-friends anymore,” I stuttered. Feeling more confident, I announced our family quote. “‘Family is the most important.’”
Mom came over and hugged me and whispered, “I’m proud of you.”
Chapter 5
Late at night when everyone was asleep, I kept tossing and turning. The sound of rain clogged my head. Finally, I gave up and decided to go clear my mind. In the kitchen mom was sitting, silently sobbing while looking at something.
I tiptoed right behind, and just as I was about to lunge on her fuzzy pink robe, she chirped, “Kristina, come and look at this.”
I stared down at the picture in her hand. On the table was a picture album with an empty space. In that last space, mom slipped the photo in the clear pocket. It was a picture of my last birthday party just two months ago. Sadness welled up inside me as I remembered.
I waited several hours at the window, sighing. Each time mom echoed, “Honey, it’s late, they’re not coming,” I sighed pretending I didn’t hear her and pretending I still had hope.
My 14th birthday party was at to be at 12:00, but as I glanced down at my watch, I freaked. It was 5:37 and almost dinner? I rushed into my room and gave up hope. Squeezing my eyes closed, I tried blinking away the tears.
“It’s okay Krissy.”
I looked up. With Teddy watching me, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. None of my friends had come. Not one of them. Not even Abigail. Back when we were younger, we had such a powerful connection with each other. They promised everything for me. Now they were different. I just wanted Abigail who was my friend since second grade. She seemed so grown now, and she’d rather have cool friends than I, who was silly. I still had to forgive them on the outside. They were the coolest friends ever. Being with them meant being popular and cool. Still, deep in my heart, I couldn’t forget this.
Looking at mom’s beautiful face, I vowed to do better and never to let the pressure of others bring me down.
Concluding the night and silent conversation, mom mouthed, “I’ll always be there for you.”
Chapter 6
I woke up to the urgent sound of high-pitched screaming. Teddy must have being trying to be exasperating. No! I had changed my personality. Teddy probably spilled milk all over himself or something, but whatever it was, I dragged my floppy self downstairs, and I almost fainted when I saw it.
“What happened?” I shouted, “Was there a robber?”
“No! Mom was making breakfast saying she felt tired and dizzy, and the lights flickered off, and, when they came back on, mom was on the ground! She fell splat on the table!” He bawled frantically with tears in his shiny bright eyes. For Teddy’s sake, I tried to stay calm, but truly not only was the storm thrashing outside, but so was my mind. I was really frantic!
Remembering my safety classes and videos, I soothed myself, took a deep breath, and lectured, “Teddy please listen to me. Today I am not going to make you do anything, but my one request is for you to listen to me. It’s for the best. Mom fainted and we have to…” The flickering lights and storm outside interrupted my thoughts. “We have to call 911. Where’s Dad?” I questioned.
“Dad went to the store.”
“I hope he’s safe in this storm. Okay, Tedd, check to see if Mom’s breathing. Put a blanket over her. Get the battery-powered lantern. I’ll call 911 and Dad.”
While making phone calls in lantern light, I caught a glimpse of my purple blanket over Mom. That’s my blanket! My head went wild but I remembered my vow. I will do what I can for Teddy and I will not let others take away my love and time for my family.
Dad came straight home and drove us to the hospital right behind the loud and irritating ambulance as best he could in the rain. Sitting outside the weird smelling hospital room, I slipped my hand in Teddy’s and squeezed it. He looked up to me with scared and admiring eyes when I looked down to him as a pesky fly. Remembering how it felt looking up to Jesse, and losing my role model, I stayed and comforted Teddy.
“It’s okay, Teddy. Mom might be in a coma so she might be there for a while longer. Just pretend we are waiting in line for the bumper cars in Roller Land.”
“Miss Kristina Sanders and Mr. Teddy Sanders, your ride is here,” announced Dad.
“Daddy!”
Chapter 7
At bedtime, I couldn’t stop thinking how just the night before, Mom said that she would always be there for me. Will she be here for me now and later? I hope so. Just as I was about to drift off into my beautiful colorful dream world where I secretly showed my love for unicorns, I heard a whimper. Teddy came in holding his “blankey” and a book.
“Krissy, uh, Kristina? Can you read me this book and turn on some music?”
“Yes, and you can call me Krissy. You are now allowed in here.”
We spun, arms and all, twisting. We let our bodies loose and swung them to match the sound the rock music. We stayed in sync while we danced. We made silly faces at each other, and Teddy even gave me an evil eye. Reading all the stories in our house kept us up laughing. And that was how the night ended. Two siblings laughing, enjoying life, and appreciating each other.
On Monday, after we left for school, Mom came home. She limped into her office. When she came in, the computer turned on. She checked the cameras she had secretly placed in the house to make sure the children didn’t murder each other. When she saw what had happened, she stopped her sadness and felt grateful for her two beautiful children. She smiled a completely thankful smile knowing I would know what to do and who to trust with the strength of the family.
