This story was originally written on June 1, 2012 for my Creative Writing class. The image is NOT mine and is referenced and properly cited below. The assignment was to find a picture and build a character around it. I hope you enjoy it :)
They came in earlier, after lunch, and gave me crayons and paper. To keep my mind busy is what Momma said. I didn’t feel much like drawing, mostly like sleeping but, I drew Momma a picture anyhow. I tried to use all the colors they gave me but I really needed some more. Momma’s hair isn’t really green but I didn’t have the same color that she has in her hair. Maybe I’ll ask her what the color says on the bottle she uses and I can ask them for that color.
This was the day we got our new house. Daddy said the other one was “just a starter home” and I remember askin’ if this was the “finishing kind”. Daddy just laughed at me and mussed up my hair. I had a lot of hair then but I forgot to make it longer in my picture. Maybe I’ll add it in later. Momma said my hair was the color of sunshine and that always made me smile. They really love me ya know.
Bryan, that’s my brother, he used to push me on the swing set that Daddy bought for us. He plays nice with me sometimes. Sometimes, he doesn’t get to play with me at all. I don’t feel so well sometimes and he has to play by himself. Momma says that I’m “gonna be right as rain” soon and then I’ll get to go back out on the swings. You know what? We don’t really have a dog but I always wanted one so I drew him in too. His name is Captain Midnight. When I get better Daddy says I can have whatever I want so I’m gonna ask for a black dog just like this one.
Can you keep a secret? Good. Sometimes I play like I’m asleep when the people come in and talk to Momma. I don’t think I’m supposed to hear what they’re saying so I try to lay really still and keep my eyes shut. Sometimes they say stuff to her that makes her cry. When that happens she holds my hand and puts her head down on my bed. It’s not really my bed though. It belongs to the hospital. I’m just using it until I get better. You wanna know another secret? Okay but you have to promise not to tell this one. You promise? Okay, good. I don’t think I’m gonna get better this time. It’s not like last year when I got what they called “remission” and my hair grew back and I got to go back out and play with Bryan. I’m too tired this time. You have a secret to tell me? Go ahead I’m the best secret keeper! You’re a what? So that’s why you’re glowing! Am I gonna be one too? Sure I’d like to be one! Now? Like, right now? Do I get to say goodbye? Yeah, I think she’d cry too much to and besides, I can’t stay awake any more. I think I’m just gonna do like Grammy says and “rest my eyes”.
Her name was Emma and she was five.
Citation: (1) Child’s drawing. http://echrblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/three-property-rights-judgments.html
