SacMomsClub.com

Mommy, Why Isn=t My Hair Brown?

 

Hi!  My name is Andrew, and I=m five years old.

 

 For as long as I can remember, I have been told that I was adopted.  But what does that mean?

 

 Mommy once told me that I didn=t grow in her tummy like my sister, but she and Daddy loved me the same as if I did. 

 

Daddy told me that I was a special gift that he and Mommy waited a long time for.

 

 It was all so confusing!  Then one day, I noticed something I hadn=t before; Mommy=s hair is brown, and so is Daddy=s.  Even my sister=s hair is brown.

 

 But my hair is red!  I also have freckles across my nose.  Nobody else in my family has freckles across their nose. 

 

It made me feel different.  Why couldn=t I have brown hair?  Were Mommy and Daddy really my parents?  I felt like I didn=t belong anywhere.  Sometimes I cried so hard into my pillow I thought  my bed would float right out of my room.

 

  Then one day, Mommy and Daddy sat down with me and told me a very important story.  It was a story about my birth mother.

 

 Mommy told me that I grew in her tummy, but she was too young to take care of me.  Daddy said that she loved me so much that she gave me to them to love me and take care of me.  So that=s how they became my Mommy and Daddy!

 

 Then they gave me a picture of my birth mother.  She was so pretty!  And guess what?  She had red hair and freckles - just like me! 

 

Mommy put the picture in a pretty frame, and I put it on my dresser so I can look at it whenever I want. 

 

I am so glad to have such a great family, but I know that sometimes I will feel sad that I don=t look like them.  Now I just look at the picture of my birth mother, and I don=t feel so different, because I know that someone out there looks like me.

 

  Daddy was right - being adopted doesn=t just make me different, it makes me special!

I wrote this for my grandson when he was five years old.  He is now fourteen.  How quickly they grow up.

The Shiny New Quarter

by Gramma Sharon

This was Fallon's lucky day.  The sun was shining.  The birds were chirping.  And he found a shiny new quarter on the sidewalk in front of his house.

He ran into the house searching for mommy, who was busy slicing apples for their picnic lunch.  "Mommy, mommy!" he cried, "I found a shiny new quarter.  Is it yours?"  "No, my darling little boy,"  said mommy as she scooped him up with a big kiss and took him upstairs to get him ready for the park.

At the park Fallon saw a man walking a dog.  Fallon ran up to the man, because Fallon like to run.  "I found a shiny new quarter.  Is it yours?" he asked.  "No," said the man, "but thank you for asking."  And he patted Fallon on the head.

Next,  Fallon saw a lady with a baby.  Fallon ran up to her and said, "I found a shiny new quarter.  Is it yours?"  "What a sweet little boy you are," said the lady, "but it is not mine."  And they baby smiled at Fallon.

Joe, the mailman came by with his big letter bag.  Fallon ran up to him and said, "I found a shiny new quarter.  Is it yours?"  "Hello Fallon.  No, I didn't lose a quarter," said Joe.  And he let Fallon try on his mailman hat.  But it was too big and covered his eyes.

On the way home from the park, Fallon saw a squirrel scamper up a tree.  "I found a shiny new quarter.  Is it yours?" Fallon asked the squirrel.  The squirrel just squeaked at him and Fallon laughed, because Fallon likes to laugh.

When daddy came home from a day at the bank, Fallon ran into his arms.  "How is my Fallon today?" said daddy.  "Look, daddy, I found a shiny new quarter.  Is it yours?"  "No," said daddy, "but it looks just like the one I gave you yesterday."

Fallon put his hand in his pocket and guess what he found?  A hole!  Fallon and daddy laughed.  The shiny new quarter was the same quarter daddy gave him yesterday.  It had fallen through the hole in his pocket.  Fallon ran to his piggy bank and dropped the shiny new quarter into the slot.

After dinner that evening mommy sat down in her soft chair and sewed the hole in Fallon's pocket.  Fallon crawled into the big chair with daddy and daddy read him a story.

This really was Fallon's lucky day.

xoxo The End xoxo

 

Blankie Hug

by Vicki Nelson

Elk Grove, CA

Word Count:  148

 

I hug my blankie every day

and then my mommy when we play.

 

To the kitchen, time to eat.

Blankie comes to taste a treat.

 

Up the high chair I can climb

I wear a bib at breakfast time.

 

I mash bananas and Cheerios

then touch soft blankie to my nose.

 

On my head, over my eyes

“Peak-a-boo, baby,” Mommy sighs.

 

When I finish, I get down

Blankie follows, not a sound.

 

To the playroom for my toys

I like to make all kinds of noise.

 

Rectangle, triangle, circle, square

Now blue blankie’s on my bear.

 

I crawl over past the chair

and give a blankie hug to bear.

 

We giggle, sway, wiggle and play

“This is fun!” to bear I say.

 

We tumble and patty-cake on the rug

All better now with a blankie hug.

 

I rub my eyes without a peep,

Blankie snuggles me to sleep.

 

 

Blankie Hug

by Vicki Nelson

Spring, TX 

Word Count:  148

 

 

 

 

I hug my blankie every day

and then my mommy when we play.

 

To the kitchen, time to eat.

Blankie comes to taste a treat.

 

Up the high chair I can climb

I wear a bib at breakfast time.

 

I mash bananas and Cheerios

then touch soft blankie to my nose.

 

On my head, over my eyes

“Peak-a-boo, baby,” Mommy sighs.

 

When I finish, I get down

Blankie follows, not a sound.

 

To the playroom for my toys

I like to make all kinds of noise.

 

Rectangle, triangle, circle, square

Now blue blankie’s on my bear.

 

I crawl over past the chair

and give a blankie hug to bear.

 

We giggle, sway, wiggle and play

“This is fun!” to bear I say.

 

We tumble and patty-cake on the rug

All better now with a blankie hug.

 

I rub my eyes without a peep,

Blankie snuggles me to sleep.

 

I wrote this when my son, who has ADHD, struggled through a turbulent time in his young life.

 

LITTLE BOAT

        & nbsp;   “Hurry up, Little Boat, you’ll miss the starting line-up,” Mother Lighthouse instructed her son. 

Little Boat was in his own little world, chasing birds and sailing gleefully under the sun.  He headed for the line-up, eager to win the sailboat race.

“I’m so excited I can hardly stand it!” chimed Little Boat, his sail fluttering.

Hearing the blast of the pistol, he darted out from the starting line.  “If the world could see me now--I’m flying ahead of the rest!”  The exhilarating wind rippled down his towering sail.  

Soon he heard the crowd shouting.  What are they saying?  Is everyone cheering for me to win? He wondered.

All of the sudden, BANG!  “Ouch—what was that?” he asked. 

Boat number five next to him hollered, “Hey—watch where you’re going!”

Little Boat didn’t have time to figure out what happened.  He had to keep moving to stay ahead of the rest. 

Charge ahead, he thought.

CRASH! 

“Ouch—that hurt!  What do you think you’re doing?”

“Why don’t you stay in your own lane, Buster?  Look what you did to me,” his neighbor yelled.

“What do you mean?  You got in my way first!” 

He looked around and saw the rest of the boats passing him.  This frustrated him even more. 

Some of the spectators booed at Little Boat’s behavior, saying, “What’s the matter with boat number nine?  Doesn’t he see he has to stay in his own lane?  He’s making a mess of this whole race!”

 “It’ll be okay,” said Mother Lighthouse.  He’s just a little anxious to do his best.  Sometimes he forgets what is going on around him.”  She whispered, “Please, God, You are our Source of strength.  Give Little Boat courage to finish the race safely.”

Little Boat tried to catch up, but the other boats cruised ahead and soon the race was over. 

He screamed, “That’s not fair!  I would have won if those other two boats would not have smashed into me.”   Breathing with short breaths, Little Boat concentrated hard so he wouldn’t explode.

Nobody listened to Little Boat.  “What’s the point in finishing the race?  No one cares anyway,” he moaned.

Little Boat turned away and sailed out to the sea.  His sail drooped lower than it had ever been.

“Come back, Little Boat.  It’s okay, we all can’t win the race,” called boat number five.

“Leave me alone,” he sobbed.  His intense anger turned into deep sadness. 

Just as quickly as Little Boat’s excitement changed to anger and then sadness, so too did the weather transform from sunny and breezy to dark and gusty.  Scared Little Boat struggled to stay afloat in the turbulent waves.

Little Boat grew tired of the raging winds.  Secretly he wondered why other boats were not damaged like he was.  “It’s just not fair,” he yelled, weeping uncontrollably.  He wished he had a friend to talk to.

Little Boat finally turned back and cried, “Please wait for me, Mother Lighthouse.  I need your shining light.” 

She called out to him, “Little Boat, I will always shine for you, no matter what, because I love you more than all the waves in the sea.” 

“I love you too, Mother Lighthouse.”  He panted for breath, fighting against the water’s undertow with all of his strength. 

Heavy rain turned into a light sprinkle, and strong winds changed to a gentle breeze.  Tattered and bruised, Little Boat glided to the dock and rested.  Warmth from his mother’s light soothed his aching soul.  How good it felt to be in his mother’s harbor again.  At that moment, nothing else mattered.

“Little Boat, I’m proud of you for trying so hard to come back in the storm.  You’re a brave and strong little boat.”

“I just wish I wouldn’t have messed up in the race because I—hey, what are those boats doing over there?”  Boats gathered for another race.  “Can I race again, Mother Lighthouse?  Please, please, please?  I promise I’ll stay in my own lane this time.”

“Of course you can, Little Boat,” Mother Lighthouse replied.  You’ll do a great job, I just know it.”

        & nbsp;   Faster than the birds above, Little Boat sailed over and joined his friends for a brand new race. 

        & nbsp;   “I’m so glad you came back for another race, Little Boat,” said boat number five. 

        & nbsp;   “Thanks.  I’m feeling much better now.  I know I can do it right this time.”

Little Boat came in second at the finish line, but did a first-rate job of sailing.  He was given a new nick-name that day—the ‘Come-Back’ Boat.” 

 

Gus’ Getaway
By Tiffany Shunn

There once was a tomato worm named Gus
Who was a beautiful shade of green
And although he had a few white spots
He always kept from being seen.

He lived in the farmer’s garden
On the biggest tomato plant there
He had his choice of tomatoes
Big or small, he didn’t care.

Gus would spend his days relaxing
In the warm afternoon sun
And spend his nights eating tomatoes
Taking a bite out of every one.

Now this made the farmer angry
And he would say every day,
“When I find you little worm
I will send you on your way”.

Then one day when Gus was hungry
And about to take a bite
He felt that he was moving
His tomato had taken flight!

The farmer had picked Gus’ tomato
And he worried about his fate
Gus was headed into the house
Sure to be put onto a plate!

He had to think real fast
And come up with a plan
At that moment he wondered
How fast he would be if he ran.

When with a bit of a shake
He came to a quick stop
Down into the sink he went
Landing with a quite a plop.

With the farmer looking to and fro
For his paring knife
Now would be the perfect chance
To escape with his life.

He gathered all his strength
And took a mighty leap
He landed on the kitchen floor
Without a sound or a peep.

He wiggled and he squiggled
Across the slippery floor
Scared that he would get squished
Before he found the back door.

What luck! It was still open
It had been left slightly ajar
He could see his tomato plant
And it did not look too far.

Back at his tomato plant
Having squiggled all the way
Gus took a long, deep breath and
Said, “Wow-what a day”!

“Next time I’ll be more careful
When I get ready for a snack
But for now I’m just happy
That I safely made it back”!

If You Were a Butterfly… By Robin Lynn Pask One night, as a mommy was tucking her little boy into bed, he asked, “Mommy, what would I be if I weren’t your little boy?”   His mommy answered, “If you were a butterfly, you would be the most beautiful rainbow colored butterfly I had ever seen. You would brighten my day every time I looked outside my window.   “If you were a block, you would be strong and solid. You would make a noble foundation for the castles we would build.   “If you were a tool, you would be a strong rubber mallet. You would help me put our big tent when we go camping.   “If you were a car, you would be fast and shiny. Everyone would just see a flash of orange as we drove past.   “If you were a blanket, you would be warm to snuggle on a cold, dark night. We would create giant forts in our living room.   “If you were a building, you would be a great, tall skyscraper. You would remind me to look up at the clouds in the sky.   “If you were a flower, you would be a big, bush of purple lilacs. I would sit outside each evening, breathe in wonderful memories, and tell you stories about when I was little.   “If you were a book, you would be a sweet bedtime story. We would read together every night until I kissed your sweet head and tucked you into bed.  Good night, Little One, dream fantastic dreams.” The smiling mommy kissed her little boy good night.
THE END

Henry Has the Hiccups
by Kate Abbott

     Henry is just a little baby, but he's had the hiccups a long time.
     Not the same hiccups. He just gets the hiccups a lot.
     "Poor baby!" Henry's mom would say when Henry started to hiccup while she fed him.
     "Poor Henry!" Henry's grandma would say when she and Grandpa came for a visit and Henry hiccupped while they cuddled him.
     "Poor little guy!" Henry's dad would say when Henry hiccupped while Dad held him up high while they played.
     This afternoon, Henry and his dad had plopped down on the couch when the hiccups started. "Oh no, not again!" his mom said, sighing and closing her book.
     Henry's roly-poly body jumped with each "hic!" He twisted his mouth into a perfect little "o" and looked up at his mom with big, dark blue eyes. "Hic!"
     "Poor baby! How can we get rid of them?" she said, flipping through the stack of baby books on the table. 
     "Let's pat his back." 
     "Let's bounce him." 
     "Let's feed him." 
     "Let's lay him down." 
     "Let's dance with him." 
     But nothing stopped the hiccups. "Hic! Hic! Hic!" no matter what they did. 
     "We could jump out and scare him," Henry's dad said. "No, maybe not," he added before Henry's mom could reply. 
     "Let's go outside," she said. 
     They pushed Henry down the street, with "Hic! Hic! Hic!" coming from the stroller. 
     Their neighbor Ellie ran up to them from the park, with her mom right behind her. Ellie was three and three quarter years old. 
     "Henry has the hiccups," Henry's mom said to them both, putting her hand on her head. "We don't know what to do." 
     The parents talked, Henry went on hiccupping, and Ellie peeked into the stroller. 
     "Hi, Henry," Ellie said, looking down at him. 
     Henry looked up at her bright blonde hair and blinked. "Hic!" 
     Ellie held out her finger. Henry grabbed it and waved his other arm in the air. She giggled. Henry opened his mouth wide and raised his tiny, fuzzy eyebrows. "Hic!" 
     "Poor baby!" Henry's mom said again, and then looked at him and Ellie. Henry was kicking his feet and his eyes were round and bright. 
     "Hic!" Henry said. 
     Ellie squeezed his foot and studied him. "I don't think Henry minds the hiccups," she said. 
     Henry's mom and dad watched him. He wiggled and kicked and wrinkled his face, then opened his mouth into a wide, gummy grin, and went on hiccupping. But of all the things he did, he didn't cry. 
     "Maybe you're right, Ellie," Henry's mom said, finally relieved. Henry didn't seem to need their help, after all. Actually, it seemed he'd stopped hiccupping. 
     Then Henry sneezed three times in a row, making Ellie laugh, and Henry's mom secretly wondered if it was right he should sneeze so much. But they said goodbye to Ellie and her mom and continued their walk to the park, and Henry was a happy baby—even when he got the hiccups again.

Word count: 494

This story is dedicated to my granddaughter Mariana who is a bright spot in both her grandma's hearts My Two Grandmas Both of my grandmas are different, both of my grandmas are the same, they are the best, and I love them the same. They are my two grandmas! Grandma Mary likes to be silly and fun! She likes to dress up in purple and wear a red hat. I like to wear her hat too sometimes. Grandma Ella buys me such pretty dresses! I love to wear them! When we go shopping together she gives me money to hand to the cashier. Sometimes she even gives me a twenty dollar bill! My grandmas’ love make me very rich! Grandma Mary sometimes lets me fix her hair. I put her hair up in two ponytails so she can look like me. Grandma Ella and I bake cookies together. Our favorite ones are oatmeal. Grandma Ella likes to tease me and pretend to take my cookies when I am not looking. Shhh…I’ll tell you a secret, I let her. Grandma Mary and I go on long walks. Sometimes we walk on the path by her house and pretend we are with Dorothy and friends on our way to OZ. We giggle so much on these walks. When Grandma Ella comes to visit she brings our dog, Riley. Each day we have to take him for a walk. Grandma Ella jokingly complains that it is a long, long walk, but I know it really is a short one.  I love to have my grandmas all to myself sometimes. I pick blackberries at Grandma Mary’s house. They are so good and sweet! But you have to be very careful or your hands or even your new shirt will turn purple. Ooops!!!! I get to pick peaches and plums in Grandma Ella’s backyard. It is fun! I always make sure I pick some for both my grandmas. You never know what delicious desserts we may get to make together. Grandma Ella and I travel to many different amusement parks together. Sometimes near my home and sometimes very far away. My favorite is when she takes me to Walt Disney World near her home in Florida. We share so many laughs! Grandma Mary has a fun park near her home. It has slides, stairs, and many other things to climb on. There are times I can convince Grandma Mary to join me but she refuses to go down the big slide. Even though I promise to hold her hand so she wont be scared! On special occasions my two grandmas visit me at the same time. When both my grandmas come to my house it makes me very happy. I love going out to dinner with my two grandmas! When I misbehave (just a little) my grandmas will tell my parents to give me break since it is a special occasion. I am so lucky! Both of my grandmas are different, both of my grandmas are the same, they are the best, and I love them the same. They are my two grandmas! (photos available to accompany text)

The Cat Who Loved Christmas

 

        & nbsp;   Dasher had come to live with Eric at Christmastime five years ago. He got his name because he was always dashing around like kittens do and also because Eric was proud of knowing the names of all of Santa’s reindeer.

        & nbsp;   Dasher grew into a large, fluffy grey tomcat. Sometimes he talked to Eric using cat language. Dasher reminded Eric that it was dinnertime by rubbing against Eric’s ankles. When he wanted to play, Dasher hid behind a door or the sofa and jumped out at Eric.

        & nbsp;   Dasher’s favorite time of year was the Christmas holidays, when his family brought a real tree inside the house for him to climb. Dasher liked to bat the shiny toys on the tree with his paws. Under the tree, there were always gifts for him---catnip-filled pouches and rubber balls with bells inside.

        & nbsp;   Every year Dasher watched for signs that the holidays were coming. Eric’s dad would string lights across the front of the house. Eric’s mom would get out the box of decorations from the hall closet.

        & nbsp;   But this year, something was different. Christmas was coming but there were no lights, no tree. One night, instead of falling asleep at the foot of Eric’s bed, Dasher sneaked to the parents’ bedroom door and listened. What he heard was terrible news. The family was going away to visit Eric’s grandparents in another town for the holidays.

        & nbsp;   Dasher didn’t wait to find out how he’d be spending the holidays. He knew already. Last summer, when his family went on a camping trip, Dasher had to stay next door with the silly cat Clarence, who played fetch like a dog.

        & nbsp;   More than anything, Dasher wanted to spend Christmas with his family. Dasher knew they would be leaving soon. He had a plan: while the family was packing for the trip, he would hide inside the car. It was a good plan. There was only one thing Dasher had not thought about---his cat carrier. Before starting to pack the car, Eric picked Dasher up and put him in the carrier!

        & nbsp;   “Well, that’s it,” Dasher signed sadly to himself. “I guess it’s me and silly Clarence for the holidays.”

        & nbsp;   Eric set Dasher’s carrier where he could watch the car being loaded with luggage and gift-wrapped packages. “At least I get to watch my family until they leave,” Dasher thought.

        & nbsp;   And then something wonderful happened. Eric walked over to the carrier with a big red bow, a bowl of water, and Dasher’s favorite blanket. “Here, Dasher, let’s get your carrier decorated,” Eric said. Dasher could hardly believe his furry ears! “There’s a perfect spot for you in the back seat next to me,” Eric told Dasher, who was now meowing with delight. “I’m so glad we can bring you with us, Dasher. It wouldn’t be Christmas without you!”

        & nbsp;   “I know just what you mean,” thought Dasher, who began to purr and didn’t stop for a long, long time.

It Isn’t Everyday You Get To Ride A Turtle
by Charmaine Mueller Austin


I can remember one summer day when I was five years old, my mom announced that we were going to a special place called Fairytale Town.  “What is Fairytale Town?” I asked. “Well, I’ve never been there myself,” my mom said, “but I hear it is a great place for children to play. “Both of you go get your shoes on now,” my mom said to my brother and me. “We are going to be leaving soon.”

Within minutes I came back wearing my new dress shoes.  “No honey,” my mom said, “I don’t want you wearing your new school shoes.  I think your tennis shoes would be best.”  “But mom, you said yourself that Fairytale Town is a special place. Please let me wear my dress up shoes!” I begged.  “Sorry, you need to put your old shoes on,” my mom gently demanded, so I went to my room and changed my shoes.  When I came back my mom looked at my feet and said, “Those aren’t your tennis shoes.”  “I know,” I replied, “but they aren’t my new dress shoes either.  Can I please wear my old dress shoes to Fairytale Town?”  “All right,” my mom conceded, “but the patent leather looks a little worn.  Just remember it is your decision to wear those shoes.”  

Our daytime adventure was going to take us near downtown Sacramento.  We drove through a beautiful park that my mom told me was called William Land Park.  I had never seen a park so large.  It seemed to go on forever!  “It’s not far now,” said my mom, “Fairytale Town is right across from the Sacramento Zoo.”  “Is that Humpty Dumpty?” asked my brother pointing to an archway with an egg-shaped feature on top.  “Yes, that is Humpty Dumpty and that is also Fairytale Town!” replied my mother.

The place was definitely built for children.  My mom had to duck as she went through the archway entrance. “Fairytale Town is all about fairy tales,” said my mom.  “Let’s see how many you remember from our reading and how many you can name as we go through the park.” 

First we came to a huge, old shoe that had a shiny metal slide attached to it.  “Old Woman In A Shoe,” my brother shouted out.  “You are right!” said my mom.   We went down the slide a few times and then ventured further on, coming to an incredible pathway.  It was made of cement and wound around and up and down, and was surrounded by lots of green bushes.  My brother and I walked slowly, single file at first, and then picked up our pace.  We were so excited to see where this meandering path would take us.   When we came to the end my mom was waiting. “Well, what story do you think this path was all about?”  “Hansel and Gretal?” my brother asked in a questioning tone.  “Could be,” my mom said.  I just looked at my brother with envy and decided to walk ahead so that I might be the first one to name the next fairy tale.

I passed a barn and another slide.  I passed a huge piece of Swiss cheese made out of cement.  Next, there was a large cement rabbit, perfect for climbing and close by was a big turtle, also made out of cement.  I noticed cages close by filled with furry rabbits.  I also noticed a man dressed in a suit carrying a small black bag. He turned around, saw me, smiled and said “Hello.”  I remembered right then that my mom told me to never to talk to strangers and never to be out of her sight when we were in public.  Nervously, I looked around, but didn’t see her.  I started to retrace my steps in order to find my mom and get to safety.  I glanced behind me and noticed that the man in the suit was following me.  “Hey little girl,” he said, “Wait up.  I want to ask you a question.”  I quickened my pace and noticed that he did the same.  I went around a corner and there was my mom. First I saw a look of relief on her face, but it quickly changed.  “Where were you?” she said.  “I was worried!”  “Mom, I know now why you want me to stay close by when we are in public,” I said.  “It’s because of strangers, and one is following me!” 

All of a sudden the man in the suit appeared.  He had a business card in one hand and extended his other to my mother as he introduced himself.  “Hi, I’m Robert Handsaker with the Sacramento Bee newspaper and I was hoping to get a photo of your daughter with the new turtle here at Fairytale Town.”  “Oh,” my mom said surprisingly.  “Do you mean the cement turtle?”  “Actually, it is a real tortoise that Fairytale Town just acquired,” replied the photographer.  Feeling a little less scared now that I was with my mom I said, “Well it must be a pretty big turtle if someone can ride on it!”  “It is big,” he said.  “But it is very nice. Would you like to ride a turtle today?”  My mom looked at me and said, “It’s up to you honey.  What do you think?”  “Yeah,” I said with some hesitation.  “I think that would be fun.”

The four of us headed back to the area with the cement turtle and rabbit.   “The Tortoise and The Hare,” my brother shouted out as we approached the exhibit.  “What?” my mom questioned. She looked at the cement animals and said, “Oh, yes.  The Tortoise and the Hare!”  I gave my brother a mean look just as the photographer glanced at me.  “Hey, what is that face for?  I need smiles if you want to ride a turtle.”  I immediately flashed him my best smile. “Oh that’s a great one, he said.  Can you smile like that while riding this guy?” he said pointing to the biggest turtle I had ever seen.  “Wow,” my brother and I both chimed together. “I understand this tortoise came all the way from Africa,” said the photographer.  “They think he is already hundreds of years old!”  “Wow!” we both said again. 

Then the photographer and I went inside the gated area that held the tortoise, and he placed me atop the tortoise’s back.  The tortoise immediately shrunk his head back inside his shell.  “Just wait very still,” said Mr. Handsaker. “He’ll stick his head out again and we’ll see what happens from there.”  It didn’t take long for the tortoise’s head to appear and soon he started walking.  It was really easy for that photographer to get a photo with a smile on my face because I couldn’t help but giggle while riding on that tortoise’s back.

The next morning I rushed out to get the newspaper and search for the photo of the tortoise and me.  As soon as I unrolled the paper, there was the photo, right on the front page of the Sacramento Bee!  At second glance I noticed to my horror that my old worn out shoes were also on the front page.  Looking over my shoulder my mom said, “Don’t worry, nobody will be looking at your shoes. They will be looking at your nice smile and your cute friend from Africa.”  I’m sure my mom was right.  I’ll bet not too many people noticed my old worn out shoes and it really didn’t matter anyways, because after all…it isn’t every day you get to ride a turtle! 


Note from the author….
This is actually a true story!  I really did get to ride the tortoise at Fairytale Town and was on the front page of the Sacramento Bee (August 23, 1961).  Yes, I’m that old!  I’m not sure what happened to that beautiful tortoise but I often wondered what it must have been like for him to have come such a great distance and I hope that he enjoyed his home in Fairytale Town as much as I did when I would visit.  We are so blessed to have this magical place right here in Sacramento.  I have had the pleasure of sharing Fairytale Town with my two children. As a family, we have also enjoyed the special event that the 20-30 Club puts on every year for children with special needs.  Kudos to the Sacramento community, past and present, for providing such a charming park!

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Hello! my name is "Tan" Sherlock and I am a mom and a grand mom. When my niece came over one night and told me she was afraid to go to school, I felt compelled to do something to reassure her that school was not that bad!
So, I wrote this story and dedicate it to my beautiful young niece...
(The word count is 289 not including the title) My story is called,

 "I'm Afraid to go to School"

 I’m wondering, wondering, what school will be like on the first day?
 My mom says I’ll have lots of fun and I’ll get to play!    

But, I’m so scared, I’m so scared, I don’t want to go! 
Oh, why am I so scared?  I just don’t know…

Maybe there’ll be a Bear in my class on the first day!
And, he’ll ask a Rhinoceros, a Hippopotamus, and a
Kangaroo to play!

Or, what if the kids say things to me and I can’t make them stop?
Oh, I’m so scared to go to school.
So, maybe I’ll not!  

No, that’s not what I really fear…
It’s that my mom or dad or brother or sister won’t be very near!

And, what if I want water or something to eat?  
Will I have to sit, just sit all day in my seat?

(Ring, Ring)
I think I’ll tell my mom I want to stay…
(Ring, Ring) Tick Tock…
What is that sound? Make it stop!!!
(Ring, Ring) Tick Tock…
Oh, it sounds like the ringing sound on my…
ALARM CLOCK!

(Yawn, Yawn)
I’m awake,  
I’m awake now,
And oh what a dream I just had…
I dreamt I was afraid to go to school.
I was scared and sad.

Oh, how funny I’d be scared of school in my dream.  
Why, I’ve been going a whole week now,
and I’ve met Shawna, and Jasin, Melinda, and Dean!
On the first day we talked about being away from home.
And, our teacher gave us snack time…
and play time, and even an ice cream cone!  

I think I dreamt I was scared to go to school, on that first day…
Cause I was, till I went, then my fears went away!!!

................................................. ...........
P.S. - My niece is much older now and claims she was never afraid to go to school!  We both get a laugh out of it now!

  

Trixie the Pixie

Trixie the Pixie was the smallest one of all the fairies,

She lived with her mama and the other fairies in a field of flowers

and berries.

She had sparkely eyes and little blue wings,

and she was as lovely as the songs that angels sing.

She was also very curious and would often fly,

out of  the range of her mama's eye.

Her mama always tried to keep her eye on her

but Trixie would flitter away without a word.

A troll named Ivan the Scary lived near the field.

He was fuzzy, smelly and fairies were his favorite meal.

This worried Trixie's mama, she knew of his tricks,

so she warned Trixie to stay away from his house made of sticks.

But Trixie was curious as I told you before,

and when her mama wasn't looking she bolted for the door.

Trixie flew were she wasn't supposed to go, past the flowers and berries

to the edge of the wood near Ivan the Scary's.

Ivan was outside tending his patch of briars and thistles,

and he smelled that a fairy was near, and it made his fuzz bristle.

He ran inside and got his best fairy catching net

and licking his lips he went out to see what he could get.

Trixie wasn't paying attention, she was just flitting around

when all of a sudden Ivan's net brought her to the ground.

It looked like Trixie would end up as Ivan's next lunch,

but the whole fairy city flew up just then with her mama out ahead of the bunch.

The fairies grabbed that net away from Ivan the troll

and chased him down a nearby snake hole.

The snake saw him coming and gobbled him up,

and Ivan's fairy catching net landed down in the dust.

The fairies hugged Trixie and crowded around,

everyone was so happy that she was found.

And Trixie learned a big lesson that that day,

to listen to her mama and never to stray.

 

The End

The Grafting Tree - Removed to protect my story since the contest is over :o)