caredy-Cat
by Isabella
Chapter One
Allison
John sniffed the air. He had an excellent sense of smell so he could probably smell what his mother was cooking for dinner. But instead, he smelled smoke. At first, he wasn? sure that there was a fire. Until he saw it. ?ire!? he screamed. But nobody heard him. Because nobody was there.
?on? die Daddy!? screamed Allison. She sat up in her bed. Soon soft footsteps echoed down the hallway. ?h oh,? she said softly to herself. ? woke up Mom.? She was right.
?oney did you have a bad dream?? Allison? mother asked walking in to the room.
?es, Mother,? said Allison shamefully. Ever since she was seven, (she was twelve now) Allison Frick had had nightmares about her father.
?ould you like a cup of water, honey??
?o thanks Mom, I? okay.?
?ll right sweetie,? Allison? mother said tiptoeing away, ?emember, go to sleep.? And Allison did.
When Allison and her mother got home they expected to see the beautiful house Allison? grandparents and her mother? parents-in-law had bought. But instead they saw a pile of ashes.
?his must be the wrong house,? said Allison? mother in a worried tone.
?ut those are our neighbors,? Allison pointed out, ?r at least Grandma and Grandpa? neighbors.?
?ell, let? go investigate,? announced Allison? mother, tears filling up in her eyes.
?kay,? agreed Allison, tears filling up in her eyes, too.
So they did. And they didn? like what they found. What did they find? Dead bodies. Three, in fact. Whose bodies were they? Allison? grandparents and her dad?.
The next time Allison woke up it was morning. She was breathing heavily. Plus, she felt sick. Lazily, she got out of bed and quickly put on her slippers. She walked downstairs and collapsed on the couch. She quietly dozed off.
?oney? Are you all right??
Allison opened her eyes. ?eah Mom,? said Allison groaning, ? just feel sick.?
?hy honey?? her mother asked in an extremely worried tone.
? had another dream about Dad,? she answered.
?h honey, I?e had enough!? Mrs. Frick cried.
?ou mean I have to go to school?? asked Allison.
?o, you can stay home, but I? going to see Dr. Mackintosh!?
?uh??
?e? a personality doctor, dear,? explained Mrs. Frick, cooling down.
?h,? said Allison. She knew what personality doctors were.
?ut?re you sure you?e not just making an excuse to not go to school?? said her mother, smiling sneakily.
?o-om!? cried Allison laughing, ?f course I? not!?
?ust making sure? said Allison? mother grinning wider. She started laughing. So did Allison.
?om! I? serious! I don? feel good!? laughed Allison.
Finally Mrs. Frick stopped laughing and said, ?? just so worried about you honey. You shouldn? be so worried about Dad. He? fine in heaven with Brownie.? Though Mrs. Frick was telling the truth and thought it was the right thing to say, she immediately regretted it because after that a deadly silence filled the room. It was so extremely uncomfortable that Mrs. Frick broke it.
?o you want something to eat honey??
?o thanks Mom.?
Chapter 2
Dr. Mackintosh
Bump. Bump. Allison bounced up and down in her seat. ?here it is!? Allison cried joyfully. She was tired of being carsick. ?here? Dr. Mackintosh? office!? Sure enough it was. They were there. Allison hopped out of the car. Waiting patiently for her mother she closed her eyes. She imagined.
?h no!? cried Mrs. Frick. She began to cry. So did Allison.
?ad? dead,? wailed Allison. Then, after several minutes of crying, Allison cried her tears out. Then she faced her mother who was still crying and said, ?ill Daddy be in heaven with Brownie??
Mrs. Frick sniffled a bit, stopped crying, and smiled. Allison always looked on the bright side of things. ?es darling. He will.? Then she burst out crying again. So did Allison.
?ll right here we go,? announced Allison? mother. Allison opened her eyes.
?uh??
?ime to go see Dr. Mackintosh silly!?
?h yeah, right.? Allison had been so busy remembering she had forgotten where she was.
?et? go!? And so they did.
A few minutes later Allison was sitting in Dr. Mackintosh? room with her mother by her side.
?et? see? Mrs. Frick had told Dr. Mackintosh everything.
?ell for starters what happened in the fire?? Dr. Mackintosh asked Allison. Allison stared blankly at Dr. Mackintosh and looked at her mother.
?ell, we were at John? parents? house and John? mother was cooking a great big chicken for supper.? She glanced over at Dr. Mackintosh.
?lease continue,? he said nodding his head.
?h sorry,? Mrs. Frick said, ? will.?
?es, thank you,? said Dr. Mackintosh.
Mrs. Frick continued. ?ut she overheated it and when she opened the oven a fire came out and burned her to death. It came out and killed John? father too. He was asleep on the couch. Then John came down and ?
?ot killed too,? ended Allison, frowning at the sad story she had only been told pieces of.
?nd where were you exactly?? asked Dr. Mackintosh.
?llison and I were out buying shoes. And when we came home we found three?hree?
?ead bodies,? finished Allison.
?es!? wailed Mrs. Frick, ?ead bodies!? She broke out into tears and Dr. Mackintosh patted her on the back.
?here, there,? he said uncomfortably. He had never been married and was very nervous around women.
?o it? not!? cried Mrs. Frick, pushing Dr. Mackintosh away, ?ohn? dead!? Dr. Mackintosh backed away and gave a helpless look at Allison. But Allison just stood and stared. She had never seen her mom have a temper tantrum before. Mrs. Frick continued to wail and Allison had a brainstorm.
?e was a good man? she started.
? good man? echoed Dr. Mackintosh, who had no clue what she was doing so decided to copy her.
?e had an excellent sense of smell,? started Allison again.
?nd was a good husband,? followed Mr. Mackintosh who thought he knew what she was doing. Then he added to Allison, ?e must?e been by the way she? crying.? Allison smiled and then continued. And this was the way it went until Mrs. Frick calmed down.
Chapter 3
Back to School
?om do I have to go back to school?? whined Allison.
It had been three days since the ?ituation? with Dr. Mackintosh. (Don? worry. Allison only missed one day of school -- Friday.)
?o you can?,? said Mrs. Frick. Dr. Mackintosh had said what Allison was going through was just a phase. He told her to not let Allison stay home from school just because of a nightmare and to encourage Allison to invite friends over. After all, she didn? have any.
?kay.? Allison was the smart type. She knew her mother meant it when she said no so she only asked once when she wanted something.
?ow hurry off to school darling.?
?es Mommy.? And so she did. How did she hurry? She ran. Fast. How fast? Very fast.
?ooooh! Scaredy-cat? back!? The kids taunted Allison in the hallway. ?id Scaredy-cat have another baby nightmare??
I bet you?e wondering how the rest of the children know about all the ?ightmare stuff?. Let me explain. Once upon a time Allison was a happy girl with lots of friends. Of course, she was only six so she still had a dad.
But her very best friend was a girl named Nora. Allison trusted her like she was her own sister, but soon they grew up. And when Nora turned eight she took things way too seriously. And since Allison was still seven, Nora began believing Allison was a baby. Fortunately, Nora had moved to another school and never used her ?ophisticated personality? around Allison. With Allison, Nora had a unique personality. She was a real Nora at heart. It was just too bad that she rarely saw Allison.
One day Nora was assigned to write the school gossip column. Unfortunately, she didn? have any gossip. That day, Nora came over to Allison? house to talk. Nora talked about her school and Allison told Nora her secrets. When they were done talking a lightbulb shone over Nora? head. That was it! She? put Allison? secrets in the gossip column. And she did. And guess what secret it was?
Soon all the kids in Nora? school knew about Allison being a scaredy-cat. In fact they thought the gossip was so good and juicy that they told their friends at Allison? school about how good Nora was at doing gossip columns. So, when Nora moved back to Thomas Jefferson Elementary School AKA Allison? school they wanted her to do the gossip column in their newspaper. So she decided to do the same juicy secret all over again. You can guess what happened next. Right. As soon as the newspaper was handed out, Allison lost all her friends. They all turned into her archenemies, including Nora, because from then on Allison realized who her ex-best friend was at heart. A traitor. So when Nora moved again ? this time to England ? Allison was glaring at Nora instead of smiling and waving. So was Nora.
Though Nora was gone, the rest of the kids weren?. They still teased and teased and teased. And that? how it is now.
?ey scaredy-cat. I? a big scary monster! Oooooh! I? so scared!? taunted the kids. This was followed by a series of giggles and whispers and more giggles until Allison walked into her homeroom and plopped down in her chair in the back row. As soon as she did the kids began chatting, taunting Allison, and chewing gum (this was not allowed in school). But as soon as the teacher came into the room the kids stopped talking, chewing gum, etc. Instead, they put on their ?ngel act? AKA I?e-been-sitting-here act. But the teacher was not fooled.
?ou?e been chewing gum haven? you?? the kids shook their heads in unison. That is, except Allison. She had her head buried in her arms. She was so humiliated she didn? even know the teacher was there staring at her.
?llison Frick, why are you hiding from me?? Allison looked up with alarm.
?? not ? Mr. Meanie, the teacher, shifted uncomfortably. All of a sudden, his foot stuck to the floor. ?um!? he exclaimed looking down at his gooey shoe. Then he glared at Allison. ?llison Frick did you chew gum in class?? demanded Mr. Meanie. Then he added, ?t? the rule you know? as though Allison didn? know that chewing gum was against the rules.
? didn? Mr. ? But before she could finish, one of the students named Charlotte who had been chewing gum said, ?e tried to stop her Mr. Meanie. She just wouldn? listen.? Mr. Meanie? eyes narrowed.
?llison Frick, go to the office right now!? screamed Mr. Meanie furiously. Allison, who had always been shy and obedient said ?o?. the students, including Charlotte, who had been giggling, stared in amazement at Allison. Nobody in the history of T.J.M.S. (short for Thomas Jefferson Middle School) had ever said no to Mr. I. M. A. Meanie. And to think ? the shyest one of them all was the one to make history. Gaping at her, the students decided this girl wasn? too bad after all. I mean, who wouldn? want to be friend with a girl who made history?
?r. Meanie, we were lying about Allison chewing gum in class.? Said Charlotte. Mr. Meanie didn? seem to belive her.
?tanding up for your friend huh?? Charlotte gulped. She didn? want to become a part of history too?xcept hers would be different. She could just imagine it, Charlotte, girl to get in the most trouble with Mr. Meanie in the history of T.J.M.S. She shivered at the thought.
?o, Mr. Meanie,? Charlotte said as she sat down in her seat. Allison? mouth dropped open. Charlotte had actually stood up for her!
?ery well,? said Mr. Meanie with a sly smile. He was used to kids obeying him. After all, his mother had told herself at first sight of her new baby boy that he was a born meanie. He had his name for a good reason. That? why he was cooking up a good punishment for Allison?ecause she didn? obey him.
Chapter 4
New Friends
?oney, where have you been?!? exclaimed Mrs. Frick. Her face was blotchy from crying.
?om what? the matter? Didn? Mr. Meanie tell you I had detention??
asked Allison coming over to her mom and hugging her. Mrs. Frick dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief and said, ?o he didn?.? Allison? eyes narrowed. ?hy that big meanie.? Dabbing at her last tear that had dropped on her check Mrs. Frick made her ?otherly face.? ?ever speak bad of people darling.? Allison sighed.
?om, can? you see?! He did this on purpose! He thinks detention isn? a big enough punishment!? Just then there was a knock at the door. Allison didn? rush to the door because since her mom did her work privately and Allison had no friends, their only visitor was the mailman. Usually.
So Allison kept her hair messy (it was a mess) and didn? care since it probably was the mailman. But her mom was a different story. She ran into the bathroom to wash off her face in a hurry and straightened her hair.
?om, it? probably just the mailman,? said Allison in a duh tone of voice. But her mother ignored her. She ran into the bathroom and patted her hair. Allison, who thought her mom had gone mad screamed ?om it? only the mailman!? and burst out into tears. Her mom paused, walked over to her, hugged her, and said ?oney it? not the mailman. Now, you may be used to the mailman coming right after school but remember you just had a 2 hour detention.? Allison? eyes widened and she too straightened her hair, ran into the bathroom, and washed off her tears. Then she ran over to the door just in time for her mom to open the door. And there, standing in the doorway, was a girl about Allison? age holding a tray covered with aluminum foil.
?hy, are you Allison? little friend?? asked Mrs. Frick, who was beaming. Her little Allison hadn? had friends in a long time.
?om, she? not my friend.? Then, standing in the doorway, was Charlotte. Mrs. Frick ignored her daughter.
?re you Allison? little friend?? she asked once again. This time Charlotte nodded. Then Charlotte said, ?y mom said I was mean to you Allison. I thought so too. She said to say sorry so sorry Allison. Here, I made these for you.? She handed the foil-covered tray to Mrs. Frick.
Allison, her eyes narrowed, said, ?isten Mom, she? not my friend.? Again Mrs. Frick ignored her. Instead, she ran into the kitchen. The two girls stood silent for a moment until Charlotte said, ?llison, can we be friends?? Allison opened her mouth to say yes but then remembered all the cruel things Charlotte had done to her.
?o.? Charlotte? eyes filled with sorrow. ?kay, well anyway see you tomorrow.? Allison slammed the door in her face. She heard the pitter patter of feet down the pavement and then pure silence. She stood there actually enjoying the silence until a noise interrupted her. A happy shriek came from the kitchen and a cry of ?hey?e so cute!? Allison shrugged and walked over to the kitchen to see what was so cute. Her mother was gazing at snowmen cookies adoringly.
Secretly Allison thought they looked tasty but believed her mother thought they were much cuter than they actually were. They were made out of plain cookie dough and covered with white sprinkles. Black licorice shaped in small circles represented buttons and a smiling mouth. Small orange gummy noses were adorned on their faces to represent a nose. The cookie dough formed a black hat, white scarf, and some stick arms.
?ooooh, I? better get it ready for your lunchbox!? She ran out of the kitchen and came back running with Allison? purple lunchbox. She picked up a cookie whose hat had fallen off. She nestled him on a pile of napkins in the corner of the lunchbox, moving Allison? sandwich out of the way. With a sigh, Allison walked out of the room. Her mother was so busy she didn? even notice.
Chapter 5
Help
That day at school Allison expected to be teased and taunted as usual. But she wasn?. Actully, the kids treated her sugar-sweet. At first Allison was confused. Why were the kids treating her differently? Then she remembered last night. Of course! Her standing up to Mr. Meanie! That? why the kids were being nice to her! Oh, life was going to be good.
Okay, maybe not. Why? Mr. Meanie was planning revenge on Alison. Evil revenge. What kind of evil revenge you ask? 2-hour detention wasn? enough for Mr. Meanie. He kept Allison in detention for 4 hours! And guess who was waiting for her when she walked out of the school miserably? None other than Charlotte. She wanted to bring Allison to her indoor pool. What was Allison? answer? No, no, no, no.
Allison sighed as she slammed the refrigerator door. She had always wanted to go to Charlotte? indoor pool, but she didn? want to be friends with a girl she didn? like. She wanted to be friends with someone because she liked them not because she was rich and had an indoor pool.
?oney, I? home!? Mrs. Frick flew inside. ?orry I? late, you must?e been lonely. Here for 4 1/2 hours! Did you do your homework??
Allison sighed. If only her mom knew. ?om I was in detention for 4 hours! I only was here for half an hour. I haven? even finished my snack yet.?
Mrs. Frick frowned. ?h!? Everything was silent.
Then, the phone rang. Allison? mom hurried over to the phone and said, ?ello? Oh Mrs. Richowomen, whatever reason have you called?? Allison perked up at the name. Mrs. Richowomen was Charlotte? mother. This was going to be interesting.
?eally? She did? Oh, dear, how dreadful! Can she breathe? She? fine, good. She must be a good swimmer. Never? That bad? Well, I?l go talk to Allison. Good-bye.? She hung up and walked over to Allison. Her eyes were narrowed. Allison shivered at her mother looking so fierce.
?llison, Mrs. Richowomen said Charlotte came home crying. Henrietta, I mean Mrs. Richowomen asked her what was wrong but Charlotte simply said nothing. Instead she dove into her pool with her clothes on and stayed underwater for several minutes. Finally Mrs. Richowoman asked her what was causing her to act so funny. Charlotte came out of the water and simply said, ?llison?. Then she dove back under and she hasn? come out since.? Allison turned pale and ran upstairs.
?re you okay honey?? asked Mrs. Frick as she raced after Allison. Allison slammed her bedroom door and held the door until she fell asleep.
Allison dreamed that her dead dog, Brownie was alive. At the swimming pool, Brownie saw Allison doing the dead man? float and thought she was drowning. He jumped into the water to save her and drowned.
In her dream, a body was sputtering in a swimming pool. She guessed it was her but when she got a closer look she realized that it was Charlotte and she was standing on the side of the pool with Brownie when Brownie jumped into the pool and began to sputter too.
?oooooo!? cried Allison in the dream.
?oney, really what is this all about?? Allison opened her eyes to her eyes, to her surprise, she was asleep at the door, her mom was leaning over her, and it was 6:32 pm. She had slept for 2 hours!
?oney, tell me what this is about. So the two of them sat on Allison? bed and Allison told her mother everything except the time when she had slammed the door in Charlotte? face. That was not to be mentioned to her mother. Finally, when Allison finished it was 6:38.
?his must be reported to Henrietta,? said Mrs. Frick to herself. Allison overheard this and gasped. ?h-no, mom don?!? But it was too late. Mrs. Frick was already calling Mrs. Richowomen? house.
Chapter 6
Dead
That night, Allison lay in bed and worried. Maybe Charlotte would hate her again and so would the other kids. Maybe Charlotte got sick from being in the water. Maybe, maybe, maybe. That? all that Allison was thinking so she laid in bed thinking ?aybes? until she fell asleep.
Allison woke up with a bad feeling, quickly got dressed, and came downstairs. Her mother was on the phone. ?eally, oh dear, I? so sorry! Is there anything I can do to help? Oh, well goodbye.? She got off the phone with a sad look. ?harlotte drowned last night,? she explained sadly. Allison? mouth dropped open, ?ou mean she??he? dead?? she stammered. Mrs. Frick nodded sadly.
All the kids in Allison? school acted normally. But that was only because they didn? know it. So that why, when Mr. Meanie announced Charlotte? death, everyone was schocked and silent. Only one person said, ?o you mean she? dead??
That day Mrs. Frick had more sad news for Allison. ?oney, I?e gotten lots of calls from parents who want us to leave. So we have to move. ? For the second time that day, Allison? mouth dropped open. Except this time she was speechless, totally speechless.
Chapter 7
The Move
Allison was packing her bags. It was her first time moving. Ever. Then she thought of the kids in her school. They still wanted to be her friend. But that was because they didn? know she was a murderer. Bloody murderer.
Allison climbed into her van on that cold and windy morning. Her suitcases were packed away and she was staring out the back window watching kids yell at her asking to be her friend. Now I shall stop here for I cannot explain Allison? feelings as the car trudged away. So, I have enclosed a page from Allison? diary:
I feel so guilty like I? a murderer as I drive away with all the children I don? want to be friends with asking to be friends. But then if I ever see them again, it could cause another tragedy and mother and I would be more unfortunate, as though we aren? enough. That would be awful. So, I pledge to always say ?es? when people ask me to be my friends. Yes, that would make life easier. But I still shall be a murderer. Well, I guess everything has a bad side. And an end of course. Oh diary, I have just realized I am running out of paper in you. So, I will end you in two words that can be happy or sad. In this case sad.
