8 February 2008 - Six Little Stuarts in New York ~ Chapter 1
This is New York, America; but we aren't Americans. We used to live in New Zealand. That is, Father had a job in America, and Mother went too. First, they doubted taking us at all. There are six of us, you see; and that doesn't help. Mother thought we should all go to a hotel. Father said they wouldn't have room for eight. I asked if we mightn't go to Grandmother's house (she lived in New York, you see) and Mother said, "That's it!" in such a loud voice that it made us all jump. Of course Jim jumped highest; he's the youngest, and the lightest, Father says.
But let's get back to explanations. You really have to explain in a book. Here is a list of characters:
Grandmother: Real name Alicia. Age unknown. Very short, curly whie hair, blue eyes.
Kat: Real name Katrina. No one likes the name, except for Mother. Age 17. Quite tall, blue eyes, yellow hair. Very pretty. Awfully silly about parties, and makes quite a fuss dressing, even for breakfast.
Chris: Real name Christopher. Age 15. Tall for his age, Mother says. Brown hair, blue eyes. Hates school. Tells Kat she needn't remind him to do homework as he's fifteen now!
Laura: She has no nickname (you can't nickname her). Age 12. Tangly brown hair, brown eyes. Quite a tomboy. Plays boys' games, says girls games are stuck up.
Anne: Real name Lucianne. Age 10. Short, brown hair, greenish eyes; pretty much brown. Tries to imitate Kat.
Hazel: Age eight. Curly yellow hair, blue eyes. Awfully pretty. Absolutely loathes sums.
Jim: Real name James. Age 6, so doesn't like sums any more than Hazel. Blue eyes, brown hair. Thinks all pirates and heoes are stupendous.
I don't know anyone else to put in. Now I've described the people, let's get on with the story.
When we were packing (I shan't tell you about the boat trip; it took too long), Hazel and Jim forgot their stuffed chipmunk and teddy bear. We had to go back, and were just in time for the train. Kat scolded them a great deal for that.
The train, surprisingly, was slow coming up to the station. I don't want to tell you about those two, long, endless hours, with nothing to do. I was longing to get to the station, and so was everyone else, when screeeeeechhh, there was a horrible sound, and the train stopped! Everyone was relieved.
"Station!" cried Christ, for no reason at all.
"Station!" echoed Anne.
"Station!" chirped Hazel.
A pony and trap were waiting; and a tall man, with almost no hair, came to meet us.
"I'll take you," he said, "hop up."
We didn't hop up: rather, we jumped. We drove only a short while, compared to the train, but Kat, who is very exact, says it was half an hour. We were very squashed in the trap; we were glad to get out.
"I'm flatter'n a pancake!" grumbled Anne.
"I'm hungry," said Chris, "it must be suppertime already."
"I should think so!" Kat, also, was simply ravenous.
When we went into the dining room at the house, we saw the table. I marvelled at all the platters filled with corned beet and bread, and at the big bowls of preserved fruit, the apple pies, the thick, smooth, blobby cream, and the savoury smell of mustard sauce. Anne closed her eyes and let the smell "into herself."
Hazel began, "I am so...."
Kat cut her short by explaining very fast, "It took quite long, didn't it? Very long, so long I though it should last forever," to the cook, who was in the kitchen. Just then Hazel said out loud what we had all been thinking:
"When will we see Grandmother?"
Comments
8 February 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Rebecca
ooohh I am interested. :D
2 July 2008 - hi rebecca
Posted by Anonymous
sorry about the delay! i keep forgetting. i will type
so me more! Bye!
From Bethany
