I don't know what happened! I held that breath a second and just froze. This was a different froze though. You know that one where you're going to say something, but you don't really know what, so you take that breath and have to get through all your thoughts in about half a second or the topic ends? Well, I took that breath and thought through all my pleas, excuses and different ways to blame someone else for what had just happened.
Maybe I'll tell her it's because of what's going on at home. I'll finally have a chance to rail on her for what she and Dad did to me and Ioan.
But before I had a chance to fully decide what to say my second ended. Actually I think I might have even taken another second before I did the unthinkable. Maddie had stopped and was watching me expectantly, almost as though she knew I was getting up a good argument against her, and then bam! I started laughing! I don't know why. But all of a sudden I just started laughing! It wasn't like it started as a full fledged belly laugh, no it started more as a cough. But within seconds I was crying I laughed so hard! And of course Maddie joined right in. We laughed until our sides were amazingly sore and we stifly climbed into the car. Once we got in I was back to business.
"Are you going to tell Dad?"
Maddie was still getting control of herself as she turned the ignition. "No" she chuckled "No if I did that it might not happen again." She gave me a broad mischevious grin. Once again, I was speechless.
Again?! Did she just say she wants this to happen again?! What kind of crazy person has my father married?!!!!
"Kylee, I'm not saying I want you to make lots of trouble so stop looking at me like that. I'm just saying that spontaneous is fun, sometimes you get in a little mischeif, but as long as it's minimal it's ok." We were pulling away from the library now and she smiled at me. "I want you to have fun and I want us to be friends. To be honest I think I would have been more trouble back there if you hadn't been with me. That German librarian would've had me rolling on the floor if you hadn't been with me and looked so scared!"
I blushed. I probably had looked terrified when that librarian came over and started chastising me. Thinking back the situation had been pretty funny! I looked over at my new companion and had that thought people tend to have once they've sworn something off and then give it a little room to sink in.
Maybe this won't be so bad after all.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Friday, July 18, 2008
A Living Nightmare: part 7
I was in absolute shock as we walked out of the building. And that feeling was only compounded when, once we'd cleared the library door, Maddie started laughing!
I stared at my step-mother in shock! My dad would have killed me by now if I'd humiliated him the way I'd just done to her. Well, maybe not killed me, but definitely I would be feeling the effects of his displeasure for weeks to come (aka "Kylee is grounded for a month" though he would never say that.)
Maddie laughed for a full minute then, when she realized I wasn't sharing in her enjoyment of the situation, bowed her head in emberassment and continued to giggle.
When I finally snapped out of my shocked stuppor I took a breath and
Maddie laughed for a full minute then, when she realized I wasn't sharing in her enjoyment of the situation, bowed her head in emberassment and continued to giggle.
When I finally snapped out of my shocked stuppor I took a breath and
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Writer's Note
Hey all! OK, I was having waaay too much fun the other day while working on part 5 and went a little crazy with the German. So, 1 someone asked me if I did that because I speak German. The answer is no. My family is part German, but I was just having fun with the Google translate tool, I don't speak German. 2 I went back and put translations in that section, so if it's still to confusing, or just really tacky, let me know I'll change it to English. Thanks for reading!
Lindsay
Lindsay
Friday, June 27, 2008
A Living Nightmare: part 6
"I wasn't! I really, really wasn't. I was just playing with her, my dad and I do it to each other all the time. It really was just a joke! I didn't mean to scare her so bad or to ruin your book. It was just to be funny. Please don't get mad at me! I'll pay for it! I have $35 with me and I'll do some volunteer work, but please don't lock me out of the library! I need to be able to get books for school and study." I gazed imploringly into Galinda Good's blue eyes and practically made "the puppy pout". For the love of mustard I might as well have said "pretty please with a cherry on top". But fear of what my father would do to me if I got suspended from the library for making trouble, far outweighed any fear of embarassment.
Galinda's soft smile got softer. "Do you realize how many people you frightened?"
I gulped and nodded slightly. Most of them had stuck around to watch my humiliation and punishment.
Then her smile changed into a proud, happy, believing smile and I started to breath again. "I don't think you meant to cause any trouble."
"VAT?!" Seragent Helga wailed.
"Do you promise you won't do it again?" I nodded an enthusiastic affirmative. "Then you pay for the book and we'll call it even, alright?" The last was more directed at Maddie then me but we both agreed; following Galinda to the front while Helga stood howling about the whole arrangement and cursing all youth.
A Living Nightmare: part 5
curled up in a chair reading Eragon.
A woman after my own heart! I smiled as I watched. Her face was so intent on the book you could hardly tell she was a grown woman, not a teenage girl fantacising about fighting alongside the hot, blonde hero.
After watching her a few minutes I decided I'd better tell her I was here. So I manuvered myself so I was approaching her from behind. And for some weird reason, decided I would jab my fingers into her rib cage and say "boo!" I don't know why I did it. I mean I just met the woman and didn't think I really liked her enough to scare her. But, I must say, her reaction was priceless!
The quick motion and short word elicited an earpiercing squeal, three second flight, and the best look of terror I've ever seen! Which of course, also brought five librarians and at least half a dozen patrons to see what the comotion was and shush my terrified companion. I deffinately hadn't expected that. And as I was trying to explain myself and apologize, one of the librarians, I think her name is Drill Sargent Helga. You know her, the one who loves to freak everyone out and make sure the library is 1 silent as the grave. 2 clean as a whistle. And 3 that all the books are not only arranged by isbn, dewy decimal and color, but that they are all in prestine condition. And heaven forbide you be the last person she sees holding a damaged book! She'll have you library card suspended, your driver's licences revoked and you house forclosed on. Know who I'm talking about now? Well that, of course, had to be the person who discovered that, because of my harmless little game, Eragon now lay in 5 different pieces on the floor.
Great, now I'm in HUGE trouble!
Luckily, Madeleine didn't appear to be too mad at me and came to my defense. "Oh dear! I'm so sorry. That was my fault, I should have been holding that better. Let me pay for that .How much do you suppose the damages are?"
Helga wasn't having that. Now it weas my turn to be terrified. "Nine! You vill not pay! Ze book vill be vorked for and zis wenig Mühe Maker (little trouble maker) is no coming beck to zis Bibliothek (library) again. And if she dos I vill have her arrested! Ve do not vant any Mühe Entscheidungsträger (trouble makers) here!"
What in the World is this woman saying! I started to panic so much I couldn't breath anymore. Then all of a sudden the people started to part. Hark do I see a pink bubble? Yes! Here it comes, closer closer! Tis Galinda the good to the rescue!
"Anna what's wrong?" The new librarian asked with a concerned look on her face that made me think of a four year old that is seeing her mother cry for the first time.
"Zis wenig (little) vorm is scaring patrons and ruining books! I am srowing her out!"
"Oh dear." Galinda frowned and turned to face me. I got a sinking feeling the good witch wasn't going to be helping me today. I felt so condemned in fact I wasn't even surprised Galinda could understand the Sargent. "Sweetheart I think you'd better tell me what happened."
I made an attempt at swallowing back my fear and darted a glance at Maddie. "Well, you see, uh. I was here taking a class. And, well, my stepmom was waiting for me. And, when I got done in my class I went to find her and she was reading..."
"A good sing to do!" Helga (Anna) thundered.
"Well yeah I know," She's making me so nervous I can't remember if I'm innocent or guilty! "I know reading's a good thing. But she was so wrapped up in her book she didn't see me..."
"So you frighten her!"
"Please, I don't think Kylee was trying to be mean." Madeleine was trying to defend me, but her statement just made me feel worse. Nevertheless, I jumped on her it and went into pleading mode with the encouragement of Galinda's compassionate smile.
A woman after my own heart! I smiled as I watched. Her face was so intent on the book you could hardly tell she was a grown woman, not a teenage girl fantacising about fighting alongside the hot, blonde hero.
After watching her a few minutes I decided I'd better tell her I was here. So I manuvered myself so I was approaching her from behind. And for some weird reason, decided I would jab my fingers into her rib cage and say "boo!" I don't know why I did it. I mean I just met the woman and didn't think I really liked her enough to scare her. But, I must say, her reaction was priceless!
The quick motion and short word elicited an earpiercing squeal, three second flight, and the best look of terror I've ever seen! Which of course, also brought five librarians and at least half a dozen patrons to see what the comotion was and shush my terrified companion. I deffinately hadn't expected that. And as I was trying to explain myself and apologize, one of the librarians, I think her name is Drill Sargent Helga. You know her, the one who loves to freak everyone out and make sure the library is 1 silent as the grave. 2 clean as a whistle. And 3 that all the books are not only arranged by isbn, dewy decimal and color, but that they are all in prestine condition. And heaven forbide you be the last person she sees holding a damaged book! She'll have you library card suspended, your driver's licences revoked and you house forclosed on. Know who I'm talking about now? Well that, of course, had to be the person who discovered that, because of my harmless little game, Eragon now lay in 5 different pieces on the floor.
Great, now I'm in HUGE trouble!
Luckily, Madeleine didn't appear to be too mad at me and came to my defense. "Oh dear! I'm so sorry. That was my fault, I should have been holding that better. Let me pay for that .How much do you suppose the damages are?"
Helga wasn't having that. Now it weas my turn to be terrified. "Nine! You vill not pay! Ze book vill be vorked for and zis wenig Mühe Maker (little trouble maker) is no coming beck to zis Bibliothek (library) again. And if she dos I vill have her arrested! Ve do not vant any Mühe Entscheidungsträger (trouble makers) here!"
What in the World is this woman saying! I started to panic so much I couldn't breath anymore. Then all of a sudden the people started to part. Hark do I see a pink bubble? Yes! Here it comes, closer closer! Tis Galinda the good to the rescue!
"Anna what's wrong?" The new librarian asked with a concerned look on her face that made me think of a four year old that is seeing her mother cry for the first time.
"Zis wenig (little) vorm is scaring patrons and ruining books! I am srowing her out!"
"Oh dear." Galinda frowned and turned to face me. I got a sinking feeling the good witch wasn't going to be helping me today. I felt so condemned in fact I wasn't even surprised Galinda could understand the Sargent. "Sweetheart I think you'd better tell me what happened."
I made an attempt at swallowing back my fear and darted a glance at Maddie. "Well, you see, uh. I was here taking a class. And, well, my stepmom was waiting for me. And, when I got done in my class I went to find her and she was reading..."
"A good sing to do!" Helga (Anna) thundered.
"Well yeah I know," She's making me so nervous I can't remember if I'm innocent or guilty! "I know reading's a good thing. But she was so wrapped up in her book she didn't see me..."
"So you frighten her!"
"Please, I don't think Kylee was trying to be mean." Madeleine was trying to defend me, but her statement just made me feel worse. Nevertheless, I jumped on her it and went into pleading mode with the encouragement of Galinda's compassionate smile.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
A Living Nightmare: part 4
Not really in the mood for small talk right now. "Yes." I wanted to keep this exchange as minimal as possible.
"I suppose you have your license then?"
"Yes."
After my last answer Madeleine pressed her lips together into a thin line. I decided I'd better say something nice before I really regretted this day by making her upset thereby making dad upset.
"I got my license last year. I'm not allowed to drive alone in town." Madeleine brightened after my voluntary comment.
"Do you know why?" An honestly curious question.
"I'm claustrophobic." I followed it with, "Especially when I'm driving in town."
Madeleine looked startled then it changed to concern. "You're not right now are you?"
I almost laughed, but I took care to keep a straight face. I wasn't ready to be friends with her yet.
"No. Cars aren't really a problem for me, but driving through town makes me feel trapped. Then I hyperventilate and have to pull over."
"What do you do on the bus?" Madeleine's eyebrows were furrowing.
"I walk to school. But you won't catch me in my dad's bathroom for more than 5 minutes at a time." Unconsciously my mental barriers were going down. This wasn't so bad. I started relaxing. My face had turned from looking out my window to looking out the windshield. I smiled a little then looked over at Madeleine. She was not smiling.
"What's wrong?" That look was making me nervous.
Her head snapped up like I'd pulled her out of the clouds. She stared at me a second then, "Nothing."
She shook her head and looked straight again.
After 30 minutes of being lost we finally made it to the library.
That wasn't so bad. I thought as Maddie (she asked me to call her that, but I didn't feel that clse to her yet) went to park the car. I watched her a second, then turned and went inside. She's actually pretty fun.
I smiled a little to myself as I thought about one of the stories she told me. Apperently when she was learning to drive whenever she got into her car she would forget where she was going. She said the first time her dad took her out (it was ussually her mom who did) he didn't know that happened and she ended up getting them lost for two hours while he took a nap in the front seat!
We'd both had a good laugh about that. My dad would have never done that. My grandpa was the one who taught me to drive, but my dad likes to be really sure about what's happening before he trusts he fate to circumstances.
The class was fairly engaging and Tina and I did pretty well; I wasn't really thrilled about the next class though.
Tina had to go home right after, so we couldn't hang out. I hugged her goodbye then went to wander the halls of the library in search of Madeleine.
I found her
"I suppose you have your license then?"
"Yes."
After my last answer Madeleine pressed her lips together into a thin line. I decided I'd better say something nice before I really regretted this day by making her upset thereby making dad upset.
"I got my license last year. I'm not allowed to drive alone in town." Madeleine brightened after my voluntary comment.
"Do you know why?" An honestly curious question.
"I'm claustrophobic." I followed it with, "Especially when I'm driving in town."
Madeleine looked startled then it changed to concern. "You're not right now are you?"
I almost laughed, but I took care to keep a straight face. I wasn't ready to be friends with her yet.
"No. Cars aren't really a problem for me, but driving through town makes me feel trapped. Then I hyperventilate and have to pull over."
"What do you do on the bus?" Madeleine's eyebrows were furrowing.
"I walk to school. But you won't catch me in my dad's bathroom for more than 5 minutes at a time." Unconsciously my mental barriers were going down. This wasn't so bad. I started relaxing. My face had turned from looking out my window to looking out the windshield. I smiled a little then looked over at Madeleine. She was not smiling.
"What's wrong?" That look was making me nervous.
Her head snapped up like I'd pulled her out of the clouds. She stared at me a second then, "Nothing."
She shook her head and looked straight again.
After 30 minutes of being lost we finally made it to the library.
That wasn't so bad. I thought as Maddie (she asked me to call her that, but I didn't feel that clse to her yet) went to park the car. I watched her a second, then turned and went inside. She's actually pretty fun.
I smiled a little to myself as I thought about one of the stories she told me. Apperently when she was learning to drive whenever she got into her car she would forget where she was going. She said the first time her dad took her out (it was ussually her mom who did) he didn't know that happened and she ended up getting them lost for two hours while he took a nap in the front seat!
We'd both had a good laugh about that. My dad would have never done that. My grandpa was the one who taught me to drive, but my dad likes to be really sure about what's happening before he trusts he fate to circumstances.
The class was fairly engaging and Tina and I did pretty well; I wasn't really thrilled about the next class though.
Tina had to go home right after, so we couldn't hang out. I hugged her goodbye then went to wander the halls of the library in search of Madeleine.
I found her
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Chapter 2: Living Nightmare part 3
I rushed to get ready, then sulkily followed Madeleine out to her car. We climbed into her 2007 Mustang.
"So, where are we going?" Madeleine asked as we pulled out of the parking garage.
Such perk suggests something evil. I thought.
"The library." And with that tart reply I went back to glaring out my window. I can't believe I'm allowing myself to do this. I don't even know this woman! It might not have been so bad if they'd actually told me. But they actually think that I'm gonna be ok with having my almost boyfriend as a brother? Think again daddy-o.
"I'm afraid I've never been to any libraries in Chicago, do you think you could direct me there?" Her request was so sincere yet tentative I had no choice but to soften a little. I'm not very good at making people suffer.
"Yeah, I think I can." I responded, not quite sweetly, but definitely kindly. "I've only been to this library a couple other times, so I'm not quite sure I know exactly how to get there."
"Well, you have a better idea than I do."
She smiled and moved her shoulders as if in a silent chuckle. I pretended not to notice, even though I knew this would be a perfect opportunity for a million different reactions. The truth was I couldn't decide whether to get angry or ask what she was thinking about. Opting out of this invitation was the best move I had at the moment.
We drove along in silence for awhile, and finally it was Madeleine who broke the quiet.
"Do you know how to drive Kylee?"
"I'm afraid I've never been to any libraries in Chicago, do you think you could direct me there?" Her request was so sincere yet tentative I had no choice but to soften a little. I'm not very good at making people suffer.
"Yeah, I think I can." I responded, not quite sweetly, but definitely kindly. "I've only been to this library a couple other times, so I'm not quite sure I know exactly how to get there."
"Well, you have a better idea than I do."
She smiled and moved her shoulders as if in a silent chuckle. I pretended not to notice, even though I knew this would be a perfect opportunity for a million different reactions. The truth was I couldn't decide whether to get angry or ask what she was thinking about. Opting out of this invitation was the best move I had at the moment.
We drove along in silence for awhile, and finally it was Madeleine who broke the quiet.
"Do you know how to drive Kylee?"
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