by Andrea Witt
“What is this about a pool party?” my mom said as she looked at her phone. “Oh, whoops. I forgot to click out of that.” I said. “I don’t mind you having friends over, just make sure you feel fine, keep taking your meds regularly, and stay safe. Also, if you want that pool open this summer, it is going to take a lot of work to get it that way. I’m going to need you and Emily to help prep it.” she said in a mature mom-toned voice. “I know, mom. I already talked with Emily about how we are going to help open the pool. We can’t wait! I wonder if I could invite Andi, Sarah, Liz, and Joyce and Emily wants to invite Kara and Bella and we would set up our dome tents and camp a couple nights outside.” “Well that’s a lot of girls. I would rather you camp outside than have all those feet stomping around upstairs. That’s for sure! I don’t see a problem in your plan, at all. I am glad you are making friends and working together with Emily to combine efforts.”
And with that, we have a tentative party plan. I am so excited. Now I need to find the right dates and tighten up the plan completely. It is only October so there is plenty of time. We still need to get through Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, etc…before thinking about summer. Halloween!! Who will I dress up as? It’s only 3 weeks away!
I laid back down on my bed and began to think about all the possible Halloween costume choices I have, and I slowly drifted into dreamland. In dreamland, I had on layers of costumes in a swimming pool and I was surrounded by tents. I kept peeling off costumes, but I had so many that I was still dressed every time I pulled one off. Then, I pulled the last costume off, it was a clown and then I stood naked in front of the classroom while Jerry Spellman laughed evilly at me and turned into a clown himself. And he yelled, “RED!” Wake up! But it wasn’t him. It was my mom. She was standing over my bed. “Get up and get your jammies on. You were having an intense dream so loud you were yelling, and I heard you in the living room downstairs. Its bedtime but you don’t look comfortable in your shoes and clothes laying on top of your bed.”
I got up and got into my coziest of jammies. My mom tucked me in and kissed me goodnight. I fell asleep to her talking to me. I was so tired. As she kissed my cheek and said good night all the nervousness from that horrific nightmare slowly diminished and was replaced with her soft tone and gentle lips on my cheek. “Tomorrow is a new day.” She said as she pulled my blanket up and turned off my light. “Good night, I love you, Red.” She said and stepped out of my room as gently as she came into it. My heart and mind are constantly soothed by the tone of my mom’s soft voice. And I drifted away into dreamland.
Discover other titles by Andrea Witt:
The Woes of a Ginger Named Red--Book 1--The Big Move
Knowledge is Control
Dejavu Infinity
Don’t Be an Ass--A Pocket Guide to Daily Choices
Mouse’s Houses
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The Woes of a Ginger Named Red--Book 2--Treasures in the Attic
Published by Andrea Witt at Smashwords
Copyright 2019 Andrea Witt
Discussion Questions
1. What is your favorite part of the story?
2. If you were Andi, What part of the house would be your favorite part?
3. If you were able to have a party, what kind of party would you have?
4. Have you ever moved and made friends in more than one place?
5. If you answered yes to #4, have you ever gotten your friends together from both places?
6. What was your favorite found treasure in the attic?
7. What kind of candy would you have chosen at Sugar Town?