by Nessa Brock
DARE TO DREAM
CHAPTER ONE
“Mia. MIA!” a harsh female voice made Mia jump in her seat. Her gray eyes raised up to meet her sixth-grade teacher, Mrs. Fetchings; a thirtyish woman with short curly raven hair and brown eyes. She wore a pink-fitting dress with navy blue sandals which was totally a bad combination with her bright pink outfit. “I asked you a question, Mia.” Mrs. Fetchings spoke again, tapping her sandaled feet. Mia blushed. “Miss Fetch…I mean Fetchings...I didn’t hear your question.” Mia babbled and bowed her head, red in the face. The whole class burst out with laughter. “Mrs. Fetch” was the nickname Mia’s class had given to their teacher. Mrs. Fetchings was filled with rage as she pulled her hair. “I SAID WHAT IS 3869 TIMES 245?! NOW I EXPECT YOU TO-“. “947,905” Mia interrupted and she clasped her mouth with her hands and shook her blonde hair. She had done it again. Mrs. Fetchings became red in the face and stormed back to her desk. She sat down and began to weep in frustration. The school bell rang and the class began to pack up their books and depart. “Way to go, Mia. You made Mrs. Fetch cry again.” A class mate said to Mia. The class left and Mrs. Fetchings and Mia were alone. Mia got her backpack and slowly walked towards her teacher. “Mrs. Fetchings...I am really sorry. I cannot help being fast in solving math questions.” Mia apologized. Mrs. Fetchings laughed despite her tears. “You are good in math and terrible at other subjects. You are a weird child. Just go.” Mrs. Fetchings dismissed her. Mia strolled out of the classroom.
“You got in trouble again.” A squeaky voice guesses. Mia turned to look at her best friend, Camilla. “Camilla, please, don’t start. It was an accident.” Mia defended herself. Camilla shook her short bouncy orange hair. ”You are just a showoff, but you can’t help it.” Camilla told her. Both girls were walking on the pavement near the street. “You are not interested in math, but rather in designing.” Camilla added. Mia grinned. “I cannot help it. I love to design things. I always daydream of becoming a fashion designer or an architect or...” “That’s enough before you go overboard.” Camilla interrupted. “Don’t you ever think? We live in a poor area with wild street boys, mothers who are smoking and children who attend poor schools like ours. How can you think of becoming a fashion designer in the city?” Camilla pointed out. “It is not as stupid as you being a cook.” Mia shot at her. “Being a cook will earn me some income and besides, a medium-sized restaurant will be alright.” Camilla defended herself. “Or you can have a high class elegant restaurant and earn a high income.” Mia pointed out. “No thanks, that’s an impossible dream for me.” Camilla disagreed, shaking her head. “I may live in a poor apartment with a nagging mother and annoying twins, but-“. “And a stepfather who is annoying.” Camilla interrupted. Mia glared at her. “Sorry.” Camilla apologized, rolling her coffee eyes. “Come on, let’s get some cakes.” Mia changed the subject. “Sorry, I can’t. I have to help my parents at the restaurant because a special guest is coming.” Camilla declined. “Yessh, parents! Okay.” Mia said. “Be careful of Jake. He might come and disturb you again.” Camilla warned her and she run off. “Okay!” Mia shouted in a response.
CHAPTER TWO
Mia began to daydream. “Oh no! That colour won’t do. Mix that pink colour with purple, draw out a red linen or add some small quality of dark pink. There, see! It looks fabulous!” Miss Mia, world renown fashion designer shows her employees about matching colours. “That’s stylish! Bravo!” comments from her employees occurred and there was a round of an applause for Mia. Mia smiles and flips her French-braided blonde hair and straightens her killer red and black stripes dress matching her spiky dark boots. Mia begins to speak, “As you know-“. “Watch out!” a male voice calls out. Mia appeared confused as a paintball splated on her face. “Yuck!” Mia spat out in disgust. “It suits you, designer.” said a young age mate of Mia who had dark brown glossy hair and deep green eyes. “Nice one, Jake. Just that you don’t have talent.” Mia shot at him. Jake laughed. “You are lying and you are aware that I am very good in art. Everybody knows that.” Jake smirked. It was true too and that was what made Jake famous in that neighborhood. “When I am rich and famous, I will send you to prison.” Mia threatened. Jake laughed. “You?! Famous! Don’t make me laugh.” Jake exclaimed in glee. “We have different brains. Me, being a math star and you being completely dumb.” Mia said and grinned as she folded her arms. Jake became uncomfortable and his grin disappeared from his face. “Not true.” He managed to say. “Then, why don’t we have a math competition.” Mia suggested. She was obviously enjoying his discomfort. Jake knew that Mia now has the upper hand. “No way. Last time, I was a laughing stock.” Jake refused. “Then stop pestering me.” Mia told him. Mia touched her blonde hair which was covered with green paint. “Thanks for the new look. My mom and her bulldozer husband are going to kill me.” Mia spoke in a sarcastic tone. Jake smiled. “You are welcome.” He said and left. “Coward.” Mia thought.
Mia slowly strutted towards her 301 apartment door after rushing over two flights of stairs since the elevator was not working. Mia opened the door with her spare key and met her identical younger brothers, Mark and Max. Their dad had passed away. Mia had her mom’s hair and her father’s gray eyes. Her 7 year-old brothers had auburn hair like their father and their mom’s light gray eyes. “You are late and what happened to your hair?” Max asked. “Mom and Pitch are going to have a fit.” Mark added. Mia smiled. “Pitch” was the name her brothers had given to their stepfather. Like her, her brothers hated him so much. “Pitch shouldn’t involve in my business.” Mia confirmed. “Good luck with that.” Max smirked. 15 minutes later, Mia managed to wash some of the paint off her hair and she went to her room. Her small-sized room was full of beautiful designs she had created. Mia took out her worn-out sketch book and began to draw some sketchy designs of a bird.
That evening, “Mia. Mom and Pitch are calling you.” Max called her from the door. Mia rolled her eyes, got up and made her way to the hall. She met her two angry parents. “Why did you mess up the bathroom?! You think it is easy to clear up that mess! And how did you get that paint on your hair?! You still have paint on your hair!” her mom exclaimed in anger. “Your mom is right.”Pitch cut in. Mia scowled at him. “Mind your own business!” she shot at him. “MIA ELIZABETH ASHELY LOGGERS! Apologize to him this instant!” her mom exploded. “Why?! He isn’t family! You just married him and all he does is smoke and complain all day along and he even wastes the money you earn. He is a jobless man! Besides, it wasn’t my fault for the paint on my hair, it was-“. Mia received a sharp slap on her cheek from Pitch which knocked her sideways. “How dare you?! You spiteful girl!” Pitch bellowed. Mia held her red cheek and rushed to her room. The slam of her door made her family jump in fright. The twins glared at him and stamped on his feet and left him and Pitch howled in pain. Their mom went closer to Pitch and she whispered in a low dangerous tone in his ear, “If you EVER lay a hand on my kids again, you will surely regret the day you met me. Got it?”. And then she left him shivering with fear.