When I went to milk the cows today, Jay Appleton was waiting outside my shed. "You're being selfish," he told me.
I ignored him and just started walking, but he followed, 'tho he had to jog to keep up with my long strides through the orchard. I was impressed that he was able to keep up, even if he was wheezing by the time we reached the stockade fence that separated Appleton Orchard from Mills Farm. "I can be as selfish as I want to be," I told him, as I stretched my legs over the fence.
Pa had built that fence all around our property to keep out prying eyes. I was sure Jay wouldn't be able to climb over too easily, cuz it was taller than his head and covered in wire and orange "NO TRESPASSING" signs. But Jay surprised me again. There was a small gap at the bottom of the fence that he was able to wiggle through!!!
"No, you can't," he said, catching up to me again. "You're not living alone anymore, Melly. You have to deal with other people."
"I'll deal with you if you keep pestering me!" I flexed my fingers in his face in case he didn't get the point. "Know what I could do with these hands if I wanted to?"
"Yeah, I know," he said, and the steel in his voice stopped me cold. What exactly did he know about me, and how long had he been using that gap under the fence?
I sat down hard on the grass. I was still taller than him, even while sitting on my butt, but we seemed more equal now. "What do you want, Jay?"
He took a deep breath and let it go before he spoke. "For whatever reason, my mother likes you. Maybe she feels sorry for you, or maybe she's always wanted a daughter, but she cares for you and all your moping around is driving her nuts. So what I want is for you to do whatever it takes to cheer her up."
"She wants to paint my nails," I admitted.
"So let her."
"And she wants to paint the inside of my shed with a pretty shade of pink."
Jay winced. "Better you than me."
I nodded. "Jay?"
"Yes, Melly?"
"Can we be friends yet?"
"No, Melly. Not ever."
"Well, why not?"
"Because I know what you can do with your bare hands." He made a squishing-twisting motion and made it obvious that somehow he knew my deepest darkest secret!!! I'll have to be very careful around Jay from now on.
Illustrator Challenge
Artists can create illustrations of me or the events in my life, as long as they are appropriate for my young readers. Any previous post on this blog can be illustrated. If I like an image that goes well with a post on the blog, I may add a small thumbnail version along with credit to the artist and a link to the full-sized image. Images of me posted elsewhere should link back to the "Giant Girl Rampages" blog.
If you want to draw a picture of me, here's what you need to know:
I'm 15 years old and almost (but not quite) 18 feet tall. Mrs. Appleton says I'm very pretty and well proportioned, which I guess is a complement. I'm not super thin or anything but I think I'm in pretty good shape.
I have dirty blonde hair that's kind of wild because I trim it with Pa's old hedge trimmers. My eyes are green as the ocean, as Ma always said, but I wouldn't know because I've never seen an ocean. My skin is tanned from being out in the sun a lot but not too dark and (usually) not burned.
I wear a blouse and skirt-shorts that my mother quilted for me three years ago. They look like a big patchwork cuz she used many squares of fabric and cowhide. I've grown since then, so the skirt-shorts no longer come down to my knees, my blouse is way tight, and there's a bit of skin showing in between. I don't have any shoes (and that makes me sad to think about so I usually don't).
If you do draw my picture, send the link in a comment so I can post it to my blog. Thanks!!!
If you want to draw a picture of me, here's what you need to know:
I'm 15 years old and almost (but not quite) 18 feet tall. Mrs. Appleton says I'm very pretty and well proportioned, which I guess is a complement. I'm not super thin or anything but I think I'm in pretty good shape.
I have dirty blonde hair that's kind of wild because I trim it with Pa's old hedge trimmers. My eyes are green as the ocean, as Ma always said, but I wouldn't know because I've never seen an ocean. My skin is tanned from being out in the sun a lot but not too dark and (usually) not burned.
I wear a blouse and skirt-shorts that my mother quilted for me three years ago. They look like a big patchwork cuz she used many squares of fabric and cowhide. I've grown since then, so the skirt-shorts no longer come down to my knees, my blouse is way tight, and there's a bit of skin showing in between. I don't have any shoes (and that makes me sad to think about so I usually don't).
If you do draw my picture, send the link in a comment so I can post it to my blog. Thanks!!!
Posts
Hmm. It's okay to have secrets sometimes, in my opinion. Otherwise, people would use our secrets for harm instead of help. Just make sure the secret isn't doing more harm kept!
ReplyDeleteIn this case, I am somewhat curious, but I know what it feels like to have deep dark secrets about myself too.
Okay. Whatever that was, I'm glad the Appleton kid is upstanding for his moom, but he should still give you some respect (I don't mean fearful respect, I mean actual). Have a talk with him, face to face. I don't think it's just your size 'n' strength he's afraid of.
ReplyDeleteFace to face is tough with Jay. How about face to kneecap?
ReplyDeleteit pie guy don’t worry it just his guyniss (not the same as manliness) you just got to show him no matter how big you are your still a self-conscious self absorb moody teenage girl … um now I’m scared piont is he will get over it.
ReplyDeletepie guy ps dont worrie about the last comment i ment all teenage girl are like that not just you
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pie Guy. I really do want to be just like everyone else, so I guess it's good that other people are as messed up as I am!!!
ReplyDelete