I talked to Mr. Appleton today. I said I knew how worried he was about money, and maybe I could get a job to help pay for things. Maybe I could move boxes, or unload trucks, or help people reach things on tall shelves. Or like Pie Guy said in the comments, there's got to be a farm job for somebody like me who can do the work of five men and a tractor. As long as it didn't keep me from taking care of my own cows, of course.
Mr. Appleton laughed, actually laughed, for the first time since I met him. "I just got off the phone with somebody who can help us," he said. "If things go as planned, none of us will ever have to worry about money again!"
He wouldn't say anything more than that.
For a moment I thought of Dream Boy and the promise he made to provide for me. Then I remembered that Dream Boy is just a figment of my imagination. Of course Mr. Appleton is talking about somebody else, but who???
Friday, July 18, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
A New Crisis Underfoot
Two coats of paint later, I'm back in my shed. The color will take some getting used to. The walls are so pink, they make everything in the room look pink too!!! When I stand in the corner, my skin looks like bubble-gum!!!
Now Mrs. Appleton is talking about carpeting. She has a dozen little sample squares, and she's checking each one against the walls and under the sodium lights. I can see Mr. Appleton trying very hard not to throw a fit about the cost.
I'm going to talk to him about getting a job to help pay for my own expenses...but maybe not until tomorrow when he's in a better mood.
Now Mrs. Appleton is talking about carpeting. She has a dozen little sample squares, and she's checking each one against the walls and under the sodium lights. I can see Mr. Appleton trying very hard not to throw a fit about the cost.
I'm going to talk to him about getting a job to help pay for my own expenses...but maybe not until tomorrow when he's in a better mood.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Get Your Tickets Here!
I'm still worried about all the money I'm costing Mr. Appleton. That's probably why I dreamed that the Appletons had to turn their orchard into a circus to pay my bills. A long line of people handed over an admission fee to Jay at the gate, then Mrs. Appleton directed them all past caged animals and cotton candy booths into a huge tent. That's where I danced and jumped while Mr. Appleton waved a chair at me and cracked his whip like a lion-tamer.
I realized it was a dream when I saw Dream Boy in the crowd. He really stood out cuz he's outrageously tall and handsome. His dark green eyes seemed to glow in the light of a nearby fire-eater and his sandy brown hair was tied into a knot at the back of his head. "Why do you degrade yourself so, my queen?" he asked.
"Mr. Appleton needs money to take care of me," I told him.
"Ah yes, the little people are obsessed with their little green slips of paper. We have no such need of money on the Island of the Tall Ones."
"The Island of the Tall Ones doesn't exist and neither do you," I replied. "I don't live in dreams. I live in the real world."
He shrugged and said, "For now."
"In the real world, Mr. Appleton needs money to pay for my food and clothing."
"Then we will make sure he is able to do so without making you jump through hoops for your supper."
"Oh yeah? And how are you going to do that?"
"We will find a way, my queen. Our obligation is to provide for you."
Honestly, could my dreams get any weirder???
I realized it was a dream when I saw Dream Boy in the crowd. He really stood out cuz he's outrageously tall and handsome. His dark green eyes seemed to glow in the light of a nearby fire-eater and his sandy brown hair was tied into a knot at the back of his head. "Why do you degrade yourself so, my queen?" he asked.
"Mr. Appleton needs money to take care of me," I told him.
"Ah yes, the little people are obsessed with their little green slips of paper. We have no such need of money on the Island of the Tall Ones."
"The Island of the Tall Ones doesn't exist and neither do you," I replied. "I don't live in dreams. I live in the real world."
He shrugged and said, "For now."
"In the real world, Mr. Appleton needs money to pay for my food and clothing."
"Then we will make sure he is able to do so without making you jump through hoops for your supper."
"Oh yeah? And how are you going to do that?"
"We will find a way, my queen. Our obligation is to provide for you."
Honestly, could my dreams get any weirder???
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Unwanted and Unloved
I overheard Mr. and Mrs. Appleton talking last night. They were walking in from the orchard and I guess they didn't realize I was sleeping outside to avoid the paint fumes. They passed by the other side of the shed, so I couldn't see them, but I sure could hear them!!!
Mr. Appleton was complaining about how much it was costing him to keep me on their property. He complained about all the food I was eating, the clothes I would need, and the shed I was living in--which was pretty expensive to build, I guess. Plus Mrs. Appleton wants him to build me a whole roomful of custom-sized furniture.
"But Melly is such a sweet girl," said Mrs. Appleton.
"She's a monster," said Mr. Appleton. "No wonder Mick and Molly hid her from the world for so long."
"But dear, she's helpless on her own. It's our duty to take care of her."
"Why? So you can have the daughter you always wanted? If you feel that strongly, we can adopt a normal-sized girl. There are plenty to choose from, and they won't send us to the poor house like Melly's doing!"
I had no idea Mr. Appleton felt that way about me!!! I feel like running away, if I'm not wanted here, but where would I go? Nobody else is going to take me in!!!
I'm stuck here until Mr. Appleton throws me out or until I drive the Appletons into bankruptcy.
Mr. Appleton was complaining about how much it was costing him to keep me on their property. He complained about all the food I was eating, the clothes I would need, and the shed I was living in--which was pretty expensive to build, I guess. Plus Mrs. Appleton wants him to build me a whole roomful of custom-sized furniture.
"But Melly is such a sweet girl," said Mrs. Appleton.
"She's a monster," said Mr. Appleton. "No wonder Mick and Molly hid her from the world for so long."
"But dear, she's helpless on her own. It's our duty to take care of her."
"Why? So you can have the daughter you always wanted? If you feel that strongly, we can adopt a normal-sized girl. There are plenty to choose from, and they won't send us to the poor house like Melly's doing!"
I had no idea Mr. Appleton felt that way about me!!! I feel like running away, if I'm not wanted here, but where would I go? Nobody else is going to take me in!!!
I'm stuck here until Mr. Appleton throws me out or until I drive the Appletons into bankruptcy.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Cotton Candy From The 1939 World's Fair
My shed is unbearable right now, so I have my computer in my lap with a very long extension cord. It's all Mrs. Appleton's fault. She means well, but her weekend painting project filled my room with more fumes than the ceiling fans could handle!!!
Painting the four inside walls took fifteen gallons of pink paint in a color called Cotton Candy From The 1939 World's Fair. Jay says it looks more like Upset Stomach Medication From The Downstairs Bathroom, but Mrs. Appleton was the one who picked out the color, not me!!! Jay helped us paint, 'tho he still isn't talking to me much, and I'm not really talking to him. We just keep looking at each other, all suspicious like. Jay and his mother painted the low parts while I took the sections up high, of course!!!
My shed now also has a lumpy mattress filled with pieces of foam, thanks for Mr. Appleton. I think it's great, but Mrs. Appleton wants him to build me a real bed with a headboard, footboard, and some kind of fancy canopy. Mr. Appleton rolled his eyes when she said that. He said he'd think about it, after he finished making me a really big desk and chair.
If the paint fumes don't go away by tonight, I'll have to drag the mattress outside to sleep. I just hope it doesn't rain!!!
Painting the four inside walls took fifteen gallons of pink paint in a color called Cotton Candy From The 1939 World's Fair. Jay says it looks more like Upset Stomach Medication From The Downstairs Bathroom, but Mrs. Appleton was the one who picked out the color, not me!!! Jay helped us paint, 'tho he still isn't talking to me much, and I'm not really talking to him. We just keep looking at each other, all suspicious like. Jay and his mother painted the low parts while I took the sections up high, of course!!!
My shed now also has a lumpy mattress filled with pieces of foam, thanks for Mr. Appleton. I think it's great, but Mrs. Appleton wants him to build me a real bed with a headboard, footboard, and some kind of fancy canopy. Mr. Appleton rolled his eyes when she said that. He said he'd think about it, after he finished making me a really big desk and chair.
If the paint fumes don't go away by tonight, I'll have to drag the mattress outside to sleep. I just hope it doesn't rain!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
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
