Holly

Holly looked down at her favorite sneakers sliding in the fresh mud. She could feel it squishing against the worn tread. The tread was her favorite part about those sneakers. It came up over the toes and heels. She was certain this made her run faster. It didn't matter that the blue canvas was worn and faded, and the pictures on the sides had started to rub off. These sneakers were special. She could still remember the day Mom had bought them at Stedmans for her older sister. Sometimes she felt as though it was her feet that were measured that day, and she remembered looking down proudly at her new sneakers as she walked over the creaky wooden floors and out of the store. But it hadn't been her. She hadn't needed new sneakers for school. It was Heather who was five. She had picked out the Bubblegummers, as the sneakers were called. But all that didn't matter - the Bubblegummers were hers now.
She looked around at the dusky sky, the sound of the harvester droning in the distance and then coming closer. Sometimes it frightened her, but she knew she was safe. Daddy was with them. He knew everything and he would keep her safe.
"Ok, girls," said her mom, "don't go too far from us. And try to find the whole ones." Mom and Aunt Mimi each held a burlap bag. It was fun being outside after bedtime with everybody. They waited until Daddy came home from work and they'd finished supper before piling into the car and driving to the field. She looked down and spotted one. It was a beautiful carrot, even though it was still covered in mud. Then she saw another and another. She ran from carrot to carrot, scooping them up into her arms until she couldn't hold even one more. Then she ran to Aunt Mimi and tried to get them all into the bag. The burlap felt scratchy against her skin. Heather ran over with a handful of carrots to put in. She had her thumb in her mouth, so she could only gather the carrots with one hand. Holly didn't think it was strange for a six-year-old to be still sucking her thumb. But she didn't really understand what Heather saw in it. She had tried it, but her thumb always tasted funny, and then it made her thumb all wet, which was annoying. Even Hannah, who was only four, didn't suck her thumb. But she did like to cry to Mommy about everything. Holly and Heather found this quite amusing and often thought up ways to trick Hannah. They weren't trying to be mean, it was just so fun to be able to trick someone. Holly, especially liked feeling like a big kid - like she knew more than someone - even if it was only Hannah.
Before long, the bags were full. Daddy threw them in the trunk, and they all climbed into the Oldsmobile. Holly snuggled up next to Aunt Mimi who had Hannah on her lap. This time, Holly decided, she would fall asleep on the way home so she could get carried into the house and tucked into bed. She could barely hear the swish, swish of Heather's "norner," a piece of a satin blanket all folded up into a point. Heather rubbed it back and forth against her lip as she sucked her thumb.
Then her parents started to sing. That was the best part about car rides. Her mom's clear crystally voice with her dad's harmony was about the most beautiful thing she could think of. "I strolled along the road one day..." Mom began. Then Daddy joined in and the car was filled with warmth and peace. "...and it was not the narrow way. I met a Stranger. He spoke to me. He said my child where goest thou. I said I seek the road just now to worldly pleasure, along the way. Turn back my child, for the way is very steep. The things you'll find up there, you cannot keep. The way is filled with thorns. And the things you'll find are cheap. Turn back my child, come home with me." Holly's eyes closed. She could feel Aunt Mimi singing too. She felt completely safe and happy. Daddy was driving. He was the best driver in the world. No matter what happened, he would know what to do and how to fix it. The dirt roads were starting to look familiar again as they started the last verse of the song. "...And then He gently took my hand. He lifted me from sinking sand. He said, My child believe in me. And then such beauty I beheld. I'm sure that I could never tell. He said, My child, come home with me..." Holly wanted to know the man in the song. She knew it was Jesus. He seemed so gentle, so loving. When she tried to picture Him, she could only see Grampy. Her mom's dad had come to Nova Scotia as a missionary from Ireland before her mom was born. He was the most gentle, most wonderful man Holly could think of. He had an Irish accent and he always wore suits or, on casual days, dress pants, a button-up shirt, and a sweater. He had never preached to her - she had heard him preach at church and he was powerful and real. But at home he just played with Holly and her sisters. He made wonderful paper airplanes and could make a hula hoop "come back." He jumped over chairs and gave her piggyback rides. What made him like Jesus, like the man in the song, Holly thought, was not what he said or did, but what he was. The way she felt when he was around - sure and calm and loved.
The car pulled down the tree-lined driveway. Holly was mostly asleep, but still aware enough to know they were home. She kept her eyes closed and her breathing slow. Daddy lifted her out and carried her up to her room. She struggled to stay "asleep" as Mommy took off her sneakers and tucked her under the covers. Soon the room was still and Holly looked over at Hannah sound asleep in her bed. "Why couldn't I really be asleep, like her," she wondered, "instead of having to pretend?" Holly sometimes felt that her whole life was a big pretend. She tried to figure out how she should think and feel about things, she so wanted to please everyone. Sometimes she felt jealous of her sisters, who seemed, not only content with who they were, but they really just were - without trying. Heather was so sure of herself and always knew what she thought about everything. Sometimes Holly just copied Heather because that was easy, but it didn't feel right - and Heather hated it. She wanted Holly to think for herself - to have her own opinions. Holly wished she could. Even Hannah seemed to know who she was. She was the cute one. She didn't have to think about how she should act; she was just herself without even trying. At least that's they way it seemed to Holly.

marcella kathleen

gentle and fiesty at the same time

a lover of flowers, and all things beautiful and delicate

a helper

loves to sleep late, all cozy in her fashionable pyjamas (jimajins!)

fingernails like Barbie!

does not take second place, even though she is born second - she is a true leader when her big sister isn't around

learning to laugh at herself, which is harder than it seems

she is a true cuddler and snuggler

a diligent learner - follows directions wonderfully

she may push you away at first, but she is fiercely loyal

conscious of her appearance; worried about the opinions of others

appreciates the simple things in life, causing others to appreciate them too

she has an infectious smile (grin)

ashlin glenn

loves fiercely

she draws you into her world

full of wonder at the world around her

confident

she loves to laugh and make others laugh

intelligent jokes, like puns, are her favorite

she feels things so deeply

a lover of all animals

unconcerned about the opinions of others

unconscious of her beauty

crazy for horses

the life of the party - she carries "fun" in an invisible backpack everywhere she goes