In case you didn’t hear, it’s Middle Grade March! To that end I have a teaser from my middle grade novel, Growing Up As Fairies!

I offer these Tuesday Teasers on my Author pages, but I don’t want to leave you out! If you missed it, here is last week’s teaser.

 

Growing Up As Fairies

Chapter Two – Loren’s Story

The After Party

“Safe!” shouted the umpire, throwing  his arms wide.

Loren had just slid into third base, his pal Ing had hit the chestnut high and clear, sending himself to second base, Loren to third, and their somewhat clumsy pal, Sid, dubiously home.  Umpires tended to watch Sid’s moves closely as sometimes he was safe or struck out by the slimmest of margins. This time, he slid ahead of the opposing team by a good three inches, a huge margin for him, maybe even a personal record!

The pitcher refused the next chestnut noting a small crack along the crown, and then chose the smallest, hardest looking nut he could find. The Willow’s best hitter was up, and the pitcher wanted his best throw yet. Loren took a quick glance around and got ready to bolt home, Ing was leading off Second. The pitcher wound up, sending a beautiful curving arc, and Giggles swung hard.

“Strike!”

“Ohhhhh” and “Awwww” met this proclamation of the umpire.

The pitcher smiled and wound up again. A smooth fast ball just above the plate and Giggles swung. The chestnut sailed high in the air and then rained down like fireworks. An exploding nut, having been hit, was an automatic homerun. Loren, Ing, and Giggles ran home with huge grins to the cheering crowd. The whole team gave flutterwings to Giggles for the awesome grand slam.

Next up to bat was Chuckles. Even when being completely serious, Chuckles always seemed happy. He stood to bat, taking a couple happy practice swings, then he gave the pitcher a grin. “Ok, give me your best shot!” he called.

And best shots were given. “Strike!” called the umpire, then “Strrrrriiike!” “Foul!” Foul!” “Strike Three, you’re OUT!” Chuckles didn’t seem to mind. His was the third strike of the final inning. He struck out, but his team still won. “12 to 7 the Willows WIN!!” called out the umpire to finish the game.

“Great game, Team!” applauded Coach Berrytree. “Go flutter wings with the other team and then we’ll enjoy the after party at my tree! We have three different kinds of berry shakes!”

The two teams lined up on the field and went down the lines saying over and over “Great game!” “Nice game” and nice things like that. All the while fluttering wings with each other. This time they knew each team was really very, very good. Last time they had played, the other team had won, and this time the Willows had won. So defeat wasn’t so sore and winning was still a wonderful feeling.

Just as he was finishing the praise walk, Loren’s dad came up. “Great game, Son!”

“Thanks Dad. It was fun. Did you see that great hit Ing did?” I ran all the way from first to third and Sid even got home with time to spare!” Loren was flushed from the excitement of the game and having a blast. He soon came crashing down when his dad said,

“I know Coach is having an after party at his house, but remember we need to go straight home to work on our firewood. We talked about this, remember?”

Loren paused a moment and sucked in a deep breath. He did remember that Dad had said they would have to go straight home after the game, but it had been such a fun game. Loren was sure there would be nectar cakes too. Mrs. Berrytree made the best nectar cakes.  He blinked quick willing himself not to whine, or worse, cry. Softly he said, “Yeah Dad.” And he turned and started walking home, his wings trailing dejectedly.

“Hey, Loren,” called his dad. “Thank you for being so mature about this.” Maybe after all our winter firewood is in, we will have time to do something fun.”

“Yeah. Sure, Dad.” said Loren in the same quiet voice. “I guess so.”

Sunday News

“We have important news to share with you, Son.” Dad’s voice fairly vibrated with excitement.

Oooh, maybe we’re having dinner out. Maybe we’re going to see Elven sky lights! Maybe we’re going on a trip! Maybe- Loren’s imagination raced with fun ideas.

“Your mother and I are very pleased to tell you that our family is growing.” said Dad.

Ooooh, maybe a catbug or pupbug! Loren almost bounced with excitement.

“You are going to have a baby brother or sister.” Mother smiled so happily that Loren didn’t quite register what she had said.

Yes! It’s a- “Wait. What?” asked Loren.

“Yes, Loren,” smiled Dad. “A little one will be living with us soon. You will be the big brother.”

“Oh.”

“Oh? Is that all you’ve got for us?” asked Mom. Her brow furrowed a little into a slightly puzzled frown.

“Umm, yeah. Great. Glad for you, er, us.” Guess I’ll have some squalling brat in my room. And now they’ll have even less time for me. Mom never gets to my games now…but they are happy so, umm… “I guess I’ll have to get used to it, but I’m glad you’re so happy.” Loren turned and rushed out of the room, out the door, and out under the butterfly bush. He had learned a couple years ago that if he threw himself down near the big rock, he could wiggle right under the bush to sit on a slightly curved rock right by the trunk. He could see out a bit, but no one could see him. It was a good place to sit and think, or to sit and feel sorry for yourself. Loren was doing a little bit of both.

The Adventure

The morning sun was just beginning to think about burning off the mist and dew. Loren met Abi, Sva, and Giggles down by the stream. They were giggling and laughing as they walked up. “Hey Bro!” called Giggles, “Oh. Sorry. I mean, uh. Aww man, you know I always call you Bro. You’re my Bro. You’re my Buddy. Y’know?”

“Yeah.” Answered Loren, “I know.”

Giggles looked worried for a moment, then returned to his usual grin and kicked a stone.

“Ok, so what are we doing here?” asked Loren. “I don’t see anything different here. Usual water, usual rocks and trees. Maybe some of the flowers are different, I dunno about that.”

“Here, come on!” cried Abi, grabbing Loren’s hand. Sva ran ahead, hair flying in her face and around her wings.

Around the bend was the coolest boat that Loren had ever seen. Some human child must have lost it when it was still brand new. The metal trimmings were still shiny, the sails were a clean ivory color. A red stripe with a thinner green stripe ran along the edge of the ship right along the water line. A cabin was perched atop the deck, and Loren could see that although the cabin door was closed, there was at least one working window with a yellow curtain moving slightly with the soft breeze.

“Ohhh, wow!” breathed Loren as he stopped in amazement. Sva stood ahead beside the water and laughed at her best friend’s amazed face.

“Come on!” cried Abi again, grabbing Loren’s hand again. “Come see the coolness of it. And let’s, what’s the word? Let’s shove in! Right?”

“No, Abi,” giggled Giggles. “ It’s shove off.”

“Oh. Whatever. Let’s go!” laughed Abi.

After the first hour or so, the new crew of the SS Burke had fallen into an easy rhythm. Abi & Loren cheerfully ran around the ship pulling ropes to adjust the sails. Sva happily stood near the tiller, but really the ship almost sailed herself. They had found a quiet, grassy island and had tied up against a small birch tree with a curving root sticking out of the water. They lounged about on the deck, soaking up the sun, listening to the birds. Sva blew a strand of hair out of her eyes and happily snacked on blueberries. Abi and Loren each held a fishing pole, but none of the minnows seemed interested in being caught. It didn’t matter, the friends munched on their gooseberries (which Sva didn’t like) and passed around a bottle of cool, sweet water.

Later as the fishing didn’t pan out, Giggles decided to sail a bit further down the river. The rest of them played card games like Last Card, and Old Crow, and laughed hysterically through a game of Act Like a Cricket.

“I wonder who Burke is,” mused Loren.

“Who?” asked Abi.

“Burke,” answered Loren. “This is the SS Burke. I wonder who Burke is.”

“Might be a place,” answered Giggles. “Sometimes ships are named for places, aren’t they?”

“Maybe,” said Loren doubtfully.

“Maybe Burke is an animal,” laughed Sva, “maybe a great sea monster. The fierce Burke monster.”

“It does sound immense,”  said Abi with a funny face.

“Whoa! Look out!” shouted Giggles, grabbing the arms of his bench as he ship suddenly shifted tilting the deck to a crazy angle.

Both girls screamed. “Jumping juiceberries!” cried Loren

“Grab the tiller!” shouted Giggles as he tried to make his way over to it, from the other side of the deck to which he had slipped.

“But what’s happening?” cried out Loren and he slithered and wiggled his way across the deck.

Suddenly the ship dropped back down and the deck was level again. Everybody scrambled to their feet and peered around trying to see what had caused the excitement.

“Oh look!” cried Sva pointing to a slimy green head and two black eyes that had popped out of the water just ahead of the prow of the ship.

Loren and Giggles reached the wheel at the same time and pulled hard to the left. “I don’t know if it’s starboard or aft or what, but pull left!” cried Loren.

The sweet little ship responded quickly to the efforts at the wheel and the prow was heading right toward the bank and away from the monstrous head. “No, stop!” cried Abi

“There is no stop!” called Giggles.

“Abi, there’s no brake!” Loren cried at the same time. “But we’re going to crash the bank!” screamed Abi. And no sooner did the words pass her lips than the ship plowed onto the soft sand. Luckily, it was soft sand.

Croak. Ribbit.

“Oh,” exclaimed Sva. “It was a frog.”

“Well frog or sea monster Burke, it doesn’t matter.” Grumbled Loren, “Now we’re stuck.”

Giggles jumped down onto the sand. “I don’t think it’s too bad. I think we’ll be able to push it out. And on the bright side, maybe we can explore around here and have a campfire and roast some hot sandwiches and marshyballs.”

“Oooh! Marshyballs!” squealed Sva and then she giggled. “I love marshyballs!”

Coming Home

On Thursday four very tired but extremely happy friends sailed back home. Loren had thanked his friends for taking him out and getting him out of his funky mood. A little baby wouldn’t be so bad at home, because he and his friends could have a grand time together anywhere.

Loren’s great mood lasted right until he climbed the stairs to his room. “Ahhh, camping on a boat is great,” Loren thought to himself, “but I won’t mind sleeping on my soft bed. Hey!?! What the…” When he turned the knob and opened his door, his familiar green room wasn’t there. Instead of a sturdy bed (just right for jumping on) with a striped blue and brown blanket, there was a pile of pink and white frill. Probably a crib. The walls were pink and purple with blue and purplish clouds painted on the ceiling and a whole pile of some other kind of poofy frilly stuff on the floor. “Oh, yuck!” said Loren

“Hey, Sport!” Dad ran up the stairs two at a time to join Loren in front of the bedroom. “Doesn’t look quite the same does it? Here let me grab one of your bags and I’ll carry it up to your room.”

“Bu-ut Dad,” whined Loren. “My room is totally pin-Wait. What do you mean ‘up to’ my room?”

Dad laughed as he kept climbing the stairs up to the next floor. “Your mom and I made some changes while you were gone.” He stopped and turned to look back at Loren and said seriously. “I really hope you like it. Your mom worked really hard on it. C’mon!”

Loren almost flew up the stairs, he was in such a hurry to see what they had done. “Wait. But. I’m still confused. You mean…Oh, Wow!” At the top of the stairs was the room that had previously been just a storeroom. Full of boxes and bags and, well, stuff. Loren reached out uncertainly for the doorknob. Suddenly, the door flew open as his mom, who was in the room, opened the door and stepped back.

What a cool room! His sorta small bed had been replaced by a cool bunk bed. The bottom was designed to kinda look like a tent, and there was a desk and chair inside. Along one wall was an amazing mural painted with a baseball game in action. His favorite team, the RedTights were up to play and the batter had his own face! And it looked like he had just made a powerful hit. The other three walls were darker wood with a lot of bookshelves and knick-knack shelves for all of his collections. On one wall, his bat & glove, bike, skis, and other sports equipment were hung.

“Look, Sweetie,” said Mom, “there’s hooks there for your fishing pole and net too. Best of all, no pink!”

“What do you think?” asked Mom.

“Oh, wow!” Loren’s head was still bouncing around as he tried to see it all at once. “This is…amazing!”

“Yeah, Kid, I think your friends are gonna be jealous,” grinned Dad.

“Yeah, they will,” agreed Loren. “This whole baby thing won’t be so bad I guess. Thank you, Mom and Dad. This is a super cool room! Thanks!

“Can I have Giggles over to show it to him? Can I please?” begged Loren.

“May I, please?” Mimicked Mom, who was often a stickler for correct speech. Then with a smile, “Of course.”

Purchase your own copy here!