I start to pick a book off the shelf, but the kids start giggling and shaking their heads. One of them stands up, takes the book from my hands, and exclaims, “It’s your turn, Eli.”
I have no idea what that means.
Another volunteer walks into the room and looks around. His eyes light up like Christmas lights. “Oh, this should be good! Eli, they want you to come up with the story on your own. It’s something new we like to do to mix things up for the children.”
I stand there like a fool as he repeats what he told me.
It all clicks at once.
They want me to do what?!
This can’t be my real life. Panicking, I look at one of the quiet girls—the one with red hair in ponytails and a shy smile. She reminds me of a younger Rose.
My story needs to be about her.Who else?
So, I begin telling her story to twelve restless children sitting in front of me. They start clapping their hands giddily as I start a story inspired by Rose and my former foster parent Michael. It feels easy to make him a villain as he happened to be one in real life.
Once upon a time, there was a magnificent princess called Rose the first. She had shiny long red hair and stunning big brown eyes.
She could tell when you were happy, sad, or nervous. She read people like books she loved so much.
Princess Rose lived in her light yellow castle just across the forest from Michelangelo, the meanest of them all. He was evil dressed as royalty. Michelangelo had control over the lands surrounding him. It was still clear to his servants that he wasn’t a good person. He would be mean to little children and hide his true colors.
It didn’t stop our princess from exploring Michelangelo’s land. She was a curious girl, always looking for her next adventure…
As I continue my story, building up the excitement and suspense for the children, I hope to tell something similar to my children one day.
And that thought doesn’t scare me as much as it did with Corinna.
10
MAGGIE’S DIARY
A MONTH AFTER THE FIRE
Books read in the past three weeks:4 and a half (way less than usual)
Today’s song:Perfect by Simple Plan
Once upon a time,there was a sweet little girl who believed in fairy tales and everything magical.
Her days were spent reading and dreaming about happy endings.
Her dream man was Prince Charming on a white horse.
That sweet little girl had a puffy light purple tutu and sparkling glitter shoes.
A few loose strands framed her round face.
Her glitter-covered shoes sparkled in all the colors when the sunlight hit just right.
She often danced around the kitchen, making rainbows on the walls with her shoes.
There were no worries in her tiny and safe bubble.
Bad things didn’t reach her in this alternative reality.
Her smile turned grumpy people into sunshine too.
