THE WRITINGS OF SUMMER TO WINTER

My cheeks still burn at the memory of when my aunt found my diary. I was in the back of my parents old grey Mazda and as she sat in the front, reciting the lines she found scribbled on to a cheap notebooks insides. This was the first memorable time I remember feeling embarrassed that someone had some across my inner personal thoughts actually written down onto paper. I further confirmed to myself a year or so later that perhaps writing was personal, I had came across my dad’s lyric book and I remember him snatching it out of my hands. “Not for your eyes.”

Misha is the 10 year old daughter of my friend, Kamila, a modern day woman to say the least. Mother, business owner, model, student, and entrepreneur, are just some of the ways to start to describe what Kamila takes on in a day. Now, I wasn’t surprised when Kamila started sharing Misha’s stories online. How could the daughter of a millennial like that be shy with her own creativity and flesh? Times have changed since the late 90s, the possibility of being an artist in any medium now a days is more do able than becoming a dentist. Thank you, internet.

And thank you, Misha, for taking your first author gig so seriously.

ACT 1

Okay, first of all, I didn’t want a stupid diary, but Mom insisted. Few things about me. I’m Zoey Nelson. 6th grader. Turning 12. It’s summer. July 1st. 13 days until my birthday. 

And nothing could possibly ruin it. Right?

***

Ding! My friend, Audrey, texted. 

Wanna call? Im not done homework yet, but I can call u + Lila rn. 

Typical Audrey. 

Sure. 

Soon, a picture of Audrey, me, and...Lila appear. The picture I chose for our group chat. I tap the green button with my mouse. (I’m sitting at my computer. Don’t judge, even though it’s a wonderful summer evening and Luke, Mom, and Dad are on the porch. Luke is probably on the trampoline.)

“Hi guys.” Lila’s voice is crackly, but I hear the ice and the hurting tone. Audrey grins a big smile, her braces studded with fake rainbow jewels. “Aud, Lil, I got an idea for the festival,” I say. I pick up a avocado fry from my plate. Eat it. 

“Awesome!” Audrey squeals. “Ugh, enough with nicknames, Zoey.” Lila’s brown eyes roll. Why does she have to be so cold?

We all stay quiet.

“We can go to your house tomorrow, Zoey. That’ll be nice.” Audrey suggests after a moment’s silence.

“Okay,” I sigh. “I gotta go. Luke needs a bouncing buddy.” 

“Byeee! Say hi to Daisy for meeee!” Audrey’s face disappears as she hangs up. Lila sends a glare, and hangs up. The call has ended. (Daisy’s my new puppy. Small golden poodle. Very small.)

There’s a hole in my heart. A crack. Lila is my friend. My best friend. She’ll be my BFF forever. 

Right?

I get up from the chair, and head downstairs. Luke is waiting for me. 

ACT 2 

Okay, birthday was a TOTAL FREAKING BUST. 

Yes, I am 12, but here’s what happened: 

Cake got lost.

Cloudy day.

Only Lila Smith and Audrey Sheilds came. Nobody else. 

I chipped a tooth.

Lost a nail. (Two words: Car. Door.) Lotta crying and some blood. Never gonna happen again. Trust me.

I’m fine now. It’s September, nearly October. Soon, there will be winter break, where me, Audrey, Lila, and my family go to a cabin. In the mountains.

RING! The school bell is very loud, rusty, and old as my Grandpa Benjamin. Or, as we call him, G-pa Weird. It’s a old joke. 

“Finally, we’re out of school!” Audrey twirls. her black puffy jacket and grey hat is the usual look for her in winter/fall. The crisp, icy air pierces my cheeks. “Mhm,” I agree, nodding. My brown fabric gloves and creamy brown soft boots are what I wear. And my white puff jacket.

“Did ya hear the news?” My face flushes red as I see my crush, Tom. He has these hazel brown eyes that are behind horn-rimmed glasses and hazel hair. “Yeah! We’re having a freak storm! Ohhh, I hope we get LOADS of snow!” Fin, Tom’s friend, agrees. Loads of snow! I hope so too! I think. Would winter come early? It usually does in our town. “Staring at Tom again?” Audrey giggles. I blink back to where I am. “Uh...NO! I mean...” I stumble over my words. “Aw, relax.”

I blink gratefully at my friend. “Well, I’m glad Lila isn’t here, or she’d go right over and admit feeling to Fin!” I joke. “Correct!” Audrey erupts into laughter. 

I love this life. 

Nothing’s going to go wrong. Right?

ACT 3

Okay, update. MAJOR UPDATE. 

Mom broke her arm ice skating, but’s she’s okay.

Anyways, it’s December now. 

And it’s....CHRISTMAS MORNIN’ Y’ALL!!!!!!!!!!!

  “Whoo!” Luke hollers, running around with his new toy plane in his hand. If any passengers were in there, they died. Luke already dropped the plane on the floor twice. 

My gift was all the things I wanted. Special pens, notebooks, and drawing paper.

And a figurine set from Lila. Of butterflies. Audrey got me and figurine set of cats. 

And, I guess this was a good year, despite bad luck, or troubled hospital visits. 

Even if Lila isn’t my BFF anymore (she’s Libby’s), I have Audrey. 

And it all turned out well. 

Don’t ya think? 

The End

(PS, Tom likes meeee!!!!)