Chapter 1: Why Me?

I sighed and looked out the open window. It was sunny and bright, as if the weather was trying to cheer me up. As the sun came up, a cold wind chilled me to the bone. I guess the weather wasn’t trying to cheer me up. I shivered. It was definitely getting colder.

Why me? I wondered.

There was nothing to do around here except sit and style my hair like I was a supermodel or something(which I wasn’t). Sadly, I closed the window. All I wanted was to be able to tell someone all my worries. All my problems and not have to worry about them telling someone I didn’t trust or know.

Acceptance. Friendship.

That was all I wanted.

Was it too much to ask for?

It felt like mom would never let me go outside, away from this stupid, dirty house. I still couldn’t understand why we had to move here, why we couldn’t have just stayed in Washington D.C.

“Ima, time for second grade,” called my mom.

Finally, I thought, freedom. Outside. With all the clean air and fresh flowers, right now I couldn’t imagine a better place.

I couldn’t wait to get to school. I finished changing into my hot-pink romper, sky-blue shirt, and putting on my headband, and bounded downstairs for breakfast.

😄 😄 😄

I swung my unicorn-patterned backpack onto my shoulder and ran out, calling, “See you in the evening!”

Chapter 2: School

As I skipped to my new school, I knew I couldn’t wait to meet my new teacher. I felt as light as a cloud. But then I noticed how everyone was looking at me. I could feel their icy stares dig into my happiness and pride, replacing it with shyness and timidness.

Uncomfortably, I hung my head. As I sat down, I glanced out the window. It was cloudy and gloomy, like the sky was trying to match how I felt.

Interrupting the silence, someone clapped their hands loudly. Startled, I fell out of my seat. Once I was settled back in my seat, I realized that the teacher was speaking.

“Hi, you can call me Ms. Herana,” she said, smiling down at us. Ms. Herana continued,” Now, let’s all get to know each other by sitting down in a circle and asking one another what their name and favorite color is. Does anyone have any questions?”

We all shook our heads in chorus and formed a circle on the rug. I turned my head and saw a pretty girl in a flower patterned dress with green eyes and short black hair.

I said, “Hi! “My name is Ima and my favorite colors are turquoise and magenta. What’s yours?”

The girl said,“ My name is Emily and My favorite colors are also turquoise and magenta.”

“Hey, that’s funny! We both like turquoise and magenta!” I noticed.

“Yeah! That’s so cool! It’s like we were made to meet!”

That’s when I knew a relationship was just beginning.

😄 😄 😄

Chapter 3: The Daring Friendship

“Ding, ding, ding.“

The musical sound of a bell being chimed three times rang out through the hallways.

“Follow me,” Emily called. “I know the way!”

“All right,” I said.

I followed her out of the classroom and into the hall.

“I can’t wait to show you the playground,” said Emily excitedly.

“I bet it’s really fun!” I exclaimed.

“It is! It’s the coolest part of the whole school!”

😄 😄 😄

“Well, I dare you to go on the tire swing with no hands,” said Emily.

I was about to eagerly accept the dare until I realized how this was all silly. Why was Emily daring me to do such silly and unsafe things? She knew it was unsafe, at least, I thought so. I thought about asking Emily about that, but I decided against it. After all, we did have a newly made friendship, and I didn’t want to rock the boat.

Finally, I sighed and I clambered onto the tire swing.

As my long (dark brown) hair swung in the wind, I felt like I was on top of the world.

I thought about what task I would make Emily complete when Emily called out, “Don’t just stand there, you won’t complete the dare!”

“All right,” I said, sighing.

I sat down and let go of the chains pinning the tire swing to the frame. That was exactly how I felt, pinned. What would be the reasonable choice, getting hurt, or preserving a newly made friendship?

In the end, I decided that if I got hurt it would most likely be easy to fix and not very bad.

I kicked my legs back and forth. Back and forth. Suddenly, the tire swing began to rock and spin.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on the happiest thought I could summon-the day of my 7th birthday. I could hear the cheers of my old friends, I could taste the chocolate cake on my tongue, and I could smell the smoke from the burning birthday candles..

And the ground, as I face planted right into it.

Chapter 4 : The Witch’s House

As Emily and I walked home, we happened to come across a house that was unlike all the houses on the block. It was eerily silent except for the occasional soft rustling of a dead leaf falling from the only tree in the front yard.

All the other houses had neat, straight edges and were standing tall and proud. This house was saggy and droopy, as if the house had been around for an eternity and was getting tired. The house stunk of dog’s droppings and rotten bananas. The fence was crooked and broken. The house had spiderwebs everywhere and some of the glass from the window had fallen onto the lawn.

Emily noticed the house, too. I could see the surprise in her eyes as she noted the unlikely details of the house.

She also noted an obvious detail- that it was an unusual house. As she started to comment on the surprising details, all I could think about was how the hair on the back of my neck was starting to stand up.

Chapter 5 : Imagining

“I also noticed that you’re scared of the house,” Emily said, finally looking at me.

“Well done,” I replied, and sighed.

As if in reply, Emily exhaled and said, “It isn’t a witch’s house. It’s just a really old house.”

I tried to ignore how all Emily’s words did was encourage the fear forming in my tummy to gnaw away at my bravery faster and faster.

“Same thing,” I said with a shrug.

Emily sighed. I knew she would think there was only one thing she could do. I hoped I didn’t know what it was because if I did, I did NOT like it.

At ALL.

😄 😄 😄

“I dare you to go in there,” Emily said with relish.

Oh, why oh why does everything have to happen to me? I thought glumly.

As I looked up at the house, I saw thirteen (unlucky!) pitch-black ravens circling the top tower. I could feel the goosebumps growing bigger on my shoulder. I could taste my fear on my tongue. It tasted ... unpleasant. Poisonous. Repulsive.

Frightened, I took a step back. And looked at the house in a new perspective. I mean, it wasn’t like I didn’t think it was scary before. It was just, now that there was the possibility, it felt like anything (that was horrible) was possible.

I stared up at the house. It was so boarded up, old, and dusty that I almost believed it was a witch’s house. I could imagine the house’s insides. It would have dark, damp, corners with rats living in the basement. There would be no electricity. And all the curtains would be pulled so you couldn’t see a thing. There would be a broomstick in the corner and cobwebs would be everywhere.

What if the witch saw me?

Would I come out alive?

What would Emily tell my parents? What if the witch saw or hurt Emily?

No, I told myself firmly.

I was going to come out alive with Emily at my side.

I took a deep breath and exhaled deeply. As I did, all the fear in my tummy disappeared.

Chapter 6: Ringing the Doorbell

Straightening up, I took one step toward the witch’s house. Almost immediately, all my uncomfortable thoughts came flooding back, as if the dam that had been holding them had broken when I had taken a step forward.

I took three deep breaths and thought, you can do this.

I took another step. This time, nothing happened. So I took another step. Then another. Slowly, my pace quickened.

On the stairs, I shakily reached out my hand and ... immediately recoiled. There was something odd about this place. Touching the doorbell felt like an intended shock. A surprise. I tried pressing it again. And again.

One more time, I thought, bravely.

This time, I put all my weight on it. There was a sound like a wolf’s howl.

My whole body tensed.

Chapter 7 : Run, Ima, Run

Then, Emily and I heard a sound even more terrifying than that.

“Who dares to ring my doorbell?” rang out from the house.

Frozen in shock, I stood there, staring at the door.

Emily’s voice woke me up from the trance, saying, “Ima, run!!”

My feet were the first to respond. I bolted. Emily took off behind me.

We ran and ran. Until our feet hurt, until our throats felt scratchy.

But we didn’t stop until we were panting in front of my house. My mom was standing on the patio, looking around anxiously, “Where have you girls been?!!”

Emily and I exchanged a look and smiled.

It was a long story.

The End