Saturday, June 29, 2013

A Friend for Grace~Part Eight~

Hi everyone! I'm Alivia--one of the new contributors! I just thought I'd share my bio  with you! I hope you like my part!
Hi! My name is Alivia.  I am almost 13 and I have 3 sisters!  I like to read, play piano, play outside because I love nature, go on walks around our neighborhood!  I love animals especially horses and puppies.  I love writing stories!!  I love my family and I am a Christian who loves God so much!!

I held my breath and looked at Papa. The expression on his face changed, his eyes softened. "Well, Wilhelm, there's a first time for everything, isn't there?" Wilhelm looked up at Papa, his eyes wide and scared. He nodded slowly. "In-in Germany,  my Mutter and Vater and I would-would go to-to church on Sonntag. Then, Vater decided to-to move to Amerika and then--" he stopped and looked around at everyone, like he had said more than he had intended to say. Papa cleared his throat. "Well, then I guess you'll be able to fit right in, then." Wilhelm nodded slowly and climbed into the wagon and sat as close to me as he could.

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That afternoon, after getting home from church, Wilhelm and I went outside. We sat against my favorite old oak tree and just listened to the wind. Then, Wilhelm started talking again, slowly at first, but then it came pouring out. "After Vater decided to move to Amerika, we pack and pack. Mutter did not want to go, she like our home in Deutschland. But Vater said, "We go to Amerika," so we go. On the schiff, Mutter and Vater be very sick. Then, Mutter--she, she died. Vater died soon after. I was alone. A kind lady helped me find my way to an Waisenhaus and they sent me here to your family." I sat there, stunned. Wilhelm had just told me what was the inner source of all his sorrows. I didn't know what else to do but to put my arm around him.

Translation for German words:

Mutter--Mother
Vater--Father
Sonntag--Sunday
Amerika--America
Deutschland--Germany
Schiff--Boat
Waisenhaus--orphanage 



Thursday, June 20, 2013

A Friend For Grace - Part Seven

By Madeline. :)

''Get up, get up! It's time to rise and shine,'' Mother sang. The sounds of her melody drifted into my room, even though it was up in the attic.
I groaned, and moved stiffly. I opened my eyes sleepily and peeked at the bed Lily and Margaret shared. It was empty.
''Grace, if I have to come up there...,'' Mother warned. I was out of my bed in a flash. I quickly threw a dress on--a nicer one, because it was Sunday-- and ran down the steps to the kitchen.
''Eat quickly Grace; it's almost time to leave for church,'' Mother said. I sat down at the table and she put a plate loaded with eggs, sausage and potatoes in front of me. ''Thanks,'' I said, my words mixed because of the food already in my mouth.

''Where's Wilhelm?'' Papa asked. We were all at the front door, ready to leave--except for Wilhelm, that was. ''I'll find him,'' Lily volunteered. She walked off, her blonde curls bouncing. Several thumps, sounds of glass breaking and sighs later, Lily appeared, marching Wilhelm behind her. ''Your China vase broke and the books all spilled out of the bookshelf,'' Lily said apologetically to Mother. Mother only sighed and closed her eyes.
''Are you ready to leave for church, Wilhelm?'' Papa asked, tactfully avoiding the topic of the vase and the bookshelf. Wilhelm shook his head wildly, his wide eyes staring at me. It's almost like he's trying to tell me something, I thought. I racked my brain for what it could be.
I cleared my throat. ''Uh, I don't think Wilhelm has ever, uh, been to church before,'' I said feebly. Wilhelm nodded.


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

A Friend For Grace... Part 6

By Hannah  :)

I got up early the next morning. Although I had gotten hardly any sleep last night I had to be by myself. So many thoughts raced through my head pushing around trying to get the first answer; but I had no answers. I slipped into a pale green dress, faded brown boots, tied my hair up halfway and grabbed a knitted shawl. I  quietly made my way downstairs, crossed through the parlor, and slipped through the front door, when I knew it had closed silently behind me I started to run. I would never dare run when someone was looking. I was considered to old for it. But the good morning tweets from the near by birds couldn't give me away. I ran for our barn, all thoughts, worries, and unanswered questions about Wilhelm and Papa flew away in the morning breeze. I was chilled and panting as I came upon our barn.

     "Gud mornin' miss Grace." I jumped as Wilhelm interrupted the peace of the morning in a accented voice I had never heard before. I'm afraid I was quite rude for I stood there shocked, with my mouth open, not replying. " 'm sorra miss Grace to give yu a startle." I finally regained myself enough to reply. " It's fine. I just hadn't heard you speak. I didn't even know you spoke English!" He blushed and answered " Well 'm quite aroun' folks, and-an' ... such." He sounded sad and tired and for the first time I realized how rude I had been. "Wilhelm, I'm so very sorry about your parents. I can't imagine how hard it must be for you." He nodded and changed the subject."

 "Is it your books miss Grace in the top of the barn?" I was very confused. The top of the barn? " I'm not sure what you mean." I answered truthfully. He walked over to the barn entrance and pointed upward. I almost laughed out loud but, managed to cough instead. " The loft , Wilhelm, Yes, I keep my books and other treasures up there. I like to get away sometimes." He looked curious. "Than it is your kittens as well?" "I don't have any kittens, Wilhelm, and there are none up there." He frowned and nodded sternly. "Oh ya, there are. At least 6, all in a box with a gray mother and..." He stopped there, for I had started toward the ladder up toward the loft.

***********************

Dear Diary,
     This morning Wilhelm and I became friends. He is very quiet and will not talk about his parents or his life in Germany. He can't write or read English, only speak it.  He always calls me Miss Grace. He is very scared of every one in our family and won't talk to me in front of others. He is odd but had some curious trinkets in his knapsack. Mother is calling.
                                                                                                       Grace


Saturday, June 15, 2013

A Friend for Grace: Part 5

      Grace's room was quite large, but felt oddly tiny since she shared it with two of her sisters. That was usually the first thing that Grace thought before going to sleep, but today was different. She couldn't stop thinking about that night. How Wilhelm's eye's lit up. She wanted to see that again, more than anything.
     
        "But maybe that was the only time that would ever happen," Grace thought. His whole personality had changed when Papa played the fiddle. When the music came on, he was warm and friendly. Thoughts like that whirled through Grace's head all night.

        Can't wait to see what happens next!

          -LAUREN LOVES PIE