A NEW PLACE

This is a short children's story about a little girl moving to a new home and being afraid to make new friends.

"Daddy's job is transferring him to Washington," Mommy explained to her seven-year-old daughter.

Jenny wrinkled her freckled brow. "Will he come to visit us sometime?"

Mommy laughed and tousled the child's auburn hair. "Silly girl, we're all moving with Daddy."

Jenny's tiny head filled instantly with fear. Moving? How could she do that? Leave her school and her friends? No way!

Bursting into tears she ran from her mother and into her bedroom. Flinging herself onto her bed, complete with "Barbie" comforters and pillows, she grabbed Maddie.

Maddie had been Jenny's "security blanket" for many years. She confided in the stuffed, flop-earred bunny whenever she was upset. And, even though she had been missing her right button-eye for the last several months, she was still Jenny's favorite toy.

The next few months seemed to pass like a whirlwind. The house was put up for sale and strangers trompled through rooms "ooohing" and "aaahing" at different, unique features.

Jenny hid in her closet with hands over her ears and Maddie in her lap. "I won't go Maddie; they can't make me."

But, the dreadful day did arrive. Boxes were packed; neighbors came to bid a fond farewell and the Anderson family loaded into the car.

Jenny looked out the back window of the old, green station wagon and wept for hours before falling into a deep sleep; using Maddie's soft, fuzzy, grey body as a pillow.

The new neighborhood seemed to be nice enough. Nice houses. A friendly looking couple walking their dog. Jenny started to smile as she rubbed sleep from her drowsy eyes but, suddenly remembered that she was still mad -- and scared. She pulled Maddie close.

Soon, they pulled up in front of a big, white house and Daddy announced, "We're here!"

Her parents emerged from the car and quickly headed towards the front door.

"Guess we'd better go too; but I know we won't like it," Jenny said. Maddie looked back with her one-button eye as if understanding.

Stretching her little legs and yawning immensely, Jenny plopped down on the front steps. "We just won't go in, is all," she set her jaw determinedly.

Looking up, she noticed another little girl, about her age, on the front steps of the house directly across the street. The girl waved and Jenny waved back, although a frown had formed on her pretty face.

The girl started across the street, her stride a happy, bouncy one. But, what was that she was carrying?

"Hi there! My name's Michele and this is Kenny," the neighbor said as she held up a stuffed, grey, flop-earred bunny with a missing left eye.

Maybe this new place wouldn't be so bad after all???

Author's Note

Please give an overall review on this short children's story. Thank you!

Reviews

[Robert Parlange]

Loved the story. "Fear of the new," I wonder if we ever do get over that? You have the gift of the narrative. You are a very good story teller.

[MelissaAndres]

Oh, thank you so much, Robert! I appreciate your kind words. And, yes, I am one of those people who has a fear of the new things that life can throw at us. Usually though, after I fret and worry about it all, I wonder why I did! Haha!

[Samuel Dickens]

I can see you're a story-teller. This is good. Twenty years in the Navy, I know the drill pretty well. It's scary enough for some adults, let alone their children. Kids can really benefit from a happy, positive story like this.

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you, Samuel. I have several children's stories but I also have some adult novels as well ... well .. not "adult" as in erotic or anything. Hahah! But more grown up type stuff. My son was in the Air Force for six years and he was pretty lucky. He was stationed in Little Rock most of the time. And, by the way, thank you so much for your service to our country. Many servicemen don't get the recognition they deserve.

[Samuel Dickens]

I'm honored by your "thank you". I have a few children's stories, also, plus many that are about kids. Even though I used to talk and act like a sailor, very few of my stories are R-rated.

[MelissaAndres]

I have a few scenes in my novels that are "suggestive" but don't actually come out and say anything bad. I try to leave those kinds of things up to the reader's imagination! :)