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June/July 2002 Storyteller Collaboration Chocolate Ladybugs by Sabine N. What a dreary day it was! Rain pelted against the window in grey streaks and the world outside look dismal as Charlie and his sister, Dot, played on the floor of the family room. Thank goodness the flashes of lightning and the raucous booms of thunder were gone. "I hate April." sighed Charlie, bouncing the small red ball and scooping up some jacks. Dot yawned and nodded in agreement. "But the rain is a sign of spring." She added, scratching her nose as she recalled her mother's words. Her eight year old brother shrugged. To him the rain only meant he couldn't get his new bike out of the shed and ride over to Scott's house to play. It was a hardship to have to play with a 5 year old girl, especially if she was your sister. He grabbed the last of the jacks, stuffed them into his pocket and rolled over on the braided rug, sprawling out with his head resting on his arms and staring up at the ceiling. "Boom!" he shouted into the stillness. Dot gave a little shriek and dropped the crayon she'd been using to doodle in her colouring book. Charlie laughed. "You're nasty." She pouted and crossed her arms over her chest as she'd seen her mother do in moments of frustration. "Go ahead. Tell on me. I don't care." He turned his head to look over at the window. It wasn't getting any brighter. In fact, when he saw clock on the wall, he realized that even if it did clear up, it would be far too late to go over and see his pal. He stood up and walked over to the doorway. "Where ya going?" Dot asked in surprise. She didn't want to be alone just in case the thunder and lightning came back. "What do you care?" Charlie lifted his chin. "I don't have to tell you everything." Dot lowered her eyes, pretending to focus on her picture. "Wait for me!" She scrambled up from the floor and ran after him down the hall. "Leave me alone!" Charlie found it embarrassing to have a baby running after him. "What's going on here?" Grandma Blackwell came down the stairs and peered at the children through her steel rimmed glasses. "Dot's bugging me." "Am not." "Are too!" "Now, stop it, both of you." Grandma Blackwell recognized the signs of boredom all too well. "Come into the kitchen with me." They did as they were told and automatically sat down at the kitchen table while Grandma Blackwell opened up a round tin that had been sitting on the counter. "I think you're suffering from spring fever." She said, joining them and setting the tin in front of her. "And this may be the answer." With a finger, she indicated the tin. Charlie peeked in first while Dot craned her neck. "Cool!" He lifted out one out. "What's that?" asked Dot. "Duh, what does it look like?" "It's a chocolate lady bug." explained Grandma Blackwell, gently peeling away the orange and black foil with the paper legs. She popped on into her mouth and smiled. Charlie did the same. "It's so pretty." breathed Dot before her small fingers ripped away the foil and she bit into it. "Yum!" All three were in agreement. |