My Stories..

[California Dreamin']

I love Christian books for teen girls! I just happen to be one!

I used to do a LOT of writing when I was younger (especially around the age of when I was in grade 5.. the amount of time I spent writing stories is incredible). I got older and that stopped. Last year I started to try and get back into writing more, and now I am trying again this year.

My favourite part is creating characters and a setting (the characters' environment). Anyways, I created characters who go to a school called Rolling Hills Christian School. It's like a boarding school and they have day students there as well.

After a lot of hesitation, I decided to share the stories on here.

 

[California Dreamin']

This is the first story told by the character Grace.



All my sister did when she came home from school was talk about wanting to go back. She was so different from me!
Her hair was light brown and my hair was red. She went to a school for Christians and I went to public school. She loved singing but I sounded horrible. She didn't like sports but I did. My sister, Astrid, was only a year older than me but we could not be anymore opposite.
"Gracie," she said to me, "you should come to my school!"
"Yes, that might be a good idea," my mother said.
I didn't know why Astrid said that. I liked my school, the teachers, but I especially liked playing soccer on my school's team! Astrid's school seemed so small, how could they have a soccer team? Wouldn't it be boring there?
"Grace," Mom said, "it's not too late to register you for school. Your sister didn't think she would like it, but she loves it now! How about we go look at it?"
"I've been there before. It is so small!" I groaned.
"Alright, Grace," Mom said. "Astrid and I are going to that area and if you want to come, let me know."
I went outside and sat on the deck behind our house. Maybe I would like her school. I remember when Astrid first went. The first week she was so home sick but she started meeting people and once she met people, she stopped calling home all the time.
"Mom!" I called out.
"Yes?" she called back.
"I will go and look at the school," I said.

The next day I was in the car with Mom and Astrid going to see the school. There was a really nice mall about an hour from where we live and we went there first. Mom and Astrid were going there anyways because there were some books Astrid wanted and Mom wanted to look in this store that had lamps and clocks.
"Do you think your father would like this one?" Mom asked holding up a red clock.
"That's a nice one," I answered.
"I'll get it for downstairs," Mom said, "we don't have one there."
So, Mom bought the clock. Astrid's favourite book store was right because the store Mom and I were in. We left the store and went to get Astrid.
"I don't see her," Mom said, looking around.
"Mom!" someone called.
We turned around and it was Astrid. She was sitting on a bench outside the store reading one of her new books.
"How far away is the school?" I asked.
"Rolling Hills is half an hour away," Mom answered.
I don't know why that school was called Rolling Hills. It was surrounded by some hills, but it didn't seem like a name for school to me. We got in the car and the ride to Rolling Hills was shorter than I expected. Mom said it was because there was not a lot of traffic on the roads.
"Here we are!" Astrid said, getting out of the car.
Rolling Hills reminded me of a summer camp in some ways. There were students who lived there during the school year and they stayed in little cottages. There were students who didn't live there, but lived nearby and went to Rolling Hills.
"That's the new soccer field up there," Astrid said pointing.
A soccer field? Did I hear her right? Maybe Rolling Hills did have a soccer team.
"Is there a girls' soccer team?" I asked eagerly.
"Yes," she answered. "and they have been quite successful. You wouldn't think there would be enough players for a soccer team, but there are. There are many students who don't live here and just come for the day."
I gave it some serious thought. My parents and my sister really thought I should attend Rolling Hills. I was going into grade 10 and either way I was going to a new school. If I stayed in public school, I would be going to high school. I decided to call up my friend Bianca and see what she had to say.
"Rolling Hills? Are you serious?" Bianca exclaimed.
"Yes, why?" I said hesitantly.
"I want to go there," she answered. "I went to the open house with my cousins. My parents said that I could go and I really want to. I didn't know how to tell you."
This made me feel better. Bianca's two cousins, Matthew and Clarah, went to Rolling Hills. I would know Bianca and my sister if I decided to go to school there. One of my best friends wanted to go to Rolling Hills!
"Mom, guess what!" I exclaimed when I got off the phone.
"What?" Mom asked.
"Bianca is going to Rolling Hills," I answered. "I want to go too."
"I hope you are going for you, and not just because your friend is going," my father called out from his office.
"No, it is for me, but I am just more comfortable now," I answered.

 

[California Dreamin']

This is the first story told by the character Astrid.

"Gracie, hurry up!" I called to my sister.
It was my first day of grade 11 and I did not want to be late. This was going to be my second year at Rolling Hills Christian School but it was my sister's first year. I couldn't wait to be back and see everyone.
"Okay, I'm done," my sister exclaimed. "Let's go!"
It was just less than two hours to Rolling Hills, not a drive I would want to make everyday. There were cottages for students to live in for the school year, but some students who lived nearby just came for the day.
"Do we have everything?" Mom asked, looking around.
"Yes," Grace and I answered together.
"Bye girls!" Dad called out from the front door.
He wasn't making the trip with us. I don't know if there would be room for him to come too. We were taking Mom's car and it was crowded enough with just three people.
"Are we going to the mall first?" Grace asked.
"No, I didn't plan on it," Mom answered. "Did you need something there?"
"I was just wondering," Grace said. "I don't really like shopping."
There was this wonderful mall on the way to Rolling Hills and I always liked to go to there. There was a Christian book store there and I could easily find something there that I liked. The mall was an hour from home and was the half way point to Rolling Hills. Sometimes you could get to Rolling Hills from the mall in half an hour depending on the traffic.
"Do you know anyone that will be in grade 10 with Grace?" Mom asked me.
"Lisa and Jessie," I answered, "they were in my cabin last year. They are both really nice."

When we got to the school they had cabin lists posted outside the office. I was in cabin 4! Cabins 4 and 5 right beside each other, only 3 girls lived in each one and there was no staff living in the cabin. Clarah and Paige were in cabin 4 with me.
"Bianca's cousin is in your cabin," Grace said to me laughing.
"What's so funny about that?" I asked, not sure if I wanted the answer.
"She is not like you at all, Astrid!" Grace answered. "She is obsessed with boys and clothes."
"Well, I'm sure there won't be any dull moments," I said. "I have no idea who Paige is either."
Grace ended up to be in the huge cabin, otherwise known as cabin 1. Cabin 1 was the largest cabin at Rolling Hills and 8 girls and 1 staff member lived in it. Lisa and Jessie, the two girls I knew who would be in grade 10, were both in cabin 1.
"Where's cabin 1?" Grace asked, looking around.
"Gracie," I answered slowly, "it's right there, that's why it is called cabin 1. It is the closest cabin to the office."
Mom went with Grace to cabin 1 and I went to cabin 4. Clarah and Paige were already in our cabin. Clarah was tall with long, dark brown hair and hazel eyes, she was looking at a magazine. Paige had short blonde hair and glasses, she was looking through her suitcase.
"Hi," I said, putting my suitcase on my bed, "I'm Astrid."
"Grace's sister?" Clarah asked. "Bianca told me about you!"
"Hi, I'm Paige," she said quickly.
"Yes, I'm Grace's sister," I answered.

 

[California Dreamin']

The second story told by the character Astrid.

"You would think in a school this small that it would be easy to find a prom date," I said to Clarah.
We were getting ready for class. Clarah and I had a free class that morning, Paige was in class.
"Yeah, I know what you mean," she said, looking up from a magazine. "Have you looked at any dresses? My mom knows someone and they are going to make mine."
"No, but I am thinking turquoise," I answered.
"Yeah," she said nodding, "that would look great with your hair colour."
I didn't consider if turqoise would look good with my hair colour. Clarah knew more about fashion that anyone I know.
"Did you look for a job anywhere yet?" she asked me.
"Where? In town?" I asked.
"Yeah," Clarah answered, "there's only like six places to choose from. I just went to that drug store the other day and they interviewed me right away. I'm waiting for them to call me."
"I would picture you selling clothes, Clarah," I said laughing.
"Well, drug stores have magazines and make up," said Clarah.
"Yeah, that's right," I said. "I think we better leave for class now."
"Wait for me!" Clarah exclaimed. "I just need to brush my hair."
I picked up my books and waited on our front step for Clarah. It was the first nice day in awhile. There had been rain everyday for the past week.
"Astrid," called Clarah from inside, "is it raining outside?"
"No, is it raining inside?" I said laughing.
Clarah opened the door and smiled as soon as she saw the sun. We started to walk to class and she stopped suddenly in the path.
"Something wrong?" I asked quietly.
"Should I wear a skirt instead?" she asked seriously. "It is so warm out."
"If you go back, we'll be late for class again," I explained. "I don't think that would be a good idea. There are group presentations today, remember?"
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Clarah said hesistantly.
When Clarah and I arrived to class, our teacher Miss Beckham was very surprised.
"Clarah!" she exclaimed. "You are on time for class! I bet you listened to Astrid today."
"Yeah," Clarah said blushing.
Clarah and I went to sit by Jasmine. Jasmine was one of the day students at Rolling Hills, she lived close by.
"I have the car today," Jasmine told us. "Mom said we can go get pizza for lunch."
Jasmine and I were really good friends. I spent the night at her house sometimes and we worked on homework after school. Jasmine was into fashion so I introduced her to Clarah and they were instant friends.
"That'd be great, Jasmine!" Clarah exclaimed. "I love pizza."
"I'd like to go too," I said.
"Okay," Miss Beckham said over the classroom noise, "no presentations today. Sorry! I have something else planned for today's class. Make a list of your favourite things and present to the class. Put your name, about your family, your favourite things and what your future plans are. Get started!"
My favourite things? My family? Future plans? I started to write.
My name is Astrid. It is Scandinavian for 'unusual beauty and strength'. My mother works as a pharmacist and my father is an assistant pastor. I have one younger sister, Grace, she is in grade 10. Grace is my opposite. I like reading and writing and she would rather watch TV or play sports. My favourite colour is turquoise and my favourite animals are cats and dogs. I want to be an elementary school teacher, maybe middle school.
"Is everyone finished?" Miss Beckham asked.
I raised my hand and looked around, everyone in class had their hand raised.
"Who wants to go first?" Miss Beckham asked, looking around.
"I will," Jasmine offered.
Jasmine picked up her sheet off her desk and walked up to the front of the classroom. She looked around and smiled.
"Hi everyone, I am Jasmine," she said. "I have an older sister, Ellie, who is married to my brother-in-law, Jack. She is expecting twins next month! My father owns a restaurant and my mother is a doctor. Someday I hope to own a clothing store. I like shopping and spending time with my family and friends. That's my presentation."
"Jasmine," Miss Beckham said, "thank you for presenting first. What kind of doctor is your mother? What food does your dad's restaurant specialize in?"
"My mom works at the hospital in emergency," she answered. "Dad is Italian so it's an Italian restaurant."
"Great, thank you," Miss Beckham said. "Does anyone know why I assigned this?"
Miss Beckham explained to us that she wanted to get to know our class more. It was her first year at Rolling Hills. I liked learning more about my classmates as well.
"I'll present now!" Clarah offered, getting up.
"Thank you, Clarah," Miss Beckham said smiling.
"Okay, my name is Clarah. I am not sure what I want to do yet but I want to be famous. Maybe I will design clothes for Jasmine's store. My dad does interior design and my mom works for a gardening store. You probably know my brother, Matthew, he is in grade 11."

 

[California Dreamin']

There is more to Astrid's Second Story, I haven't typed the rest up yet. I write them out by hand first!

 

[magicbox]

nice~~~~~~~~ canadian, go ahead. you can write very well.

 

[California Dreamin']

awwwwwwww! thank you!
it was great to have some input. i am busy working now 6 days a week so i don't get a lot of free time. i love these characters. another thing i did was draw a map of the town and the school, that was fun... (i can't draw but it was really basic stuff)