Ups and Downs at 10 | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Ups and Downs at 10 | Previous Challenge Entry
By Charlene Reid
04/07/09
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

Ups and Downs at 10

Lisa’s eyes flew open. Jumping up she ran to the window and threw up her blind.

“Yeah! It’s sunny!! The day is looking up!”

She bounded out of her room, down the hall, up the stairs to the attic window. She pulled up the blind and opened it ducking her head down and out looking past all the houses on her block to the big red one on the corner of the next.

The blind was still down at Linda’s house! Disappointed she pulled her head back in and put the window down. Leaving the blind up had been there signal that they were up and ready to plan the day since kindergarten.

She dashed back down to her room. “Darn, it’s only 8:05.” she said flopping down on her bed. Their parents had a rule that they were not allowed to call each other before 9:00 am on Saturdays, the only day they got to sleep in.

“Who wants to sleep when there’s so much to do?” Lisa asked herself for the billionth time.

She decided to get dressed and straighten up before going down for breakfast. She knew when Mom got up she would want to know the state of her room before anything else was planned. “No sense wasting play time!” she hummed softly to herself as she tidied up.

Before she headed down she decided to check one more time. Up the attic stairs and over to the window. This time she didn’t need to push the window up, she could see Linda’s window, clearly lit up by the sun.

“Still down!” she groaned. “Oh, well, by the time I have breakfast she’ll be up!” This made her feel better as she headed down to the kitchen.

Mom was up and had coffee on. Lisa didn’t like the taste, but it sure smelled good. “Good morning Mom.” Lisa said giving her a hug.

“Good morning, Lisa. Is Linda’s blind up, yet?” she asked pouring a coffee.

The smell of toast cooking now filled the kitchen and Lisa sighed. She loved the smells that made the morning come to life. “Not, yet.” She replied, glancing at the clock. ‘8:45’ she thought, ‘15 more minutes.’

Lisa popped some bread into the toaster and pushed it down, watching as the coils heated up changing the bread from pale white to dark brown. Then it automatically popped up. She spread it, poured some milk and sat down beside her Mom who was looking through the flyers.

“Linda’s blind not up yet?” Dad asked as he came down the stairs.

“Not, yet.” Lisa answered, stealing another look at the clock. ‘8:51’ She took small bites and drank her milk slowly. ‘Time could be so long.’ She thought.

She watched as her father made toast and poured a coffee. He sat down, picked up the paper, and opened it to the sports section.

“Could I have the funnies?” Lisa asked. Dad passed them to her.

‘8:57 - So close.’ she moaned inwardly. She read the funnies and had a couple of chuckles. When she looked again it was 9:03.

She had lost track of time!

She jumped up and ran to the phone. Picking it up and dialing, she counted “One, two,…”

‘Where are they?’ She knew that after four rings the answering machine would come on.

“three…” Panic was setting in.

“four…”

“Hi you have reached the home of Danny, Margie, Bobby and Linda Blight. We are unable to…” She set the phone down and dropped back in her seat.

“No answer?” Mom asked.

“Perhaps they are just getting up. Why don’t you try again?” Dad encouraged.

Lisa picked it up and dialed. Again she set it back down and slumped down at the table.

‘The day is looking down!’ she thought.

The sound of the doorbell had Lisa up like a rocket and flying down the hall to the door.

She threw it open and there was Linda. “Are you ready, Lisa?” Linda asked.

Lisa’s mind was whirling – “Ready for what?”

Linda laughed “We are going up to visit my grandparents.”

Lisa’s heart sped up. “OH, Yea!!” Now she remembered, she had been invited to join them.

Soon she and Linda were sitting down beside each other, buckling up and on their way.

‘The day is looking up!’ Lisa smiled.

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.