Chapter 1
Chapter 1
There is a book I’ve read called The Impossible Journey. It’s about a brother and a sister who travel hundreds of kilometers by foot. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that my brother Connor and I, would be put in a situation like that. It all started when our parents said we’d be spending 2 nights in Ottawa at our grandparents house…
“So, why are you not coming with us again?” I ask my mother who was folding the laundry.
“Well, with your dad in B.C, I wasn’t planning on going. Marrisa, You know that your fathers parents and I don’t get along.”
“Yes, I know.” I let her go on.
“Your grandfather is sick. Your grandma wants you two to visit during the holidays.”
“It just, feels weird going there when you won’t be there.” I say.
“I will at least drive you there. Besides, you’re 14. You can spend a few nights there with your brother and grandmother.” Mom says back. I nod. She was right. But I still wish she’d come.
“Can you take these to your room?” Mom hands me a pile of my neatly folded clothes. I take them and go. I should start packing. I think as I enter my room. We will be leaving tomorrow afternoon. Yikes! I get two bags. One is a backpack for my clothes. The other is a large hand bag for entertainment. I start with that one first. Obviously, I go to my books. I take, “The Impossible Journey.” After, I stare at my books deciding which ones I should take. I haven’t read this one in a while. I turn my focus on the book Survivor. This will be good. I take it and the book, The Doomed Quest. I should leave my tablet until I actually leave. I decide. I pack my journal and a pen. The last entry I wrote in it was two days ago. It wasn’t until my 7 year old brother, Connor, came barging in.
“I’m bored!” He whines.
“Well go be bored somewhere else!” I snap at him. He isn’t sad. He doesn’t leave.
“What are you doing?” He asks.
“Just packing.” I reply. “Now go!” Connor leaves. Now, where was I? 5 minutes later I have 3 outfits and two pairs of pajamas folded on my bed. I put them in my backpack. I go downstairs to where I hid my gifts for my family and take two. One is a puzzle and a bracelet for grandma wrapped in red wrapping paper with a jingle bell print. The other is slippers wrapped in a snowman print wrapping paper for grandpa. I carefully add
them with my clothes. perfect. Grandma and grandpa will be so happy. I couldn’t wait to give them their gifts.
“Can we play now!?” Connor calls to me.
“Alright.” I sigh. You wanted a brother. My inner thoughts point out. I know. I agree with them. We play cars. His favorite is the blue one with a skull and lightning on it. He gives me a black one with fire printed on. After a few laps around the room, I quit and retreated to outside. Obviously, Connor followed me. We dressed warm so it wasn’t so cold. The first thing I did was lay down and make a snow angel. The sun was out but it wasn’t warm enough to melt the snow. The snow was bright. So white. Untouched, it was perfect. I didn’t want to ruin the perfect snow, but Connor didn’t care. He ran wild In it. We built a snowman then had hot chocolate. It was a perfect day.
We, well, I, got up early the next morning. I quickly ate a bowl of cereal and got dressed. What to wear? I stare at my closet full of clothes. I chose jeans with a purple shirt and a gray Hoodie that has some snowflakes on it. In the background, I hear mom making Connor breakfast. Connor is complaining that he doesn’t like it.
“You have to eat.” Mom scolds.
“No!” Connor cries. I let them at it and go to my tablet. It says I have one new messages. I check them. They are both from my friend Ashley who is spending the holidays in Myrtle beach.
To: Marrisa.
From: Ashley.
Hey. How r u? Myrtle beach is great. So warm and sunny. How are things back in Kingston? Text me soon.
Reply:|
I text back.
To: Ashley.
From: Marrisa.
I’m good. It’s certainly chilly. I wish we were some place warm. There was a winter fair that our family went to while you were away. Text u again. See ya.
I leave and check my games. In the living room, Connor was eating cereal too.
“We will leave in after lunch.” Mom says.
“Ok.” I look at the clock. It’s 8:57 now. I have plenty of time. I take a shower and then read. I pulled out one of my books that I have already read. I skip to a random page.I know this part. I know what will happen next before I even read it. I close it and collapse board on my bed. When will we leave?
Now, we’re just getting in the car. I sit in the front.
“No fair!” Connor complains.
“Yes!” I say back at him. “You are to little to sit in the front.”
“Your sister is right.” Mom calmly tells him. “When you are 13, you can sit in the front.” Connor switches the subject. He talks non stop for a good 30 minutes. Onnnn. When will he stop! I silently groan. Finally, he plays on his D.S. I just stare at the window.
We get there at 3 ish.
“Hello! Hello! Happy Holidays!” Grandma comes to greet us.
“Ok. I should go.” Mom awkwardly says. “Grandma will drive you guys over. Your father should be home at 6 on christmas eve. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye!” We call out as she gets in the car.
“Come on.” Grandma nudges us inside. “It’s cold out here.” Inside was Christmas decorations. Some bought, and some that we made.
“So, how are you?” Grandma asks as we set down our bags.
“Terrific!” Connor smiles. I roll my eyes. Connor thinks everything is terrific.
“How about you?” Grandma’s attention turns towards me.
“Good. “ I say cheerfully. “We went skating last week.”
“Good, good!” Grandma lets us play while she does the dishes. I go to my room. Connor follows me.
“Let’s go outside!” He suggests. With all the snow on their lawn, it was hard to say no.
“Ok.”
“Yay!” Connor goes out running.
“Whoa!” grandma stops him. “Slow your horses.” Connor does. I slowly work my way outside. We have a snowball fight. I go easy on him cause he’s 7.
After a delicious dinner of mashed potatoes, salad and pork, we went over to the
hospital to visit grandpa. Connor was racing everywhere, pointing out things, talking loudly.
“Shhh.” I shushed him as he pointed to a room. He didn’t respond, but he was quiet. Grandpa was on room 7, floor 3.
“How long will he be in there for?” I ask as we walked down the hall on floor 3.
“They hope by christmas.” Grandma sighs. Poor her. I thought sadly. She must be going through a lot.
“Why is he here?” Connor also asks. Grandma sighs again.
“Your grandfather isn’t as young as he use to be.” She explained. “He has had a few heart attacks. His brain is all confused.”
“Oh.” For once, Connor didn’t know what to say. We get in the room. Grandpa is lying awake in his bed. He stares at us for a bit.
“Hello Dylon.” Grandma says casually.
“Hello Marie.” Grandpa says after a bit.
“Hello.” Connor and I say to him. He stares at us for a bit.
“Connor...And Marrisa?” He finally says but is uncertain. At least he knows our names.
“Yes. These our your grandkids.” Grandma confirms. We told him some stories. He seems to remember. In the end, we are all laughing.
“Ok,time for you guys to go. Said the hospital lady. We say goodbye and leave. It is dark and chilly outside. Back in the house, Connor is sent to bed and I am on my tablet while grandma is knitting. At 9:30, I turn off the lights and fall fast asleep.
