Chapter 1
Every story starts somewhere, right? My story starts in a small town in Boston. Lots of nice people. Lots of conversations. Lets get on with the story though.
My name in McKenzie Conrad. I was born on the worst day of the year. I know your guessing things like April Fouls Day or Freaky Friday, but its nothing like that. I was born on November 12th 2021 . I know what your thinking. Isn’t that a normal day of the year and it is, unless you live in my town.
When I was born my Mom died. I’m told she was an amazing person. I have a lot of pictures of her. I even have have one of her and me right before she died. She was sweaty and just had me. You could tell she was tiered. Her long brown hair was down and messy. She had love in her eyes and tears. My, Grandma, Nana, says I have her bright blue eyes.
Did I not tell you? Oh, sorry. My Dad and Mom broke up a month before my Mom found out she was pregnant. The people in my town say she swore she was having a girl. The town people often tell me about her. They say that she could read people like a book. They say she was a super hero in disguise but she was actually a kindergarten teacher.
My Dad had proposed to her after being together for two years. She said no though. My aunt tells me its because she wasn’t ready to get married. My Dad had no clue I even existed. That is until my fifth birthday. I’m surprised I even remember it.
I awoke at precisely 8:23 and jumped out of my pink princess bed. I ran to my door and tried to open it but it was no use. My door of course, had to be locked. I tried three more times before I heard my Nana yell in her deep accent “It’s not eight-thirty yet! You know the rule!”
In that moment I had completely forgotten about the rule. What rule? Well, it is the worst rule ever. It’s called the birthday rule. The rule is that on your birthday you can not leave your room until eight-thirty.
That’s a stupid rule right? Not to Nana though. When I was three I woke up at two a.m. I couldn’t sleep. I was too eager for my birthday to come. I was too scared that if I slept then I would miss it. I jumped into Nana’s bed. She screamed so loud! I almost gave her a heart attack! Nana is not a morning person and I learned that the hard way. That day we made the birthday rule.
She told me I was crazier than my father. I didn’t know much about my father so it was nice to hear about him. No one would talk about him. I could only image what he was like. I never knew why no one talked about him. I was to scared that if I asked people would tell me something I don’t want to hear, so I never did. I liked how I pictured him. I figured that if I’m never going to meet him then I should have a positive view of him. I was going to meet him sooner than I thought though.
Bring!
Bring!
Bring!
That’s when my Minnie Mouse alarm clock went off. 8:30! I opened the door as fast as I could. I was already knew this day was going to be awesome and it had barley even began yet.
I swung open the door as fast as I could.
“ITS MY BIRTHDAY!” I yelled in my high-pitch girly voice. At this time my long golden brown hair was in pigtails and my two front teeth were missing so it was extra cute. I ran down stairs faster than lightning. If I tripped I wouldn’t even notice I would just keep falling until I hit the bottom of those hard wooden steps and even then I wouldn’t care. I was determined to get down stairs.
I jumped the last two steps and ran into the kitchen. I had a smile big enough and bright enough to replace the sun. I saw my two aunts and my Nana holding a cake and balloons beside a table of presents. The entire house was pink and decorated. I couldn’t have been happier. My Nana put down the cake and gave me a big hug. I could hardly breathe but to be honest I didn’t care. I ran over to my two aunts. My Mom was a middle child. She had one older and one younger sister.
My aunt Gretchen, or Gretch as I call her, is my Mom’s younger sister. She is finishing up high school next week. I think she is going to become a cook. She always tells me how she dreams of opening a grand restaurant. She is a great cook though. Every dish she makes is from scratch. She is too skinny. I don’t know where she puts all that food she makes. She has dark brown hair, hazel eyes, and freckles like my mom and I have/had. She always knows how to make me laugh
My other aunt is my Mom’s older sister. Her name is Lynn. She has been in college for a long time. She is getting her doctorate in law. She is going to become a lawyer. She also has hazel eyes, freckles, and dark brown hair but her hair is shoulder length and the tips are dyed purple. She is really cool and smart. She is also serious. One time when I broke her mug on accident she got really mad. She kind of scared me that day.
I went to grab a bite of my cake but Lynn saw me and quickly grabbed the fork right out of my hand.
“Breakfast first munchkin.” she told me with a bit of a smile hiding in the corner of her lip.
I ran to the table and grabbed my food. There was eggs, pancakes, fruit, waffles, and all different types of yogurt and drinks. They were talking about something but I don’t remember what. To be honest though I think I was too excited to pay any attention. The only thing I remember was my aunt Gretch telling me if I didn’t slow down I was going to choke. I just giggled and took my last bite.
“Can I open my presents now?” I shouted. I don’t think they understood me at first because my mouth was still full of pancakes. They laughed so I think they figured it out.
“We have to clean up first dear.” my Nana told me.
I jumped up and down and sung the My Little Pony theme song to pass the time. By every passing moment I became more curious about what I got. They all laughed at my cute childish behavior. Finally they finished and came over.
I opened a lot of presents. I remember there being a bunch of dolls, clothes, and toys but I didn’t care about any of that. The only thing I cared about was my magic dress. My aunts told me a story the night before my birthday about a magic dress. The story goes:
Once upon a time there was a princess named Violet. Violet drew a picture the night before her 5th birthday. She drew a marvelous dress from a dream she had. When Violet awoke she opened all her present. A present with a shiny pink bow caught her eye. She opened with great joy. After she got the gift out of the box she was in shock. She ran upstairs gracefully and brought her drawing back down with her. She compared the drawing to the gift. “Oh my goodness!” she said gently. She was given the dress! No one in Violets kingdom knew where it came from. Every year she wears the dress and every year she get special birthday powers. The powers give her the ability to have the best birthday ever. THE END
I wasn’t paying attention I guess when I opened it because I had somehow already opened all of my presents. I quickly got up and searched through all of my presents. to make sure. It wasn’t there!
“Oh no!” I said unable to find any other words.
“What’s wrong?” my aunt Gretch asked but I wasn’t able to answer. I felt like I was about to cry... until... my Nana saved the day yet again!
“Oh I almost forgot.” Nana yelled.
I watched as she left the room. As soon she came out I squealed and my sun smile came back. She was holding big box with a shiny pink bow. I knew my picture worked. My Nana gave me the box and I nearly passed out with excitement. I couldn’t wait another second. There it was in all it’s glory. My dress! It was a aqua blue dress with all different color purple polka dots and a lavender bow around the waist. I ran upstairs and put on my dress. As I looked in the mirror I realized something was missing. I ran to my closet and grabbed my white laced ankle socks and aqua blue church shoes. I looked in the mirror again but something was still missing. I just couldn’t figure out what it was.
Lightbulb!
I grabbed my sparkly golden princess crown and pulled my hair down. As soon as I put it on I knew I looked perfect. I ran downstairs but before I reached the the bottom I was interrupted.
“Oh my goodness. We did not know Princess McKenzie was here.” My aunts said almost in sync. I looked like I was top of the world and I felt like it too.
