A/N: This story came from fellow fan fiction writer, and a good friend of mine; lhotp Carrie. Thank you for your amazing idea! This story is in first person perspective, so it reads like a play, movie narration, or a book.
I woke up to my baby sister Grace hollering today. I sat up and heard Ma downstairs trying to console her. Grace may be four, but she still gets on my nerves an awful lot.
In case you didn't know, I have five other siblings besides Grace. I have two older adopted brothers, Albert Ingalls and James Cooper. Albert is thirteen, James is twelve. Then I have two little sisters. Cassandra Cooper is James' sister and my adopted sister. She's nine. Grace is my baby sister. We also have two older sisters, Mary and Laura; but they don't live with us. Mary lives in New York with her husband Adam. Laura lives with her husband Almonzo here in Walnut Grove. She's our school teacher.
I heard Albert getting up next to me. I looked over at him.
"Good morning Carrie." Albert said to me as he wiped his eyes.
"Good morning Albert." I replied and smiled. Then I walked over to the ladder and climbed down. When I got there I saw Pa was eating breakfast while talking to James.
"Well good morning Carrie." Pa said. I sat down at the table. Pa laughed. "Darlin, shouldn't you get dressed if you are going to school today?"
"Yes sir. I just came down while Albert was getting ready and I will go back upstairs later to dress." I responded to him.
"Very well now." Pa stated. Albert came down the ladder ready for school with his books. I walked over to the ladder and went to get dressed. I realized that Cassandra was the only person in our house I hadn't seen yet this morning. I walked over to her bed and saw she wasn't laying there. I went over to the railing.
"Pa, where's Cassandra?" I asked.
"She wasn't such a sleepyhead and she already left for school Carrie." Ma said delicately from her bed.
"Alright, she just wasn't up here, I was worried she might have run away or something." I stated. James laughed.
"Cassandra wouldn't leave without me Carrie, and I don't plan to leave any time soon." He looked up at me and smiled. I smiled back. James is really sweet. I get along with him better sometimes than I do with Albert. I went back and got dressed. I put on a school dress, gathered up my books and went down the ladder to see if Ma could braid my hair for me before school. I walked over to her bed where she was sitting with Grace.
"Ma?" I asked. She looked up at me.
"Yes Carrie?" Ma asked.
"MA!" Albert hollered.
"What's the matter Albert?" Ma questioned putting Grace down on the bed.
"Somebody took my homework paper! I can't find it anywhere." Albert said. Ma walked over to where Albert was standing by the table. She chuckled, but tried not to show it to Albert.
"Albert, I'm sure somebody didn't steal your homework paper. You're in a grade higher than all your brother and sisters." Ma stated. I walked over to them.
"Well can you help me find it?" Albert questioned. Ma nodded.
"Ma?" I asked. She looked at me.
"What is it Carrie?"
"Can you braid my hair?" I asked holding out my brush.
"I can't right now Carrie. I'm helping Albert find his homework. Can it wait?" Ma asked. I sighed and looked at Pa, who gave me his "don't push it" look.
"I guess I can go to school with my hair down today. Bye Ma, bye Pa." I said and walked towards the door.
"Wait Carrie! I'll walk with you." James said. I stopped and he walked over. "Never can be too protective of my little sisters." James smiled at me. We walked out the front door and headed towards the schoolhouse. I walked really slowly and eventually James was way ahead of me. My hair was blowing my face for the first time since I was an infant. Tears fell down my face as I thought about the events of this morning. Ma didn't have time for me. She's always made time for each of us kids, even with working at the restaurant. I can't believe I feel invisible to my own Ma and Pa. I feel invisible to the world. All because of James and Cassandra.