The Matches
The trees and the leaves shook very hard. And the people's hair flicked and their hats flew away. A girl named Amanda shivered on the street selling matches. She had to sell all her matches or else her drunken father would beat her.
As Amanda sold her matches, she met a poor girl named Jane. Jane also had a hard time because her parents were gone. Even though they were having a hard time, they were kind to each other. Amanda and Jane helped each other and became friends. For example, when Amanda had a small bread, she shared the bread even though she was very hungry. When Jane had a thin blanket, she shared her blanket with Amanda even though she was very cold.
The wind blew harder, and the trees shook harder. It became colder so Amanda made fire with one of her matches. Just then, they saw a grandmother in the fire. Then the fire was gone. It was strange so she made another fire with another match. Then they saw a delicious looking hot chocolate with marshmallow on it. Even though they were not drinking it, they still felt happy. Just then a cold with blew and made the fire go away. Amanda wanted to make another fire, but there was only one match left. When Amanda tried to make another fire, she remembered her drunken father. If her father found out that there was not much money, she was going to be beaten. Amanda decided not to go home, because she knew that her father will find out money missing and hit her. So she matched up the last match. Jane and Amanda saw a beautiful Christmas tree with many decorations. Amanda and Jane felt surprised because they haven't seen a Christmas tree before.
While Amanda and Jane looked at the Christmas tree that was in the fire, a grandmother came with a smile on her face. The grandmother told them that she wanted to have a friend but nobody like her. So Amanda and Jane told the grandmother that they will be her friend. Then the grandmother made a big smile. The grandmother got excited and wanted to invite them to her house. Amanda could go because she already decided to not go home. Jane could go too because she didn't have anyone waiting for her. So they decided to go.
When they got to the grandmother's house, they found out that she was a rich grandmother. However in the grandmother's house, the grandmother gave Amanda and Jane a hot chocolate with some marshmallow in it. While they were having the hot chocolate, they remembered the matches they saw. The matches showed what is going to happen. They also remembered the Christmas tree. When they turned around, they saw a big, shining Christmas tree. They were surprised. After looking at the Christmas tree, grandmother came and said that she wanted to talk with them. So Amanda and Jane sat down on the couch. They had some fun talking. Just then, the grandmother asked them if they don't have to go back home. Jane told her that she was okay because her parents are gone so nobody was waiting for her. The grandmother asked Amanda. At first, Amanda didn't talk but after a few minutes, she told the grandmother that she is too scared to go back home because of her drunken father.
After the grandmother heard the story of Amanda and Jane, the grandmother asked them if they will like to live with her. They were surprised. They thought the grandmother was kidding but it was not. Jane said it was great, but Amanda said she can't because of her father. The grandmother said that if she doesn't mind, she can call the police and let them put her father in jail for hitting a child. Amanda thought of his father and remembered all the bad things he had done to her. When she tried to remember the good things, she couldn't think of an, so she felt angry. So she said yes. At last Jane and Amanda lived happily with the grandmother and the drunken father was caught by police.