Edward's POV

June 20, 1909

My eighth birthday was rather interesting since I had just recently healed from my injuries when I knocked Hazel out of the way of a moving carriage.

No interesting events did happen however since it was a very nice day out we went for a walk and ate at a luncheonette something we rarely did but only on birthdays.

That night as Hazel and I were getting ready for bed I remember her saying

"Happy Birthday Edward"

"Thanks Hayz and in 4 days it's yours" I told her

"What?" she asked

"Your birthday silly" I ruffled her hair

"Mine" she pointed to herself

"Yeah" I said

"Goodnight Eddie" she said

"Goodnight Hayz" I said and climbed into bed

June 24, 1909

I woke up very tired and rubbed the back of my head which was a little sore since it was still a bit sensitive.

I went into Hazel's room and found her not in her bed. I frantically looked under it and around her room. I went into my parent's room, my room, the closet, dad's office, the kitchen…NOTHING.

I looked around for my mother and went outside of our building. She was with Hazel. I sighed of relief. Hazel looked up as soon as she saw me.

"EDDIE!" she shouted

"Hey Hazy" I said

"Today I am three" she said

"Wow…I mean are you going to learn how to sew already or do you know…cooking?" I said

"No! That's for big girls besides its boring" she said

"Hazel!" Mama said

"What I'd rather play all day" Hazel said crossing her arms

"Well that's suitable because you're still young but not when you're older young lady" Mama said

"But Mum!" Hazel protested

"Gosh I would've thought you were a teenager by now" Mama said kissing Hazel's head and getting up from the bench they were sitting on

"Where's Papa?" I asked

"Oh he's at work" Mama sighed since papa didn't seem to pay attention to Hazel and I. Well Hazel really it was like…he didn't want anything to do with her.

"How come papa doesn't like me?" Hazel asked

"No sweetie he's just busy" Mama said

"But it's my birthday" Hazel said her head down

"Don't worry we'll make our own fun" I said trying to cheer her up

"OK" she said sadly

"Hazy…" I said in a firm tone

Instead Hazel scrambled down from mama's arms and ran inside to the apartment looking like she was about to cry.

It didn't really hit me that she would take this seriously I mean she was only three right? She wasn't supposed to care or understand about it. But she did and she did well.

August 9, 1909

Today I came home from a walk to see Papa and Hazel sitting listening to the radio

"And now Alabama has become the first uh state to uh ratify the Sixteenth Amendment of the U.S. constitution." The radio man said

I watched as papa explained to Hazel what he was talking about. It made me feel good to know that he was paying attention to her.

"Hello young lady" I strut into the room when the radio newscast was over

"Why hello Edward" Papa said

"Eddie!" Hazel shouted and papa chuckled I went to sit down with the bag I had carried to work with me today as a newspaper boy and sorted out my profits.

"Twenty three cents" I said to myself and nodded

December 31, 1909

The year of 1909 was not very eventful However; I do know that it was an interesting one.

Yesterday my friend William came over and we played with the new marble sack he got as a Christmas present since his family is Christian and give presents to their children.

Since Papa wasn't around much we didn't really do anything besides Mama was half Jewish.

Right now I'm sitting in my bedroom playing a board game with Hazel. Since she was three and didn't really understand the rules yet I was winning.

I still couldn't believe my little sister was already three.

"So what's new Hazel" I asked her

Hazel shrugged and went back to biting her nails

"Hey that's not good for you" I said

"Why?" Hazel asked

"Because it's just not" I said

"OK" Hazel said falling back onto the floor

"Children it's getting late do you want to listen to the radio about the celebration in New York or do you want to go to bed?" Mama asked

Hazel yawned and said "bed"

I shrugged and said "I dunno"

"Alright well it's eleven sharp why don't you go to bed" Mama said

"OK mum" I said and she led me to my room

I lay awake in bed awake that night feeling like something else was going to come of my life then I had thought it would…like my life wouldn't be the same typical way it was.

I listened to the sound of people in the streets cheering from the streets because of the New Year.

April 21, 1910

As I sat on the floor of my bedroom reading my book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn I heard my mum turn on the radio.

It was about a little in the afternoon when I heard the radio go off

"And now some shocking news Samuel Clemens also known by his pen name Mark Twain has died. He will be remembered for writing books such as the Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The adventures of Huckleberry Finn…" But I didn't wait for her to finish

"Oh my gosh" I said sitting up and slamming my book shut. I found it strange how I was reading one of the very books mentioned and the author had died.

May 22, 1910

Today was the day that Hazel read from the newspaper for the first time today. It was a big shock for everyone in my family especially me.

It all started at the breakfast table on that quiet Saturday morning in Chicago, Illinois

While I was checking out the paper's headlines Hazel grabbed it

"HAZEL!" I shouted angrily since I was in a bad mood this morning

"Sorry Eddie" she said

"It's OK" I said

"Land opens up in Washington, Montana, and Idaho to public settlement" Hazel read slowly and pronouncing some words wrong but she still read it

"Hazel!" Mama said

"What" Hazel said shrugging

"Did you just read that" I asked

Hazel shrugged again

"Let's just say that she did" Mama said laughing and Hazel just looked at her smirking

I looked at my little sister as she smirked at me and I smiled at her…my little sister had just learned how to read.