CH. 1- Eye of the Storm
It was summer vacation. A time of pleasure and freedom for most of the ten year olds in Britain,
but not for Myrtle Greyy.
"Did you know that if you look at the clouds closely and concentrate they turn into things."
Myrtle stated mater-o-factually.
"No they don't."
"Yes they do. Look, that one over there," Myrtle said pointing into the sky, "it looks like a cat."
"What? No it doesn't!"
"Yes it does."
"Myrtle, lets do something else." Bethany said sitting up. They had been sitting on the slightly
dew-covered grass in front of Myrtle's house all morning. "This is boring."
"How can clouds be boring? Your just not looking hard enough." Myrtle said still lying on the grass, her eyes half open, half closed.
"I'm looking hard enough to realize that something is wrong with you! I knew hanging around you was a bad idea! I'M LEAVING!" She declared getting to her feet and walking towards the gate that lead to the sidewalk.
"Fine, leave! But you can't come back!" Myrtle called after her still on the grass but in a sitting position.
"Who would?" She said laughing to herself, rounded the corner and vanished from sight.
Bethany was the only friend Myrtle had ever had and they had known each other since second
grade. It was rumored that Bethany only played with Myrtle because her mom told her too. After
all, Bethany was as pretty as a picture with long chestnut brown hair, clear blue eyes and a
friendly personality. She had a way of persuading people to do anything for her at school, even
teachers. With just a turn of her cheek, a ruffle of her hair and a smile to display her perfectly
white teeth it was no wonder that she was one of the most popular girls in school. But why did
she hang out with pale, almost ghostly white Myrtle with her long black hair and thick glasses?
Because of her mother. But now, it was clear that Bethany didn't want anything to do with Myrtle
ever again and that was fine by her. She got up from the grass and walked to the gate, paused and
walked in the opposite direction of Bethany towards the park. In a matter of minutes the sky had
gone from a warm blue to a menacing grey. It got cloudier, a strong wind began to pick up and
there was a hint of thunder in the air. Once she reached the deserted park she walked towards one
of the rusty old swings and sat on it. She didn't move her legs at all, she just sat there thinking.
Her train of thought was interrupted when the first rain drops began to fall. Many people who
were outside ran inside to get cover as thunder struck and lightning lit up the sky. The rain began
to fall harder and the wind was so severe it nearly knocked her off the swing. But Myrtle didn't
move. She sat grasping onto the rusty swing chains until the summer storm had ended and the air
was thick and sticky with fog. She looked up again at the clouds and just barely saw a rainbow
peeking through. It was worth a violent storm to see something so beautiful, Myrtle thought as
she headed home drenched from head to toe with a smile of deep satisfaction on her face.
It was summer vacation. A time of pleasure and freedom for most of the ten year olds in Britain,
but not for Myrtle Greyy.
"Did you know that if you look at the clouds closely and concentrate they turn into things."
Myrtle stated mater-o-factually.
"No they don't."
"Yes they do. Look, that one over there," Myrtle said pointing into the sky, "it looks like a cat."
"What? No it doesn't!"
"Yes it does."
"Myrtle, lets do something else." Bethany said sitting up. They had been sitting on the slightly
dew-covered grass in front of Myrtle's house all morning. "This is boring."
"How can clouds be boring? Your just not looking hard enough." Myrtle said still lying on the grass, her eyes half open, half closed.
"I'm looking hard enough to realize that something is wrong with you! I knew hanging around you was a bad idea! I'M LEAVING!" She declared getting to her feet and walking towards the gate that lead to the sidewalk.
"Fine, leave! But you can't come back!" Myrtle called after her still on the grass but in a sitting position.
"Who would?" She said laughing to herself, rounded the corner and vanished from sight.
Bethany was the only friend Myrtle had ever had and they had known each other since second
grade. It was rumored that Bethany only played with Myrtle because her mom told her too. After
all, Bethany was as pretty as a picture with long chestnut brown hair, clear blue eyes and a
friendly personality. She had a way of persuading people to do anything for her at school, even
teachers. With just a turn of her cheek, a ruffle of her hair and a smile to display her perfectly
white teeth it was no wonder that she was one of the most popular girls in school. But why did
she hang out with pale, almost ghostly white Myrtle with her long black hair and thick glasses?
Because of her mother. But now, it was clear that Bethany didn't want anything to do with Myrtle
ever again and that was fine by her. She got up from the grass and walked to the gate, paused and
walked in the opposite direction of Bethany towards the park. In a matter of minutes the sky had
gone from a warm blue to a menacing grey. It got cloudier, a strong wind began to pick up and
there was a hint of thunder in the air. Once she reached the deserted park she walked towards one
of the rusty old swings and sat on it. She didn't move her legs at all, she just sat there thinking.
Her train of thought was interrupted when the first rain drops began to fall. Many people who
were outside ran inside to get cover as thunder struck and lightning lit up the sky. The rain began
to fall harder and the wind was so severe it nearly knocked her off the swing. But Myrtle didn't
move. She sat grasping onto the rusty swing chains until the summer storm had ended and the air
was thick and sticky with fog. She looked up again at the clouds and just barely saw a rainbow
peeking through. It was worth a violent storm to see something so beautiful, Myrtle thought as
she headed home drenched from head to toe with a smile of deep satisfaction on her face.