My grandma used to tell me all the time that if I was bad a coal monster would get me. She learned the tail from her mother because our family has been working in coal mines forever. But in New York we don't. Its just there isn't one to work at. So My da Delivers coal to peoples home and my Ma sews clothing all day.

Now me? Well I'm a Newsie. it's a good life and Ma sure does like that I bring extra cash home. But my story isn't about that so much. Its about coal. My nickname is Coal. Mainly because I grew up expecting to work with it. But I guess its not really an expectation. It's a curse.

It happened in Ireland. We lived in king County and almost everyone worked in the mines. They moved before I was born but I still think of it as "we". Anyway my Da worked in them and they used to keep him awake by telling him that a monster ate little boys who fell asleep when they should be doing their work. He was duly terrified and the story stayed in his mind until they left when he was 16.

He wasn't cursed. His Father was. You see his father wasn't supposed to leave the coal mines. He'd made a bargain with God. Said that if God saved his sister from the blight he'd work in the mines till his dying day. God saved the small girl and she lived a healthy life an d married a rich man. My grand da, he could have gone far, but he worked in the mines until he had enough to marry and he then raised a family always working on the mines. But then he was given the option to leave. He left.

He died soon after, pushed in front of a wagon. No one was around but we all know that he was pushed. Me Da thinks it was the Cave monster. I believe him, because its said grad da was sleeping on a post when he should have been working. My Uncle was killed when he was sleeping on the job as well. Nad my father has had some danm near misses. I'm to terrified to even sleep in most days.

My Ma tells me there is no curse, just me da's stories. Me granma tells me that I best be careful. So I am. She says Ma don't gotta worry, its just us in the line. I know what she means. Ma has fallen asleep at work before and nothing happened she tells us all the time we don't have to worry.

Me? I'm nine years old and terrified. I know that the monster will get me. Its why my names Coal. I'll work in the mines somewhere someday. I've gotta. Its that or my family always is doomed.

Till then I sell my papes and go to school, but really what do you need to know to work a coal mine. And school's like work. I fell asleep once and a felt this rush of cold air and I fell off the chair screaming.

So I hope I'll do okay. Can I really live with out sleeping too much?

Author's Notes: OHHH! CHAPTER TWO! -demands all Ohh and ahh- Yeah… I hope it holds up…

Cards on-Silly Putty- STILL WANT MORE!

Shout outs

Tabloid: I know isn't it amazing?

Keza: Well This is legend one

Raven: Well its not more Spot buut….

Angel: Gee thanks!