Chapter 10

Karen Incorporated

Monday morning arrived at last. It could not get here fast enough for me. The rest of Saturday and then Sunday after Daddy had punished me were very long and lonely. I went between my bedroom and bathroom and back again. I even cleaned them both spotless and thought that maybe if I was extra good then Daddy would notice and end my punishment early. It did not work. True to Daddy's word, no one in the house spoke to me. I was not even allowed to see the pets. Boo and bullfrogs.

At least when I got to the school bus stop I could see Hannie. She waved at me. I waved back. It felt very good to be out of my house and with someone I could talk to.

"Hiya Karen! I called your house but David Michael told me about your punishment. He sounded a little too happy about it to me. I did not even get to tell you what I bought at Club G. I got a t-shirt and a set of Club G scrunchies for my hair. I am wearing them right now." Hannie gestured to the shirt and scrunchies I had not noticed before she had said anything.

"That is nice for you, Hannie but we need to talk about me and my problems this morning. I got nothing at Club G and now I am on punishment for a very long time. I really need things from Club G and I need you and Nancy to help me."

Hannie shrugged, "I do not know how to help you, Karen."

"I will tell you how you can help me. You and Nancy can help me by starting up KHN incorporated again. The only difference is that this time all the money will go to me because you and Nancy have already gotten something from Club G." I just knew Hannie would be excited to make more things for our business especially since the proceeds would be going to a good cause which is me; Karen Brewer.

Hannie surprised me though by saying, "Karen, I think that is very greedy of you. I am sorry that you got in trouble and did not get anything at Club G but that is not my fault. I am very tired of making things for the business. I would like to take a break and enjoy recess time again."

I sighed. Hannie was no help to me. I was about to beat her up but the school bus drove up to the curb right as I raised my hand to slap Hannie. Her back was turned to me so she could talk to her brother and she did not see me. Maybe Nancy would be more helpful and less selfish than Hannie.

Nancy said the same thing as Hannie. I do not understand what I am doing wrong that I have been cursed with such horrible friends. I decided that since they would not help me, I would have to help myself. The very next day I would start my own business called Karen Incorporated. That would teach Hannie and Nancy not to be such gigundo meanie mo heads to me.

That night I went home and began making more things to sell. I had a lot of time to do it since my family was still avoiding me. I guess it must be pretty hard to pretend like a member of your family as wonderful, sweet and pretty as me does not exist but my family was managing to do it. I knitted some pencil holders and crayon box covers. I sewed together felt bags for school supplied. I made some bracelets out of beads and string. I found some balloons to make balloon animals with. I stole all the mismatched socks out of the laundry room when no one was looking and snuck back to my room with them. I used the socks to make sock puppets and gigundoly cute bags for pencils and crayons. Then I crammed all my goodies into my backpack. I could not wait for tomorrow so I could sell it all.

I showed Hannie and Nancy my things to sell as soon as we were all at school together the next morning. Hannie and Nancy smiled but they did not say much. They also did not offer to help. Ms. Coleman did not offer to loan me a table again so I asked her but she said no. Boo and bullfrogs to you, Ms. Coleman.

At recess time, I found a sunny place in the grass and spread out my shop. Karen Incorporated was in business! I started yelling about my wonderful sale and then I waited for the customers to roll in. Only they did not roll in. It was more like they trickled in. There were not too many people interested in buying from Karen Incorporated. Even Hannie and Nancy told me they did not have money to buy anything. I think they are just big meanie mo liars.

I tried for the rest of the week to sell my items but I only made three dollars. At the rate I was going it was going to take forever to get the money I needed to buy everything I wanted. Thinking about it made me very sad. I could not even have a lemonade stand after school because I was on punishment and restricted to my bedroom and bathroom. It was just so unfair. I was not even getting my allowance. I shrieked for Daddy to come upstairs and pay me for being his wonderful daughter but he ignored me and I did not get an allowance.

I sat in my room on Friday night to brainstorm more ideas for getting money but until my punishment ended there was almost nothing I could do to earn money. Really I was pretty much out of honest ideas to earn money.

I frowned and cuddled Moosie to my chest, "Oh Moosie, this really is an unfair world we live in. It feels like everyone is conspiring against me to make me sad and unhappy. I know it is all Morbidda Destiny's fault. She taught Mommy and Daddy her bad magic spells and she put a curse on the house. If it was not for my restraining order I would go to her house and break the curse."

I knew that my situation was getting desperate. I did not have many options left for getting what I wanted. I was at the end of my rope. There was only one real choice left. That choice was to steal. I either had to steal money from my family and friends to buy the things I wanted or I had to steal the items directly from the Club G store. I did not know what I was going to do but it would have to be drastic.