"Of all the things in this doggone world, we have ta go to HIS house! It's not fair!" Zoey claimed.

"Aw, come on Zoey. I don't like him anymore than you do, but Mrs. Wilder really needed us to. Let's just get it over with and hope we can get out as soon as possible." Renee reasoned.

I sighed. I love my sister, and I know she's trying to make me feel better, but still, of all the nastiest people I know, it's Dren I can't stand. He's such a toad face to me and my sister. Yuck! I looked at Renee. "If he tries anything, WHAM!" I punched at the air in front of me. "I'll nail him with righty here."

We just got onto his property and we went up to the door. Renee knocked. And Dren answered. Why couldn't his pa?!

He gave that famous toothy grin of his. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the Ingalls." Then his eyes looked at the papers held to Renee's chest. "Why'd you bring your homework over here?"

She forced the papers at him. "They're not mine. They're yours. It's all the homework assignments you haven't done this week."

"You've gotta be kidding. All this! It looks like it's a years' worth, not a weeks'!" He said.

I crossed my arms. "Well, if you hate it, then good. One good thing is that pile of papers will keep you busy for awhile and keep you away from me!"

He eyed me. "Yeah, well, who says I'm gonna end up doing it?"

"Cause if you don't, Dren Lockhart, you're going to be held back." Renee informed him.

"Tch. Like I care." Dren whispered.

I grabbed Renee's hand. "Come on, Renee, let's go. You said we'd get out of here as soon as possible."

She willingly came along. "You better do it." Renee called back.

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"Mommy, look!" Carrie said. When Ma looked at her, Carrie had a beard made out of potatoes around her mouth.

Ma started wiping her face. "Oh Carrie, what did you do that to yourself for?"

Carrie pointed to herself. "I Santa!"

Pa laughed. "You sure are! Now all you need is a red hat and coat to go with it."

Ma gave a stern look towards Pa. "Charles, don't encourage her. Before you know it, she'll cover herself up in potatoes to look like the Easter bunny."

"Yeah!" Carrie was too happy for words.

We were having supper right now. And boy, did we have a feast tonight. I wonder what the special occasion was. We were eating ham, mashed potatoes, and a loaf of bread with milk. Ma just said that she felt like cooking a lot for today. Not that any of us are complaining.

Once we finished eating, Pa got up and whipped out his violin. It was party time. "You gals ready for some fun?" He started playing a square dance tune when we got outside.

"Heyooooooo!" Mr. Edwards came outta nowhere. "Are ya'll starting aa party without me? How could you Charles?" He playfully slugged Pa, careful not to drop his violin or bow.

Pa smiled. "Aw Edwards, you know I wouldn't dream of it. But what are you doing out here?"

Edwards pretended to look taken aback. But then got a smile on his face and got out a harmonica from his pocket. "By coincidence, I came by to see who's better at pleasing the youngins."

Suddenly, Pa and Mr. Edwards were at each others' throats with what they were playing, but they looked like they were having the times of there lives while doing it. We were clapping and dancing, and me and Renee kept swinging each other around laughing. It was the most fun we've had in what feels like a long time.

Mr. Edwards was soon out of breath, and had to give in to Pa. "I…I gotta say Charles (gasp gasp) you sure know how to fire up Turkey In A straw."

Then it was time to hit the hay. Renee went to sleep pretty easily, but it took me an awful long time to fall asleep, thinking if Dren would show up tomorrow or not.

xxxxxxxXXXXXXXxxxxxxxXXXXXXX X

Before we went out the door for school, Pa called us. "Now wait a second girls. You can't go to school without a pencil for each, now can you."

I tried to argue. "But Pa, can't we just borrow a pencil from Mrs. Wilder for the day. She always has a spare to offer. And I don't want to see Corina BEFORE school starts up."

Pa handed us two pennies. "Now half-pint, you know you should treat others with kindness, even if they don't do the same." He walked us out the door. "Now run along, and don't be late."

I silently sighed. "Yes, sir."

Once we reached the mercantile, I could only hope that Corina was already at recess, and that Mrs. Oleson wasn't at the counter.

We walked in and went up to Mr. Oleson. He turned around and gave a kind smile once he saw us. "Well, hello girls, what can I do for you?"

"We'd like two pencils please." Renee requested. She handed over the two pennies.

"Very well, and you two are in luck. I just got a brand new shipment today." Mr. Oleson said. He was about to go get them when-

"Oh for heaven sake! You would think that people would be polite enough to pay their bill on time, but no!" Mrs. Oleson came charging in, and saw me and Renee.

Se turned her attention to us. "Oh, hello girls. What exactly do you want here?"

Mr. Oleson intervened. "Harriet, they are just here to buy a pencil for both of them." He went to the room and brought two out. "Here you are girls. Fresh from the factory." He tried handing them to us, but Mrs. Oleson stopped him right before they were in reach.

"Not yet Nels. I would like to say something first." Mrs. Oleson said.

Mr. Oleson looked like he knew where this was going. "Harriet….." he said in a monotone warning like voice.

She shushed him with her hand. She then turned back towards us and leaned on the counter. "My darling Corina was just telling me last night over supper about what was said yesterday."

Uh-oh. Here we go.

"Zoey Ingalls, if I ever hear you badmouth me or my family ever again, I'll see to it that your parents will not step one foot into this store, is that understood?" She threstened.

"But she-"

"Harriet, that is quite enough!" Mrs. Oleson faced her husband and looked completely offended. "I am sure what our daughter told us is completely different from what really happened. You know she isn't always telling the truth whenever it comes to others that are around her." He stated.

"Nels! I can't believe you would doubt the word of your own daughter-"

"All I am saying is that it isn't always the other persons' fault for Corina being upset." Mr. Oleson handed over the pencils. "Alright girls, now head on out and have a good day at school."

We did as he said, when we heard Mrs. Oleson say "Well, I never!".

I couldn't help but smile all the way to the schoolhouse.

Renee turned her head towards me and almost smiled as well. "Zoey, we shouldn't be happy that Mr. and Mrs. Oleson are fighting."

I answered back, "I'm not, I'm just glad he took our side right in front of us."

Now Renee was smiling. "Yeah, I guess that's something to be smiling about."

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School was about to end when Mrs. Wilder suddenly called nboth us to stay. When every other kid left, Mrs. Wilder asked us up to her desk. She folded her hands. "As you both know, Dren wasn't here today. If this keeps up, he'll never get any better at the basics."

Neither of us knew where she was going with this.

"The reason I kept you two back was because I know you both are very good at spelling. And Dren isn't." She kept beating around the bush, but now we know where where she was going with this.

"And I need one of you two to go through the trouble of tutoring Dren in that subject, if you'd please." She finally finished.

There was no way. "N-

"I'll do it Ma'am."

I couldn't believe my ears. Renee, my own sister, volunteered. To tutor Dren! What in the world?

Mrs. Wilder was obviously more than happy to hear it. "Thank you Renee. It will be such a great help if you could."

While walking home, I kept pestering her. "Why would you want to go near Dren trying to teach him something other than a good whack to the head?! Are you mad?"

"Zoey, I knew you sure as heck didn't wanna do it, so I took it for your sake. You should be grateful." Renee responded.

I couldn't smile again for the day. I know my sister has my back and I should be thanking her instead of yelling at her. She really is a great sister to have.

"Okay, you're right, I'm sorry. Thanks Renee."