Edited 2019

AN: Sorry for not updating. I just have not been motivated to write. I have another week before school starts up again so I will try to post again but I am not making any promises. I have had a nice holiday season I hope all of you have as well. Happy New Year and please review.

Disclaimer: Like I tell the children at the daycare it is fun when your friend shares their toys just make sure that you give them back.

Chapter 38

At the end of lunch, I walked over to where the boys were sitting. "Jase I am gonna get a ride home with Tara we are having an extra dance practice tonight. I will see you at home later."

"Ok. Will you be at the game?" Jason asked.

"I don't know but I need to go to class." I left the lunchroom and head to class. Hoyt showed up a few minutes later and took his usual seat.

Just as Mr. Merlotte was getting ready to start class Dr. Ludwig came over the intercom. "Afternoon students I have a quick announcement for the dance team. You will be having an extra practice this afternoon in the auditorium that will start right after school. That is all, have a good rest of the day."

We were starting to balance chemical equations. It was not the best lesson that Mr. Merlotte had ever taught but I still paid attention to what he had to say. "Thank you to most of you who tried today. I know that today has been less than exciting but just think in a couple of weeks you have a wonderful chemistry holiday to look forward to." Mr. Merlotte said as the bell rang.

Once class was over I headed up to Swedish. Mrs. Fant was handing out children's books as I entered the room. I took a seat next to Preston. He was flipping through one of the books. "Hi, Preston."

"Hello Sookie, do you have any idea what we are going to be doing today?" He smiled looking over to me.

"Your guess is as good as mine. I have a favor to ask you. The dance team is thinking about volunteering for the haunted house. We would like you to come to our practice tonight. I mean if you can." I said flipping through my own book.

"I am not the one in charge but I can ask Dillon. He and Calvin are the ones running it. I am sure that I can get one of them to come with me. What time is the practice?" He asked.

"We are meeting right after school in the auditorium," I answered. Preston was about to respond when Mrs. Fant went to the front of the classroom.

"Afternoon everyone today we are going to be reading and then writing children's books. The ones that you write will be done in groups of four. You will be working on them today and all of next week. I want you to be creative with your illustrations and storylines. You will need to incorporate at least ten of our vocabulary words. You can use any resources in the room including myself and Mr. Northman. I am expecting you to complete ten pages with text and illustrations. You may work in whatever groups like as long as you work. If you have any questions I will be at my desk. So get to it." Mrs. Fant instructed before moving back to her desk.

"I will be there tonight. Now would you like to work with me?" Preston asked smiling.

"That is great. I would love to work with you." I countered. Göstav and Lena joined us. We looked through the children's books and decided to do a retelling of Cinderella. They all volunteered me to do the illustration, which honestly I was fine with. The boys worked on the storyline for the rest of the class period. With Lena's help, I sketched out some illustration ideas. When the period was over I packed up and made my way to the orchestra room with Preston's promise to meet me at the auditorium later. I retrieved my cello and tuned it. Mrs. Fortenberry was in a real humdinger of a mood. She pushed us with every wave of the baton. I had never been so tired of playing my cello in my life. I was glad when the class was over.

I hurried to pack and get up to the auditorium. Preston was waiting for me at the door along with Dillon and Calvin. "Hi, guys thank you for coming. We have a couple of things that we want to go over this afternoon. We are gonna bring up the idea to everyone and see what they think. Then if y'all want ta' say what kind of help you need and what we would be doing that would be great." I greeted and steered them to the front of the auditorium. Tara and Lafayette were sitting on the edge of the stage waiting for everyone to take a seat. Claude was making his way to the stage as well.

"Sug thanks for bringing the boys we can take it from here if you and Claude wanna take a seat." Lala directed. Claude, Preston and I took up residence in the first row. "Hey everyone, sit down. We have a couple of things that we want to announce and talk about this afternoon. First starting next week we will be moving our practice location outside next to the football field. The drama club will need the auditorium for its play starting Monday. Next one of your fellow dancers brought an idea forward that all of the captains agree is a good thing for us. We would like the whole team to volunteer to help with the haunted house. Now because we want to know what y'all think we are going to take a vote. Everyone that wants to help out, raise your hand." Tara counted as Lafayette continued. "Keep um up. Alright, those that would rather not raise your hand." Only four hands went up. "Well, it looks like we are going to be helping out. We have the guys that are running it here to tell you what they need us to do." Lala and Tara climbed down and let the boys take the stage.

Dillon and Calvin took over and started to explain that they needed actors to do the different scenes throughout the haunted house. "Thank you all for helping. We have been in great need of help specifically with female characters. We have a list here of what characters we need. We will split you up into groups and assign everyone a character. If you would rather be behind the scenes let us know, we still need some people to help with costumes and makeup. So come on up and we will get going." Dillon said.

The triples, Preston, Godric, and I got a scene together along with some of the other basketball boys. We got an Alice in Wonderland theme. I had no idea how it would fit into the overall theme but it sounded fun. I was chosen to be Alice because I had blonde hair. The girls would be the White Rabbit and the Queen of Hearts. Claude was picked to be the Cheshire Cat. While Preston the Mad Hatter and his pal Remy the March Hair. Godric was to be the Caterpillar. Some of the other boys would fill in the other parts. We would be meeting next week to read through scripts and measured for costumes.

When the meeting was over Tara and Laffy asked those of us that would be part of the partnering dances to stay. They paired us up, Tara and Claude, Lafayette and Dawn, Kevin and Kenya, Barry and Claudette, Mel and Luna, Remy and Claudine and Godric and I. They had us run through some simple techniques to see if everyone was a good fit. They swapped Claudine with Kenya because Kevin could not lead Kenya in a convincing way. Remy surprised all of us with just how well he was doing. I was having a great time with Godric. He was a really good partner. After about an hour we called it quits. I packed up and followed Tara to her car. She sang along to the radio as she drove me home. It was five when we pulled up to the house. Jason was just about to leave when we came in the door.

"I was wondering if you would get home before I took off. Are you two gonna come to the game?" He asked picking up his gear.

"I want to stay home and clean a bit for when Gran comes home tomorrow. I don't know what Tara is planning." I said looking to her.

"I need to meet Lafayette but we will be there later. I will see you later Sookie." She hugged me and headed back to her car.

"Bye Tara." I waved her off.

"I gotta get, I'll see you when I get home." Jason lifted his bag to his shoulder and went to his truck. I went back to the house and found Hunter in the living room surrounded by his toys. Hadley was sitting on the sofa reading a book. She looked up at me when I came in the door.

"Did you have a good day at school?" She asked closing her book.

"It was ok. The dance team is going to be helping with the haunted house. I am part of a large group who has an Alice in Wonderland theme." I said taking a seat next to her.

"That is nice. What part did you get?" She smiled and turned to face me better.

"Alice but only cause I have the hair for it," I replied.

Hunter turned from his mountain of toys and said "You're pretty too. Do you know what I am going to be for Halloween?"

"No. What?" I turned my attention to him and asked?

"I am going to be Peter Pan and Mommy said she would be Wendy." He gushed with excitement.

"That is really cool." I smiled at him.

"You could come with if you want I still need a Finker Bell."

"It is T-inker Bell honey." Hadley corrected him.

"That's what I said. So do you wana?" He said frustrated turning back to me.

"Maybe, I don't know what I am doing for Halloween yet but I will let you know," I answered honestly.

"I guess that is ok. Come play with me, Mommy said she ordered pizza for supper so we have time to play." He said motioning me to sit next to him on the floor. I did and then Hadley got up.

"I am going to take a quick shower. The money for the pizza is on the kitchen table if the delivery guy gets here before I am out." Hadley explained as she made her way to the hall. Hunter and I played with his trucks and robots until there was a knock at the door. Hadley was still in the shower so I grabbed the money from the table and answered it. I told the delivery guy to keep the change and took the pizzas into the kitchen. I got out some paper plates so that we would not have to wash anything and some salad. Hunter helped me by setting the table and picking out the dressing to put on the table. I was just pouring him a glass of milk when Hadley came into the kitchen with her hair wrapped up in a towel and took a seat. We ate in relative quiet. Hadley asked me if I wanted to go with to see Gran tonight. I told her that I was going to clean some so that Gran wouldn't have anything to worry about when she came home the next day. "That would be nice. I am going to take Hunter with me and then go to the grocery store to pick up some heart-healthy things for Gran. Do you want anything?" She asked as she picked up her purse.

"No, I don't need anything. I am going to start cleaning. I will see you two when you get home." I said putting the rest of the pizza away.

"Alright, we will see you when we get back." She said as she ushered Hunter out the door. I spent the next few hours cleaning every surface in the house that I could reach. By the time they got back, I had cleaned the entire downstairs and was working my way through the laundry. My room and the guest room were as clean as they needed to be. Hadley waved at me when she came in carrying a very sleepy Hunter and a couple of bags. I took the groceries from her so she could put him to bed and then I started to put away the food. I had no clue how we were going to get Gran to eat better. She had argued with the doctor about food, telling him that she had eaten the same way her whole life and did not intend to change it now. I smiled to myself and finished my task. After I was done I went back to sorting through the laundry. Once I had the first load going I decided to go sit down for a few minutes. I dozed off and woke up later to voices and someone carrying me up the stairs. They put me to bed and tucked me in. They then kissed me on the forehead before turning off the light and closing the door.