Let's Get To Work

The following day, after school had let out, Laura ran up to Willie, who was about to start up a game of baseball with the other boys.

"Willie, we have to start working on our project." Laura said to her fellow classmate. She knew that she would have to be the one on top of things in this partnership. Hopefully, she would not be left doing all of the work by herself.

Willie sighed. "Not right now, okay. We're about to start a game. Besides, we have like two weeks to finish it. What's the rush?"

Laura rolled her eyes at the younger boy. "It would make more sense to finish it now and get it out of the way."

Willie was not paying any attention to what Laura was trying to say to him. He started throwing the baseball around with the other boys and was about to run up the hill to get in a good catching spot, when he heard Laura yell something behind him.

"Fine then! I'll do all the work myself and tell Miss Wilder you didn't help at all. She'll fail you!"

Willie quickly turned back to her. He never imagined Laura doing something like that. Then again, this was Laura Ingalls he was partnered with. "You would do that?"

"Absolutely!"

Willie sighed again. "Alright. Alright. We can start working on the stupid project."

Laura smiled, feeling very confident with herself after she had won her first battle with Willie. The two left town together and headed for Ingalls place, where they would start the work on their project. The walk to the little house was quiet, until they actually got there.

"I don't want to work in some smelly barn!" Willie exclaimed, as he noticed Laura motioning towards her family's barn. "Do you always do your homework in there?"

"Well, Grace is sleeping in the house and we can't wake her up. If you don't want to work in the barn, we'll just stay outside." Laura told him. They had not even begun working on the project and Laura was already sick and tired of Wille's presence. Eventually, the two decided to sit by the creek.

Laura took out her pencil and pad of paper, ready to start writing. "Alright. Let's just make a short list of all the reasons why a poor marriage would be better and then why a rich marriage would be better."

"Well, when you're rich, you can buy lots of stuff." Willie smiled. He knew full well that this topic they were assigned might strike a few nerves with Laura, especially with him being one of the richer kids in school. The Ingalls family almost never had enough money to make ends meet. It was a war as old as the world, and would not be letting up anytime soon.

"But, in a poor marriage, you work hard to get the belongs you have and you have more of an appreciation for them." Laura added, to counter Willie's statement.

"If you're rich, you never have to worry. You will always have food on the table and a roof over your head." The young boy commented, cocking his head to the side.

"Well, when you are poor, you learn to be resourceful and make the most out of any situation." Laura was slowly raising her voice. This was going to be a long project.

"Hey guys." Just then, Albert walked up to see what Laura and Willie were going. "You're already working on the assignment? We have like two weeks to finish it, don't we?"

"Yes, we do." Willie answered. "Laura is just being overbearing and controlling."

That was it. "Because I don't want to be partnered with an annoying brat like you! I want to get this project done and over with, so I don't have to spend anymore time with you!" Laura throw her stuff on the ground and walked away from the two boys in a fit of rage.

After having a few seconds to cool down, Laura went back over to Willie. "Let's get to work. Albert, do you mind? We're trying to start a project here."

Albert then walked away in silence.

"Is that how everyone sees me?" Willie asked, with his eyes on the ground.

Laura looked over to him. "What do you mean?"

"An annoying brat. I bet my own parents think that way about me." The young boy said in a saddened tone.

"That's not true." Laura whispered.

Willie looked up at Laura. "Why do you care so much about this dumb project anyways?"

"It's not so much about the project." The older girl sat back down and started to explain. "I need to finish school, so I can become a teacher."

"Like your ma."

"Yeah. I want to be seen as a woman and not some helpless little girl anymore."

"For Almanzo."

That name always makes Laura's stomach jump. "How did you-?"

Willie chuckled a bit. "You know almost everyone knows about your huge crush on Almanzo Wilder."

Laura's eyes widened and her breath shortened. "They do?"

"Yup." Willie Olsen nodded. "Me, Albert and Andy sometimes make fun of you for it."

Her heart sank. She would expect Willie to do something like that, but Albert was her brother and Andy was once one of her closest friends. Maybe she was too in over her head after all? But then again, what did they know?

"You guys are just kids." Laura tired to reason with herself. "You would never understand."

Suddenly, out of no where, Willie stood up and moved closer towards Laura. Before she could figure out what he was doing, Willie leaned in and did the most unexpected thing. He kissed her. Willie Oleson kissed Laura Ingalls on the lips and seemed to be enjoying every second of it. Laura sat there, completely motionless.

When Willie finally broke their kiss apart, all Laura could do was stare dumbfounded at him. Willie quickly grabbed his things and sprinted away from Laura, leaving her in the dust. Whatever had just happened between them, would change everything from there on out.