chapter warnings at end of chapter

So: there is a story around this. A few years ago, I told this to my sister, and we recorded it. Then I posted a version of the first couple of chapters, but never finished transcribing it. After re-reading, I've decided to dust it off - I've finally got the whole first half transcribed, and I re-edited the earlier chapters to make them better... so, here goes nothing.

As to the possibility of this project being completed: I hope it will be, as I think it's quite funny. Posting this is motivation :). The first story in this series is complete but not transcribed; the story is, at this point, halfway written down. It ended on a pretty satisfying note, no cliffhangers or anything, but I had had thoughts of continuing, so there will be some unresolved threads of the sort that might tie into a larger arc. Hopefully, though, it stands on its own.

You might want to read the earlier chapters again! I re-edited them all, NOT CHANGING THE PLOT, just expanding greatly on a whole bunch of scenes and hopefully improving upon them. :)

And here's the first new chapter that has not previously been posted...

Chapter 16 – Tell Me a Story

In another place, at the Orphanage…

It was a few weeks after everyone had discovered Harry could speak to snakes. The only people who would speak to him now were Alex and Katie. Alex was a bit wary, but he didn't blame Harry for being able to speak to snakes, and Katie didn't seem to realize anything unusual about it at all.

Harry and Alex were sitting in the corner of the library, playing a board game, and trying to ignore the looks shot their way when Katie came in. "Alex," she said, tugging on his sleeve.

"What?" he asked.

"I don't feel good," she said.

"Hmm?" Alex looked up. Katie climbed onto his lap. "What is it?"

"I feel strange," she said. "Sort of…cold."

"But it's hot out," Harry said.

Alex put a hand to her forehead. "You've got a fever," he said.

"I do?" she asked.

"Yeah," he answered. "It's all right, you'll get better soon. Let's tell the doctor, OK?"

"Ok," Katie answered miserably.

She had to stay in bed, so Alex and Harry stayed with her. "Alex?" she asked.

"Yes Katie?" Alex asked.

"Can you tell me a story?"

Alex smiled. "Okay. I'll tell you about the little bears."

"Good," she said, closing her eyes. "I like that one. Make sure it has a happy ending."

"Of course it does," said Alex.

"And all the bears get to meet their parents again," she murmured.

"Yes, they do," said Alex.

Harry stood behind them, feeling very strange and lonely.

Alex started telling Katie the story about the bears who went on a quest to find their parents.

"…and they all lived happily ever after."

"That's a good story," she said sleepily, when he was done. But then she sat up a little, and grinned. "Maybe if I'm still sick tomorrow you could tell me another one?"

"Sure," Alex said, smiling. "I'll do that."

She was still sick tomorrow. She was very sick, in fact. Sicker than they had thought.

Two weeks later, Katie died.

.

.

.

gratuitous death of minor character :(

-actually, it's almost hilarious how unnecessary the death is - I did it purely to break my sister's heart, I have to admit (and I have to cringe at it now - but I'm not changing the plot in my edits so *shrug* it is what it is)