Chapter 3 – A New Best Friend
Three weeks have gone by since the Cartwrights have moved in. Alana has started training for her new position at Maine Family Federal Union. Phil had a few meetings with the staff at Ewen High School for his new librarian position. Phil could hardly wait to start working again. Lois has been working her butt off helping around the house by cooking dinner and taking care of the new garden with Felicity's help. Felicity loved to help her family with almost anything. Felicity also got a job working as a Nursery Attendant at Main Street Family Church. The whole staff made her feel welcome and she loved taking care of the babies while listening to the service on the nursery intercom. However, Felicity had trouble making friends. She was always shy with other people and often believed that no one would like her because of her appearance or for some of the things she likes. Every time someone stared at her, she would say to herself, This is Kenmore High all over again. She would pray to God each day and night to help her find a friend.
One morning after Alana and Phil went to work, Felicity thought that she would go out into the garden to water the flowers and sketch. Lois was still asleep in her room, so Felicity decided to make breakfast to surprise her when she woke up – cinnamon oatmeal with peaches and toast. After finishing her own breakfast – two slices of toast with cream cheese and strawberry jelly and orange juice – and fed Stachi and Misty, Felicity left a note for Lois: Thought I'd make you breakfast this morning. Enjoy! I'll be out in the garden if you need me! Love, Lyss. As soon as Felicity went out the back door with her iPhone, sketchpad and pencils, she heard her grandmother's alarm clock go off. Felicity smiled and chuckled as she turned on the water hose to fill up the watering can. The flowers that are growing in the garden include lillies, mums, alyssums, and rudbeckia.
After watering the flowers, Felicity sat down in the shade under the tree, turned on her music, and began to sketch. She began to sing one of her new favorite songs from Missy Robertson, "Angel Child". It tells the true story about Missy's young daughter, Mia. " Newborn baby girl/Made an early entry to our world/All our hopes were high/But you came with a surprise/And life took a turn/You brought lessons to be learned/And your fate has made us see... ." Felicity would sing whenever she is alone. Occasionally, she would sing for her family every Christmas and birthdays because they tell her that she has a beautiful voice. Felicity thought that she could play the song at church one Sunday because it was so beautiful and heartwarming. She is currently planning to go to college to get a degree in Special Education or Speech-Language Pathology. Felicity kept singing along until she was done with her summer flowers sketch. What she didn't know was that there was a girl with strawberry-blonde hair exactly her age listening through the fence.
"He-hello," she said. Felicity jumped for a moment and put a hand to her heart. The girl looked down at the grass and said, "I-I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." Felicity looked at her and laughed, "It's okay. I didn't see you come over here. My name is Felicity Cartwright. What's your name?" The girl looked up shyly. "I'm Carrie. Carrie White." The two girls stood up and shook hands. Carrie wore a navy sundress that came down to her knees. Felicity also noticed that she was barefoot and saw that Carrie's shoes are sitting right by the tree in Carrie's backyard. So she must be Margaret's daughter. How come Margaret never told us about her before? Felicity thought. Maybe Carrie will be my friend. Carrie felt dumbstruck. No one ever talked to her so nicely before. She began to strike up a conversation with Felicity. "I-I-I couldn't help hearing your song. It's beautiful." "Oh, thank you," Felicity replied with a smile. "It's one of my new favorite songs. Missy Robertson has a beautiful voice." "I'm guessing it's country and Christian music, right?" Carrie asked. "Yeah," Felicity replied. "Where are you from?" Carrie asked again. "My family and I moved here a few weeks ago from Buffalo, New York. Before we moved, my mom received a promotion to become a supervisor at Maine Family Federal Union in Lewiston and my stepfather just got a job as librarian at Ewen High. That's where I'll be spending my senior year." "Really?" Carrie asked. "I'm a student there, too. But...," Carrie stopped. Her face turned a bright pink. "But what?" Felicity asked. "But, all of the students don't like me because of my Momma's beliefs on everything being sinful." "Why?" "It's...uh...um...hard to explain. She even told me that she went to see you." "Did she say anything awful about my family?" Felicity asked, suspiciously. Felicity can get really sensitive and angry when people say nasty things about her family.
Carrie shook her head. "No, but she says that she prays that you all find Jesus." "Well, my family and I are Christians and we go to church every Sunday. I even work at the Family Church as Nursery Attendant," Felicity told her. "Speaking of which, I haven't seen you there. Do you go to a different church in town?" "Uh-uh. I have church at home." "I see." There was an awkward silence for a minute. "Well, um...do you have any plans today?" Felicity asked. "I can't stay home all day, so I'm heading to the library. Momma allows me to go there a lot." "Would you like it if I come with you? We can even go grab lunch." Carrie smiled. "I love to!" "I'll go and ask my grandma," Felicity replied. She started running back to the house. "I'll be right back!"
Carrie smiled and hugged herself. I finally have a best friend to be around with! Maybe everything will be alright after all. After about five minutes, Carrie heard the back door close and Felicity ran back to her with Lois behind her. "Carrie, this is my grandmother, Lois Parsons," Felicity announced. "Grandma, this is Carrie." "It's nice to meet you, Carrie," Lois said. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Parsons," Carrie said, shyly. "I just talked to Lyss' mother and she said that it's fine as long as she gets home before dinner," Lois informed. "I'll call you to let you know that I'm on my way home, Grandma. Don't worry," Felicity assured her. "I know the way to get to the library," Carrie told Lois. "It's not that far from town. We will walk there." Lois smiled. "Alright. Have a great time, honey." She kissed Felicity on the cheek and gave her her backpack. "Thanks, Grandma. See you later." Carrie put on her shoes and grabbed her backpack and off they went to the library. "Would you like to listen to some music?" Felicity asked. "Sure," Carrie smiled as Felicity handed her one of the ear-buds. "What was that song you were listening to again?" "'Angel Child.'" Felicity played the song again and Carrie sang along with her. " You are perfect/You are beautiful/You are born to shine your light/And show everyone they're precious in His sight/You're a brave one/You are chosen to bring healing with your smile/You are more than we imagined/You are our Angel Child ."
On their way to the library, the two girls stopped at a nearby diner for lunch. While eating her grilled cheese sandwich, french fries, and tomato soup, Carrie was beginning to worry. Felicity noticed the worried look on Carrie's face and she asked her, "What's wrong, Care?" "I hope we don't run into Chris Hargensen," Carrie confessed. "Who's Chris Hargensen?" "She is one of the popular girls at school. She and her friends pick on me all the time." Felicity shook her head in disgust. She hated the "Queen Bee" bullies at Kenmore High and that they pick on her. "Don't worry, Carrie. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise. We are best friends for life."