“Cut it out bean brain. I’m trying to read,” his older sister Jennifer shot back with a nonchalent (nonchalant) glance.

“Kids, stop fighting right now. your father and I are trying to get to this place. But we can’t find it with you two bickering,” their mother calmly cut in from the front passenger seat. Jennifer didn’t say anything but gave Andrew another stare.

Andrew shrugged off the glare and grabbed the brocure (brochure) from the floor beneath his feet. ‘Some vacation,’ he thought as he looked at the brocure. Summer vacation was finally here and they would be stuck on a farm. Jennifer and Andrew had been stuck in the family volkswagon for three days, stopping only for sleep, food and restrooms. Thoughts entered both of the kids’ heads of their friends lounging on the beach in Florida. Andrew jumped as another bolt of lightening shot across the sky.

“Kids! Honey! We’re here!” came an excited shout from the driver’s seat. The car sputtered down a twisting mud road until it reached a blue house. They parked in the driveway and grabbed their luggage. They ran for cover while under the shelter of umbrellas. Jennifer rang the doorbell once. A middle-aged lady answered the door and welcomed the guests in.

“You must be Carol, David, Andrew and Jennifer. You’re just in time for dinner. I’ll show you your rooms and you can unpack after you have full tummies.”

Andrew immediately noticed how warm and cozy the little house was. There were many pictures on the walls but no children. Many colorful flowers were stuck in vases and the house was lit with dim table lamps here and there. The lady called herself Mrs. Carsos and showed Andrew his room with a smile.

“I hope you like your room.” He gently set his things on the floor by the door.

“Hurry up for dinner Sweetie,” his mom called from down he hall. Andrew closed the door and joined his dad heading down to the eating room.

Everyone sat down, said grace then started eating. There was chicken soup with crackers and tuna sandwiches. It wasn’t much but felt good in everybodies (everybody’s) stomachs after such a long day.

About halfway through the meal the door swung open and in walked a very wet girl.

“Mrs. Carsos the chores are done,” she said apparently not noticing the guests. She looked to be about 12 although it was hard to tell because her face was streaked with dirt.

“First of all Andreiya it’s finished. And look at the mess you’ve made of yourself. Wash up and take your supper to bed with you. I won’t have you smelling like a pig at my table,” Mrs. Carsos said rather harshley (harshly.)

“Yes Ma’am,” the girl replied. She picked up her plate then left. Mrs. Carsos saw the puzzled looks on their faces and laughed.

“That was Andreiya. Some orphan who came wandering to our door. Her parents and older brother froze to death. Now she works for her stay. If ya’ll need anything she is right upstairs twenty-four hours a day.”

But Andrew had noticed something. Andreiya’s plate only had half a sandwich on it. So while no one was looking he grabbed a sandwich and some crackers. After dinner everyone headed into their rooms to unpack. Andrew’s parents came in to say good night then left. The house was silent except for a low hum coming from upstairs. He figured that now was as good as (a) time as any so he grabbed the food and headed to the third story.

‘Rap Rap Rap’ he knocked on the door. There was some jostling on the other side then the door opened.

“Hi,” was the first thing Andreiya said. Then, “Oops. I mean, How may I help you?” she said inviting him in.

“I saw that you didn’t get much to eat. How come?” Andrew asked taking a seat on a brown stool.

“Let me tell you a story. When I was eight yrs old my family moved from Poland to here. We lived in the woods until my dad went pshyco (psycho) and killed himself. Then my mom and older brother froze to death. I came across this farm and Mr. Carsos fell in love with me. He wanted to adopt me the way I was but Mrs. Carsos wanted a ‘perfect young lady.’

“The reason I didn’t get much to eat was because my chores were late,” she told Andrew.

Andrew gave a sympathetic look then asked, “So what is there to do around here?”

“Well tomorrow sometime the other family of borders will get here. There is a river, a forest, a meadow and tons of animals. I’ll give you a tour tomorrow,” she informed him proudly.

“Well I better get back to my room. nice meeting you,” Andrew waved and left the room. But Andreiya noticed that on the stool where the boy had sat wasa sandwich and some crackers. Andreiya smiled to herself knowing that she had made a new friend.

“Come on out Sunny. The coast is clear,” she whispered to seemingly no one. Out from under the bed a tiny puppy crept out.

“Here you go boy. Here’s your chew toy,” she handed the pup a tiny stuffed bear.

Andreiya sighed as she looked around the room.. There was her bed in the corner by her balcony. She just called it her baclony although it was just the roof under her window. Her clothes all hung in her closet which was opposite the door. At the foot of her bed was a wooden chest that Mr. Carsos had built for her. On the top her name was engraved. Andreiya Joy, and no last name. Just her first and middle name because she had no last name, not anymore. In the chest were her personals. Like the jewelry that had been her mothers and the basketball that had been her brothers. There were no momentums of her father. She didn’t want to remember him. There were also pictures. Tons and tons of pictures that Mr. Carsos had taken. Then there were two stools (in the room, not the chest) that some neighbors had given Mrs Carsos when her husband passed away. Mrs. Carsos had said they were ugly and given them to Andreiya. Also hidden under her bed was Sunny’s bed. Mrs. Carsos had strictly said no animals in the house. But the poor puppy was an unwanted orphan and Andreiya knew how he felt.

“I think we should get some sleep Sunny. After all, we have a big day tomorrow,” Andreiya smiled. Sunny gave a small bark and jumped onto the pillow. Andreiya changed into her nightgown. It was just plain white with a maroon ribbon around the neck. The design had been worn by her ancestors and she didn’t plan on breaking the chain. Then she flipped the light switch and in the dark, except for the half moon which hung in the sky, she took the diamond necklace off and laid it in the chest. Then she turned the lock and hid it under her pillow. Then she laid her head down, maid (made) sure the window was cracked open, and fell asleep still on top of her covers.

The next morning Andreiya awoke to a wet tongue on her cheek. She sat up and tried to focus her eyes. When finally she could see she got a glimpse of a little white tail disappear out the window.

The first thing Andreiya did was slip the diamond necklace back on and relock and rehide the key. Then she quickly slipped on a pair of short jeans and a speghetti (spagehetti) string white shirt. She pulled on clean socks since Mrs. Carsos thought this important.

“You must be early Andreiya so that you can do the morning chores and greet the second set of borders,” Andreiya mimicked Mrs. Carsos as she plaited her hair into two seperate braids. Then she grabbed her jacket because she knew the barn was cool in the morning. She quietly but quickly ran down the stairs in time to see Mrs. Carsos heading into the kitchen.

“I’m glad to see you’re up early. Get me the milk before you do the eggs. I need to make new butter.”

“Yes ma’am,” Andreiya hurried by out the door and slipped her shoes on. “Man, I forgot to bring my shoes in,” she sighed as she felt he(r) socks get soaked with dew. “Uh well, I’ll take them off when it warms up,” she said outloud. She grabbed the pail that hung beside the door.

She started walking toward the barn when she heard a loud, “Moooo!” Andreiya ran to the barn to see a fox inside on top of a hay barrel.

“Shoo!” she yelled running toward the fox banging on the pail. The fox decided it would find an easier breakfast and sulked off back into the forest. What Andreiya didn’t notice though was the extra set of eyes on her.

“I’ve told her once. I’ve told her twice. I don’t want to tell her thrice. We need to get this place fixed up. The doors, the holes, the loft. Why won’t she listen?” Andreiya complained as she milked Bessy the cow. Gus the old Mule whined in his stall by the door. “I’ll feed you don’t worry,” Andreiya said to the mule and everything else that lived in the barn. Trot the annoying tabby cat came into the barn then streaked off to the far end.

“Atleast I don’t have to feed him,” Andreiya muttered.

“Andreiya! What’s taking you so long?! Is the sky falling?” Mrs. Carsos called from the kitchen door. Andreiya made a face as she lugged the heavy pail.

“Here you go,” she handed it over as she bit her tongue. She wanted to tell Mrs. Carsos to feed her own animals but she really enjoyed doing it. That was the only reason she stayed, because she loved the animals. Even Trot was lovable. And so Andreiya went to feed the animals with Sunny waiting for her in the barn.

Andrew had always been an early riser and that didn’t change in the morning. He was up and dressed by the

The End

1.Not many notes on this. Andreiya was a favorite name of mine when I was little, paired as twins with Aaleigha. Yes, I was strange.
2.The only thing I remember that I had planned was that Andreiya got hurt somehow and Andrew helped her get back to riding horses, or gain back her courage, or something sappy like that. No doubt inspired by The Horse Whisperer.

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