RAotW #74

Hello all! It’s time again for some Reader Art of the Week! This week’s art comes in the form of an excerpt from an in-progress novel by blog reader Hannah, 11.

The novel is called Selena Stark and Crystal Potters: The Story of Two, and I’ve chosen chapter 2 for you to read. It’s the first told from the point of view of Crystal Potters. Check it out:

Chapter 2: Royal Duties

“But, Mother, I don’t want to go with Lukas to the dance. I am going with Ron and that is that. Plus, I hate that night-sky blue dress, and I am absolutely wearing my black Goth dress with the jewelry,” I proclaimed to my stubborn mother again.

I wiped my sweaty palms on my lacy, black-white-and-orange dress as I walked towards my big window leading onto my deck, my hands folded.

“But, Crystal, dear, please reconsider. Lukas is such a nice young man, and he would love to take you. Plus that black ‘Goth’ dress is dreadful, and Ron is… well, very nice as well.”

Mom walked with her green-and-yellow dress swishing as she exited the room. Then she added, as she stood in the hall, “Crystal, if you decide to wear the dress and go with Ron… then all right, that’s your choice. I’ll see you at lunch.”

She walked down the hall and I was alone in my library.

I stared out the window as a bluebird pruned its feathers on the railing of the deck. I swished open the double doors leading onto the deck and I quickly walked to the rail, placing my hands on the cool metal. The bird gave one look at me and fluttered into the sky. Then I looked down. There were three boys kicking a soccer ball around, a boy who was doing tricks with a Hacky Sack as girls watched in awe, and a few girls jumping rope, drawing with chalk, and hopping a hopscotch course, joined quickly by a few boys.

I wish I could be normal, I thought. I wish I could play with kids my age outside and not have to take my dumb lessons. The only time I get free is limited. I wish I was free! This is stupid — being trapped in here all the time, when I have so much to offer to the world! I can’t take it!

I clapped my hands over my ears, frustrated, when a boy with freckles and curly red hair looked up. His green eyes twinkled as he waved and started calling, “Hi, Miss Crystal!”

Soon all the kids were waving and calling up to me. I slowly lowered my hands and waved back.

“Come out, Miss Crystal!” a little girl with dead-straight brown hair called. “Please join us!”

I slowly shook my head.

“I can’t,” I called back as her eyes fell to the ground. “Sorry. It’s almost lunchtime. I’ll try to come out after.”

The kids groaned. But they didn’t put up a fuss and they went back to their games. I turned around, quickly went back inside, closed the doors, and went to the dining hall for lunch.

—

Interesting, no? I like how this has the feel of a classic fairy tale feel — sort of like “Rapunzel” — while being set in modern times. I’m definitely interested to see where it goes from here, and to find out just how Crystal Potters and Selena Stark (a young seamstress) cross paths.

And that’s that! Many thanks to Hannah for sending in her art.

Talk to you soon.

Craig, owlblog@owlkids.com