Poems & Stories

Purple Ball

Her brown curls wrapped her head like a crown of fall leaves scattered on the ground. The red birthmark on her cheek set her apart from her twin sister in the most superficial way but it made it easier for everyone to recognize her. Her mother, of course, would know which twin she was without the mark.
Today she was dressed in pink and purple, with a frilly skirt and a princess shirt. Her sister, however, was dressed in purple and pink, with the same skirt and shirt. Doubtless the girls had matching shoes but you would be hard pressed to find them to be sure. "Sister, play?" She wanted Alice to join her in the yard. Their mother and grandmother had brought them to visit their great grandmother's farm. Great-grandma Emily had purchased colored play balls and bubbles for the occasion. Little Emily, named after her great-grandma, grabbed the purple ball that was nearly as large as she was and started running. Alice grabbed it from her and ran the other way. She rolled the ball and tossed it. Emily tried to play with the ball too but Alice giggled and grabbed it and kept it out of Emily's reach. Alice seemed to delight in Emily chasing her, and her mother chasing her, and her grandmother chasing her while she ran with the big purple ball. "Alice, you need to share with Sissy," her mother chided gently. Alice giggled harder and took off running in the other direction and Emily, finally tired of the chase, started crying. Her smile dropped away and tears ran down her pale rose flushed cheeks and she ran to Grandma. "Alice," said her mother, her tone a bit more harsh now. Alice squealed, clearly enjoying her game of Keep Away. Her mother laughed and caught Alice and fell onto the ball. Alice, well pleased with herself, ran off after her mother who now had the ball . But Emily had gone back to the porch to blow bubbles with her grandmothers.