Chapter 1

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Lea's P.O.V

I sit on the boat with my head in my hand. Dad and I have to move to the island my grandpa lives at because of his reactions to things. If only mom hadn't became a reporter and stayed with us I would feel much better.

"What is it?" Dad says at me angrily. His attitude has been naturally angry  ever since he stopped working, but I don't know why.

"Nothing" I say in reply. HICCUP. Uh oh. HICCUP. Even after living with the Pinocchio syndrome for 12 years, I still lie. HICCUP. I clear my throat,"It's just that I -HICCUP- want to be with my other friends living on the main land again."How the syndrome works is when you lie you break out into a set of violent hiccups and the only way to cure them is by telling the truth about whatever you lied about. I say this is the worst curse ever, but Dad thinks that it's a perfect way to figure out who ate the last cookie.

He sighs,"I've told you over and over that we have to look after your grandpa because of his conditions. C'mon Lea be more mature." I know he's lying because in the past he's always telling me to never grow up and be his little girl. I honestly feel bad because I bet there are other things that are causing him stress other than his job loss grandpa. If only he had the Pinocchio syndrome as well.

I looked over the railing of the boat. My reflection looked back at me like it was my clone. Same dark brown eyes, dark brown and long messy hair, and a "perfect" nose. Everyone I've met have said I looked as beautiful as my mom. They all probably know her because she is a very famous news reporter, which is the only way I can see her. It's been 3 years ever since I've seen my mom in person because she had to move to New York to be where she is.

"Lea! Get over her now!" I hear Dad shout from the other side of the boat. I fall off the crate I'm sitting on from the volume of his voice. He's never yelled at me really in the past like this before. I quickly get myself together and walk over to the seating area Das is sitting at. He hands me a paper bag that says my name in teal. I look into the bag to find an apple, crackers, a couple of cheese squares, and a chocolate chip cookie.

"Thanks," I say awkwardly as I pull out the crackers and cheese squares out.

He doesn't look up,"Just eat your food." I open my mouth to say something, but I stop myself before it happens. The question itself might be sensitive for dad to answer right now. But I just want to know why mom isn't communicating with us. We are her family and plus she called me her precious daughter before. I stack a cracker and a piece of cheese on top of one another and plop it into my mouth.

One of the workers yell,"The island is coming up soon so get your belongings together now." I grab my suit case and extra bag and stand up. I look around and spot a boy looking at me smiling in which I return the favor and smile back at him.

I hear a boy the same age as the smiling one say,"Are you looking at her?" as he points at me. I blush and look down for a second as I wait for his response.

"No," I hear. Then suddenly HICCUP. I smile even more. HICCUP. And then I'm quietly laughing. HICCUP.

He finally says,"Okay, maybe I- HICCUP- was because she's-HICCUP- pretty." I look up and stare at him. Sometimes I feel happy that I'm not the only Pinocchio in the world.



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