Through the Woods

        The woods is a place where nobody goes. I know that for a fact. People say its a useless place, just trees and all. But its not. Its magical......

         It all started with my Dad. He was my best friend. My everything. After my mother died, he remarried. Its kind of like that CInderella thing, where your parents die and you get stepparents. My stepmom doesn't really care about me, just my brother. She says girls are useless. Just like they were 40 years ago when she was born. But I think she only thinks that because that what her father told her.

        The day my father was arrested was worse than the day my mother died. My father and I did everything together. He was my biggest cheerleader when it came to sports. He was a top athlete in school. I thought he was the best person in the world. Until the police came. They said my father stole over $800,000 from our local bank. They searched his bedroom drawers. I was there. They found stashes of money hidden beneath his clothes. And they took him away. That was the day I realized a few things. One, that my dad was not the person I thought he was, and two, that now I would be home with my stepmother, and my brother, who was like my stepmother's slave.

       Ever since that day, my dad has been on the news. Its the worst thing to see when your dad is on television but not in a good way. All the kids make fun of me because my father is the thief, so they think I am too. They hide their things from me, and I can never borrow anything. But the thing is, I will never follow in my father's footsteps. Ever.

       Every day I have to do my stepmothers disgusting chores. So, to get away from that, I take walks through the woods. I get farther and farther through the woods every day I go there, deeper and deeper in thought. I think about Mom, and how she used to tell me that she was going to be okay. When she was in the hospital, sick with cancer. I think about Dad, how he snuck out that Friday night. When I asked him where he was going, he just said, "To the grocery store honey. I'll be back." I couldn't have been more stupid. He came back with no bags in his hands or anything. Besides, Dad ALWAYS took me grocery shopping. He never got anything I didn't want. I was his number one girl, aside from Mom. But now those memories are gone.

        "Are you okay?" a voice asked. I looked up. This person looked just like my neighbor, Mrs. Kim. She's young and just got married a few months ago. "Oh hi, Mrs.Kim. Yes, I'm ok. Why are you wearing those strange old clothes.?" I asked. "Strange clothes? Oh, I told Charming they were ugly. But who's Mrs.Kim? That's a strange name for a person." she said. "Um, you are?" I said. "No, no, you've gotten me confused with some other woman. I am Snow White. Queen of this realm." she said. "Um, I think I liked you better as Mrs.Kim. What are you talking about? You must be joking, right?" I said. "Um, no I don't think so. I really don't know what you're talking about." she replied. "This makes no sense. How did you come to the conclusion that you were all of a sudden Snow White?" I asked. "I've been Snow White for as long as I can remember! Is that an insult?" she replied. "No!" I exclaimed. "No. It's just I know you as Mrs.Kim and its kind of weird you call yourself Snow White because I've never heard you-" "Come," she said. "To town, I think you need a rest. Besides, you're a lovely girl. I think I have some people you should meet." So Mrs.Kim took my hand, and led me into her strange town.