Prince Not-So Charming

Prologue: The Incident

I can still smell the stench of burnt rubber and hear the screech of tires on asphalt. The day had been fairly uneventful beforehand. Actually, the entire week had been normally boring. I had gone down to breakfast that morning with peace of mind. My school year was over, the summer bringing a fresh canvas with its hot temperatures. Mom was cooking in the kitchen, trying out a new recipe for French toast that she would eventually scrap and replace with cereal on the menu. My little brother, Milo, was trying to figure out how he could sneak a carton of eggs out of the refrigerator without Mom noticing. He was a big believer in hazing the newbies, and a family had just moved in across the street that we had yet to introduce ourselves to. Dad was sitting at the kitchen table, waiting for the Sunday paper to arrive. Our newest paperboy had been late bringing the papers for the past few days. The family dog and my baby, Wolfie, was outside in the front yard, probably snapping at some unlucky squirrel. Wolf was all bark, though, and no bite.

“I’m telling you, Jane, I’ll be having a few words with that paperboy if he continues to be late like this. I mean, I need to read the paper while I have my coffee in the mornings! It’s just the way life works,” Dad ranted to my mother, using wide and dangerous motions. I had to duck under a flying exclamation of “mornings” while entering the room.

“Good morning, Addie-dear. How are you doing this morning?” Mom questioned, purposely ignoring my father and his dramatic speech. I smiled at their antics and rustled my brother’s hair on my way to my seat.

“Just fine, thanks. What’s for breakfast?” I asked, already knowing that she had been experimenting this morning. She took a second to survey her concoction that was slowly burning on the stove. Then, with a slight grimace, she turned to look at me.

“Cereal,” she said decidedly. Milo snickered quietly from his position at the table. “Jim, I wish you would calm down. Look, I can see the paperboy coming now.”

Dad grunted saying, “About time.” I volunteered to fetch the long-awaited paper, fearing the outcome if Dad went out and had his “few words” with the boy.

Mom thanked me, and I exited the house into the fresh, summer morning air. I unleashed Wolfie from the post, and he thanked me with a big, slobbery kiss on the cheek. He wouldn’t run away if I was in the yard. The daisies were blooming brightly in the garden under the window. I had just crouched down to pick a few for a vase in my room when it happened. I heard a bark, a squeal of gears, a manly shout, and, not surprisingly, a crash. Suddenly turning around, I witnessed the horrible scene in front of me. The screen door squeaked open behind me, letting me know that the rest of my family had now joined me on the lawn. Just by our gate door, a rusty old red bicycle was turned over, wheels spinning. Wolfie was stretched out beside it, whimpering, and licking his front left paw. We would later find out, after countless veterinarian appointments, that, though he would lose the paw, Wolfie would ultimately be fine. The paperboy however would not.

I was seeing red at this point, so the details are a little fuzzy. I remember seeing the boy laying down a few feet away from Wolfie, moaning slightly. I remember screaming at him, running over and whacking at him as hard as I could. Not that I could do much harm; I’m not exactly what you might call strong. But I am persistent. Dad had to pull me off of the boy. Milo was crying by the door. Mom was carrying Wolfie inside. No one bothered to stay and yell at the boy. The last thing I remember was staring into the boy’s dark brown eyes and hating him with a burning passion. This was the first time I had met Alex Hill.

Note: Well, this is the beginnings of a potential story. It's a romance, and possibly a comedy if I play my cards right. I hope you like it. I'd really like to know if you think that it's worth continuing.

Picture on the side is Addie (in my imagination).

Read. Comment. Vote. Whatever you want to do. Eat a cookie. Smile at a stranger. 

Thanks. :)

~Madeleine