The Cold North

Prologue

Spend some time out of the country they say. Go in December they say. The snow is so pretty they say. Your aunt will love to see you again they say. It'll calm you down they say. Go ahead; take Miranda and Chloe with you. Well, you know what they failed to mention? A gust of wind will freeze the water on your freaken eyeballs! They know I hate the cold, yet they send me to freaken Russia anyway.

I'm not hating on Russia or anything, but really, I'm from Ohio...Russia is clearly no place for me. I'm too quiet and shy. I'll be picked off like sheep surrounded by wolves. As for Miranda...well...let's just say this is going to be interesting. Chloe can probably make it, but it won't be a good run. We're all screwed.

Oh, and it gets better. My aunt married a Russian drill sergeant...even if he is really nice. We'll be up at the crack of dawn and passed out by eleven. I might have to take up drinking. I just hope I can stomach the vodka. I probably can't, but what's the harm in trying right? Oh yeah, Miranda and Chloe will immediately take me for a drunken floozy.

Let the fun begin!

Chapter One: Sh-sh-shiver

Today hasn't been that great. First of all, I had to be woken up at four so we could get to the airport and leave by eight thirty. Chloe slept for most of the first flight and all Miranda could do was complain. Friends are apparently horrible company on planes. Having never flown anywhere before, both of them were kind of freaked out by the time they woke up enough. I've flown many times so it was nothing new for me.

In Nome, Alaska all hell broke loose. First of all, airport security almost strip searched me because of a freaken quarter and Miranda's stupid hand sanitizer. Next, someone stole my coat so I was really going to have to tough it out in Russia. Then, on the flight from Nome a fat old man fell asleep on me, drooling on my shoulder for two hours. God I hate my life.