It Can't Get Worse

Chapter 2: Christmas

Chapter 2: Christmas

Joseph awoke with a giant smile that spread from ear to ear. "It's finally Christmas." He sighed with relief, while hopping out of bed. Joe planned to make his family an extra special breakfast this morning, pancakes. Prancing down the stairs, Joseph's feet pajamas got caught on the stair railing, which ripped his pj's and sent him sailing down the long wooden flight of stairs. His large head proceeded to chip the bottom step.

"Joseph?!" Meredith's voice screamed as her tall figure rushed down the steps. Joe smiled when he saw how worried she was about him. "You chipped my new stairs!" she sobbed. Joe's smile disappeared.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean too," he whispered.

"Wait'a a ruin Christmas." Meredith sighed, "I'm going back to sleep."

But today was Christ's day and nothing was going to bring him down. He got up and skipped into the marvelous kitchen. Grabbing a pan and some pancake mix, he whipped together fluffy flapjacks decorated with chocolate chip smiley faces. But, as he turned around to clean to pan, his elbow hit the handle, which made the scorching dish burn his foot.

"Owwww!" he shrieked as he kicked the pan off his foot. At that moment, Meredith, Mike and Jonny came running down the stairs.

"Why do you keep hurting yourself?" Meredith groaned as she tucked a lock of her mousey brown hair behind her ear.

"Cause' he's 'unbalanced,'" Jonny and Mike mockingly said in unison.

"I was, um, making pancakes..." Joe told them, feeling defeated.

"Pancakes!" Mike excitedly stated, "Give me one." Finally someone cared about something he did! Joseph handed him a pancake, and Mike gobbled it up. Soon enough, everyone was stuffing pancakes in their face. And from there on Joseph's morning was amazing! Although his dad was at work, Joseph still got a present from him. It was a bike! He was so ecstatic; he went outside right away to try it.

The morning was sunny and great. The air smelled like dandelions and the clouds were just the right amount of puffiness. Joe hopped on his new astounding bike, and rode down the street.

Towards the end of the path, there was a hill. So, he began to press on the brakes, but nothing happened. Joe started to freak out a little, but reassured himself that he would find a way to stop the bike. Once again he tried the brakes, but unlike the other time something did happen! The chain broke off. He screamed and quickly jumped off the death trap. As he lied in the middle of the street, to weak to get up, he saw a beautiful figure standing over him. She had glossy, thick red hair and the prettiest face he had ever saw.

"Are you ok," the girl asked in a soothing voice. Joseph quickly scrambled to his feet and brushed himself off.

"Oh, uh, ya. The bike just kind'a went insane." He smiled, "I'm Joseph."

"Maisy," She giggled in a bubbly fashion. "I just moved here and want to get to know everyone. Need help taking your bike home?"

"Sure! Thanks!" Joseph replied as they picked up the horrid machine.

~

They walked, talked and laughed almost all the way home. And when they got there, Joseph didn't want it to end.

"Can I see you tomorrow Maisy?"

"Yes! We should go to a movie, or the park!" Maisy blushed, "See you tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow" Joe smiled. Maisy turned, and skipped away. And Joe thought to himself, "this couldn't be more perfect." Then Maisy skipped into the street and got hit by a car.

And that's how Joseph knew Maisy was cursed with bad luck too.