My Story On Paper

So it begins

Alison's POV

August 3, 1905

I'm so happy! I just got a diary from my friend as a birthday gift. You'll be my new best friend, I know it!

August 5, 1905

Today I went to a petting zoo with the girl scouts. I liked the animals. The goats are cute. They have such cute eyes. I wish mine looked like theirs. I stayed with the goats while the rest of the girls played on the playground. I kept the goats company. Maybe they'll be my friends.

August 7, 1905

I went shopping with my mother. She kept bothering me to buy a dress for her formal Women's Charitable Dinner (whatever that means). I hate dresses. I hate shopping for clothes. I want to stay home. Here's a bit about me, so we can know each other better: I have a dog named Daisy (she's cute) and she's my best friend, I'm going into first grade, and I have a friend named Charlotte. She's pretty. She's nice. I like her. We play in the schoolyard at break, but sometimes she isn't there so I'm alone. I make up my own games. The teacher looks at me sad. I don't know why.

August 9, 1905

Today I went to Grandma's house. We celebrated my cousin's birthday. She's turning 9. She's getting so old. What if she won't want to play with me anymore? We had cake, but I was too nervous to try it so I had the cookies that Grandma made. They were good. My mom gets mad because I don't eat a lot. I can't help it.

September 6, 1905

I'm writing in secret. If Mom found out she would be furious. Girls aren't supposed to write. So why am I? She calls me a freak. Just because I like to read and wear worn out sneakers and denim blouses. I hate her Women's Whatever Dinners; I'd rather throw around my baseball. Dad taught me how to read when he was here. He was kind. He was on my side. Now I'm alone.

September 7, 1905

Today was the first day of first grade. So many firsts! Our class is tiny; there are only 5 of us in the first grade. We share a classroom with kindergarten, second, and third grade. The older children always pass by our room with snickers. Besides, everyone knows that girls drop out in fourth to tend the home and boys drop out in sixth to enlist in the army. I want to keep educating myself until sixth or more, but of course my mom would never allow such "blasphemy". They offer eighth grade here, but there are only two children in it.

Anyway, it was alright. The kids always poke fun at me because of my clothes, but I'm used to it by now. Charlotte is the opposite, she's always dressed in a light summer dress with a summery hat. I don't know how she can stand it.

Our teacher is the same as last year. She's warm and kind. She stands up for me. No one else does anymore. Charlotte is often too chicken to stand up for me, but when she does I'm happy.

I often envy her. She has beautiful golden curls that go down to her waist and hazel eyes. She always looks full of life and the boys always talk to her. She likes the attention.

I'm the opposite. No one ever thinks of me as "pretty". I dress boyish, I have short brown hair that's often tangled (because I don't have anyone to brush it), and I'm oftentimes angry. I have an awful temper, as my Mom says. I once punched a boy in the nose for calling my father a lowlife. My dad praised me for sticking up for him, while my mom didn't serve me dinner for three nights. My dad sneaked me food though. I miss him.