I sit down at my desk and pass a piece of my sandwich to my desk partner, Pat. She eats it happily, swinging her bare feet around, not yet able to touch the ground. Watching Pat eat so quickly remind me of what happened this morning.
I hastily eat my carrot because I'm so hungry. We were not able to eat dinner last night, but Daddy brought home some carrots for us! I looked over at my sissy, who isn't eating her carrot. She has been getting worse each day, and sleeps a lot. Early this morning, I heard mommy and daddy arguing yet again. This time it was about sissy. They whispered about how she was getting worse, and we have less and less money. This can't be good, because that means they will argue even more! When I hear them talk about having less money, there is always more arguing then usual. One time, a neighbor came in and told us to be a little more quiet. I feel bad because everyone can hear when daddy starts to yell, but no one ever says anything. It happens in their homes too, and we don't complain.
Sissy never ate her carrot, and even fell asleep on top of it! I think I heard mom eat some as I left for school. Nothing will ever go to waste on her watch.
I look back at Pat, and she has already finished the tuna sandwich. We get through the rest of the day of school, and head home. Everyone walks, even the teacher. The teacher is very nice because she wants to teach us, even if she isn't paid. When we asked her why she teaches us, she gave a very short, but boring response. "We have to teach you kids how to get out and stay out of the mess we are in now, and who else will?"
YOU ARE READING
Pebbles
Short StoryFood, school, and the deteriorating health of his little sister are problems on the mind of a young boy living in the Great Depression. In this three-part short story, the boy describes his life as his family struggles to survive with the little mon...
