Cherry's Adventures of Thumbelina

chapter 1

Cherry fell asleep in the horse-drawn carriage on the way into the country with her parents. They were going out for a bit on her fall break from school and decided to visit an old relative.

"Wake up Cherry, we're almost there." Michelle nudged her daughter a little.

"Huh?" Cherry woke up, rubbed her eyes and yawned. She looked out to see they weren't in the city anymore, but now on a countryside. "Where are we, Mom?"

"Not home anymore," Michelle chuckled. "We're here to see your great-aunt Beatrice."

"Isn't she the one who doesn't have any kids?" Cherry asked.

"Yes," Michelle ruffled up her hair to pat it down and wipe the drool off her daughter's face. "But a miracle happened, and now Great-Aunt Beatrice has a daughter of her own. She named her Thumbelina."

"That's an odd name." Cherry remarked.

"Says Cherry." Bud chuckled in a teasing way.

"I don't remember Great-Aunt Beatrice..." Cherry mumbled.

"Well, she came to your baby shower seven months before you were born, she gave you those baby shoes you loved so much as a toddler." Michelle reminded her.

"Oh." Cherry smiled, wondering what adventures await her to meet her great-aunt and her new cousin.

The horse carriage stopped and family ended up at a farm. Bud held Michelle's hand to help her out, and Michelle helped Cherry out. Cherry looked all around to see the distant farm life and walked with her family. There was a dog sleeping soundly by the door and there was an elderly woman sweeping up all the dust. She smiled and saw the Butler family and gave a wave.

"Aunt Beatrice!" Michelle greeted warmly and hugged the woman.

"Hello Michelle, haven't seen you in almost forever." Beatrice hugged back, and smiled at Bud. "Did you get taller? You look taller to me..."

"I haven't gotten taller," Bud laughed. "Maybe you've gotten shorter."

Beatrice laughed, then looked down to see Cherry. "Oh, this must be the owner of those cute baby shoes I've given?"

"Yes ma'am." Cherry replied, waving.

The dog looked at Cherry, and panted. He was calm and since she seemed friendly, he licked her hand as his own greeting.

"I think Hero likes you," Beatrice smiled. "I take it you're a nice girl."

"I can be." Cherry shrugged. "Where's Thumbelina?"

"Right here!" a tiny voice called.

Bud, Michelle, and Cherry looked all around in wonder of the tiny voice. They then looked to a table to see a girl on it, who looked very, very tiny. She wasn't short like a child, she was even smaller than that! Cherry leaned forward and saw that her new cousin was about the size of a regular human thumb. Cherry held out her hand.

"I'm Cherry, your cousin..." Cherry introduced herself.

Thumbelina shook one of Cherry's fingers. "Nice to meet you, what's a cousin?"

"We're related," Cherry let Thumbelina step into her hand and she lifted it up to her eyes to talk with Thumbelina easier. "My mother is your mother's great-niece, so we're cousins. Your mother's my great-aunt, and my parents are your aunt and uncle."

"Oh," Thumbelina smiled. "Nice to meet you Cherry, Aunt and Uncle."

"Hello Thumbelina." Bud and Michelle greeted.

"Great-Aunt Beatrice-" Cherry was cut off.

"Please, call me Aunt Beatrice. It makes me feel younger." the elderly woman preferred.