Superstar Calling

Chapter 3

"This looks wonderful, Mom!" I exclaimed as I sat down to the dinner table. She smiled and pulled out her chair. I heard the front door open and hopped out of my chair, knocking it over. I bolted to the door and jumped into the arms of my father. He squeezed me and asked, "How's my little famous girl?"
"Oh, I'm great! How was your day?'
My dad was really tall so I had to tilt my head back to see his face. He sighed and said, "Like it always is- ehh." He smiled and told me to go sit down and wait for him. He beckoned Mom over and they bent their heads together, speaking in a whisper so I couldn't hear. I have ears like a fox, so I could have heard them, but I decided I'd better not, so I hummed to keep them out. I glanced over to where my parents were and made sure they weren't looking at me. Then I stole an olive off the table. I froze, the olive in my mouth, when I heard a voice from behind me.
"I saw that, Quinn."
I whirled around in my seat and saw my mother looking at me, smiling. I swallowed the olive and said quickly, "I don't know what you're talking about!" I made my hands into a O shape and put it over my head, trying to look like an innocent little angel. Mom laughed and walked over to the table. We all sat down and bowed our heads in prayer.
"Dear Heavenly Father, " My Dad started. "Please bless this food to our bodies and help us to make the right decision for Quinn. We love you. Amen." I lifted my head and echoed the amen. I picked up a roll from the middle of the table and passed it onto my Dad. he smiled at me and then looked intently into my eyes.
"So, what are we going to do with you?" I smiled, knowing he was talking about Venus VonCleave.
"You should let me go, of course! Why would I not?" I tried to sound playful, but Dad's face stayed dismal.
"Think about it rationally, Quintessa." He used my full name and I knew this was not the time to mess around. "You're sixteen. Yes, you are an amazing writer, but do you really want to do this? Venus's life may seem like happiness and fun parties and singing, but there is a ton of other things that aren't very good to be exposed to."
I sat up taller and began to argue my point. "But that's exactly the point! I'm sixteen! That's practically an adult. Sure, I've got two more years to go until I'm officially an adult, but I need the experience, don't I? I don't want to sit around all of my life doing nothing with my life!"
Dad sighed. He was attempting to persuade me not to go, but it wasn't working. I wouldn't let it work. Dad pursed his lips together and said nothing. To break the silence, Mom asked, "So, Quinn, how was school today?"
I was glad to stop arguing with my dad.
"Good, I guess. I fell asleep in class again. Mrs. Pumpernickel gave us a ton of homework."
Dad interrupted my complaining. "Quinn, be respectful of your teachers."
I grimaced and restated my sentence. "Fine. Mrs. Nickel gave us a ton of homework. I have to write a eight hundred word paper on the Mexican-American War and I have to make presentation board on The Trail of Tears. And it's all due next Friday! I'll be brain dead by Tuesday at most."
My dad sputtered into his milk and chuckled. I looked at him, confused. He laughed again and set down his cup.
"It's just funny that you're complaining about one eight hundred word essay. Welcome to High School, Quinn. Get ready for collage! You'll have five teachers wanting an eight hundred word paper all due at the same time!"
I scowled at him and stood up. "Well, I'm finished. I'm going to go work on my extremely easy paper." I threw him a fake grumpy look and stuck out my tongue. He smiled and waved me off. I bounded upstairs and sat down at my desk.
"Time for torture." I murmured to myself and started writing.
It all started in 1846...

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"Melissa, we need to talk about this. What are we going to do about Quinn?" Dan asked Quinn's mom as he sat down next to her with two cups of coffee. He handed her one and she took it gratefully.
"I don't know, Dan. I can't bear to let her go. She's only a child! She thinks she can handle herself out there, but I know she can't. But if we make her stay here and reject the offer, she'll hate us forever. Oh, Dan, this is killing me." Melissa buried her head into her husband's shoulder. He laid his hand on hers comfortingly.
"I know, Honey. I have an idea. I don't think you'll like it, though. What if we let Quinn go to Los Angeles and write the book for Venus."
"But-" Melissa interrupted.
"I wasn't finished. We already know that they won't allow one of us to go with her. But they never said anything about being in Los Angeles with her at the same time. We would just have to pay for it ourselves. That way, we could be there for her if anything goes wrong! How does that sound?"
Melissa lifted her head up and nodded. "That sounds like a great idea! Then if she gets into any trouble, we can be there for her! Who would go, though? And where would we find the money to go to Los Angeles?"
Dan thought about it for a moment. "We can worry about those details later. For now, let's go relive Quinn of the stress. Maybe then she can finish her "super hard" paper." He smiled and squeezed his wife affectionately. Melissa smiled up at him and agreed, "Yes, let's." They walked out of the living room and headed up the stairs.

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"YIPPEE!!!!!!!" I yelled enthusiastically when my parents told me the wonderful news.
Then I stopped, and looked at them skeptically. "Wait, are you just pulling my leg?" I asked, still not believing they said yes. My dad gave me a sideways look and said playfully, "No, but I can if you want me to!" I screamed in mock terror as he bent low to grab my leg from out from under me. I attempted to escape, but to no avail. He succeeded and I ended up dangling over his back upside down, him holding both of my legs over his shoulders.
"Put me down! I shouted, still laughing. Then I realized my mistake and said quickly, "Gently." He laughed.
"Alright, alright. I was going to drop you on your head, but I guess I can't now."
I giggled as he flipped me upright and set me down on my feet. I smoothed down my long hair and hugged my dad.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you, Dad. I didn't- I just got carried away with my feelings."
He squeezed me and said softly, "I forgive you. And I love you." I smiled and was about to respond when he pulled me back and held me at arms length. He looked into my eyes and said, "To celebrate this wonderful occasion, I have decided that Callie is coming over to spend the night. How does that sound?" I let out a small scream and glanced at Mom. She had a stunned look on her face and I knew Dad had just thought of this. She made a face at him and said, "If it's ok with Libby, of course. Right, Dan?"
My dad's face spread into the goofiest smile I have ever seen. He looked at me, then at Mom, and then back to me again.
"Nope! If Libby says no, we'll steal her daughter from her and hold Callie hostage overnight! I'm sure Callie would like this prison best, don't you?"
I tried to make my smile as big as his and exclaimed, "Yep! She would love it!"
We both looked at Mom and she rolled her eyes.
"Alright, fine. I'll persuade Libby to let Callie come over."
Dad and I cheered and hugged her. I was laughing hysterically by the end of it all because dad used that moment to tickle both of us. I love my family.