Forgotten Flexibility, By Rebecca Levey, 6th grade

Wanda Willis woke up Sunday morning feeling frisky and young, again. She’d never had an interest in sleeping in, much. She let down her long, white hair, raked a comb through it a few times, then pulled it up, into it’s usual, tight bun. “Oh isn’t it just wonderful to be alive?!” She yawned, stretching immensely.
Wanda looked over towards her desk, pulled open the drawer, and delicately picked up a faded, red ribbon. “Can’t forget this,” she said, as she added it to her soft, white bun. Once Wanda was positive the ribbon was in properly, she headed downstairs, and out the door, skipping breakfast. That’s how it was now, she was never feeling very hungry, anymore.
Wanda headed off to her favorite spot in the whole world. The park.
The warm sun, the gentle breeze, the calming sway of the long, willow leaves, it was like her second home. The magical glint of the aqua-colored river. Wanda hobbled on down towards the water. Her eyes squinting, her ears perked, yes, she had spotted him.
“Elbow!” Wanda was in action, once more. “Elbow!” she called again. Wanda squatted down, sandy grass between her toes, and lunged. “Now I’ve got you!” Wanda cried. And indeed, she did. You see, her pet toad, Elbow, was always getting away from her, for she didn’t have a proper cage for him. Wanda stuffed Elbow into her huge, white striped dress pocket. “Now you stay there,” she scolded, laughingly. There were other things to be done.
Wanda hauled herself up again, for she had been squatting the entire time, and skipped off in the other direction. She was still humming, “Naughty, naughty, Elbow!” who by this time, had jumped out of her pocket, again, when she reached the actual park. A beautiful, old thing it was. What were now rusty, broken chains, used to be grand swings, the kind that had been very popular, when Wanda was growing up. And the old, cracked slide, had once been quite splendid, and shiny. “At least,” Wanda thought, “the memories are still there. All of a sudden, she didn’t feel so young, and frisky, anymore.
“Oh.” She sighed. But a few seconds later, the thought completely evaporated. Replaced by joy, again, as Wanda spotted the thin, teenage girl, she had been watching. The girl always seemed sad, and she never left the park. “I guess I should go talk to her,” Wanda thought. She slowly walked over, carefully strolling around stumps, large rocks, and the playground equipment. Suddenly, the girl looked up, her rich, blue eyes seemed to be burning through Wanda. “Go away, I want to be alone!” is what they said. Wanda ignored the message, though she understood it.
“I see a lot of hate in those pretty eyes, of yours.” The girl just stared at Wanda, frightened. “Now I’m going to be honest,” she continued, “I’ve been watching you.” The girl still didn’t say anything. “Sweetheart, what’s your name?” Wanda tried, one last time. When the girl still refused to speak, Wanda began to get a little frazzled. “Are you mute?”
“No.” Wanda smiled slyly. “So can you please tell me your name?” The girl hesitated, her eyes searching Wanda’s brilliant green ones, trying to see if she could trust her. “It’s Charlie,” the girl whispered. “Charlie? Well that’s a pretty name. Is it short for Charlene?” The girl’s face stayed blank. “Charlotte?” Wanda guessed. This time, the girl answered right away, not even looking up. She even sounded a little angry. “No, it’s Charlie. Just Charlie.”


To be Continued