My Little Life, A Short Story
By Erica Larkin

Once my sister and myself were walking down to the festival. When we got there we saw a little tent that had a sign. It said: have a Little Life For a Week. So we went inside to check it out. 

Right when we stepped inside we started to feel really tingly. All of the sudden everything started to spin. We shut our eyes right away. When we opened them everything was really big. We started to walk but a huge mountain was in front in of us. (It was a mound of dirt) 

We started to yell because we were scared that something might step on us. A HUGE GIANT bent down and told us what happened. We have a little life for a week. 

We have to survive a week in the woods to become a big person again. Right at that moment Alex pointed to a huge ant. We ran for it and hopped on it. It was scared so it started to run. When it stopped we were in the woods. We jumped off and ran into a little hole in a tree. 

"Alex says: Great! We are officially lost! Mom and Dad are going to kill us! We will probably get eaten by a bird or something!" 

All of the sudden we heard a voice." People don't taste that good." We looked up and saw a huge bird. "Hi I'm robin. What are your guy's names," it said? 

"I'm Erica and this I my sister Alex. Could you please tell us where we are and how to get out of here," I said? 

"I actually don't know where I am because a witch turned me into a robin. And I was blind at the time so I just flew where the wind blew me. I finally could see so I dealt with being a bird. And hoped that I would meet someone to be my friend. But no one else lived in this place," said Robin. "Well, I guess I should show you around," Robin sighed. "Hop on my back please."

So Alex and I got on Robin's back and she showed us around. When she was done we went to her nest and fell asleep.

In the morning I woke up very comfortable. But I noticed that I was alone. I looked over the edge and saw Robin and Alex at the bottom of the tree. I yelled for Robin to come up and get me. She flew like a bullet up to me and when we were on the ground I noticed that Alex was lying on the ground not moving. I ran over to her and shook her but she wouldn't wake up. I started to cry. 

Robin said she only has a concussion because she fell out of the nest. While Alex was unconscious I was thinking about all of the events that had happened from today and yesterday. I thought about where we would live and what we would eat. I asked Robin and she said, you guys can live here with me and learn to like worms and bugs. I told Robin that humans don't eat worms and bugs. Robin said, well do you like berries? I said sure. I was glad Robin said we could stay with her.

While Robin was out looking for food, I heard a noise. I thought it was Robin so I jumped up and yelled, "good morning Robin! Did you get breakfast?!"

It said, "no, but you're my breakfast," as Black Panther jumped down from a branch. 

"Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!," I screamed. I grabbed Alex (she was still unconscious) and ran along the branch and into a hole in the tree. 

We fell a long way. When Alex and I hit the bottom Alex woke up. She said, "Where are we." I told her everything that had happened this morning and while she was unconscious. There was some light coming through the top. I saw a big bushy tail and said, "Hello, is anyone in here." "Yes, I'm a squirrel!" 

"Please don't eat us," Alex said. "I won't," replied the squirrel. 

Robin had said that no one lived in this place. It's just that there are no other robins in this place so we didn't know what kind of power she has. So we all decided to keep out of her way. 

"Okay," I said. Robin doesn't have any special powers. "By the way, what is your name?" "It's Bethany, what's yours?" This is my sister Alex and I am Erica. Can I tell Robin there are other animals in this place? Sure, said Bethany. And who is the Black Panther, said Alex. "She is Madeline," said Bethany. "Could you please tell her not to eat us," I said. "Sure," Beth said.

When Beth took us back to our nest, Robin was they're waiting for Alex and me. Alex blurted out, Robin there is other animals in this place. 

"There is." Robin said? "Yes, and we would like you to meet Bethany and Madeline." 

"Oh, Bethany! Madeline!! Please come here," Alex screamed. 

Madeline jumped down from the branch above. And Bethany came running up from the hole in the tree chomping on a nut. Madeline said, "Hi, I'm Madeline the panther. And this is Bethany the squirrel." 

"Hi, I am Erica and this is my friend Robin and my sister Alex. We would like to know why you tried to eat us," Alex said to Madeline.

"I thought you were mice" 

After we were all done talking, Robin said, "it's getting late. I think you guys should start getting ready for bed."

In the morning when Alex and I woke up, Alex said, "Where is Robin?" 

"She is right here!" said a loud booming voice. "Oh no, it's that bad giant that turned us small, Bethany, Madeline, quick help us!!!," I screamed. 

Madeline jumped down with Bethany on her back. "What's wrong," said Beth? This guy has Robin and he might hurt her. "Quick, I have a plan! Beth, you go and tie the big guy's shoe laces. Then Alex and I will get on his shoulders by jumping down from tree branch. Then Madeline will start running at the giant. He will try to run away but he will trip. But when he is about to run we will pull his ears so he is in more pain. Then he will let go of Robin and she can fly to the nest." 

Our plan worked. We all got away safely. From then on we had to hide from the giant. Madeline said, "I know a mole named Jessica. Maybe she can help us." "Okay, let's try it," said Alex. 

Madeline took us to a tree far away from Robin's nest. Underneath it was a mole eating a mouse. "Hi Madeline," said Jessica. "We need you to build us a tunnel for us to hide in," said Beth. "Okey dokey then," said Jessica. "I made a new one this morning. Go right ahead and make yourselves at home."

"Thanks," we all said.

When it was dark out, I heard a noise. I carefully looked out to see what made the noise. All of the sudden a net came over my head. I yelled for Madeline. They all came running up out of the hole. Nets came over them too. It turns out that the Giant had put the nets over all of us.

The Giant said, "When you 2 girls walked into my tent I wasn't quite ready to test my so called "Little Life." I knew something was wrong when you guys turned small right away. Turns out you 2 girls will have to stay small forever. Now I am going to take you 2 girls home. As for you animals, I will let you free. 

"Wait!!" I yelled before they ran away. Will you guys come and live with us? I screamed!

"SURE. YES. FINE. DEFINETLY!," They all screamed. "Oh Yeah!!!" the giant says, I already told your parents everything, so you won't need to explain anything when you get home. 

"Thanks," Alex and said. We all lived happily ever after.

October 2002