Chapter One
Sweet Friends to the EndDo you like candy canes? Have you heard of candy canes? I like candy canes. If you have not heard of candy canes, let me explain what they are. Candy canes are usually white and red, they are for Christmas. That is when people hand them out. You can put them in a stocking, if you would like. They are usually striped and can-shaped, that is why they call them candy canes. It tastes sweet and minty, and lasts longer than regular mint. Now that you know all you need to know about candy canes, the story of my friends and their candy canes really begins.
It was winter break as Amy Star looked up at her mom and asked nervously, “Mom do you know how Dad died?” Her mom said, “No.” Amy sat there on her front porch of their tiny house – more like a hotel room. Amy was poor, Mrs. Star only had twenty dollars left. Amy was longing for a candy cane because she’d never had one before. She asked, “Can I have a candy cane?” She had never had one before. Her mom said, “Sure, honey. As long as I can find a cheap one.” Later, she and her mom went to the store looking for a candy cane. Her mom signed, “Sorry they only have ones in boxes of twelve.” Amy quickly responded, “That’s okay. Use your money for important things.” As they were leaving the store, the manager offered, “I can give you three candy canes for free.” Mrs. Star was thrilled, she said, “Why? Thank you!” The manager saw them looking for a candy cane. He was like a spy too. He knew they were poor. Just after Amy got in the car, her mouth watered. She quickly unwrapped a candy cane and sucked on it with delight. She thanked her mom in the car and fell fast asleep with great dream.
She dreamed about being rich and her father was not dead at all. In fact, he was the king and her mother was the queen. Amy was the young princess. Well, actually she was just as old as real life – fifteen. She lived with a room of gold, it was filled with gold coins as shiny as stars. Her friends admired her beautiful jewelry and her pretty outfit. Instead of living in a small house she lived in a huge castle. Now you are probably wondering how I know her dream. Well the answer is simple. I asked her. She felt very bad, almost sick when she woke up.
The next day, she went to her friend, Wendy Moon’s house. Her spoiled friend gets a whole bunch of candy canes. She is a spoiled rotten egg. Amy asked, “Can I have one?” Wendy said in a mean way, “You already have two.” Amy says softly, “Just one.” Wendy says, “Definitely not.” Amy turned back to go home. They are neighbors. Amy does not like Wendy anymore.
Amy tried to find a new friend – one in the neighborhood. She found the yellow page for the neighbor. She flipped to the Vs in the yellow page, because she remembered someone named Vanessa. She looked at all the children’s names. “Blah, blah, blah. Ah! Vanessa Pena.” She thought that Vanessa would be a good friend. On the yellow page she found the address. She told her mom she was leaving, and hurried to Vanessa’s house. Amy had seen her at the park. They talked about their lives.? Vanessa is twelve, too. She opens the door and said, “Hi! You are the girl at the park – Amy. Right?” Amy said excitedly, “Yeah, you remember me?” Vanessa said, “Well, yeah. Come inside. I have to tell you something… and give you something.
Amy stepped inside, took off her shoes and coat and sat on the couch with Vanessa. Vanessa said, “I needed to tell you that my initials are V.P. You know like vice president.” Amy replied, “Yeah, sure I know that.” Vanessa asked “Cool, huh?” Amy answered, “Yeah really cool.” Vanessa said, “Wait here…close your eyes.” Amy said, “Okay.” After a while Vanessa said, “Open.” In Amy’s hands there were five rainbow lollipops and three candy canes. Amy asked “These are all for me?” Vanessa answered, “Sure. You can eat one right now if you want to.” Amy said, “Okay.” She put a lollipop in her mouth. Amy sucked on her sweet big lollipop. She held onto the stick and thought, “This is good.” Vanessa said, “So? Do you like it?” Amy replied, “Do I like it? What do you mean? I love it!” The two girls laughed and talked until 5:30p.m. Amy said, “I’d better go and eat dinner now.” Vanessa replied quickly, “No, you can stay and eat with us. We will call your mom, and tell her she can come too.” Vanessa called, “Mom! Can you call – wait what is your mom’s cell phone number again?” Vanessa’s mom asked, “What?” Vanessa said, “One second!” Amy said, “The cell is xxx-xxx-xxxx.” Vanessa shouted, “Can you call xxx-xx-xxxx?” Mrs. Pena answered, “Sure, honey!” She called Amy’s mom and soon they were eating a delicious meal together of Italian food.
Amy and Vanessa became very good friends, and always, absolutely always, shared new things with each other. Amy and Vanessa shared their candy canes with everyone in the class on pajama day at school. Wendy (not wanting to share) lost all of her friends. She sat sad and alone in the corner like an orphan.
Chapter 2
Wendy learns her lessonWendy kept asking her mom, “Why don’t I have any friends?” Her mom kept answering, “Because you need to be kinder and share with friends.” Wendy was frustrated. Day and night she would think, “Why does Amy get a friend so easily? Why is she so lucky? Why can’t I be lucky enough to even get one friend?”
Then one day she thought about what her mom had said. She thought and thought. Before she knew it she was being nice and sharing with everyone. Wendy got a ton of friends by doing this and in the end she asked Amy if she could forgive her. Amy said yes as long as she promised to be kind. And Wendy was kind. They both realized that candy canes are only sweet when enjoyed with friends.
1/20/2010
