The Lucky Charm

By Ella Lille Yerington

 

Prologue

 

“Anne-Sophie! Temps pour notre promenade après le dîner,” I heard my mother say in her delicate french accent, as she paced the mud room.

“Coming Maman!” I responded, with my head still buried in my “History of Dolphins” book. I heard faintly in the distance,

“Anne-Sophie!” I set my book down and picked out a more fashionable outfit, that wasn’t sweatpants with a sparkly green tank top. As I changed in my room, I remembered, the shoes. My maman had given me the prettiest of shoes from her new clothing line. They were copper colored with a white line around the sides, and brightened up a room when I walked in. My Maman added a lift to the shoes so I would look taller. I closed the curtain to my closet and shut the door as I walked out of my room. I swung on my coat. And as soon as I saw Maman, my head went down. I was embarrassed for being late for notre promenade après le dîner (our walk after dinner). “Sorry Maman,” I said. I twisted my foot on the mudrooms dirty rug.

“Lift up your head. With eyes like that you must always stand tall,” Maman said to me. She then smiled brightly.

“You six year olds with your smart brains.” I smiled back at her.

“Merci,” I said. With that we walked out the door…Those were the last words we ever exchanged, before my Maman passed me the keys to the house and hopped into the water.

 

4 years later…

 

Chapter 1

Le Weekend, The Weekend

 

“I’m home!” I called out, as I walked into the living room.

“Oh gggreat Mon Chérie,” Papa stuttered while dropping his book at the foot of the chair and losing his page. I laughed at this. Papa tempted to stutter whenever he was surprised, worried, or scared. And he always had this face to go along with it. I just can’t ever explain what it looks like, so instead I call it the Wow Face. I walk over to the big tank we have in our living room, where our dolphin Daisy lives. I know, having a pet dolphin and a big tank in your house, that’s just crazy. Though it’s not what it sounds like.

Papa is the manager of the “Marine Life Museum,” where they help underwater sea life. Daisy was a big exception. Papa found her washed up on the beach with a slit in her side. Out of a 100% chance of making it, she was at 22%. That means there was a 78% chance that she wouldn’t make it. Papa, the genius veterinarian he is, saved her though. He became attached to Daisy, and his job was full time, so he asked to live in the side building of the Marine Life Museum. Which was a living quarters for people who worked there.

Eventually Papa got promoted, to his job now, the manager, so we got the big room. It is ENORMOUS! And it had Daisy’s tank built into the wall, though it wasn’t hers then. I also had my own room, and Papa and I shared a study, along with, of course, the kitchen, living room, break room and a small little play room. There was also an empty room. The house was perfect.

I was foolish when I was younger so I told Papa we needed an extra room, for when Maman came back. I know now that is not going to happen. And it was really stupid for Papa to agree. Because even though I said our house was ENORMOUS, there was an even nicer home, two times bigger. Though it didn’t have the extra room. Papa knew it was best to let me figure out on my own that Maman was gone. Otherwise I would have a shattered heart and never enjoy anything. Though of course, her death affected me. As much of a good swimmer I am, I don’t go into the ocean. And that is especially painful.

 

4 years and 1 week before…

 

Chapter 2

Pourquoi, Why

 

My heart was pounding as fast as the town windmill, that I stood in front of. There were no breaks. 1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3. Ten tears dripped down my face, in 1 second.

“UN TOMBEAU! UN TOMBEAU!” I screamed as ten more tears fell down. Papa still as calm as could be.

“I know you’re upset Mon Chérie,” he said, while stepping on a stick by accident.

“TU NE COMPRENDS PAS!” I screamed.

“Mon Chérie,” Papa said, not angry at me.

“NON NON NON NON!” I was throwing the biggest tantrum ever.

“It’s okay, Mon Chérie.”

“Non,” I said to Papa, realizing that it wasn’t either of our faults. I ran to my papa, holding on to his waist. I stayed like that for awhile, until I felt sleepy from all my yelling and screaming. I sat down by a nearby tree. It wasn’t just any tree though, it was Maman’s special tree. I rubbed my finger over our engraved names. Ten more tears. I took out Maman’s lucky charm. I had kept it in my pocket ever since she passed. Eventually I fell asleep in Papa’s lap. I thought the day couldn’t get worse, but then I remembered, Maman drowned, in the ocean, with the sea animals, and they didn’t save her. From that day on, I promised I wouldn’t swim in the ocean, or even touch it. For Maman. I repeated that in my head. I didn’t want to forget it. Though I also wanted everything to be the same as it was before.

 

What would happen to our promenade après dîner? Would we stay in Luxembourg? Questions swirled around my head. I knew all the answers, but none of them came in my favor. Bye Luxembourg! Bye promenade après dîner! Bye friends and family! Or as Maman would correct me, au revoir! There was one question that I didn’t have the answer to, and I didn’t even want to know the answer, would Papa replace Maman?

 

4 years and 1 week later…

 

Chapter 3

L’école sur la Plage, The School on the Beach

 

Jenny dips her foot in the cool water.

“Good temp Mr. Kahale,” she said, eager to jump into the ocean. I watch as the waves wash over her toes. How I miss that feeling. I remembered how the ocean would brush my thighs when a big wave washed over. I would giggle in excitement.

“Stop!” I screamed to myself, though I might have screamed it out loud.

“Uhhhhh,” Kyle gave me a look. I mumbled in the faintest voice,

“Sorry.” My two friends Katie and Sophie shielded me from the stares. I secretly smiled at this. I loved how they were so protective.

“Moving on, seahorses are also known as Hippocampus. Their size ranges from 0.6 to 14 inches. The-,” Mr. Kahale started saying, until Kyle interrupted him.

“Are Hipokimus fish?” Kyle asked trying to sound smart.

“Hippocampus. And yes, Kyle. If you had let me finish I would have gotten to that. Well now that I can continue, Hippocampus are carnivores(meat eaters)….” I zoned out again while Mr. Kahale was talking.

“Are you okay?” Katie asked me. I nodded. Fifteen minutes went by, and class was over.

 

I started walking with Katie and Sophie back to the main school building, when I got the idea. I slowly backed out of Katie and Sophie’s heated debate. I had no idea why I was doing this! How could I even think of doing it! Before I knew I was in the water. I started flailing my arms. I had not been pulled under by a wave for a long time. I tried to swim up for breath. Then I felt something hard. It was moving. I clung on hoping that it would swim to the shore. I felt a sudden impact. I was going deep, deep, deep, under the sea. I clenched my fists, though the animal was gone! My heart started pounding fast, faster, and even faster! I couldn’t breath. Half because of the whole no oxygen thing, and half because of a panic attack. Sand brushed my eyes, it stung, so I decided to open them. It was blurry, though in the distance I could see what looked like an orchestra of animals. I closed my eyes again thinking I must be crazy. Why in the world would there be an orchestra of animals all lined up, just for me! I opened my eyes again, just to check. I was now in a bubble, with the orchestra playing “Under the Sea,” from Little Mermaid. My first thought, “WOW! THEY’RE GOOD!”

 

4 years and 5 days before…

 

Chapter 4

Déjeuner, Lunch

Papa took me to lunch at my favorite restaurant. It was my last day in Luxembourg. I felt many emotions, just like the questions when Maman died. I was right about most of the answers. Papa promised me that he wouldn’t ever dare replace Maman. And he never lies.

“What would you like to order, Mon Chérie?” Papa asked me. I pointed to le croissant.

He smiled and said, “Good choice.” My stomach had tied up in a knot. I thought I was going to have an anxiety attack. For a minute I could feel my breath float away, and my heart start to beat really fast. I couldn’t take it! I just couldn’t! We talked about a lot during our lunch. It was hard to focus though. Papa said that we would visit Maman’s grave in Luxembourg whenever I wanted. I would take advantage of that, so I could stay in Luxembourg, but I couldn’t do that to Papa. With all this happening I forgot that Papa was also deeply hurt. And making his pain worse would be terrible for the both of us.

 

I finished my croissant in less than a minute. I was starving, and knew it wasn’t lady like. Papa never said anything to me. I always hated how Maman would criticize and correct me, though now I miss it. It’s funny how that is. When you hate something, but miss it when it’s gone. It is always good to have that assurance. That nothing will change, unless you change it. I can’t use words to explain what it is like when it happens, that terrible thing disappearing. And though you say you want it to stop and that you will change it, you don’t have the guts to. So somebody does it for you. And you feel terrible.

 

4 years and 5 days later…

 

Chapter 5

L’empire, The Empire

 

I was taken to a castle. Then given I dress which I changed into, and walked into a room full of dressed up sea creatures. Who gets to say that?! Then I met Gilbert(Gary). Gary is very nice and grumpy. A very odd personality. He is 220 million year old sea turtle. He loves to tell stories to the young sea creatures about his wild adventures in the past. Oh my gosh! I understand him talking! How could I have just realized that! “Yyyou are ttttalking!” I said to Gary, stuttering just like my Papa.

 

I was still floating in a bubble. It was the only way to have oxygen. I was very clumsy in it though. I kept on tripping and falling on my face, that I forgot what just happened. I focused back into the conversation. Gary didn’t respond, he just touched my Maman’s lucky charm. I was confused at first, but then I understood. Maman’s not dead, she’s here. I couldn’t sleep that night. What about Papa! If he knew than…Than…I don’t know. Papa, me gone, Maman gone. Katie and Sophie. Ohhhhhhhh no! They think I’m missing! How will I get back! I have to find Maman first though. She’s alive. Once again I would be right! That extra room! Hers. Maman in that room! No, she wouldn’t want to come back. She didn’t. I thought about things like this all night. In the morning I would go on a search.

 

4 years and 3 weeks before…

 

Chapter 6

Accueil, Home

 

I ran to the front door of the apartment building. Cars were zooming by, splashing little puddles of water from the passing rain. As I ran in I saw the doorman.

“Good’ mornin little girl,” the doorman said to me. I quickly nodded and went over to the elevator.

“Not workin miss,” I heard the doorman say. I opened the door to the stairs and started walking up the 14 flights. On the 3rd floor I started panting, and the second I hit the 5th, I had to rest a bit. When I finally caught my breath, I ran up the to the 14th floor. No breaks. I walked through the hallway to our apartment that we had been staying in for awhile. We had moved to Belgium, Papa said that it was just so he could get a taste of the place. His heart was set on Hawaii, but all the living places are pretty expensive there. Belgium is one of the only places we can afford to live in. Well besides Luxembourg. We kept our house there for visits, but the memories of Maman haunt us both. Papa refuses to call Belgium home until we decide to actually live here. I enjoy Belgium. It’s close to France for trips, and Germany has some of the best amusante parks. I wouldn’t mind calling Belgium home to be frank with you. Oh mon, but Papa really would.

 

4 years 3 weeks later…

 

Chapter 7

Réuni, Reunited

 

I had been searching for weeks now. I wasn’t the only one searching though, the police also have been. For me, not Maman. Papa is freaking out about my disappearance. I can’t let that control my emotions right now. I need to be determined, to find Maman. And the last time depression overcame me, well, you already know. I turn into a monster. An unimaginable monster. So I just remember Maman always telling me to lift up my head. Hopefully I will hear her voice saying that again. Gary has been helping me a lot, with his memory’s of Maman coming here. The little fish have also been great help. Making sure I get to the place I need to be to match Gary’s stories. I’m always on time. Sometimes I see little traces of what could be Maman, but you never know.

“Come!” I heard one of the little fish scream. I swam over in my bubble.

“What is it?” Gary said in his annoyed grumpy voice.

“A mark! A trace! Bubble lead the way!” I forgot to say that the fish speak in riddles. Come doesn’t really sound like one but it is.

Cunning

Outgoing

Meager

Elegant

All adjectives to describe Maman. She was very petite, she was confident, she did always look pretty, and could be a little tricky sometimes. We followed the clues and split up. I knew we were chasing after someone, which had the possibility of being Maman. I didn’t know what to do, stay brave or completely collapse in tears. Everybody else split up into groups, I was with Gary.

I saw a fragile figure sitting on a stone. Gary looked at me smirking, and swam away. I approached the figure slowly, to make sure I didn’t scare her.

“Hello,” I said softly. I smelled something woodsy. I instantly had a flashback of Maman carving our names into the tree.

“It is more elegant with names, and not initials,” the woman said to me, repeating the same exact quote Maman said to me.

“Is it you?” I asked. The woman did not respond, I already knew the answer. I ran over to her and by accident popped my bubble. The woman took my hand and pulled me into hers.

“You ten year olds with your smart brains,” Maman said to me, laughing so hard. I spelled the words out. M-A-M-A-N H-E-R-E W-I-T-H M-E. I couldn’t believe it. We were finally reunited. That room would no longer be empty. Papa let me believe, and I am glad he did.

 

4 years later…

 

“Maman did you bring me those shoes?” I asked. “Ohhhh shoes,” Papa said in a funny voice.

“Haha! Yes I did,” Maman responded. It had felt like the family reunion was only yesterday. When Papa saw Maman again, and I stood there with a smile on my face. I had found her, and Papa was dumbfounded, wearing his Wow Face. It felt like nothing had even happened, like it was always like this. I could go in the ocean again! My problem was solved. And I have been studying marine life ever since. All our dreams came true. And that’s what matters most.

And one more thing came true, I had two little sisters, Nathalie and Elodie. They were crazy. Nathalie always wore pink, and Elodie yellow. They would dress up as pretty princesses and walk around in Maman’s high heels. It was hilarious! They also would put on performances, where they would sing, dance, and do their vile acting. I was their favorite in the family. They were constantly tugging at my dress(or whatever clothes I was wearing) and calling my name. I loved it though. I was happy to have them. Yes, there is a big age difference. To be exact dix annees(ten years). We were one big happy family though, one big happy family.

Oh right! I forgot to say, I visit the empire with Maman, Nathalie, and Elodie all the time. Papa prefers not to know where Maman was.

“It was the past. And to live in the present, there mustn’t always be a past,” he said, whenever we asked him to come along.

“ANNE-SOPHIE! COME COME! WE ARE PUTTIN ON PLAY,” Nathalie and Elodie screamed, while tugging viciously at my shirt. I smiled and laughed as I followed them into our play room. Which now had turned into my sisters room. I should have told Papa we would need another empty room.

I took out Maman’s charm and kissed it. After all I have been through with it, I decided it would be best if Maman thought it just got lost. Also it is the only way I can keep in touch with the sea creatures. It turns out that’s why I could understand them. It really is a lucky charm.

THE END

 

To falter is something that happens to everybody. You can feel stuck when you are not sure of something, and your emotions can get overwhelmed.  There are different situations where this could happen: the thought of losing a loved one, not being able to make a certain decision that will change your life forever, or having a troublesome time knowing what is right from wrong. In The Circuit, by Francisco Jimenez, instead of being discouraged from difficulties Francisco grows and learns from them.

 

Francisco had one problem piled on top of another, but he learned that you can’t ever let that get in your way. When Torito was sick Francisco learned that though he didn’t live the fullest life, it doesn’t mean that everything else will come in his favor. And he has to savor the moments he has with his family. In this quote, Torito had finally come home from the hospital after near death. “He said it would take a miracle for him to live.” p.44. The whole family was torn apart with Torito’s illness, this proves to them that you have to always find hope, and shine the light in the darkness.

 

Later on Francisco learned that sometimes something special to you may not be special to others, and that mistakes can happen. Francisco got two pennies that were unique to him. One of them his Papa gave to him as a gift, and the other one his old best friend Carl gave to him. Carl was the only kid who understood Francisco, was kind to him, and gathered up the courage to talk to him. Francisco was very protective of his pennies, and the thought of losing them made him queasy inside. “‘I don’t want your gum, I want my two pennies,’ I shouted. She dropped the gum balls and started whimpering.” p. 107. Francisco learned that he can’t let his anger out on someone who was clueless about what the pennies meant to him.  Francisco realizes that he can’t fluster and he has to be imperturbable.

 

Francisco was having trouble with moving on when his first house burned down, and he lost his librito. He tried to run back into the burning house to save it. His librito had helped him learn some English, and he didn’t want to let go so early. Francisco had a hard time understanding his classes, because they were all in English. He would zone out and go into his own world. When he got his librito he started to progress and learn more. When Francisco lost his librito he thought he would never learn any more English, until Mama opened the idea of maybe if he had memorized all the words in it, then he truly hadn’t lost it. “Well…if you know what was in your librito, then it’s not all lost.” page 112. Francisco found this bewildering. He was baffled and confound, until he realized what Mama was saying to him. He then found this in a way intriguing. It was a new way for him to solve problems.
In The Circuit, by Francisco Jimenez, instead of letting loss get in his way, Francisco uses it to guide him through obstacles. Francisco experienced losing his beloved librito, his pennies, and almost losing his little brother Torito, who meant the world to him, and even the thought of losing Torito, made Francisco so scared that it changed his perspective on almost everything. Right now many people are shivering and shaking with the thought of losing their loved one, or special object as well. The situation that many people live in isn’t safe to protect them or their family, and this is an everyday worry for them. Now, imagine if nobody ever had anything to lose, how would they learn a lesson, and what would the world be like?