A Good Story

When you have their attention...

***Hat tip to Tim G. for this story idea****

With five older siblings, Callie sat in the car listening to them tell funny stories about the family and some friends. At three, she could now talk but didn’t have much opportunity to do so with so many brothers and sisters. The nearest sibling was three years older and she was closer to her brother who was a year older. The rest of the other siblings were 10, 12, and 14.

The trip from Virginia to Colorado was long but the family sung and told stories to pass the time, stopping every hour for breaks. Of course they brought a large variety of snacks and drinks from home to cut down on expenses at the rest stops. The drinks, though, clearly caused the breaks.

Still, Callie said very little as her father drove on and let the family do what families do on such long trips. Her mother wasn’t sure yet if Callie was shy or if the family just overcrowded her. 

This leg of the trip she sat closest to the door. When there was a lull and complete silence except for the high pitched squeal of a slightly cracked window, Callie said, “I’ve got a thcary thtory to tell.”

“Who is the new one talking?” was the reaction as the entire family looked over at Callie. The father was even trying to see her in the rear view mirror.

“Okay, Callie, tell us your scary thtory,” Emmanuel the oldest said. One of his brothers laughed until his mother quickly turned and flashed her “don’t you dare” look at him.

The little girl paused and looked around at her family. Smiling, Callie knew she had their attention.

Callie knocked four times on the window slowly with her tiny hand, and said, “It was a dark and thtormy night…”