The Little Mozet.

This was a story I wrote for a competition . Here were the rules:

All of us have to write a story, with ourselves as the main character, but it has to include these things…
*A piano
*The color orange
*[this dialogue] ”But George was trying to stick a pickle in my ear!”
*[this sentence] Never before had __name of character__ ever seen a teddy bear that talked to itself.
*A missing sock
*A pair of glasses that somehow become the key to the whole story
It can be a mystery, it can be a romance, it can be an action-adventure, it can be a science fiction, it can be a christian story, it can be whatever! It has to be from five to ten pages on a computer document, done in the time period of two weeks.

  Here is the story: 

Plunk, plunk, plunk, the keys on the piano went, as the skillful musician played them faster and faster. The musician was a little girl, wearing a pink top, blue jeans and a red flower in her hair. Suddenly the little hands faltered and the melody stopped. She sighed, another mistake.

“Your rushing it, Olivia.”

Came a somewhat stern voice from behind her. The owner of the voice was a man. Tall, wearing a suit which made him look even taller. He stood from the his chair and walk over to the piano.

“I told you just yesterday that you have to play the pauses. Didn't you practice them?” he asked. Olivia rolled her eyes.

“I was trying to, but when I was, George was trying to stick a pickle in my ear, Mr. Jacobs!”

“George?”

“George is my little brother. I don't like pickles and he was trying to make me eat one.” Mr. Jacobs tried to hide a smile as he waved the subject off.

“I understand. Now, about your pauses, I also think its your posture. Your leaning to close to the piano. Sit back a bit.”

“Okay, I'll try.” A chilled wind blew in from opened window, reminding Olivia of how nice the day was outside...

“One, two, three! One, two, three!” said Mr. Jacobs, waving his hand violently.

Olivia brushed a wisp of her blond hair from her face then began again. The intro first, then the main bit, as the higher and lower keys were hit lightly with her fingers. Mr. Jacobs closed the windows and shut the white curtains.

“Good! That's much better.” he said, sitting down beside her again.

The sheet on the piano top started showing more and more faster notes and less slow ones. She seemed to be getting, but she leaned in and...

She stumbled over the keys as a the door bell ringed, next to the window. Patting her shoulder, her teacher smiled and nodded.

“That will be your mother. Best put your books away now.”

Olivia seemed disappointed that her notes were not perfect, but she picked up her three books anyway as Mr. Jacobs opened the door. Olivia's mom, Angela stood there. She was wearing a blue shirt and jeans skirt, with lipstick that was as red as ever.

“Good day, Mr. Jacobs.”

“And to you.” he replied.

“Is Olivia ready?” Olivia walked to the door, and nodded.

“I'm ready.”

“Good!” Angela said. “We're going shopping today for a new pair of shoes for miss Livy.” Mr. Jacobs smiled.

“Oh, that’s nice.” 

Olivia looked up at him.

“I'm going to wear them for the piano competition.” she said proudly.

“Good. You need good shoes for that.” he answered.

“Come on Olivia. We have to get moving if we want to get them today.”

“Okay. Bye Mr. Jacobs.”

“Bye.”

Angela and Olivia walked to the car, a old orange Chevy. They got in. Olivia buckled herself in one of the back seats as her mom put the key into the ignition. Pulling out of the drive way, she set a southerly course towards a line of stores.

“So, how did your lessons go, Livy?” Her mom always called her Livy.

“Okay. I kept missing up the pauses when I'm going really fast. Mr. Jacobs said I was leaning to close to the piano. But its hard to see the notes when I'm sitting back.” Angela fished around in her pocket then drew out her glasses. Putting them on, she looked back at Olivia.

“Really? Its hard for you to see?”

“Yeah, and I mess up because of it.”

Angela pursed her lips. “Maybe I should look in to getting you some glasses.”

“Do you think we could get the glasses before the competition?”

“Don't worry. You still have a whole week until the competition.” 

The little girl smiled.

“I hope we can get them by then.”

Angela drove into the car lot and parked in front of a store called The Kids Corner. They got out, Olivia leaving her books in the car. She had learned the hard way what happens if you leave something at the store. You don't get it back. Running up to the display window, she looked inside. There stood, or rather I should say walked, a teddy bear! Red bow tie, ferry brown body, the whole nine yards. Olivia began pointing at it and beckoning her mother with her other hand.

“Mommy, look!” Angela had her nose in her purse, apparently trying to count her dollar bills. Olivia grabbed her mom's arm and pulled her over to the window.

“See, mom?” Angela looked up just in time to see her daughter run into the store.

“Slow down! Oh, Livy...” Livy stood in front of the display, inside. She heard her mom come in because she tripped on the door mat. The bear began to talk.

“What a lovely day!” Pause, then it spoke again.

“Yes, it is.” Never before had Olivia seen a teddy bear that talked to itself. Let a lone one that walked! Angela was beside her now.

“Pretty cool.” she commented in the way mothers do.

On the table, beside the teddy bear, several posters were stacked on it. Olivia picked one up and read it.

“Animal robot building competition. Build a robot inspired by a animal. Ages eight to twelve. Entry fee, fifty dollars. First prize will be a hundred dollars. Don't you see mom?” Olivia said. “We need to pay the entry fee for Georges birthday! You know how much he likes building electric things.” Angela made a grim face.

“Yes. I should know because he took apart my coffee machine and made a soap dispenser out of it.” Olivia looked up at her.

“You know his birthday is in six days and this is only fifty dollars to enter.”

“Only?” asked Angela. “Honey, I have to use those fifty dollars for clothes this month. That is, unless you win your music contest then you can donate your prize money for that.”

Olivia made a face. Angela started walking towards the shoes corner.

“We'll buy something nice for him.” she assured her.

Olivia stuffed the poster in her jean pocket then followed her. Angela picked out a box that had a picture of little black, shiny shoes. Taking the lid of, she showed her them.

“How about these?” Olivia's little blue eyes grew wide.

“Oh, mom!” She took them out of the box.

“Try them on and see if they fit.” Angela said. Putting them on, Olivia said,

“They fit perfectly!”

“Walk around in them.” Olivia skipped around in them a while then came back.

“I like them, mom!” Angela smiled at her.

“Are you sure that you don't want to try any of the other ones?” She said, pointing to the other boxes. Olivia shook her head.

“No, I like these.”

“Well, then. That was the easiest shoe shopping trip I have ever had. Come on, then.”

They went through the cash register quickly then walked down the side walk to Walmart. Ushering Olivia passed the toys, Angela went to the 'Glasses place' as Livy called it. The person working there, a older lady with bright blue eyes gave Olivia a check up, doing all the things a eye doctor does. The little girl had a hard time sitting still long enough but finally the lady gave her diagnosis.

“It appears that she is near sighted.” she said.

“Do you suggest glasses for her, Ms. Canden?” asked Angela.

“Please call me Gen.” said Gen, taking her glasses off. “Yes, I think you should. It would help her.” Olivia looked from one to the other.

“Will it help when I play piano, mom?”

Angela seemed distracted, trying to think.

“Maybe, honey. Um, Gen, how long would it take to get the glasses?” Gen smiled.

“I could get you get you an appointment for Friday. Were kinda busy so it will take a little longer then normal.” Angela thought about it for a minute.

“That's the day your contest is on, Livy.” Turning to Gen, she asked another question.

“Would I be able to have the appointment at five thirty?” Looking at a schedule, Gen answered.

“Yes. That time is open for you to pick them up.”

“Great.” Gen looked around in her desk until she found a chart that had different color choices on it.

“Here Olivia,” she said. “What color do you want your glasses to be?” Olivia looked at them for a while then pointed to a dark pink color.

“That one.” she said decisively.

“What do you say?” asked Angela.

“Thank you!” 

The lady smiled.

“You're welcome.”

Back at home, Olivia shook off her shoes at the door. Music books in hands, she closed the big, wooden door to there house. She walked into the living room where there piano was placed. Sliding on to the seat, she set her books on the piano top.

“Hi, Olivia.” said a voice behind her. She turned around to see her younger brother, George, coming into the room.

“George, I saw the coolest thing today while me and mom were shopping.” He sat down on one of the couches, his brown hair un-brushed as usual. He raised an eye brow.

“What was it?” he asked. She leaned closer.

“I saw a teddy bear that walked by itself. And it also talked! It was a advertizement for a robot competition.” Olivia fished around in her pocket then gave him the poster. George read it.

“I wish I could enter. Why do they have entry fees anyway?”

“So they can make money out of it. I asked mom to pay the entry fee for your birthday but she said we don't have enough money.” There family was not rich in any sense of the word and the children were often denied certain wants.

“Yeah. Did your piano listens go good?” he said, changing the subject. As if remembering something, she said

“Oh, yeah! I was having trouble reading the notes so mom took me to get some glasses. I will get them on Friday.”

“That's cool.” he said. Olivia felt a pang of sympathy for him. She was getting glasses so that fixed her problem but he could not fix his. He did not get enough money to enter.

“Well,” She said. “Maybe, that is if I win the music competition, I could give some of the money to you for the robot thing.” He seemed to brighten up.

“Maybe. But I have to practice if I want to win.” she said in a older sister tone of voice.

“Okay!” George agreed. “I'll go work on my remote controller while you practice.”

“Remember I said maybe.” He nodded then left the room. She turned back to her music.

I should give him the money. She thought. But I have been working so hard at this song!

She opened her book to the third page. Settling her hands on the black and white keys she began to practice.

Five days later...

Olivia (wearing her dark pink glasses) sat in her chair beside her mom and dad. She was also wearing her new black shoes. She had almost forgotten her socks because she was so excited. George was on her left and Mr. Jacobs was on her right. She squirmed with excitement. This was her first performance in front of more then her family and teacher. A man walked up onto the big, wooden stage. A mike was in his hand.

“Good evening lady's and gentlemen!” He said with a smile on his face. The room became quiet. “I would like to thank you all for coming to our annual Home School Piano Competition, or as you may also know it: The HSPC.” He went on to explain the rules and prizes, of which Olivia only heard, “First prize will be a hundred and fifty dollars!” She glanced over at George but he did not see it. First went the oldest, then the middle then the youngest. Finally, after what seemed a age, she heard her name called.

“Olivia Davis will be our last but certainly not the least, contestant.”

Her hands were trembling as she walked up the steps to the stage. Every eye was on her. Sitting down at the piano, she glanced at her mom and dad. They smiled at her and that gave her enough courage to start. First the intro, building up momentum as she launched into the song's core. It was a melancholy song, but Olivia felt very happy. All too soon the song came to an end. She bowed and the audience clapped then she went back to her seat, as the guy with the mike came back on stage.

“Well don't we have some talented young people, parents!” All the parents clapped enthusiastically.

“Now the judges have decided and we will announce the winners.” He consulted a list.

“In third place is Justin Crone!” Clapping.

“In second Place is Beth Swonsin!” More clapping. He looked up from the paper then said.

“And the first place winner for this year's HSPC...” Olivia held her breath.

“Olivia Davis!” More and more clapping!

“Get up there, Olivia!” said Mr. Jacobs. She walked up to the stage again. The man gave her a bouquet of flowers.

“Congratulation!”

And, of course, the next day George turned nine and for his birthday Olivia gave him the fifty dollars. He entered the competition, but as often happens in life, he did not when first prize but third. The prize for that was twenty dollars and he used the money to go get ice cream with his sister and family.

Things could have turned out differently, I suppose. But they didn't. 

I know some of this is misspelled... Sorry... lol :)   But I love it!