Chapter 3, Page 33 Just a Dream

I really hate stress dreams. I don't know which is worse, the actual dream or the transition between sleeping and waking when I can't tell if what just happened was real or not.

How many kids have dreams about their grandparents dying, anyway? I don't remember a time when I didn't have dreams like this before a trip.

Chapter 3, Page 32 Too Real?

Sorry this is so late. ^^> So sorry. At least it's still Wednesday, right?

Anyway, as usual, something that actually happened. I really liked playing these games in the car with my parents. Once in a while, though, it got a little hard to tell where imagination ended and reality began.

I still have the same problem with dreams. Was that just a dream, or did it really happen? Where am I? Waking up is an uncertain affair with me.

Chapter 3, Page 31 Santa Eats Cheese

Yeah, I really got a letter from Santa. No, I can't remember if it really was postmarked Wisconsin, but it was within the continental United States.

I don't know if the post office still does this, but when I was a kid they'd take the letters to Santa that kids would put in the mail box and send replies. What the exact procedure was (is) I don't know, but it was really sweet.

Chapter 3, Page 30 Helpless

I never did like not being able to do anything about something. I don't think anyone does, but I have gotten the impression that the feeling is stronger in some people than in others.

Mary really shouldn't hit the window like that.

Chapter 3, Page 29 Anxiety Attack

Funny how everything looks like a crisis when your twelve. Of course, in Mary's case it's not so much because of her age as because of her personality. "Tightly wound" is putting it mildly. (Note to self: never feed her coffee.)

If future posts are a little late, please forgive me. I have a really bad cold. And on Thanksgiving, too. T.T

Chapter 3, Page 28 The Red Tape Returns

When will this end? Who knows. Paperwork is a terrible thing. Though one might get the impression that Mary's more affected by this than her parents.

Chapter 3, Page 27 I hate math

This is a stand alone episode, but it connects to the main plot in that it serves as a reminder of why Mary's home schooled.

Out of fairness, I should mention that the entire flashback involves a single teacher. Mary's third grade math teacher to be precise. She appeared is another short flashback here.

Why someone like this was ever allowed to teach children is beyond me. What's crazier is that Mary was apparently the only kid she picked on. At least, when Mary begged her home room teacher to take her out of that class, other students said that the math teacher wasn't as bad as Mary said.

In any case, this is the only teacher to scare the bejabbers out of Mary. (She was a little afraid of one of the sixth grade teachers, but only because he was somewhat intimidating.)

Chapter 3, Page 26 New Addition

Some people think that the one who had been the baby would resent a new baby because then the baby gets all the attention.

That may be the case sometimes, but not in Conny's case. She is about to turn six, so maybe she's simply older than these cases.

So when is the baby due? You'll have to find out later. Ha-ha.

Ah, anticipation. Gotta loath it.

Chapter 3, Page 25 Missing the Point

Wouldn't most people keep asking? So would Mary under normal circumstances. However, she tends to get a little scatter brained and doesn't notice the obvious.

Now that the license has been found, what will happen? Will Mary's family be accepted as home schoolers?

And don't forget what her parents were doing. What is that about?

Chapter 3, Page 24 The License

The license is found! Will this solve all their problems? Or is this just the beginning? And what are Mary's parents doing?

Keep reading and find out!

Ha-ha-ha!

Oh, how I love putting people in suspense.

Chapter 3, Page 23 Knowledge Too Soon

So Mary got her explanation. At least part of it. It's really some pretty nasty stuff, and she's only twelve. There's only so much she can handle right now.

Really, I still don't understand why anyone would have an abortion. There are so many alternatives if you don't want the baby or think you can't take care of him or her properly. Adoption, of course, and not getting pregnant in the first place.

Chapter 3, Page 22 Unexpected Discovery

So we're back to looking for the teaching license. It's amazing the things one finds when looking for something else. Sometimes those things aren't very pleasant.

This is only a small detour and thematically it's very important. (Though perhaps more to the next chapter than to this one.)

Chapter 3, Page 21 Acrophobia?

This was not one of my, ah, Mary's smartest ideas. Granted, it did prove that it was possible to jump from a single story roof without suffering serious injury. It also proved that Mary and heights don't get along very well.

Funny, since she loves climbing on things. It's the getting down that's the hard part.