Mini Katie (working on it)

Story about a little girl named Katie who overcomes her height.

Last month I was laughed at because I could not reach the monkey bars at school. Now they make fun of me because I can not reach the top shelf of paint in art class. My name is Katie and as you can tell, I am the shortest kid in the class. I have been the smallest one since I can remember and I remember everything. I am in fourth grade and David picks on me all the time. David is the tallest boy in class, what a jerk.

I have been going home early the last few weeks in school. I do not like staying late anymore because of everyone making fun of me. But when I get home, I talk to the ants that have made a colony under my favorite bush. Why ants you ask? Because they are small, just like me. They know what it is like to be bullied by bigger creatures. My bush is special to me because it too is smaller than normal. It has not grown for over a year now. But I really like bugs and plants, they are all special. They range in beauty and size and are not picked on for the way they are.

Yesterday, I was in Science class. I tried to answer questions, but the teacher could not see me. She had me in the back, behind all the taller students. Then when we were in the gymnasium for a movie, I missed most of it. I tried to push through the other students so I could see it. But they would not move for me. Then when we went back to class, they all ran over me and pushed me back. No one cares for the small things and people in life. Only the small appreciate the small, sadly.

It’s finally Spring Break though. Wahoo! And during Spring Break, even short people can have a good time. Mommy, Daddy, and I are going on a road trip. Daddy wants to take us in a dark cave. Mommy is a little scared, but Daddy said he would keep her safe. Daddy is always like that, like a super hero. He just doesn’t wear a cape or his undies on the outside of his pants. Mommy says she is scared or does not want to go a lot too. I think that’s because Mommy just likes Daddy being her hero and his hugs. I can’t wait to see the cave though, I hope we see a bat.

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It’s already day one of our trip and we are lost again. Daddy always takes long routes and says he knows what he is doing. That is code for: We are lost, but I won’t ask for help. He is so stubborn, but I love my Daddy. Mommy just looks in her mirror at me and smiles as I nod back, we know he’s lost, but we don’t want to make him sad. Mommy puts in a new CD and we sing for Daddy to make him happier as he tries to find out where we are. Watching the signs, Daddy gives a chuckle. He knows where we are now, Mommy and I smile. Daddy has a funny laugh, but he is happy.

Turning off the road, we find Daddy is pulling into a bit mountain area. I look over at him, “This is our cave? I thought caves went DOWN.” Daddy laughs and looks back at me and smiles. “To go down, we must first be up, right? So we are going to see this mountain first, exploring the areas above before we get trapped down below”, Mommy looks at him, “Trapped?”. Daddy scared Mommy, uh oh. “That’s not what I meant Hun”, said Daddy, “We will be going down in a cave and coming back out, don’t you worry. I’ll be there with you”. Daddy takes Mommy’s hand as she smiles. I know Daddy would always protect Mommy, she does too. He is our super hero, remember.

Getting out of the car, Mommy closes her door and looks for Daddy, we lost him. Or maybe he lost himself again, he needs a map for everything. Turning to look at the back, Daddy picks me up high and spins me around saying, “Watch my Angel fly”, he always calls me his Angel. He’s so crazy. Placing me on his shoulders, we walk to the building in front. Daddy leans down so the man sees all three of us, and we pay to go in. Looking all the way up, as Daddy puts me back on the ground, I stare at the height. Something so tall and I am so small, how will I get all the way up there?

We walk up a few stairs, Daddy holding one of my hands, Mommy has the other. They pull me up a few times making me skip steps. It’s kind of fun to have them lift me like that. They couldn’t do that if I were tall right? Maybe.

Thinking we would have to go on FOREVER, we stop. Daddy turns to the right… there is an elevator. Yay for cheating. We get in and Daddy lifts me to press the button. I could not reach it by myself though. So much for being short with fun. The elevator lifts us all the way to the top, only two floors on this one, top and bottom. Finally we get to the top and Daddy lets me run out, he holds Mommy close as they watch me look out. Never have I been so high, the sight was gorgeous. I climbed up a little higher as I looked out Daddy looked over at me and said, “How is the air up there?”, he’s so funny. Looking back at him I shouted, “WONDERFUL”, spinning around and looking out at the trees and the city near by. This was unforgettable. Running back to Mommy and Daddy, I hug them tight, “ I love you both” they hold me close saying “We love you too”.

Coming back into the elevator, Daddy reaches for the button, but he can’t, he’s too tall. I press the button before he leans down to and I look at him smiling. He pulls me close and rubs my cheek as he smiles. “I love you my little Angel”, he says. Being small is ok I guess, I got to press the button first. Getting back to the bottom, we race to the car, Mommy walks as she giggles. Daddy picks me up and tickles me as he places me in the car. My short legs could not outrun his long legs, but it’s fun when he picks me up and tickles me.

Mommy and Daddy get in the car, Daddy kisses Mommy’s cheek as we go. He always does that, it’s cute. He loves Mommy so much. Sometimes he drives with one hand so he can hold Mommy’s hand in the other.

Driving more, we pass all these shops with different animal statues and some plants. There are stores for everything out here. We saw a place that was selling a pet rock, how weird. Who takes care of a rock? But Daddy said he had a pet rock, but it rolled away. He also said he had a pet screw, but his Daddy put him in a wall to hang a picture. That’s animal abuse.

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Going through the town longer, we see a place with another ‘fun’ activity for Daddy. He says, “This looks like fun”, he is into strange things. We pull up into a small parking lot as I point to the candy shop, “There Daddy?”, he giggles. My Daddy is acting like a child, giggling at me wanting candy. He points to the other side of the road, there is an old man standing there. Daddy smiles, “This is what we are looking for”, but I still don’t see what he is talking about. Are we going to bother this old man?

Getting from the car, Daddy covers my eyes and tells me not to peak. Are we at the cave already? O boy, this is going to be fun. Walking inside, Daddy is holding my hand. A man says, “Hello and welcome to…” Mommy covers my ears. Is this a game? Why can’t I know yet??

We walk further in, Daddy pulls me along slowly, kissing my head as we stop. He says, “put out your hand” so I do, what is he up to I wonder. He places something cold in my hand. He whispers softly, “open your eyes”. I look down at my hand to see a black rock, it looks like coal. Daddy took me to a coal mine. Daddy says, “We are going into a man made cave, a mine, so we can see this and then know the difference from a cave. Isn’t that neat?”. I look up at him and smile, “That’s really cool Daddy”.

Taking a tour into the mine, Mommy takes my hand and smiles. She doesn’t like dark places much, but she is trying. I look up at her and kiss her hand, “I’m here with you Mommy”. She kisses my head, “thank you Katie”. Walking through the mine, going deeper, the guide tells us to watch our step and be careful. It can get very slippery. Daddy walks close by me, his hand on my shoulder, he looks at me and I smile, “This is fun Daddy, it’s dark and when they shine a light it’s glittery”, he giggles again, “Yes, it is very pretty”.

As we leave the mine, Mommy looks at her hand and says “Ewwww”, I laugh. Her hand is dirty because she touched the wall in the cave, they said not to. She must not have been listening. She goes to the bathroom and washes her hand as Daddy and I look around the shop.

A little bit later, Mommy comes from the bathroom and I run to her and gave her a hug. Daddy comes behind me smiling, Mommy looks at him, “Is something funny?” she asks. Daddy nods no as I poke Mommy gently in her belly. She looks down at me, “come down Mommy, please” I say. She kneels in front of me and asks, “What is it gorgeous?”, I wrap my arms around her and kiss her cheek. As I step back Daddy puts his hands on my shoulder, smiling again, “It looks beautiful on her Katie, you were right”. Mommy grabs her neck and feels my necklace, it is a silver chain with a butterfly, it’s wings wide open and four pieces of shiny coal making the wings. Mommy smiles, “Thank you sweetheart”, she says. “You’re welcome Mommy, and don’t worry, this coal won’t make your hands dirty”, Mommy giggles and gives me a hug.

Walking back to the car, Daddy picks me up again like I am flying, swinging me to Mommy as she kisses me gently. I love my Mommy so very much. Daddy places me back down “You’re a good flyer my beautiful angel” I smile and look over, “Not as beautiful as Mommy”, Mommy smiles. Getting into the car, Mommy leans over and kisses Daddy again, and looks at me “Thank you again for my necklace Katie”. I giggled, “You’re welcome Mommy”. Daddy starts the car up and we take off to our next destination. I think it is getting late though, so Mommy and Daddy look for a place to stay.

After another two hours or so of driving, we find a pretty hotel to stay in and Daddy gets our room. When we get in Daddy jumps into the bed and starts snoring. Mommy laughs and looks at me. I jump on top of Daddy and say, “Not yet, not yet. You haven’t tucked me in”. Daddy never goes to sleep without telling me sweet dreams. Daddy rolls over and starts tickling me, I ask Mommy to save me but she is laughing at me. Then Daddy picks me up and puts me on the other bed, blowing on my belly. I keep laughing. Mommy then comes behind Daddy and tickles him. Now I am free because Daddy is ticklish.

We play for a few more minutes and we get tired. Daddy and Mommy tuck me in and kiss my head. They tell me goodnight and sweet dreams, “We love you Katie” they say together. “I love you too Mommy and Daddy, sweet dreams”. They go and lay down telling each other they love one another as they go to sleep. Mommy turns off the light and we close our eyes.

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