Challenge 01: Character Resolutions
This is my entry for the first challenge.
“The time after Christmas and right after New Year’s is so bland” sighed Amy who was sitting in front of the fire at Meg’s feet. Meg put down her knitting, laid a hand on Amy, “What do you mean?” she asked. “Well it’s just that there’s this big lead up into Christmas, even if we don’t have many presents, and then the small celebrations afterwards. And then of course New Year’s. But now that it’s January second, what’s there to look forward too?” Amy replied. “Looking forward to what” said Jo as she and Beth walked into the living room. Meg smiled, “oh Amy’s just pouting again” “I am not!” Amy replied indigently. Beth smiled at her, “I get what you were meaning Amy. So let’s make some New Year’s resolutions? We’ll each come up with two, one being something that we want to work on to make ourselves better, and one to help others.”
At that moment the side door opened, and Laurie strode in. “Good afternoon, my lovely friends. I come baring gifts.” From behind his back he produced a basket of cookies and breads. “Oh Laurie” cried Jo, who snatched a cookie and settled into the rocking chair. “Beth thinks we should come up with New Year’s resolutions about ourselves. Join us won’t you?” Laurie grinned, sitting next to Beth, “Why not? I’m putting off my studying for today, or at least this afternoon. Beth, since it was your idea, you should go first.”
Beth blushed but nodded. “I’m glad we’re saying them out loud because it’ll hold all of us accountable to them. I think the one to make myself better is to have more courage. More courage to talk to people and more courage to leave home.” The girls smiled knowing that this would be hard for Beth. “As for one to help others, I think, I shall work on my piano. I know it makes the lot of you happy.” The rest of them clapped. “Of course it does, my darling”, said Jo. “I am next. It probably does not come as a shock to most of you” “Do not laugh Mr. Lawrence!” Jo cried as Laurie made a sound in his throat. “But I shall work on my patience. And to help others? To be more quiet and contemplative.”
Laurie passed the basket of cookies to Amy, “Your turn.” Still not quite warm to the idea of resolutions, “I don’t know. Why don’t you go before me, Meg, and let me think some more.” Taking a piece of bread, Meg replied, “Ok, well, I think that one to better myself is to not be such a pushover. To stand up for myself and say no instead of being so agreeable. As for helping others, I want to be a little more giving, of my things and of my time.” Laurie smiled, “you girls always do. I think, I shall add that one as well as I want to be a little more dignified and not be so hotheaded as I can at times.” Jo scoffed, “at times?” Laurie laughed, “Right Jo. I also want to have more confidence in things I am afraid of, such as… spiders!” Amy squealed.
“Alright, I’m last. I feel the resolution for bettering myself is that I want to be more humble. I see that while we don’t have a lot, we do have more than many around us. The other resolution is that I want to have more joy in the things I have. I guess I can see that I should be grateful for the things we have and that while away, we know Father is alive.” And with that Amy sighed and laid her head on Meg’s lap.
“The time after Christmas and right after New Year’s is so bland” sighed Amy who was sitting in front of the fire at Meg’s feet. Meg put down her knitting, laid a hand on Amy, “What do you mean?” she asked. “Well it’s just that there’s this big lead up into Christmas, even if we don’t have many presents, and then the small celebrations afterwards. And then of course New Year’s. But now that it’s January second, what’s there to look forward too?” Amy replied. “Looking forward to what” said Jo as she and Beth walked into the living room. Meg smiled, “oh Amy’s just pouting again” “I am not!” Amy replied indigently. Beth smiled at her, “I get what you were meaning Amy. So let’s make some New Year’s resolutions? We’ll each come up with two, one being something that we want to work on to make ourselves better, and one to help others.”
At that moment the side door opened, and Laurie strode in. “Good afternoon, my lovely friends. I come baring gifts.” From behind his back he produced a basket of cookies and breads. “Oh Laurie” cried Jo, who snatched a cookie and settled into the rocking chair. “Beth thinks we should come up with New Year’s resolutions about ourselves. Join us won’t you?” Laurie grinned, sitting next to Beth, “Why not? I’m putting off my studying for today, or at least this afternoon. Beth, since it was your idea, you should go first.”
Beth blushed but nodded. “I’m glad we’re saying them out loud because it’ll hold all of us accountable to them. I think the one to make myself better is to have more courage. More courage to talk to people and more courage to leave home.” The girls smiled knowing that this would be hard for Beth. “As for one to help others, I think, I shall work on my piano. I know it makes the lot of you happy.” The rest of them clapped. “Of course it does, my darling”, said Jo. “I am next. It probably does not come as a shock to most of you” “Do not laugh Mr. Lawrence!” Jo cried as Laurie made a sound in his throat. “But I shall work on my patience. And to help others? To be more quiet and contemplative.”
Laurie passed the basket of cookies to Amy, “Your turn.” Still not quite warm to the idea of resolutions, “I don’t know. Why don’t you go before me, Meg, and let me think some more.” Taking a piece of bread, Meg replied, “Ok, well, I think that one to better myself is to not be such a pushover. To stand up for myself and say no instead of being so agreeable. As for helping others, I want to be a little more giving, of my things and of my time.” Laurie smiled, “you girls always do. I think, I shall add that one as well as I want to be a little more dignified and not be so hotheaded as I can at times.” Jo scoffed, “at times?” Laurie laughed, “Right Jo. I also want to have more confidence in things I am afraid of, such as… spiders!” Amy squealed.
“Alright, I’m last. I feel the resolution for bettering myself is that I want to be more humble. I see that while we don’t have a lot, we do have more than many around us. The other resolution is that I want to have more joy in the things I have. I guess I can see that I should be grateful for the things we have and that while away, we know Father is alive.” And with that Amy sighed and laid her head on Meg’s lap.