Indigo Shores, Chapter 1: The Bakery
My best friend Joyce is laughing, although I'm not exactly sure why. I'm concentrating on something else.
His black hair is covering his eyes, although I know that they are a stunning shade of green...
"Jean! Jean!"
"Hunh?"
"Jean woods! Did you hear me?"
"No...."
"What---ohhhh." You're looking at him."
I'm still not really listening, but Joyce's next words pull me back into reality.
"Dare you to go talk to him."
"What? are you crazy?
"Come on, Jean! It's not like he's a stranger!"
It's true. So few of us live here, that every Sunday all of us have dinner together. I know that this boy's name is Austin Potter, and that his mom teaches us art and music here.
"Come on, do it!"
I am literally saved by the bell, calling us to come back to school, recess is over.
Although some people wouldn’t exactly call it a school.
I live on a small island called Indigo Shores. In the center of the island is a mountain, and surrounding the mountain is the town, where almost everyone lives. It also has the school, the grocery store, the hospital (though the nurses and docter’s live on the mainland), and an old place that looks like it was once a bakery. Our school has two classrooms and two bathrooms. Everyone goes home for lunch, and a big open field for recess.
"See you!' I call back over my shoulder as i race back. I look back only once to see Joyce laughing and shaking her head.
The rest of school goes by quickly, Social Studies, Science, and music go by like a breeze.
~~~O~~~
Before i know it, I'm sitting at my kitchen table, puzzling over a math problem. Next to me, my dad is puzzling over a problem at work, and my mom is puzzling over dinner.
"Jane, “my father calls out "Do you have to do this every night? Just make a salad!” “We had salad two nights ago,” I complain. “Make spaghetti!” Mom shakes her head. “We had spaghetti on Sunday, remember?” Dad and I groan. “Make Chicken Marcela!” Mom thinks about this for a minute or two, then finally starts dinner.
Later, at 6:00, we’re sitting down for dinner. Mom is looking a little embarrassed for some reason. She asks me, “So how was school today?”
“It was okay, I guess. Mrs. Potter is starting to teach us some songs for the Fall concert.”
“Oh. Well, I was thinking today, and something occurred to me. I thought that maybe I start using my baking skills to…well…re-open the bakery!
We stare at her.
“Amber Andrews and Catherine Miles both have agreed to help me out, and if we get rid of the dust and cobwebs, repaint it, re-floor it, and give it a little decoration, it’ll be good as new!”
“I don’t know, Jane. Isn’t Catherine a little old for that sort of work?” Catherine Miles is 85 years old. “a little old” is an understatement.
“Mom, Mrs. Andrews is pregnant!” Me and my dad talk at the same time.
“Well, when the next ship comes, some workers will be coming with it.
Every month, a ship comes with supplies like groceries, and occasionally, workers or a new family or two will come with it. The next ship is in a week.
Dad still looks concerned, but my mom has me convinced, and when we both agree on something, it’s hard to argue. Finally, after 30 minutes of arguing, Dad gives up. “Fine,” he says, “But try not to hurt yourself.
The Bakery is going to be called Sweet Nothings, and the work begins next Wednsday.