Now this is funny. I just went back through some of my old creative writing folder (binder) and found the profiles and bits of stories about five sisters. I remember distinctly, while writing this, in writing the profiles I was trying to reflect some of myself in the characters, and in writing the bits of stories, I was trying to just make up close-to-real-life stories. I thought I was being totally original... With maybe a little bit of influence from a book I had recently read. But just a little.

Now, read these profiles and story bits I wrote and tell me what book you think of. :D

Profiles

Laqueta: The oldest, 16 years old, already a young woman. She is cautious and takes life slowly, waiting until she's ready to try something new. She takes care of her four sisters, especially the youngest one, Zoe, keeping the peace.

Melisande: The second oldest at 15 years old, she lives unhappily in the shadow of her older sister. She is shy and doesn't like to try new things. She tries to please everyone, but occasionally a complaint held back for a long time slips out, angering her sisters and embarrassing herself.

Leena: Leena is the middle child at 12 years old. A peaceful, quiet girl, she keeps her thoughts to herself or reveals them to her closest friend, her journal. Leena likes to keep the peace as well, but doesn't have the authority that Laqueta does.

Minjonet: Minjonet is still a child, 8 years old, but is learning manners and politeness from her three older sisters. She often says things a little oddly and is confused--but not upset--when her sisters laugh at her. Minjonet balances her days between playing with Zoe and tagging along after her older sisters.

Zoe: The youngest at 5, Zoe constantly feels misunderstood, left out, and unfairly treated. She tends to get on Melisande's nerves trying to understand all the older girls' ways with her inexperienced mind. She clings to Laqueta, the only sister who always treats her well.

Guessed yet? Believe me, if you've read this book, you'll guess it with the story bits... :)

Laqueta Meets Ilo
Laqueta felt someone nearby. She glanced around her. She'd never felt so alone! She whirled around and began to race blindly through the underbrush, sure she heard footsteps rushing right behind her, coming closer. She had to lose them! she turned and ducked and leaped through the thickest foliage until she was very lost. Now it seemed as if her pursuer had lost her trail--she only heard the noise she herself was making.

Then, suddenly, out of nowhere, the person swung down right in front of her! Laqueta screamed. The sound was lost in the green all around her.

Melisande Learns She Is Beautiful
"Melisande does nothing but stare at herself in the mirror since that gypsy told her she was so beautiful!" Minjonet said in a very grown-up way.

"'Jonet, you know it's important to her," Laqueta said wisely. "She doesn't every feel she's...adequate enough, somehow. It's good for her to have something she feels she can like about herself."

"Well, does she have to like it every day in front of the mirror for hours??" Minjonet asked.

"Maybe she has a boy to impress!" Zoe piped up spitefully. "Laqueta sure looked in the mirror a lot when she met Ilo!" And she fell into giggles.

"Zoe!" Laqueta reprimanded. "That's not appropriate!"

"Well, it's true!" argued Zoe. She began to taunt: "Ohhh, Ilo! My beloved Ilo!"

Enraged, Laqueta rose up from her seat. Zoe's eyes widened and she went mute. "That's quite enough!" Laqueta said angrily upon this submission.

"What is all the fuss about?" Melisande spoke up dreamily, emerging at last from the powder room. "Laqueta, I thought I actually heard you yelling!"

Zoe grinned mischievously and opened her mouth, but a dangerous look from Laqueta closed it again.

"Everything's fine, Melisande," Laqueta said, again in possession of herself. "How are you this afternoon?"

"Afternoon? Why, it's only morning!" Melisande said with surprise.

"No, it's not! It's half past noon!" Minjonet immediately informed her, pointing to the garden sundial just outside the window.

Melisande was astonished. "But it was just ten o' clock! Surely I--"

"You've been in there for hours," Zoe interrupted loudly. "Looking at yourself!"

"Zoe, hush!" Laqueta attempted to quiet her, but it was too late. Things were flying out of control. The pot that had been simmering for days was finally boiling over.

Leena's Sadness

Three sisters huddled in the "meeting house" that night, waiting for a fourth, while the fifth slept uneasily in her room. They talked in hushed voices onthe white benches.

"Why did you invite Zoe? She won't understand a word!" one whispered.

"I think she could help us," a second sister answered.

"Well, I don't know how!"

Just then a small figure dashed across the grass, nearly tripping over her long pink nightgown. "I'm here!" she announced, her high-pitched voice carrying easily through the clear night air. Automatically she was answered by three "shhh!"s.

"You've got to be quiet, Zoe!" the second voice said as the new arrival hopped up the wooden steps of the gazebo. "You'll wake Leena!"

"Oh!" said the newcomer, a degree quieter. "Sorry!" She took her place on a bench between two taller figures and leaned forward, prepared to "listen intently" as her sisters had instructed her.

"Now," began the leader of the foursome. "We all know what we are here to discuss. Has anyone got any enlightening pieces of information?"

"Not I," spoke the sister whose honey-colored hair could just be seen in the starlight.

A new voice chimed in. "I haven't got any enlightening whatsoever, but I do have some news!"

The leader suppressed a smile, but instantly got serious again. "Let's hear it, 'Jonet."

The dark-haired girl told this tale: "Today Leena was writing in her journal in the parlor, when Mama came in and called her to set the table. Well, I was in the parlor too, and I... My eye saw the pages of her journal--"

"Minjonet!" the honey-haired one exclaimed. "You shouldn't be reading people's personal diaries!"

"Let me finish!" Minjonet insisted. "I didn't read it, and anyway it's not a 'personal diary', it was her journal! It says so on the cover. I just saw the edges of the paper. They had little hearts all over! And clouds and stars and a water-hole."

"A water-hole?" the leader questioned incredulously. "What would Leena care about a water-hole?"

"And hearts and clouds, too," Minjonet quickly added.

"Yes, but I draw those all the time. So do you girls. That's normal."

"Except for a girl who never draws anything on her pages," the honey-haired spoke up.

This time it was her older sister's turn to be shocked. "Melisande! Don't tell me you've been reading Leena's diary, too!"

Melisande, realizing what she'd just said, blurted out, "No! Never! She told me she never draws around the edges! You know I'd never read someone's personal diary, Laqueta!"

"I'm sorry, 'Sandie," Laqueta softened. "You're right, I know you'd never do that. But back to business. So our little sister, who never doodles on the edges of her pages, has suddenly begun drawing hearts and stars and clouds and... a water-hole. What on earth could it mean?"

Minjonet's Adventure
"It's true!" shouted Minjonet, forgetting for once to be grown-up. "I saw it!"

"Minjonet, how could you see something that doesn't exist anymore?" Melisande was growing angry at her little sister's persistence. "I tell you, you've been reading too many of those old stories!"

Frustrated, Minjonet turned to her other sister and cried, "You believe me, dont' you, Leena??"

Leena glanced fearfully from one of her sisters to the other. She hated being caught in situations like this. How could she side with one and keep peace with the other? "Well, Minjonet... I'm afraid I'll have to agree with 'Sandie this time. Unicorns have gone for a long time, since before any of us were even born."

Dismayed at having lost even Leena's support, Minjonet gave a sob and exclaimed, "But I saw her!" and then fled to her room.

"She was real!" the little one cried into her pillow. "I saw her and felt her too! No one believes me, and now she'll die!"

Zoe Has A Secret
Melisande examined herself closely in the mirror. An endless circle of worries spun through her brainas she stared at the low-plunging neckline, the uncomfortable cling of the fabric to her sides and hips, the skirt that ended far above what was comfortable. She was afraid--no, she was terrified! This was not her at all. She had to change now--there was still time!

But, no, she couldn't. Those girls would be angry with her, would never speak to her again, would tell her how old-fashioned and grungy her clothes were... She couldn't bear those malicious glances again.

Finally, as a final resolution she turned away from the mirror and grabbed her old dress and slipped it on over her new dress.

"Sandie?"

The timid whisper froze Melisande. Then she whirled around to face a small blonde head peeking in at her from the doorway.

"Sandie, what are you doing?" Zoe inquired with an unusual shyness.

Melisande was outraged in her fear and turned on her youngest sister. "Zoe. What are you doing in here?" She packed all her fury into one hushed sentence.

Zoe backed away, frightened by her sister's terrific rage. "It's time to go... I just... They sent me to get you! Don't hurt me, Sandie!"

The terrified plea, coupled with the innocence of Zoe's eyes, brought Melisande abruptly to her senses and she reined in her anger. She said quickly but forcefully, "Zoe! Calm down. It's just me. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." She frantically searched for an explanation. "It's--a costume. What you saw me wearing? It's just a costume; I'm in a play at the school. But it's a surprise! You can't tell anyone about it, or what I'm wearing, okay?"

Zoe, astonished by this sudden change in attitude, could only stare.

"Zoe! Okay? Do you understand? It's a secret! You have to keep it a secret."

Finally Zoe comprehended. "Yes! Yes! A secret, okay, I won't tell," she cried.

Thrilled, Melisande grabbed her purse and hustled Zoe out, saying, "Oh, good! Thank you, Zoe!"

Zoe, completely confused but wanting to keep Melisande happy, rather than face that frightening look again, kept quiet.

Now, tell me what book these story pieces remind you of. :)

-Stephanie