The Christmas Fair

Stephanie was really looking forward to the Christmas Fair. Unfortunately, she was grounded. A day ago, her little brother Freddy accidentally knocked over a new plate at dinner. Stephanie was going to stop him, so she quickly put her hand by Freddy's but it was too late. He knocked over the plate and her parents thought that she had done it because her hand was there. So there she was, grounded. For one week.

The only problem about that was the Christmas Fair was on Saturday and she was grounded 'till next Wednesday and Stephanie couldn't go to the fair. She could hear Freddy watching T.V. downstairs. It was his favorite show - Superhero Luniac!

Stephanie stared at a bird outside the window. It gave her an idea! She paused. Her parents were at the mall. Good. She sneaked out of her room and into her parent's room. No one was there except for her cat, Noodle. "Phew!" Stephanie thought. She got her parents' laptop and sent an email to her friend. Dear Amelia, Help! I'm grounded! Bring the ladder here on Saturday for the fair. Sincerely, Stephanie Lew.

She pressed send and closed the laptop after she exited. Stephanie sneaked back to her room with Noodle following. Then, she shut the door. Stephanie heard the T.V. shut off and Freddy munching on something.

"Freddy! Can you bring me two cookies?" Stephanie called. Freddy grinned. "Since you're grounded, each snack I bring you will cost 25 cents. So give me 50 cents and I'll bring it!" "Fine, fine!" Stephanie mumbled as she took 2 quarters out of her piggy bank. A minute later, Freddy came up with two Oreos. "50 cents please!" Freddy said, holding out his hand. Stephanie glared at him. Freddy walked away, whistling and jingling his two quarters. "You're the one who got me into trouble the first place!" Stephanie thought. Instead of eating the cookies, she ate one of them and saved the other one for something else. Since Mr. and Mrs. Lew left Freddy in charge of the garbage and snacks, they made him clean up everything that's messy because they were afraid that Noodle will eat it and get sick. While Freddy was in the bathroom, Stephanie ran out of her room and into the living with the other Oreo cookie quietly.

Then, she crushed the cookie with her hand and made crumbs on the carpet. When she heard Freddy flush the toilet, she hurried back up the stairs.

When Stephanie got back to her room, she went into the bathroom that was built in to her room and washed her hands. Then she flopped onto the bed beside Noodle and read a book. The book was called It's Itchcraft!

Soon, Mr. and Mrs. Lew came home. They had two shopping bags. As soon as Mr. Lew saw the crushed cookie on their carpet, Freddy got busted! "But I'm only in third grade, pa!" Freddy had whined. "And I ain't do that!" "Who else could've done it?!" Mrs. Lew questioned. "Stephanie's grounded!" Stephanie grinned when she heard this. Freddy had to clean it up while complaining, "But Noodle isn't even here! He's in Stephanie's room!"

Freddy also had to have a time-out. Noodle was just playing with Stephanie's ball of yarn.

A few days, it was time for the Christmas Fair! At exactly 2:30 p.m., Amelia came with the ladder. At first, Stephanie was playing Chess with herself. Amelia knew that she had to be quiet, so she threw a small pebble up at Stephanie's window. Stephanie looked out. There was Amelia, waving. Amelia pointed to her ladder and set it against Stephanie's window. Stephanie flashed a toothy smile at Amelia. She quietly opened her window and climbed down. Stephanie opened the garage and got out her bike. Then she closed it.

Stephanie and Amelia rode on the sidewalk to the Christmas Fair. Stephanie an Amelia both had a big handful of quarters. (from selling girl scout cookies)

Suddenly, Freddy showed up, zooming on his skateboard. He was also going to the fair. Freddy's eyes grew wide when he saw Stephanie and Amelia. "I'm telling mom!" Freddy smirked. Then he started going toward the house. "Don't you dare!" Amelia growled, Freddy didn't dare to move. He was afraid of 7th graders except for Stephanie.

"Listen up, wimp!" Stephanie said. She nodded at Amelia. "You say a word about Stephanie escaping and I'll call my mom!" challenged Amelia. "Oh, no you did-n't!" Freddy said. "Oh, yes I did!" Amelia threatened, pulling out her cellphone. Freddy laughed. "Tell her what?" he questioned.

Amelia didn't have a chance to finish before Mrs. and Mr. Vernon's bull dog Randy started barking. "Yikes!" Freddy cried as he leaped behind Stephanie. Randy showed his sharp teeth. Freddy whimpered.

"Here doggie! Come get Freddy! He wants to play with you!" Stephanie called, pulling Freddy out from behind. Randy pawed at the gate, leaping up and down barking. Freddy turned to face Stephanie. "Please, help me. I'll do anything! ANYTHING!" he pleaded. Stephanie smiled slyly. "Let's see. Don't tell my parents about me escaping." Freddy quickly nodded, Stephanie tugged on Freddy's sleeve. "Let's go."

Stephanie and Amelia hopped on their bikes and rode to the end of the block. Freddy and his skateboard zoomed after them. "This is what you call a plan?" he questioned. Amelia laughed. "Okay, listen up, kid. That gate was locked and there is no way, I repeat no way that Randy could get out."

Freddy's face got red. "You mean I'm not telling on you for nothing?" he said, feeling foolish. His feelings went up when he saw a payphone. He grinned. He took a quarter out of his pocket and went to call Mrs. Lew. "Wait!" Stephanie grabbed his arm. "You promised." Freddy grinned. "I had my fingers crossed," Stephanie rolled her eyes. "Listen! I'll give you 50 cents if you don't tell."

Freddy pointed a finger at Stephanie. "You've got a deal!" Stephanie gave him 2 quarters.

Then, Stephanie and Amelia zoomed to the fair with Freddy trying to catch up a block away.

When they got to the fair, Stephanie and Amelia each bought 30 tickets. They had about 20 quarters left.

First, they went on a roller coaster and the cart was shaped like Santa and his reindeer. That cost 3 tickets. Next, they went on the ferris wheel with elf carts. That only cost 1 ticket. They looked around the Christmas Fair. Then, they saw the photo booth. "Let's have our pictures taken!" suggested Amelia. "Great idea!" Stephanie exclaimed.

Since each picture costs 50 cents, they both put in 2 quarters and got two pictures. "One for you and one for me!" Stephanie said. They stepped out and Saw Freddy stuffing his face with cotton candy. His friend Herbert was doing the same thing. "Let's go get some cotton candy!" Stephanie suggested, licking her lip. Amelia nodded.

They spent a dollar each on the cotton candy. Now they only had 13 more quarters. Then they started working on their snacks.

They still had a whole bunch of tickets when they finished. "Hmmm" Amelia thought. Suddenly, Amelia grabbed Stephanie's arm. "Look," she whispered, "aren't those your parents?" "Yikes! Let's hide!" Stephanie panicked. They were just about to run off when Freddy made Stephanie's parents notice them.

He had called, "Hey, Steph!" and waved. before Stephanie knew it, Mrs. Lew grabbed her hand and pulled her close. "We saw the open window and the ladder! And I thought I could trust you! Hand over those tickets!" Stephanie slowly gave them to her. Mrs. Lew handed them to Mr. Lew and he jogged off with them to ride the roller coaster.

Mrs. Lew led Stephanie home. Then, Mrs. Lew had a loooooong talk about honesty and respect.

So there was Stephanie, grounded once more.

THE END