Moving To Las Vegas Once upon a time, in a far away land that no one knew of, lived a young teenager named Julie. Julie lived with her mother, in a little cottage that was not far from the lake. Their cottage had two bedrooms, a small kitchen, and a living room, which had lots of books in it. Across from the dirt road leading to the cottage, there was a hill and a large patch of grass, with a very tiny cottage on the top of the hill. In that cottage, at the top of the hill, lived Julie’s friend, Monique. Monique lived with her mom as well. Both of the moms were also friends. They were the only two families that lived in the land that no one knew of. One hot, sunny day, Julie and Monique were outside playing by the lake, when they saw a navy blue car go by. Both Julie and Monique’s mom did not a navy blue car; and neither Julie nor Monique could drive. They were wondering if some travelers had gotten lost on their way to who knows where. But then a second thought came across Monique’s mind. “Hey Julie, does anyone else live here? Like, are our mom’s not telling us something?” “Well, I don’t know? Do you think that someone else lives out her in WoodkumChuck?” Julie questioned back. “I don’t know. Do you think that someone lives out here besides us?” Monique answered. “Maybe? But there are no other houses out here though; are there?” replied Julie. “No, not that I know of.” Monique stated. “Wouldn’t it be weird if there were other people living out here, but we didn’t know it? What if they’re like spies?” Julie inquired “That would be weird. But that would so never happen Julie.” Monique shot back. “You’re probably right.” said Julie, “But what if it did happen?” “Don’t worry Julie! It won’t happen! And even if it did, which it wont…just don’t worry Julie, it wont happen.” Monique said. “Y-Y-Your probably right. But just incase, I think we should be getting home.” Julie stated, as she was hesitating when she was talking. After Julie got back home to her cottage, she phoned Monique and told her and her mom, Ms. Shak, that she was going over to Julie’s house. When Monique got to Julie’s house they went up to Julie’s room, and they started to talk about the car that drove by earlier when they were down playing by the lake. They came across the same thoughts that they had before. Was the car just some travelers that got lost, or were they spies, or who were they? Julie and Monique were talking for a couple hours, when Julie’s mom, Ms. Willms, brought some chocolate chunk cookies and ice-cold milk for the girls. “Are you girls okay,” Ms. Willms asked Julie and Monique. “Um, I think we’re okay mom, thanks,” Julie replied. “Actually,” Monique began, “when we were playing outside earlier today, down by the lake, we saw this navy blue car go by. We are just trying to figure out who it was. We thought that it could be a lost traveler, but then again, who would be out here in the boonies visiting WoodkumChuck?” wondered Monique. Pondering for a while, Ms. Willms went back downstairs into the living room to think about what the girls had said. She was pretty sure that no one else lived out in WoodkumChuck, mostly because it wasn’t on any map, and she had never seen another car out there besides her own, and Ms. Shacks’ car. Later that night, Ms. Willms, Lydia if you prefer, phoned up Monique’s mom, Laura, and she told her the whole story that Monique and Julie told her. Laura was shocked at what Lydia had to say. Then the two mom’s had a huge discussion about the navy blue car that drove through WoodkumChuck, just like Julie's and Monique's conversation. Finally, at about 10:30, Julie woke up from her sleep. She said that she didn’t sleep well because she couldn’t stop thinking about that one, silly, car. Unfortunately, Julie’s mother had the exact same feeling that Julie had. They were talking about it over the breakfast that Ms. Willms had prepared, French toast with strawberry topping, and a dollop of whipping cream on the top. After Julie had finished her breakfast, she walked over to Monique's house. Ms. Shack was just doing the dishes, and Monique was helping her. Julie knocked on the front door, and then Monique walked closer to the front door. Of course it was Julie at the door, so there was no hesitation to answer it. But then a second thought came across Monique’s mind, ‘What if it’s the person that has the blue car?’ A huge sigh came from Monique as she knew that is was Julie or Ms. Willms, she had felt silly for keeping whoever was at the door waiting. “Coming!” Monique shouted. “Okay,” Julie replied. “Oh, hey Julie!” Monique said as she opened up the door, glad to see that is was Julie. “Morning Monique! Can I come in?” Julie questioned, but she knew that she would probably be able to come in. “Sure. We’re just cleaning up from breakfast,” she replied. “That’s fine, do you guys want some help?” offered Julie. “Um, I think we’re okay,” Monique started, “but thanks for offering!” When Julie came in after talking to Monique for a few minutes on the front porch, they went into the living room and sat down onto the dark brown leather chairs. Ms. Shack came and joined them and asked them what they were talking about, and why Julie had an awkward look on her face. “Julie,” Monique’s mom began, “are you okay. I there something that is bothering you?” “Well,” Julie began, “yesterday when Monique and I were outside down by the lake playing, we saw this navy blue car go by. We’re just trying to figure out who it was.” “Oh, that’s right. Your mom was telling me about that last night,” replied Ms. Shack. “Have you had breakfast yet Julie? We have some left over.” “Ya, we just finished, but thanks anyways Ms. Shack,” Julie said on a full stomach. “Do you anyone else that lives out here in WoodkumChuck? Do you think it was a lost traveler?” “Well,” it took Ms. Shack a minute or two to think about what Julie had said. She didn’t think that anyone else lived out here, beside Julie and her mom, “I don’t think anyone else does. If you girls want, if it’s okay with your mom Julie, we can go on a hike tomorrow, and explore. It will be fun.” “I’m sure my mom won’t mind,” started Julie, “maybe we can take some food along and make it a picnic.” “That sounds great Julie!” Monique began before her mom could say anything. That morning, Julie, Monique, Laura, and Lydia took their picnic basket, walkie-talkies, just incase they get separated, and some water because it was pretty hot out. They started their journey from Julie’s house, and worked their way around the lake. Next they went across the bridge, and onto the rocky pathway. They had be walking along for about and hour and a half, when they decided to take a water break. “Mom,” began Julie, “are we ever going to find that car? We’ve been looking for almost two hours, and haven’t seen anything out here besides grass, rocks, and a few trees here and there. We’re never going to find that car!” “Don’t worry,” started Ms. Willms, “we are just going to have to keep on looking until we find enough clues to solve our problem. How about we have lunch now? Does that sound good?” “Yes!” all three answered in unison. So they all began to eat lunch when they heard something go bye… “Hey mom!” Monique said, “There goes that car again!” “Let’s go, let’s go!” Julie shouted. “Right behind you!” both moms shouted at the same time. As all four of them ran off to find the car, Ms. Willms stopped back at her house to get a couple bikes. Julie and Monique were ahead of Monique’s mom, and they were watching close to make sure that they kept an eye on the car. After chasing the car for a good twenty minutes, the car started to go towards a driveway, and close to where Monique lived on the other side of the hill. Julie and Monique finally caught up to the car, only because it had stopped though. The car was up a hill at the top of a driveway, but who’s driveway? It couldn’t be Monique’s driveway; could it? No, of course not… nothing looked the same besides, well, the house, the hill, and the driveway down towards the forest. But no, it couldn’t be… Almost at the top of the hill, Julie and Monique both realized that it was her driveway. Everything was the same. Walking around to the front porch, they saw a tall, built man, talking to Monique’s mom, Ms. Shack. “Mom!” Monique shouted, “Who is that?” Monique sounded mad, but she had a surprised look on her face. She knew that she had seen the man once or twice in her life, but she couldn’t remember him. “Monique,” Ms. Shack replied, “this is Fredrick, he’s a realtor from Las Vegas.” “What are you talking about mom?” “I mean,” she said hesitating, “we might be moving to Las Vegas honey.” “Mom, you can’t be serious! What would happen to Julie and Ms. Willms, who would be out here in WoodkumChuck? We can’t just leave here mom! This is where I grew up, this is where I want to live!” Shouted Monique. “I know Monique, but they have schools, and malls, and everything that we ever dreamed of there. It would be the perfect lifestyle for us.” “We can’t mom. I’m not leaving without Julie!” Monique said, insisting that they wouldn’t move. Well, at least not without Julie and Ms. Willms. It had always been Ms. Shacks dream to move to Las Vegas, same with Ms. Willms. “I talked it over with Julie’s mom, and they said that they would live in the apartment right across the hall from us. You and Julie would go to the same school, and you guys could see each other every day. It would be just like we lived out here Monique.” Ms. Shack said trying to change Monique’s mind. After talking through it for an hour with Julie and Ms. Willms, they all agreed to move to Vegas the next week. Getting on the plane, knowing that they would be able to go back to their cottages during breaks, they knew that they were leaving good memories behind. But they knew that their moms knew what was best for them. The best part of the whole moving experience? Knowing that they would not have to say good-bye, to that one person who made you smile everyday, because that is the hardest good-bye to say. Moral: Your parents will always know what is best for you, even if they don’t give you the greatest reason why.