E.T.
Everyone dreams of becoming famous when they grow up. It is almost unnatural not to. Especially in the little town of Spring, Texas. It isn't a big town. Nah, Spring is a tiny town on the outer skirts of Texas. Right by the ocean. Not many people know about it so nobody really talks about it. But it's there. And the people inside of it know just that.
Everybody in Spring is simple. It is kinda weird when you think about it, but then it's not. I am sorry if this is hard for you to understand, but in Spring, everyone has BIG dreams and small talents. So it is just simple. Except for one girl. Jade Greenleaf. She has always wanted to become someone famous like most children. But she had something the other kids didn't. She had a voice that could knock the Pope's socks off.
I mean sure the other people had good voices, but Jade's was spectacular. Ever since she was a little girl she was singing and acting. She was always giving little talent shows for her friends and family, which was basically the whole town. But nobody ever thought she would go to BIG places because of her BIG voice though. Except for one person.
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Spring, Texas June 1, 1987
"Mommy! I learned a new song today!" a screaming toddler yelled as her mother walked in the door.
"Oh really?!" her mother answered caring the groceries to the counter of her kitchen. She placed them down and began walking out the door to get the second and third bag.
"Yeah! I hearded it on the radio!" the toddler said again, "It is really pretty will you here it? Please mommy?!"
Her mother walked in the yellow kitchen and placed the last two bags on the counter. "Of course! Why wouldn't I want to hear it?" She asked, "Just let me get these put away and the laundry in the dryer and then you can sing me as many songs as you want. And you know if you help me it will go faster."
"Momma are you trying to bribe me?" the toddler asked with her hands on her hips and her face scrunched.
"Yes," Her mother admitted, "Is it working?"
"Yup!" the toddle said giggling madly.
Her mother laughed and ruffled her hair. "Come on Jade let's go." The two quickly finished the chores and even got dinner started. They walked out of the kitchen, out of their two-bedroom house, and into the garden. They slowly and carefully moved the vines from the fence and opened a secret door. Inside there was a bench, a bird bath, and may flowers of all sorts. Especially Jade's favorite, the Lily. This was their secret place. No one else knew that there was a gate that led to this magnificent place.
Jade's mother discovered it. She found it three days after they moved in and showed it to Jade. She was so happy and excited when her mother told her that it would be their secret.
"It will be just ours. Only ours and nobody will ever know about it. It is our little secret." Her mother had said with a smile.
"Promise? Always?" Jade asked sticking her pinky out.
"Promise, promise! Always, always!" Her mother said sticking her pinky finger out and gripping Jade's. They had giggled and laughed the rest of the day. A week later they went out and bought seeds for the flowers. The bench and bird back were already there to begin with.
"Okay so what song did you want to sing to me Lily-Pad?" Her mother asked her when they sat down on the bench. Her mother gave her that nickname when she was three because she always wanted to sit on a lily pad like the frogs did. She had always wondered how they did that.
"It is one I heard on the radio! It is called 'Smile'." Jade cried happily, "I memorized all the words!"
"Definitely!" Her mother answered picking a nearby lily and handing it to Jade.
"Okay.." Jade took a deep breath and closed her eyes. You could see her shoulders droop and her breathing get lighter. This was her way of relaxing before she performed.
"Smile, though your heart it acing. Smile even though it's breaking. When there are clouds, in the sky you'll get by. Smile through your fears and sorrows. Smile and maybe tomorrow, you'll see the sun come shinning though, for you. Light up your face with gladness. Hide every trace of sadness. Although a tear may be ever so near. That's the time you must keep on trying. Smile, what's the use of crying. You'll find that life is still worth while, if you just. Smile."
Her mother applauded insanely as Jade took a bow. "That was a beautiful song! And you make it even more lovely!"
"Mommy, why are you crying?" Jade asked worried, "Didn't you listen to the song? SMILE! Geesh!"
Her mother laughed and a tear fell down her cheek. "No Lily-Pad these are not tears of sadness. These are happy tears! I am happy because you are amazing. And I know you are going to be famous and sing for me onstage one day. Will you do that for me?" Her mother asked as another tear of joy rolled down her cheek.
"Yup!" Jade said smiling.
"Promise?" Her mother asked holding out her pinky.
"Promise, promise!" Jade said clasping her pinker with her mother's.
Her mother wiped her tears and sighed. They soon heard a call from the distance.
"Ann! Jade! You home?" said a male voice.
"Looks like your father's home! Let's go say hi and give him a big hug!" She said dusting herself off and extending her hand. Jade took it happily and they walked hand in hand towards the house.
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Spring, Texas 2003
WHOO WHOO
The engine of the train rumbled and the heavy metal/steel weight wheels began to churn. Jade sat quietly in her seat looking at her photo album. It was hard to think back about her mother and not cry. She closed it and forced back the tears. Her brownish/red-streaked hair fell over her left shoulder and her emerald eyes sparkled with sadness as she began to look out the window.
It seemed like it had just happened yesterday. The call from the hospital, the call from the police, the call from her friends..she could go on and on about the people who had called. She could see the accident happen in her mind. The truck stopping suddenly. The tree jerking backwards. Her mother trying to swerve and get out of range.
She blinked rapidly. 'Don't think about it Jade!' She told herself, 'Just don't think about it. Think about something happy.' She thought long and hard desperately trying to find something happy and disclosing her mother.
"UHG!" She gurgled in frustration, "This is useless."
She thumped her head back onto the seat and stared out the window some more. The trains rumble stopped her thoughts and put her into a deep sleep.
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A/N: Well how did you like it? I know it isn't much now, but I am already working on chapter 2. And don't get too bored because there is a romance area in here too! I hope you like it! Please Review! Bye! Love ya! GOD Bless! The One and Only, E.T.