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Text Box: Runaway

By: Anna

Text Box:     The small well was deep enough to hold six people daddy’s size. That didn’t keep the kids away from it though, not even when scrawny Billy jumped in and cracked his back.
    “ Kids these days. I just know that one day, one of ’em is gonna his little neck. Poor children so clueless. “ Momma sat tense in her to small rocking chair. “I blame the parents.”
    “ A girl could climb on the well, Momma.” Beth always had something to say about the reputation of women.
    “It would not be careful or proper.” Joanna was always kissing up to Momma.
    “Awww. . . You’re no fun, Jo!” Beth joked.
    “Girls, I am raising you to be proper saint like women. What if you embarrass me in public? Oh, what would I do with you?” Momma was now racing around the kitchen, getting dinner started.
    “Well, Mother. I can assure you, I will be of no trouble at all. Now, Beth on the other hand might as well be put in a nuthouse.” Joanna had a satisfied smile on her rosy face.
       “Joanna, come on. . . don’t you smell the stench?” Beth was on to something.
       “What stench? What are you talking about Bethany?”
       “Wow, that rosy little nose of yours must be dead. . . ‘cause your head has been up your backside ever since I WAS ONE, JO. That’s what I’m talking about.” Joanna and Momma had appalled looks on their faces.
      “ Bethany Marie Lander! I am disgusted!”
       “Mother, put her in jail. Daddy’s an officer. Make him put her in jail! You are such a pig Bethany!” Joanna had fake tears streaming down her face.
       “Actually, I prefer to be called Beth, or Marie will do also. But Bethany, ugh. . . That hideous name! What kind of childish name is that?”
       “Bethan-” Momma began.
       “I said my name is Beth or MARIE!” Beth’s sandy blonde hair suddenly looked like a raging fire and her beautiful dark green eyes seemed to be the dark color of a hurricane’s raging winds.
       “I am your mother and I say that your name is Bethany! Now go to your room!”
       “Okay, but I’m staying strong. If I have to run away, I WILL!” she slammed the door behind her and stared out of the window and towards the sky.
       “Oh God, why did you put me in such a proper family? Why was I born into this family? What did I do? You know I don’t fit in here.” quickly and quietly Beth packed her bags and climbed out of the window.
        Her calico dress ripped on one of Momma’s rose bushes.
           “Darn thorns.” Beth skillfully pulled the fabric off of the thorns. “Well, I’m off to find a future.” She set out on a road to the woods. The animals ran from the girl as she stepped on twigs and they cracked under her weight. Then she stopped. Someone was with her.
           “Hello? Anyone there?” SNAP, CRUNCH, CRUNCH, SNAP, CRUNCH. “Hello? Hello?” SNAP, it was getting closer and faster. SNAP, CRUNCH, SNAP, SNAP, WOOF!
           “Huh? Oh you silly little dog. Where did you come from?”
           “Arwolf!” the dog drooled and jumped excitedly.
           “How about I keep you?” Beth searched the dog for a leather collar and found nothing. “Well it’s settle, I’ll keep you! Your name is. . . Benny! But how did you get so deep in the Rumania Woods? Oh, I get it, you’re a Daniel Boone dog!”
            “Christophe? Christophe? Christophe? Oh forget it, Dog! Dog where are you. Darn mutt always running out of sight, getting caught in the darn thorns and everything!” It was a young man, his smooth voice was muffled by the thickets surrounding him and Beth.
            Benny [or Dog] jumped excitedly at hearing a familiar voice. A thin teenage boy ran through the clearing. He had hair the color of molasses, large sapphire eyes, and a dirty freckled up face.
          “Dog! I’m so happy to see you. You big mutt. How’d you get so far down here?”
           Beth was startled by the boy, for he only had a single pair of coveralls on.
          “Why, I have never seen someone look so raggedy and dirty! Where’d you come from? If I may ask.” She stared at the boy for a long time.
          “I come from Greensburg, but I ran away two years ago when I was seventeen. Who are you?”
         “Bet-Marie, Marie Lander. What’s your name? You come from Greensburg, ran away at age seventeen, but you have no name?” Beth stared gleefully at him.
         “I’m John Makhile. And that is my dog you are holding. Come here Dog.” John squatted down and held the dog in his arms.
         “ You could give him a better respected name like Benny. But I have no time to argue about a dogs name, I must be on my way.” Beth picked up her bags and was swallowed by the bushes.
        John and Dog ran after her. “Hey, wait. Did your carriage get lost? Town’s that way.” He pointed behind him.
        “ No! I’m umm. . . moving out to find a place to settle in. I can’t go back.” Beth slowly ambled off.
       “ Moving out? Why? Don’t you have a boyfriend to be with?”
        “BOYFRIEND! I hate guys, guys like you especially.

Text Box: This is the wonderful little house that John Makhile and Beth Lander [a.k.a Beth Makhile] built together.