Kitty's Diary

 January the 8^th, Friday.

 

Hello, my name is Kitty, short for Katrina. Mama just got me this diary to write in. I was supposed to start keeping this on the 1^st of January, but I totally forgot. I am 9 years old, and I live in Cypress, CA. The year is 1932,  and the date is January 8^th. We are in middle of what Papa calls a ‘depression’. Apparently, that means there isn’t enough money to go around, and not enough food either, because papa could only get a loaf of bread and a few potatoes for all 21 of us. I know. My family is huge. There is Mama, Papa, Grandpa, Granny, Uncle Michael, Uncle Gary, Aunt Michelle, Aunt Honey, and my cousins Joe, Harry, Morgan, Brad, Carlos, Liberty, Grace, Prudence, Modesty, my sisters and brother, Blaze, Justice and Dash and of course, yours truly. Today, we have to go to school again. We were let off for a few weeks for Christmas and New Year day. So now me and all the kids set off with out with our precious slate pencils and 6 slates for us to share.(Lucky us.) On the way we meet my best friend, Charity Gregory, also headed to school. She is crunching an apple, which she shares with me. “Where did you get this,” I ask her. “Nicked it, ”she tells me casually. I scrunch up my brow. “ You STOLE it?!” She says nothing. I take her silence for a yes. Even though I am disappointed in her, I also have a tinge of admiration. I mean, with salesmen guarding their wares like gold, it is shocking that she managed to slip one away. Actually, now, food is more valuable than gold. You cant eat gold, can you?

 

              We arrive at the school house. I give one of the beggars surrounding it the rest of my apple, even though I am starving. She looked like she needed it more than me. We enter, and I let whiny Grace have a slate to herself, so Charity and I have to share. Lucky Watson shoots me a smug look. I hate her. When people are starving outside, she is wearing fancy clothes and hosting humongous parties. My nickname for her is Marie Antoinette. Cus, she doesn’t care what happens outside her snooty little bubble. Ugh. The teacher calls our attention to the front of the class. I grin. Ms. Lucy is my fave teacher. We start with science. Then math. By social, I’m half asleep. Charity nudges me, just as Ms. Lucy announces “We are going to have a new project this week.” I shoot up my attention finally caught. I give a cheer, then, realizing that no one else seems excited about this project, slink into my seat, embarrassed. However, Ms. Lucy favours me with a smile and goes on. “We are going to help poor and unfortunate people. I am going to put you in groups randomly and give you an item. Lets see….. Katrina Ralson, Charity Gregory, Lucky Watson, and Lizzie Montgomery. You will create clothes out of any extra scraps you can find. ” I groan at Lucky’s name and grin at Charity’s. well, at least I have my bestie. And my worstie. Ugh. Well, Lizzie is nice. A bit over dramatic, but sweet. On the way home, Lucky steps up to me. “Just because we are working on this project together doesn’t mean that we’re friends. ”

“Ditto” I tell her. She is a complete idiot. I don’t wanna be her friend. Gotta go. Mama’s calling. Bye. Write later.