Anne

Julia

I arrived from New York on Monday. Mom thought a change of scenery would be good for me.

I knocked on the door of my aunt's apartment. She opened the door slowly, her eyes darting back and forth like a scared animal. Where was the friendly Aunt Emily I'd been promised?

Their apartment was nothing like the one Mom, Dad, and I shared back in New York. Their apartment was crumbling and old. A little girl, my cousin Kim, and her two sisters, both about my age, peeked out from behind an old couch. The oldest girl, Lila, was two years older then I was but she stayed behind the couch like a fawn hiding among the fallen leaves.

I slept in Kara's bed that night. She was thirteen, my age, but she cried in her sleep like a puppy. I couldn't sleep, so I got myself some milk from the clattering old fridge. Then I was able to sleep.

In the morning, Kim was coughing up a storm. Aunt Emily had work, and Kara and Lila had summer jobs. Normally Kim would go to a neighbors house, but she was clearly sick and I was free. So I got the job of watching Kim. As soon as Aunt Emily and my cousins were gone, I whipped out my Nintendo DS and played until Kim's quiet, round eyed figure appeared in the doorway. I even let her play a bit. Then I made us lunch.After lunch, Kim asked if she could garden. "Of course, Kim," I said. I stood up and went to get Virtual Garden, my newest game. When I came back, she was gone! I glimpsed her slipping out the door, and ran after her, calling her name.

She didn't look back once. Finally she stopped in front of a garden.

I hadn't realized she'd meant a real garden. I watched as she knelt by a few small leafy plants. An older man approached her, and I almost yanked her to safety before realizing his intent was friendly. Someone pressed flower seeds into my hand and I knelt and planted them.

Soon I led Kim home. Kim saw my wondering look.

"The Gibb Street Garden. Isn't it beautiful?"

"Yes, Kim. It's amazing."

"Better then your games?"

"Don't be silly, Kim. Real life is always better than virtual life."

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