Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven: Charlotte

Charlotte was now eight months, sweet, pretty, cute, and young. She could laugh, grab, eat, and sit up, and even say a few words. All the girls smooched her cheeks all the time, thinking she was the cutest baby in the world. They all loved her so much. She was the youngest in the family, so innocent, so pure and so tiny. She had rosy, red cheeks all the time, and it seemed like she never, ever cried. No one at all ever wanted to scold her, because she was the cutest little thing in the house. And if they did Charlotte would just smile because she did not know what they mend at all, and the person who scolded her would just laugh.

Sometimes, suddenly she would burst out and say, “Yay!” in such a sweet and cute voice. And t6hen everyone would laugh and Mama would kiss her soft, rosy cheek gently, and say to her, “Oh, honey!” And if someone would just say “hello” to her, she would laugh and gurgle. She sat in her high chair for every meal, and she was so cute and so small in that big high chair. She did not care though. She just loved to be part of the family. And whenever she was with her brothers, sisters, Mama or Papa she was the happiest little baby on earth. And Mama was so happy, too, that her baby was like that. The only time she cried was when someone hurt her or she heard a REALLY loud noise. They always thought it was funny that Charlotte never cried that much at all. And they were all happy themselves that their baby sister was that kind of person.

One day, when Evelyn took her outside, and wind went through Charlotte’s hair, and there was a big breeze, Charlotte laughed harder than she ever did before! It was so cute, so sweet, and adorable that Evelyn laughed herself, very hard, and coughed at her baby sister. She went inside to tell everyone, then they went outside with her and they enjoyed the fall breeze together, and tried to catch leaves. (It was the hardest for Evelyn to do it, because she was holding Charlotte.) But she managed, and Charlotte loved all the moving around. Evelyn gave Charlotte a big kiss on the cheek. She could not bear not doing it, because she was so cute. After a while they did not want to catch leaves anymore, so the boys played tag, and the girls sat, with charlotte, under a tree and wrote in their journals.

Soon, Mama called them in for lunch. And Charlotte recognized Mama’s voice and let out a giggle. And they came inside. Mama had tuna fish sandwiches and tarts for lunch. The tarts were so good, and the children enjoyed every last bite of it. Evelyn, still holding Charlotte, gave her a peace, and she liked so much; she put a smile on her face. And Evelyn looked at her and gave her a smile back.

After the children finished their lunch, they went back outside. The girls finished writing in their journals, and they all played a game of capture the flag. (Without Charlotte, Evelyn took her back inside.)

They had fun hiding the flag, and guarding each other from getting to the other side. And soon, thankfully to the girls, they won! The girls were so happy they won, at least for once, they did.

Mama was sitting on the couch inside, with Charlotte on her lap, sipping coffee. Charlotte saw them outside running around and laughed. Mama laughed at Charlotte, laughing at them. She still thought it was funny that she laughed at everything.

“Oh, do you see them outside?” she said to her sweetly. And Charlotte let a gurgle. It was her way of saying “yes”.

Soon, Mama went to the store with Rosie and Charlotte to get Rosie new ballet tight. She had Helen baby sit for her. Helen said it was her pleasure to do it. She had so much fun being with her siblings, and playing with them.

While Mama was gone, they climbed trees and rode on horses.