Back dated to Apr 04

Jenn quietly approached her mother who was watching one of her reality shows with a flyer in her hand. Her father Keith wasn't home, which meant she was left with asking Catherine about the egg hunt in the library. Lately, her mom seemed to drink some really weird stuff and get really loud. It scared Jenn; a few times her mom swung widely at her and almost hurt her. But her mom would never hurt her intentionally. Not with her own hands or objects. Words... not so much.

Today seemed like a calm day though, so she tried her best.

"Momma? Could we go to the library today? They're having an egg hunt for Easter." She handed the older woman the flyer. Catherine looked it over, glanced at the TV and the time, and then back at Jenn.

"Of course, sweetie, let me get my jacket," she replied with a smile. Jenn twitched a little; being called sweetie usually meant something was wrong. Odd, yes, but the given nickname for her was "Munchkin" not "sweetie." It worried the young girl a bit, but she hoped it would be a good day without anything bad happening. Her mom insisted she wear a nice dress, as a test run to see if her Easter dress from last year still fit. A little short now, but didn't constrict her moments.

The drive to the library was calm and peaceful. Catherine parked and let her have free roam of the egg hunt, trusting her daughter to not get into any trouble. Jenn was very happy with this whole situation. Her momma was trying to be good and it showed! As long as Jenn continued being on her best behavior, nothing would go wrong.

The not so short sixth grader wandering around the library with many other people and snatched eggs where she could. It was slim pickings, as they'd arrived late in the day, but she found a few brightly colored ones. One of her favorites was a green that matched her fuku as a senshi. Jenn managed five eggs, and found a quiet corner to look at her stash. She left the bright green one for last.

The first egg, a pastel pink, held a small squished plushie of a bunny rabbit with very large eyes. She had no idea how the little thing had gotten in there, but it had. The next two were the same yellow color and held Jelly Beans in them. She ate a few of the cherry ones as she continued. The fourth egg was blue and held a very tiny wind up rabbit that sort of hopped along the ground. She giggled at it for a few moments, eating more Jelly Beans.

Jenn turned her eyes to the last egg and cracked it open.

A golden ticket saying "one free book!" lay inside. She squeeled as quietly as she could and wandered off to find the book she wanted to exchange for it. It was a slightly more 'advanced' book, a multi-chapter book a good three inches thick. The cover was adorned with a symbol of a phoenix and shimmered in the light. The Phoenix Queen. It was the second book in a series her friend had lent her, and she was finally able to read it!

Jenn traded in her ticket for the book and wandered off to find her mother. The woman took a look at the book and calmly took it from her to read in the jacket sleeve.

She did not receive the book back after that, a non-spoken reprimand of "you are not to read books of this material in my house" looming on the car ride home.

[ WC: 616 ]