Rapunzel: The One with All the Hair

How can you, of all people, say everything will be alright?" He has a point. I consider my answer. "Well, it's better than saying 'Keep on crying, I'm sure things will just get worse,' right?

He looks up at me with watery eyes and asks, "How can you, of all people, say everything will be all right?" He has a point. I consider my answer. "Well, it's better than saying 'Keep on crying, I'm sure things will just get worse,' right?

Contrary to my previously held belief, hunger does NOT, in fact, sharpen the mind.

Annabelle chooses this moment to yell out, “Poopy bottom, poopy poo!” Elkin and I stifle our laughter.

Annabelle smells quite poor due to the fact that she refuses to be trained to use the dung chute,

My reflection is all jumbled and shadowy. Who is this girl now? Who is Rapunzel? I stare hard into my grass-colored eyes, now splintered in the mirror, and as the question again: WHO AM I?? I take a deep breath. Out loud, I reply, “I am me. I am a singer of songs. I am my parents’ only daughter. I am a friend to my schoolmates and to Steven. I am a mother and protector to Sir Kitty. I am not a child anymore.” A wave of determination passes through me like a hot wind and even with my empty belly, I feel my strength returning. I am NOT going to let the witch destroy what is inside me. It is all I have left.

Annabelle is pretending to play with her collection of tiny wooden dolls, but whenever Mum isn’t looking, she throws one of them into the fire. I worry about that child. Father

at the table just to get a laugh out of the younger children present (meaning Annabelle and me). For the record, I do not actually laugh when Elkin passes gas; I gag and it comes out as a laugh. Annabelle, I cannot vouch for. Good

Swimming is about the only physical activity during which I am unlikely to injure anyone. I am also good at chess, which I feel should count as physical activity because you have to reach over and move pieces all the time. Some of the boards are quite large, so one must lean AND reach at the same time, thereby expending even more energy.