97. Ice Cream

Ice cream to eat

Ice cream so sweet

Ice cream for me

Ice cream for free

Cake is fluffy

Cake is puffy

Cake is hot

Ice cream's not 

96. Pickles

Pickles pickles everywhere

In my eyes and in my hair,

On my fingers, on my toes

In my mouth, and up my nose.

Pickles sticking out my ears,

I'm a mess, but have no fears.

Pickle juice is on my legs.

Tastes so good. Now I want eggs.

95. This Is The Morn

This is the morn 

We celebrate.

That day was bright

That day was great

This is the morn 

the Savior spoke

To Mary when 

He first awoke

This is the morn

Disciples ran

They cried his name

He rose again

This is the morn 

so long ago

He left the tomb 

Of that I know

This is the morn

Oh, come, adore

Remember Him

He lives once more

94. Alien

Although I am not from here

Loving still to me is dear

In all the worlds it's more than fear

Enough for any lukewarm seer

Nothing stops 

93. Shoes

Shod, the way we sit on you.

Safe, the way we protect you.

Sound, the way we muffle you.

Soft, the way we feel to you.

Sure, the way we comfort you.

Sad, the way we're without you.

92. Cinderbella and the Glass Boot

 Cinderbella lived on a little farm on the outskirts of a small town in Texas. She loved all the animals and they loved her. Every day she woke up early in the morning, cooked breakfast for her  Stepmother and two stepsisters, and take care of the farm. She fed the horses  and the sheep, collected the chickens' eggs, milked the cow, and made sure the pigs had fresh mud to play in. Then she went back inside and cleaned the farmhouse.

 Cinderbella's stepsisters were lazy girls. They didn't care about the farm. All day long, Cinderbella's stepsisters sat in front of the mirror brushing their eye and making themselves look pretty so the Cowboys in town would like them.

 Whenever Cinderbella had a little extra time, she would practice throwing her lasso. Cinderbella dreamed of being a world-class rodeo queen. She knew that if she ever got the chance, she'd be the best cowgirl in the county.

 One day Cinderbella's stepsisters came home from shopping in town and were very excited. The rodeo was coming to town and Charming Joe and the Royal Riders, the richest, most talented cowboys in Texas, were going to give out the awards!

 The stepsisters wanted to win a prize so they could meet Charming Joe. They set to work baking as many pies as they could in the hopes that Charming Jow would like one of them and want to marry them. 

 Cinderbella wanted to meet Charming Joe, too. With his help she could become the greatest cowgirl in the world.

 When the day of the rodeo came, Cinderbella but on her best clothes and joined her family at the wagon. "You can't go to the rodeo in that!" He stepsisters screamed in delight at her tattered shorts and grubby sandals. "What will Charming Joe think if we show up with you?" They pushed her away from the wagon and she fell into the middle of a puddle of mud.

 Her stepmother grabbed the horse's  reins and looked down at her. "Cinderbella, go back to the farmhouse where you belong. There is plenty of work for you to do while we are gone. You cannot go to the rodeo." Then she whipped the horse's reins and they rode away, laughing at Cinderbella's misfortune.

 Cinderbella ran to the hay loft, threw herself down in the hay, and wept. "I wish I could go to the rodeo," she cried.

"So why ain't ya goin'?" A voice said.

 Cinderbella looked up and saw the most beautiful cowgirl she had ever seen, glowing in the dark loft. "Who are you?" She asked.

 "Girl, I am your fairy godmother, of course? If you want to go to the rodeo, why are ya up here cryin' 'stead of goin' to that there rodeo?"

 Cinderella told her fairy godmother about her problems. "I have no way to get there. My stepmother and stepsisters took the wagon. I don't have anything to wear."

 The fairy godmother waved her wand a little in annoyance. "Cinderbella, are you a cowgirl or not? You got to show this county just how good you are. You have a horse down there in this barn. Ride him to the rodeo! As for what to wear, I can help you out." She waved her magic wand and Cinderbella's dirty rags turned into brand new, crisp jeans and a plaid blouse. On her head sat the finest ten gallon hat Cinderbella had ever seen. On her feet, her sandals were replaced by sparkling, glass cowboy boots. 

Cinderbella took a step. "They won't break when I dismount, will they?" She asked.

 "Nah," the fairy waved her off. "They're good and sturdy boots. But be home by midnight or your new clothes will disappear and you'll be back in those rags. And that would just be hard to explain. Now, go show them what ya got."

 Cinderbella thanked her fairy godmother, saddled her horse, and rode off to the rodeo.

 Cinderbella arrived at the rodeo just as the activities were starting. She ate fresh baked pies and raced horses and chased pigs and had a grand time. At 11:00, it was time for the calf-roping. Cinderbella lined up with all the other cowgirls and cowboys who were competing.  Charming Joe was sitting at the top of the area, waiting to give the prize to the fastest person. The line dwindled as each person roped as fast as they could. Finally, it was Cinderbella's turn. 

 Cinderbella and her horse entered the ring. The calf was let loose. And then she jumped. The horse ran. She threw her lasso high and far and caught her calf. She jumped from her horse and tied the calf's legs and threw her hands in the hair. The crowd erupted in cheers. She had the best time of the night. 

 Cinderbella beamed up at Charming Joe. He held her award high and held his hand out to her so she could claim it.

 Just then the clock began to strike the midnight chimes. Cinderbella bolted onto her horse so quickly that one of her glass boots slipped off her foot and fell to the ground. There was no time to waste. She left the boot and galloped toward the entrance. Her horse jumped over the barricade and they exited the arena. As they ran toward the exit gate, her ten gallon hat disappeared. She jumped over a hedge of bushes and disappeared from the road just as her jeans turned back into her tattered shorts and her blouse became her dingy, mud-covered shirt. As she made her way home, Cinderbella was sad she hadn't been able to meet Charming Joe, but she was happy knowing that she had ridden her best and that he had noticed.

 The next morning Cinderbella served her stepmother and stepsisters breakfast as usual. They talked of nothing but the rodeo and the girl with the glass boots.

 "Nobody knows who she was," said her stepmother.

 "We were too far back to see her face," said one stepsister.

 "You were too busy eating," said the other.

 "Whoever she is, Charming Joe wants to find her," her stepmother explained. "She was so good he wants her to join his tour and ride with him."

Cinderbella dropped a plate in surprise. Charming Joe wanted to ride with her. Nothing could make her happier. "How will he ride with her if no one knows who she is?" She asked.

Her stepsisters told her that he was going to take the glass boot around and try it on every girl in the county until he found the girl it fit.

Just as they finished breakfast, they heard the sound of a wagon approaching. It was Charming Joe and the Royal Riders with Charming Joe himself leading the way. The stepsisters squealed with excitement and ran to the door. Cinderbella's stepmother told her bring out as much lemonade as she could carry. 

Cinderbella handed out drinks to all the Royal Riders while her stepsisters tried on the boot. They pushed and they pulled and they punched and they prodded, but they just couldn't get their feet into the sparkling boot. 

 Cinderbella handed Charming Joe a tall glass of lemonade. He smiled his charming smile at her and asked her if he could try the boot on her foot.

 "Cinderbella wasn't at the rodeo!" Her stepsisters wailed. "Do you want some of our pies?"

 "I don't want pie," Charming Joe crooned. "I just want the best darned cattle roper in Texas riding at my side."

 Cinderbella slipped off her sandal and stepped into the glass boot. It was a perfect fit. "I knew it was you the moment I saw you. Will you ride with me Cinderbella? Will you be a Royal Rider?"

"Yeeeeeeeeeeehaw," hollered Cinderbella.

91. Fooled

I came home from school that day and wanted to pass out. The day had been so hot and my teachers had been extra thorough in the homework department. I knew I had lots to do, but I just wanted to take a nap. I went into my bedroom and shut the door before I laid down. I was only there for about five minutes before my older brother Patrick came to find me.

"I'm thinking about making some Ramen and a smoothie. Want some? We can play a card game before I go to work?"

As much as I wanted sleep, food sounded good. And Patrick had been working a lot lately, saving up for college in just a few months. I knew our time was limited, so I gave up the nap and joined him in the kitchen.

Patrick was a smoothie master. Give him a kitchen full of food and spices and he could whip up anything. Cinnamon strawberry delight. Carmel apple kiwi awesomeness. Yummy yogurt surprise. He even once made a meat smoothie, which didn't work so well as a drink but made for a delicious chip dip. Today he had peaches, raspberries, and a whole slew of spices. 

"Why don't you pick a game and set the table," he suggested. "I'll be done with the food in just a minute."

"Okay," I said and I opened the cupboards. I reached for the stack of plastic smoothie cups. It didn't register to me until it was too late that the cups were lip-up. We were a lip-down family. So I was caught totally off-guard when I tipped the cups down and a barrage of water accosted me. I gasped and dropped the cups. To the floor. My hair, face and shoulders were dripping. 

Patrick laughed at me. "April Fool's! Patrick 1: Suzy 0."

"Very funny," I said. I tried to sound annoyed but it was hard to be stern when I was laughing. "At least I'm not hot  anymore." I dried out the cups and set them in the table. 

I went back to the cupboard to get the Ramen bowls. It's amazing how much water can fit into one of those. I was now drenched head to foot. Patrick was in stitches.

"Patrick 2: Suzy 0," I conceded. "How many more?" I asked. Patrick opened all the cupboards and showed me that every dish that could hold water, including the plates, were filled. It says what kind of a family we are that I left them like that for our three other siblings and our parents to find.

Patrick dished the food while I changed into dry clothes. I came back and set the game out. 

We sat down with our Ramen and smoothies and began play. I waited for Patrick to take the first bite. My guard was up and I figured if he had done anything gross with the food, he wouldn't eat it. He took the bite. Nothing. He took a sip. Nothing. I was safe. The ramen was as tasty as I expected. Salty, warm, goodness in a bowl. I played my turn and then took a sip of the smoothie. It was  divine. A rich, yogurty blend of peaches, raspberries, cream, and honey. I was in heaven. 

And then I was in hell.

Or, rather, my mouth felt like it held the fires of hell. Masked in and simultaneously aggravated by the fruity yogurt, was cayenne pepper.

Patrick just smirked. "Patrick 3: Suzy 0."