Kit's Diary written for the AG Spring Swap on Friday, March
28, 2003
Jan
3
Dear
Diary,
Aunt
Millie says if I want to be a famous author, I need to keep a diary.
Mother
helped me to make this book. I wanted one of those cute little leather ones
that are red and have a lock and key, but of course we can't afford one. This
will serve very well I think. Mother says I don't need a key because we don't
have any snoops!
Jan
10
Dear
Diary,
We
have a new boarder. He is an artist with the WPA. He is going to paint a mural
on the courthouse. All the girls at school are jealous because he is young and
quite handsome. I think I am going to like him because he is funny.
Jan
14
Dear
Diary,
Betsy
Moore is having a birthday party next week. I hope her mom makes her coconut
cake! I am embroidering a handkerchief.
Jan
21
Dear
Diary,
Betsy's
party was fun. We had cake and her father made ice cream. WE played Drop the
Clothespin in the Bottle, Musical Chairs and Truth or Dare.
Jan
22
Mr.
Connoughly has started sketches for his mural. He says there is a lot of
preliminary work to do.
Jan
27
Dear
Diary,
Mrs.
May gave me an "A" on my composition. I was worried that she wouldn't
like it.
Feb
2
Dear
Diary,
The
groundhog saw his shadow. It looks like more winter.
Feb
6
Mr.
Connoughly asked mother if I can sit for sketches. She said I may if one of the
boarders is there to chaperone.
Feb
7
Dear
Diary,
We
had our first sitting today. I had to
stay very still, but Mr. C told me about his family so it was easy.
He
has 7 brothers and sisters. Connie is just my age. She sounds like a lot of
fun. I think he misses them.
Feb
11
Dear
Diary,
Tom
Snead broke his arm today at school. He was showing off as usual. I still feel
sorry for him. The girls can't wait to see what I look like in the mural. I
told them Mr. C may not use my face in it.
Feb
13
Dear
Diary,
Charlie
and Miss P are sitting for sketches too. We take turns chaperoning. Of course
Charlie doesn't need a chaperone, but he makes a good one. It makes me feel
grown-up to need one.
Feb
24
Dear
Diary,
Tom's
arm itches him. He scratches it with a broom straw when Mrs. May isn't looking.
He makes the awfulest faces. Mary C. has a new kitten.
Feb
26
Dear
Diary,
I
wonder if spring will ever arrive. I am so tired of wet and cold.
At
least the sittings are fun. Mr. C and Miss P tell the best stories. They even
listen to my stories. Of course Charlie is Charlie.
Feb
28
Dear
Diary,
Mr.
C got a letter from Connie and it had a special letter in it for me. We are
going to be pen pals.
March
2
Dear
Diary,
Betsy
M has been telling us about the Easter dress that her mother is ordering her
from the Sears catalog. It sounds lovely. I don't suppose I'll get a new one
this year.
March
4
Dear
Diary,
I
am getting a new dress. Mother bought the prettiest feed sacks
yesterday. We will have fittings tomorrow. Fittings and sittings, what's next?
March
6
Dear
Diary,
Fittings
are tiresome. Mother sticks pins in me. Her stories aren't as funny either.
Mr.
C is working on a surprise for Mother and Father. He is going to paint me! A
real portrait. He says that we have all made him feel at home and he wants to
repay them. I guess he doesn't think the rent is enough.
We
had a long sitting today, but he wouldn't let me see what he had done. I've
been telling them a made-up story. Miss P says that I have a way with words and
should write it down.
Funny
thing - May Belle wasn't on my bed when I got home from school today. When I
went back after the sitting, there she was. A mystery!
Maybe
I'd better start hiding you, dear diary.
March
11
Dear
Diary,
Betsy's
dress has arrived. I went to see it. It is pretty, but it doesn't have
embroidery on the collar like Mother is putting on my dress. Mary's mother is
making her an Easter dress too. Tom says girls are silly for worrying about
dresses.
March
13
Dear
Diary,
My
dress is almost done. It is turning out pretty.
We
had another long sitting today. I told them more of my story about Princess
Kittriana. I think I will put Tom in it. He can be the fool!
May
Belle was moved again today. I'm sure of it. Who would want to bother my doll?
I'm
going to lay a thread across her lap
when I leave tomorrow morning.
March
14
Dear
Diary,
I
knew it. The thread was gone. This is really strange. I wonder if anything is missing.
Mr
C still won't let me see the painting. He is going to give it to them on
Easter.
The
mural is starting to look like our town. I go by every day and see what has
been finished.
March
18
Dear
Diary,
We
are going to Grandma's for Easter. All of the boarders have been invited too,
and Aunt Millie will be there. I miss her.
I
got another letter from Connie today. This time Mr C's letter was in my
envelope. I am going to tell her that I think Miss P is sweet on her brother.
March
21
Dear
Diary,
Spring
is officially here today, but it is still cold and dreary.
I
went by and played with Mary's kitten after school today. I told her about the
mystery with May Belle. She is going to come over tomorrow and we are going to
look for more clues.
March
22
Dear
Diary,
The
mystery is getting deeper. When Mary and I looked for clues, the white thread I
had put on May Belle was gone and a blue one was there instead! Mary thinks
someone is playing tricks on me. Could it be Charlie? I don't think he would
come in my room. Tom would do it if he could get away with it, but someone
would see him.
March
27
Dear
Diary,
Mr.
C has finished Mother and Dad's painting. He took it to the farm, so Grandpa
could make a frame. Miss P says it looks just like me. I wouldn't know since I
still haven't seen it. I did see some daffodils today. Spring can't be far off.
Easter is next week. I can't wait.
March
29
Mary's
dress is finished too. All of us will look so spiffy at church on Sunday. Even
Tom has a new white shirt. He says he's not wearing a tie, but I bet his mom
makes him.
Easter
Morning
Dear
Diary,
This
has already been a fun day. I can't wait for the rest of it to come. When I
came down for breakfast there was an Easter egg peeking out behind Mother's
vase. Mr. W had hid them while everyone else was getting ready for church.
Maybe he isn't so bad. Got to run. I'll write more tonight.
Easter
Evening
Dear
Diary,
What
a day!! First some more about the egg hunt. They were the prettiest eggs I've
ever seen. Mr C showed Mother and Miss P how to make them. They thinned his oil
paints with oil and floated the paint on water. When they dipped the eggs, they
came out all different colors. Mr. C calls it marbled.
Mother
made me go back upstairs after breakfast to get my old navy blue sweater. I
didn't want to cover up my dress, but Mother said it's still chilly.
You
will never guess what I saw on my bed when I went to get the sweater. May Belle
was wearing a new dress just like mine! It even has embroidery on the collar.
Mother made it on the sly. Mary and I had a good laugh at church when I told
her. I guess that clears up our mystery.
I
gave her and Betsy one of the pretty eggs. The others we took to Grandma's and
made deviled eggs with them. Mother says we can't afford to waste anything.
The
painting was waiting at Grandma's house when we all got there. She had a sheet
over it and had it propped up on a chair. Mother wanted to know what it was and
Grandpa said Mr. C would have to show us. He made a little speech and pulled
off the cover. Mother had tears in her eyes and I couldn't believe my eyes. He
had painted me as Princess Kittriana! I had on a beautiful pink dress and even
a crown! No wonder he didn't want me to see it. Everyone said it looks just
like me.
Grandma
had another surprise for me. She gave me a package wrapped in tissue paper. In
it was a navy blue sweater for May Belle! We really look like twins now!
I
have written so much tonight that my hand hurts. This has been the best day! To
make it even better, I think Spring is finally here.