Life in Newcrest: The Williamsons'

Aoife

04/12/1975

Today is my birthday, and my dad got me this journal so I guess I should write in it. I just turned 15. Freja has her birthday next month and will be 14. Elliott had his in March and just turned 13. Dad took him to get a haircut, which made mom cry because she "loves his beautiful red hair". It makes Freja and I giggle, we call him our own special ginger spice. The twins, Odin and Oda just turned 11, and Siggy just turned 9. I still don't always understand how Odin and Oda are twins, because Odin has blonde hair and Oda has red hair like Elliott. Only Siggy and I have mom's brown hair, but Siggy has moms brown eyes like Odin and Oda. Freja, Elliott and I all have dad's blue eyes. I mean I get that they are fraternal twins, not identical although they are attached at the hip so to speak. I remember once when Odin was playing soccer and fell and broke his ankle. Before we even got the call at home from dad we knew something had happened because Oda was on the floor wailing about how her ankle was hurting. Oda even made herself a homemade cast so that Odin didn't feel so alone, and she stayed in all summer to spend time with him since hobbling around was hard. Which was a big deal for a 6 year old. Mom's birthday is coming up and I am wondering what I should get her. Dad says I should get her a gift card to the new restaurant opening in our neighborhood, Newcrest. Chez Llama is what I think he called it. I will probably take a walk there tomorrow as long as it doesn't rain. I guess I will take Siggy with me since she is always begging to get out of the house. Ill have to remember to get a card too, and to have everyone sign it. Anyway I am very excited because our end of the year dance is coming up and I am hoping that Hunter will ask me. We've been friends since 7th grade. It just really gets on my nerves that whenever I hang out with him Freja constantly tags along. Sometimes they even seem to get along better then me and him, which is super annoying since I met him first. Anyway Mom just came in and asked me to turn out the light and go to sleep, and since I have school in the morning I guess I should. I'll write again soon. HOPEFULLY with news that Hunter asked me to the dance!

Freja

05/16/1975

I'm finally 14, and Hunter asked me to the end of the year dance!! But  mom said I couldn't go.  She said I couldn't go because I'm still in 8th grade and it's a high school dance. She also grounded me because I'm still wearing makeup even though she told me I'm not allowed to wear it until next year. She thought she took all of it away but I already stashed most of it in my locker at school. So now Hunter is taking Aoife. Which is why we aren't talking. She's angry he asked me first, and I will shove it in her face until the day I die. It's not my problem that I'm prettier than she is, and i'm way more fun than she is. If she found out that Hunter and I smoke pot everyday after school I think that she would get pretty angry. I also kissed Hunter a couple times. I'm really not sure if I liked it though. It was wet and he kept trying to stick his tongue in my mouth, which would have been fine if he didn't taste like bacon. I hate meat. Dad is taking me to the art store tonight for my birthday. I think that I'm going to buy an easel for my room so I can paint at home. Maybe it will help me escape for a bit, and when the weather is warm I can take it outside and paint. Dad says that he would even take me to the park so I can paint, or even the city. When he said that Siggy nearly jumped out of her skin. She LOVES the city. I'm not a fan though. I told Dad that I would prefer if we visited Oasis Springs, which is about an hour or so away, while the city is only 20 minutes away. He was down for it though, depending on Odin's soccer schedule. Which would be annoying if Odin wasn't super super good at soccer. He just wrapped up the year playing for his school, and now he is going to start with our neighborhood league, and Newcrest Ninjas. Because Dad was so proud Momand him decided to make it a mandatory family thing. So every other night when they practice and when Odin has games we all go and watch and cheer him on. Oda really loves it, and her and Aoife cheer him on with Dad. Siggy hates it and wanders into the woods, and Elliott just sits and reads. Elliott doesn't really talk much. One time he sat so still while reading that I literally counted the freckles on his face. I got to 52 when he asked me why I was looking at him. Oda has red hair too, but Elliott is really, really a true redhead. Anyway its close to 10 and I am supposed to sneak out and meet Hunter to go and spray paint at the local park. But I'll give you an update.