Short Stories

Venus in Maine (Final)

So how was the previous chapter? (I hope it was okay) This is the final version of the same story.

After moving to Maine, I wanted to make new friends and start a new life.

So, I explored the place right away. The chilly Maine wind came to greet me. I started to regret my decision, but I pulled my collar up against the cold and walked further. I soon found a wooden gate and read the sign- "Go Lions!" Under the sign were fifteen names, and I got curious. Pushing the gate, I found a wooded area and walked forward, forgetting the unforgiving cold. After some time, I found that there was a clubhouse. I continued up the deck and knocked. The door was opened by a 14-year-old boy. He looked at me and cleared his throat. "Welcome to the Lions club! Who are you?"

"I'm Venus Overtons and I want to be a member." This might be my first friend! The boy looked confused and shut the door right in my face! I was so shocked that I stood there for a few moments, staring at the door. I was going to leave this strange place when the door opened again. This time, it seemed like every club child had joined him. "Hi!" I greeted them. "Venus Overtons." The children stared at me and then burst out laughing. I looked around, confused.

"He wants to join our club?" a club member said.

"Venus OVERTONS? You're definitely over tons," snickered another club member.

"A mouse! We're Lions!" another boy spat. "Won't ever need a MOUSE!" The rest joined in, their words slashing me like sharpened swords. But if the children were trying to anger me, it wasn't working. I kept calm. The chanting group chased me, so I had to run home.

Later that night, my sister informed me that she got in the club of Lions. She was very excited, but I was confused. I started to think. Lila is skinny while I am "overton". She is more outgoing; I'm shy. Lila has golden hair, but I have "mouse" hair. No wonder they wouldn't accept me. Remember, I told myself, the person who is really beautiful has a golden heart, not a face. I flopped onto my bed.

The next day, I went for a walk in the bright sunshine when the clubhouse members approached me. "Hello, Venareyougoingaway!" A member name called and the rest burst into laughter. There was no name calling to me that went as deep, but the angrier I got, the more vulnerable I appeared, so I stayed calm.

The boy tried to anger me, but when I wasn't reactant, he got annoyed. Then he, grinning, informed me that their next meeting would be with hot cocoa, marshmallows, and A FIREPLACE. "Everyone's invited but YOU!" Lila seemed to look pitiful as she followed them. I thought, I would be there so I could be revealing my true colors, not just my appearance.

When I got home, a fight struck.

"Big things come in small packages; did you know?" I said after Lila called me a rat.

"I wish you weren't my brother," spat Lila. I ran out of the house, onto the streets, and to the mudflats. I had nobody to mollify me, since my parents were uninterested for clubhouses.

............

The next day, I remembered the meeting. I walked to the window

and seeing Lila, bitterness leaped to me. After a while, all the members went upstairs, leaving the fire alone. Shocked at their ignorance, I instantly wanted to tell them, and I opened the door. The fire had grown and was burning; I was perspiring. Time was running, so I stepped into the burning house. Then I heard a voice in my head.

They've been horrid to you! You can't be helping them! it said.

Though the people covered you with loath, it's inhumanly to let them burn! countered another voice.

I felt dizzy listening to this heated argument. I rushed in and evacuated the scared members.

I noticed that Sid was missing.

I started to navigate my way through the fire and heard a frightened voice.

"I'M IN HERE! HELP!" Sid cried.

I looked around and saw Sid: he was trapped by a burning log.

"Sid, be brave as a Lion! Jump!" I yelled. Sid leaped over the flaming log. I spotted an untouched table and lifted it. Making sure that the table was covering us, I charged, and we crashed out of the house. After we were out, I let the table go and heard clapping. Turning around, I saw the whole neighborhood, parents and children, applauding. Lila walked out of the crowd and said, "Sorry I let you down instead of supporting you."

"I forgive you, Lila," I replied.

"You are welcome to our club," Sid said. "Want to?" He grinned as I nodded. "Let's go!"

The next hour, a new name was added on the sign: Venus Overtons.

The club members and some parents build a better clubhouse; the old one was left behind for my memory. I smiled to the sun and thought, Maine isn't so bad after all.

Sid ran up to me and we sprinted to the clubhouse.

I gasped in surprise after I saw the clubhouse. It was much better!

Everyone apologized and I forgave them.

James offered me a cup of hot chocolate. "Want some?"

"Only if you don't burn the house down again," I replied seriously.

Everyone laughed and felt comfortable by the fire.