Happy New Years!

"1, 2, 3! EEEEEE!"

I pushed off the railing and spent myself spinning along the ice rink. "I can't control myself! HELP!"
Bethie just laughed. "Just skate!" She yelled out.
"I caaaaaaaan't!" I panicked. My skates went all around, topsy-turvy, and I fell on my butt.
"Ouch." I said flatly.
Bethie skated over smoothly. "I had a little practice with Bailey." She explained.
"Not fair!" I exclaimed, laughing.
Bethie helped me up.

The whole two families of dolls were at the ice rink. Everyone was skating in twos or threes. We had to rent out the rink just to have enough room for all of us. There was Gwen and Ruthie, Liz and Kristy, Bailey and Felicity, Samantha and Kirsten, and Kailey and Kit and Kit, Rebecca and Julia, Chrissa and Erin and Gracelynne.. I just couldn't name all the girls.
I smiled. It was heaven. :)

Three hours and two cups of hot chocolate later, we were all circled around the tiny TV, trying to watch Letters To Juliet. It wasn't very easy, with Erin and Gracelynne screaming "ITALIANO!", everytime they saw Sophie's fiance. And not to mention the click of Julia's cellphone keys, or the way Rebecca was either drooling over or criticizing the actors.

It was stiiiiiill heaven. :)

-Sonali

P.S. Another post tomorrow

Feeling Happy

"Pass the silver glass ornaments, Chris!" I called out from the top of the stepladder. Chrissa picked up the divided box of tree trimming ornaments and passed it to me. I adorned the top half of the tree.
Stepping back down the ladder, I looked around the room. Erin was sitting down on the sofa, her face hidden behind a huge glass of hot chocolate, which she was pretty much chugging down. Kirsten was lugging yet another old box of colorful balls & tree keepsakes into the room. Julia quickly sent a text to her friend. Elizabeth and Felicity were dusting off the older ornaments together. Everyone else was skipping around in a holiday-ish jaunty way, putting ornaments here and there on the tree, while half-singing along to the Glee Christmas music playing.

Everyone was smiling. Bethie and her family were going to visit for New Years. Both families of dolls had decided to spend Christmas alone in their own homes, but for New Years Eve we were gonna party it up.

I sat down on the couch next to Erin and sighed. "Whats wrong?" Erin said. "There's only 8 more sleeps until Christmas, and I still have no idea what I want."
Erin gasped. "Are you KIDDING?! I got MY Christmas list finished and sent waaay back in November! I wanted a hovercraft, a Beatles tee shirt, a personal assistant, a Glee calendar, an iPod Touch, ,a cellphone, a Canon camera.." I drifted off as Erin described her whole list to me.
I imagined Christmas morning. It would be weirder this year - We're not getting anything AG. Grace didn't put anything from AG on the top of her list, and it disappointed Felicity, as that meant she'd never get anything more from her collection. I was disappointed too, because that meant most of Grace's AG Christmas rituals would be forgotten this year, just like how she puts out her dolls Christmas night on the sofa facing the Christmas tree, or how she gets a little tree ( a real one ) for us every year, but not this year..

But after Christmas everything was going to be.. okay. Our tenth doll would be coming. Kanani. She's gorgeous. I'm doubting that she'll be a nice doll, though - she doesn't really look like it. Everyone else in the family is drooling over her.

-Sonali

Happy Birthday to me?

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes as I trudged downstairs for another routinely school day. I was stepping into the kitchen room as the lights flicked on. As soon as I scowled at the sudden brightness, everyone jumped out and screamed- "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SONNY!!!"

Oh, gosh. I'd forgotten my own birthday. I brushed my fingers through my hair and let go of a sigh. It was the 13th of December.

Erin ran up and gave me a death-clenching hug. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS!!!!" She cried. "YOU'RE FINALLY A TEEEENNNAAAGERRRR!" Erin winked.
I smiled weakly. "Thanks, Erin." I hugged her back with all the joy I could muster. I wasn't really in a birthday-mood.

After a dull breakfast of pancakes and smoothies, I trudged back upstairs to get dressed for the day. I knew I was disappointing my whole family with my rotten mood - but there was just nothing I could do about it. But when I got up to my room, I found that Erin had turned on my laptop and left it running. "ER-IN!" I huffed, and hurried to turn it off. But when I pressed the keyboard to turn off the screensaver, a screen flashed up. I jumped back in surprise. There on the webcam, was Bethie and Gracelynne, giggling!
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BESTESTESTESTTT FRIEND IN THE WORLDDDDD!" Bethie screamed.
Grace smiled. "YEAH, WHAT SHE SAID!" She echoed.
Was I just imagining it, or did Bethie turn to Grace and shoot her a .. look?
I shrugged it off, and paid all my attention to the two girls on the screen.
"Hey, Bethie!" I grinned. "And hey, Gracie!" I smiled.
"ITS ALSO TAYLOR SWIFT'S BIRTHDAY!" Grace screamed, getting up and running in a circle or two before sitting back down in her computer chair.
Bethie rolled her eyes and looked back at me. She grinned, ear to ear. "So hows your birthday morning going?" She asked.
"Ehhhh.." I shrugged. "My sisters are trying."
Bethie's smile turned into a frown. "TRYING?! Of course there trying. Be appreciative." She snapped.
I laughed. "Alright, Cap'in Beth!"
Bethie and Grace laughed.
"Well, we gotta go and sleep a few more hours. Its only 5 AM here!" They giggled.
I felt bad. "Awww, I woke you guys up?! I'm so sorry! You need ALL your energy for Glee club. GO TO SLEEEP!" I bellowed.
They smiled and said, "It was worth it" in unison.
Then the screen went blank and I was alone all again.


At school Peter had made me a birthday card and stuffed it in my locker. After my... "fantasy" dream about Peter the other night, I was too embarrassed to talk to him. I know, I know, he probably doesn't even know I HAD that dream, but.. what if he had magical powers like, like.. Edward Cullen?! What if he could see my thoughts -- EVEN while I sleep?! I shivered with anxiety. You could never be sure.

The whole day was pretty dull. I got serenaded by Bridget & even Annabeth, but she was with Peter, and Peter led the song.

There was no Glee Club today.

I had cupcakes for supper.


Peace..
-Sonali

Your eyes whispered, "have we met?"

Peter looked at me, his eyes gentle. "Sonny, I don't love Annabeth."

My breath caught.

"I love YOU." He went on.

My mouth gaped open. Nowaynowaynoway. PETER LOVED ME!!!!!!!!! I looked down at my feet and blushed. "I.. I love you too.." I said softly, as my cheeks turned the shade of a ripe tomato. When I looked up from my shoes, Peter was talking.
"Annabeth persuaded me that you weren't worth it. Then she kissed me, and .. I said yes. But I never felt the same way for her. To be truthful, I don't think she ever really loved me. I think she just wanted to prove to you, that.. well.. she could get a boy but you couldn't." Peter confessed.
I smiled. "Peter..", I started. "I don't care. I've really liked you all this time." I smiled slyly and played my best 'I-look-like-I-don't-care-but-I-look-cute-at-the-same-time' face. I hoped it worked. Hehe.
It definitely worked.
Peter stepped towards me. I prayed to the good lord that this wasn't a dream. He leaned in .. and he kissed me. His lips tasted like christmas chocolate and show choir songs. Is that even possible? I didn't care. I was just happy from head to toe, so happy it sent shivers down my spine. I had won, and Annabeth had -

And then I woke up.


-Sonali

Step Right Up, and Pick Your Partner

I slowly walked into Glee Club. Ms. Pike hadn't arrived yet. Everyone was sitting about the classroom, chatting. Bridget was watching Glee - A Very Merry Christmas on her iPod, Peter was showing Scott how to play the baritone, and Annabeth and her clique of girls were sitting around squealing and giggling. For once, I didn't want to be in Glee Club.

I took a seat on the farthest side of the classroom. Peter looked up from his baritone business to see me moping, twiddling with my thumbs.
"Sonnyyyyy!" He bellowed. "Why are thou sitting so lonely over there?" He called as he raced up to my chair.
I shrugged, containing my laugh. "I dunno."
Peter frowned. "Awwww, come on! Don't be so sad. Christmas is only in 15 days!" He reminded me.
I sighed. "I know, I know. Fine." I got up and walked down to the piano with him.

Ms. Pike had arrived and we all gathered around the piano. She had placed a mini Christmas tree on top of the ebony black piano top. She looked around at us and smiled. We all knew what she was about to say.

"....CHRISTMAS DUETS! Step right here, right up here, to pick your fantabulous partners name out of the hat! Right here, right here!" She cried. Everyone laughed but me. Peter pushed me forward.
"Well, looky here Sonny, come forward to pick her partner? Alright!" Ms. Pike crowed in her gamebooth voice.
I smiled. I shoved my hand into the black hat decorated with Christmas ribbon and pulled out a name. Peter, Peter, Peter, please be Peter, my mind prayed. But when I opened the folded little name on a scrawny piece of paper, it read 'Annabeth'.

"Ughh.." I accidentally said out loud.
Ms. Pike looked up from her task of letting Scott pick from the hat. "Whats wrong, Sonny?" She looked concerned.
I shook away my disappointed facial expression. "Uh, nothing.. just.. I just don't want to wait any longer for Christmas!" I urged a smile.
"That's the spirit!" Ms. Pike grinned ear-to-ear.

-Sonali

I Like Everything About Christmas- Kindof.

The clock striked 11:12. I cursed in my mind. I missed 11:11 AGAIN! I needed someone like Gracelynne to hang around and remind me of these types of things.

I gazed around the room at the hanging pine boughs and dried cranberries and pinecones sprinkled with glitter. Thinking of Gracelynne brought me to the thoughts of Christmas- and yet another Christmas without Bethie. 'Can you believe its been almost a year?' I thought.

A hole in my heart opened up as I thought about Bethie. I love that girl. I just wish I could spend a Christmas with her. Maybe just ONE SINGLE CHRISTMAS? Please god?

I huffed and walked around in circles. Everything was dark in the living room but the Christmas lights draped around the mantle and almost every bare part of the room. Everyone was in bed but me. I wasn't sleepy. My phone vibrated. It was Erin. I laughed, imagining her lying in her bed upstairs, texting under the covers.

Fr. Erin Is The Best :)

COME BACK UPSTAIRS!! i think the ghost of christmas past is coming to get me.. SAVE MEEEEE!!


'Thats exactly what Bethie would say.' I thought, again ruining my good mood.

I like everything about Christmas.

Except for being away from my bestfriend.

-Sonali

Scrapbook Pages

Sometimes Grace can be really really stupid. She has a tendency to leave our Christmas gifts out right where we can see them, because she believes "we won't see them" and that "we won't ever touch them" but she's just silly like that. Really, Grace, really? Of course we find the Christmas gifts and squeal and giggle over them.

This afternoon, we found a cupboard, a basket full of yarns, and a scrapbook lying around.

"Christmas gifts." Kit sighed, as she picked up the basketball and spun it around in her hand.
We all smiled as we found the scrapbook. Felicity turned the first page and found uncoordinated pages-full of colorful stickers, photos, and letters. 7-year-old Grace had gotten this scrapbook in the mail and immediately dedicated it to Kirsten. Kirsten's face was plastered on the front. There were photos of Kirsten on the plane, photos of Kirsten in 2006, and photos of Kirsten in the playtent with Grace. We all sniffled as the beloved moments between Kirsten and Grace touched our hearts.

"This is all a load of cheesy crap." Felicity hmmmphed, but no one believed what she said. We all knew Felicity was just jealous of Kirsten.

I was tempted to write a note to Grace on the last page of the scrapbook - telling her that we mean more to her than her friends. She just doesn't know it yet.

-Sonali

Grace's Post

I guess in the end, I realized I am NOT different than every other child or teen - I am concerned about looks, appearance, and popularity, more than any other thing in my life that actually makes me happy.
I thought maybe I'd hold on to dolls much longer than this, until I was 60, until I was in my grave, even.

Yup, its me, Grace. Not Sonali, this time..

I need you guys.

I don't like saying this, or typing this, or even THINKING this, but maybe its time to wrap up the dolls for a while?
.. There, I said -- I mean, I typed it. There. THERE!
I admitted it.
I'm really, not sure about my dolls.
I guess I'm not losing interest in them.
I think I'm just scared.
Really.
Really.
REALLY.
Scared.

I don't want to be the odd one out, I don't want to be bullied. I don't want to be so depressed of bullying that I commit suicide.
I want to be normal.

Is this normality? Liking dolls and taking photos of them? I don't like the thought of packing up my dolls in a box, and I definitely don't want to forget them. Stuff like that scares me. These dolls have helped me grow up, I don't know what my life would have gone like without them. They were a part of my childhood, kinda like how Hannah Montana was. But she's going, too, isn't she? She's ending her show in like, 2 more episodes. I guess you think that doesn't matter, but it doesn't. It means that something good can end. ..Can't it? I mean..

Oh, guys. Help me out.

-Grace

Lena & Carmabelle have a chat

"Hey, Lena." I used my nickname for her as I peeped my head around Julia's bedroom door. "You there?"
"Hey there, Carmabelle!" Julia's reply came from behind her closet door. I entered Julia's room and crept across the floor to the closet.
I knocked on the walk-in closet door. "Hey, open up!"
Julia opened the closet door.
She stepped out in a ruffled pink mini. I smiled. Pink was her color.
She twirled around. "You like?"
I nodded.
She sighed, then sat down on her bed. "I'm having such a hard time picking out a dress for the dance."
I laughed, enlightened at the fact that Julia's only problem was which dress to wear to a Fall Fling.
Jules patted the spot on the bed next to her. I plopped down on it, flinging my arms out, and accidentally hitting Julia in the face. "HAHAHA!" Julia cracked up. I giggled.
"So, Carmen, what brings you to my humble abode?" Julia winked.
"School.." I looked down and mumbled.
"OOOHHHHH." Julia exclaimed. "Right, 7th grade. I remember it clearly now!"
I exhaled. "This isn't something to joke about, Julia. I'm failing and I can't even watch Glee tonight - Kirsten banned it, remember?"
Julia patted my back. "I don't think failing is all you're thinking about."
I side-ways glanced at her. "Well, maybe I do think about guys and friends a liiiiitttle biiiiit..." I backtracked.
Julia snorted. "Riiight."
"I think about Peter. A lot." I confessed.
My wise older sister stopped and thought for a moment.
"But isn't he going out with Annabeth?" She joked, poking fun with me.
I fidgeted. "Um.. he kind-of is. Thats why I came to talk to you."
Julia gaped.
"Spill, girl. Tell me everything." She cried.

-Sonali

Smack

Kirsten smacked the test down on the kitchen table with a fierce slap.
"You FAILED your math test?!" Kirsten yelled.
I cringed. "Um.."
Kirsten went to get my backpack out of the coatroom. I sat there in a chair by the kitchen table, fearing the worst. My sisters were slowly trickling downstairs to see what all the commotion was about.
Kirsten marched back in. She poured out the contents of my schoolbag onto the table. A pit of fear balled up in my stomach as I realized that all of the items in my bag were useless - Glee music sheets, my cellphone, a 10 dollar bill, and one little dictionary.
Kirsten's eyes flared.
"What is this?" Kirsten dug into one of my bag's side pockets and took out a note.
Darn, I thought, as I recognized the note to be the note that Bridget & I were passing between ourselves in Spanish class.
"Well, well, well, Sonali Beth Lynne." Kirsten said - I cringed because I knew she NEVER ever used my full name. "You failed your math test, you got a 54% on your spanish and you just edged by your social studies test with a 60%. Am I proud? No." Kirsten spat in my face.
I sat there, expressionless.
That annoyed Kirsten.
"All right, young lady, if you have nothing to say, I'm taking away all Glee and music privileges. No iPod, iTunes, Glee Club, and no, you are not going to be watching the new Glee episode on Tuesday with the rest of your sisters. Now go to your room!"
That was it. My expressionless face morphed into the ugliest, most raging face I could ever muster.
"Fine, Kirsten. If thats the way you want it. Fine."
I stomped upstairs and slammed my door.

-Sonali

too much depression

too much depression
not enough energy
to even type proper sentences
or capitals.

-sonali

oct. 29th...

Happy Halloween!

For shoppers of procrastination, our costume shopping is always done the day before Halloween. And thats the way I like it.
"Oooh! Oooh! You could go as a fairy, Sonny!" Erin galloped down one of the foot-dirtied aisles and pulled a costume from the squeaky rack. It had a pink and green bodice with outrageous orange wings and a tiara with mouse ears.
"Um, no." I said and kept walking.
Erin came back and caught up with me. With Erin on my left and Kirsten on my right, we continued to do our Halloween shopping.
5 costumes later, Kirsten cried, "Oh mon dieu Sonali, you must wear this!" Kirsten held up her find -- a nerd costume.
I sighed. I was tired, hungry, and I needed to find SOME sort of costume. I nodded my head wearily. I didn't care anymore.
"Yay!" Kirsten overjoyed. She ran to the Wal-Mart cashiers and paid up for it immediately. I had no idea that oversized nerd costumes ever had such a connection with Kirsten. ;)

As we were leaving the glass doors of the big department store, a fair girl with blond curls and hazel-grey eyes walked in. She had Peter on her arm. I gasped.
"C'mon Kirsten - lets go." I choked, and ran.
Kirsten and Erin raced after me through the maze of cars in the parking lot, swerving after car after car after car. I kept running until we were at the bus stop, and there I slid down to the ground and did a double-take. I choked out a few tears.
Erin finally made it to the bus stop and stopped to pant & catch her breath. Kirsten came walking behind her, with a fierce determined look upon her face.
"Sonali Beth Lynne Matthews!" She demanded. "Did I just see you run away from Annabeth and the charming man upon her shoulder?"
I hesitated for a moment, then nodded meekly.
"The shame!" Kirsten cried. "Annabeth is just the sweetest thing!"
I gulped. A moments silence commenced.

Finally, I sighed, "Yes, I guess she is. I'm sorry. Lets go."


-Sonali

All You Are Is Mean

And a liar, and pathetic..



Annabeth shoved my books to the ground. I scrambled to pick them up. She sneered. Peter came around the corner of the hall and said, "Hey, Sonali!".

Annabeth's sneer turned suddenly into a smile, as she hopped at Peter and grabbed his arm.
"Sonali dropped her books. She can catch up with us later." Annabeth grinned at Peter. Peter looked warily at me, and then cautiously left with the over-eager Annabeth. I grimaced. This happened every day. As if Annabeth hadn't booked me - as if Annabeth were nice. HAHAHAHA. If Annabeth were nice, I must be pretty..

My Facebook inbox is backed up with cyberbullying messages from Annabeth. Whenever I see that I've gotten a text from the contact Annabeth Snow, I grimace. She made school a hell for me. I have no idea what to do.

-Sonali

A Year Without Rain..

I stood there in front of the school's washroom mirrors and twirled one of my lazy curls around my finger. I sighed, wishing I were back in Ohio.

A fair-haired caramel beauty walked into the washroom slowly - I could see her enter through my view of the mirror. It was Bridget. "Hey!" I spun around. "Bridget, whats up?"

Bridget looked at me for a second, then slowly came towards myself and latched herself onto me with a hug. "Whaa -" I started. Suddenly heaving sobs started coming from Bridget. Her head was on my shoulder. I rubbed her shoulder awkwardly, guessing this was what the good sort of friends did when their friends were in distress in the movies.

"What could be wrong?!" I said gently, as Bridget cried. She lifted her head, her cheeks and eyes red.
"Annabeth said Camden was going to break up with me!" Bridget moaned, then turned to the sinks to splash her face with water depressed-ly.
My mouth made an O-shape. Camden was Bridget's boyfriend of 3 months. Bridget simply adored him - she was so sweet, could he possibly break her heart?

My eyes blurred as I gathered my hate for Annabeth. How dare she tell Bridget this?


It all makes me wonder - is love just an illusion? They say love is like magic, but magic's all just a trick, y'know.



-Sonali

Back at school, drowned in homework I didn't do in NYC, I had to act as if nothing of the past weekend had happened.

My English teacher greeted me back with a book assignment due in 3 days and 4 sheets to study for an incompetent literary quiz. The Science idiot who they dare to call a teacher lectured me on how I did not "bring a note" for my absence on Friday. My Spanish teacher was nice on me and let me go with just one piece of paperwork that I missed - but lets just say I spent 5 hours last night working on school, and I'm not even halfway through the non-ending pile of page after page of work.

When I started school, someone should have warned me it would be more work than homeschool. Y'know, Elizabeth, you're my sister, and I wouldn't have minded if you had told me beforehand to buy notebooks and pencils, because then maybe I could have avoided the insanely crazy speech Mr. Engram gave me that made him look like a rabid rabbit..


Anywho.


Erin has let me retreat from herself & Chrissa's room of artistry and love - though Erin and I are back on our own almost-best-friends terms as before, I was happy to leave them alone to endure their friendship. Kirsten invited me to stay with her in her room. I gladly accepted, as Kirsten's room was always a room of peace and serenity, and somehow she always had a fire crackling in the tini mini-fridge size woodstove, and always had a patchwork blanket to cover me.
Kirsten & I can sit for hours and talk about all sorts of odd subjects. Being homesick, buying patterns for outfits, the way to carve our pumpkins this year, even discussing plans for the Laura Ingalls Wilder custom doll. After chatting together for a while, Kirsten will probably remember about her roast pork she stuck in the oven an hour before, then cry, "Ah herregud!" in her Swedish accent and run off.


Oh my, I should go. I totally forgot I have an English assignment due in three days...
-Sonali


P.S. "Ah herregud!" means "oh my goodness!" in Swedish. I kindly and POLITELY asked Kirsten, just to inform you guys. Peace out!

Longest post known to man.

We all sat there, backstage.
All was silent but the muted sound of the amazing Faithful Forte performing on stage, less than 15 feet away from where we sat frigidly on creamy couches.

Faithful Forte was amazing.
I shuddered loudly and greatly as Bethie's piercing voice chilled the whole audience. I couldn't stand it. I just couldn't.
Bridget's warm hand rubbed my shoulder. "Is anything wrong, Sonny? I know you'll do amazing. You always do."
I smiled. Bridget made me happy.
But just not like Bethie had made me happy, every single day we were together, every single time I heard her cheerful voice type me to words in an email.

Suddenly, everything was happening too fast. Both other Glee Clubs had performed, and I was being pushed onstage by the helping hands of my clubmates. I couldn't believe this was happening. Was I about to do this? Really? REALLY?

Ms. Pike came over and shook my shoulder. "Sonali Beth," She said sullenly. "I know you're not in the best position right now, but I believe in you. You will do amazing. You need to help out your Glee Club. Not only do I believe in you, so do they."
I looked around at the anxious bunch. We were all standing behind the red curtain, waiting for Faithful Forte to file offstage to their outstanding applause. I saw Peter grinning at me. He winked, just like the first time I sang for the Glee Club in Annabeth's living room. Then I saw Annabeth. She gave a cold little smile. I appreciated it, as miserable as I felt. Then I saw Bridget, and she gave me a goofy little wave. I smiled. I was ready.

The curtain rose. Showtime.


My mind was screaming at me. It shrieked, JUMP! SING! TWIRL! RUN! CENTER STAGE! But then it all quieted down. It became second nature. I remembered all the times I had sung into my hairbrush. It all came naturally.
We all gathered into our semicircle. The Fame played, Annabeth stunned us all. As I twirled in Peter's arms for a half-beat, I caught a slanted blur of Elizabeth and her sisters sitting in the audience. All of them. It was just like when Bella saw Edward's family for the first time in a year, in the book Twilight. I was so relieved to see my second family - it was just like chocolate ice cream with a cherry on top.

Somehow, The Fame turned into a different song. We were starting another number. MY number. MY solo.
I panicked.
Suddenly no one was on the stage but me.
Suddenly, the song I was singing was all that meant to me.

"I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly, I'll do what it takes, till I touch the sky."
Images of Bethie, flashes of Peter and the glee club, memories of Annabeth's bullying, remembering my days at the factory, it all went past my brain in a blur. This song meant me. It was me. I had to sing it right.
At the end, the Glee Club appeared on stage and I gave a little bow. The crowd went wild.
Our final song, from the original musical Fame! started to play.


We were almost about to launch into it with our whole full voices when --

"WAIT!" Two young girls yelled in unison from the audience. The music faded out and stopped. The girls ran up to the stage. The Glee Club's mouths dropped. What was happening?

"SONALI!" A red haired girl cried. She pushed her way through the sea of knees and faces to get up the stage stairs and ran into my arms.
A girl with stormy grey eyes and brown curls ran after her.
"Whats happening!? I'm in the middle of Sectionals!" I whispered furiously at Erin. Bethie sat in the audience, and was looking intently upon what was happening.

"I have to tell you something! NOW!!!!" Erin whispered louder.
I hushed her.
Ruthie stepped in. "We do have something to tell you, Sonali. Listen to us, please."
This was not MY sister Ruthie. This was Bethie's sister Ruthie. What did she have to do with this?

I stepped back as Erin and Ruthie turned and faced the audience.

"People, people..." Erin hushed the excited audience. "We have something to say."

"Elizabeth Clara Cole, please step out of the audience and come onstage." Ruthie called out.
I was stunned. Erin brought me forward.
"Bethie, please stand beside Sonali Beth." Ruthie said formally.
We looked at each other. We couldn't understand.

"Ruthie and I have made a mistake." Erin started. "We have pulled these two apart. Elizabeth and Sonali have been best friends since forever started. We were both brutally jealous and tried to tear apart two BFFs that are like peanut butter and jelly. Ruthie, is not Elizabeth's best friend, Sonali. And Elizabeth, Annabeth is not Sonali's best friend. Make sense?"
Ruthie stood by and nodded at Erin's words.

Bethie turned to me.
"Sonny? Will you reply to my emails now?" She said weakly.
I burst out laughing.
"Yes, Bethie!" I cried.
We hugged. The audience "awww"ed.


"Bethie?" I whispered into her ear.
"Yes, best friend?" Bethie laugh-sobbed back.
"Lets sing together." I said.
Bethie nodded, understanding.


I started off.
"Remember, remember remember.."
Bethie came in with the background vocals.
"Oh, oh...... ohhh, oh..... oh, oh....."

We motioned for our Glee clubs and the Louisiana Glee Club to join in.
It was peaceful.
I had my best friend back.




Happy thanksgiving.
-Sonali

Not The Best Thanksgiving

The Glee Club had arrived at the hotel. It was absolutely mortifying, how perfect and queen-like the hotel rooms were. It made me feel like I'm more special than I really am.. I hated that feeling.

Bridget poked and jostled with me, getting me to do mini-facials with bought packets of facemasks in our hotel bathroom, trying on sandals in a store across the street for our Sectionals costumes.. I was almost sick of it. But I kept reminding myself, "I have to do this"... for Bethie. For Bridget. For my sisters. For myself. For Annabeth.

Annabeth had taken the bed next to Bridget & I's (two people to a bed.. I know, ick). All you could hear as you could fall asleep at night was Annabeth's click-clack texting and her giggles as she read a funny reply.

Bridget jumped on me and smiled. "SONNY!" She yelled.
I fell to the floor. "What is it, Bridget?" I said as sweetly as I possibly could muster.
"We're going down to the stadium to practice!!" She said, like it was the best thing in the world.
I felt relieved. Anything to get me away from here. "Yesss! Okay!" I smiled.

A half hour later we were there, standing round, holding hands. Every girl wore a spaghetti-strap silver and gold dress, every boy wore black pants & blouse with a silver tie.
Everything was silent.
The spotlight cued on the center of our circle, in the middle of the stage.

With a BOOM the music started..
Everyone stepped into position. It was step after step of dancing, as the beginning of the song was entirely instrumental. All of a sudden the dancing stopped and Annabeth sang the first words..

"I can't help myself, I'm addicted to a life of material", Annabeth sang -


"EXCUSE ME! Excuse ME!" A blond haired girl rang into the auditorium. We all turned around and stopped singing.
"I thought this was our rehearsal time!" The girl sang out to us.

I gulped.
The girl was Bethie.


-Sonali

Oops, did I forget to mention...

Sectionals are this weekend..?
Sorry if I forgot to mention that to you all..

I'm an endless ball of nerves. Annabeth's at her worst, I saw Peter practicing with her the other day - not to forget the awful smirk she gave me when she turned around and saw me watching.


Our song selections are provided, we have our costumes, transportation, and all the spotlights are put in place. We're flying to New York tonight, and tomorrow afternoon we shall.. perform. Maybe win? I have no idea.

The competitors are a club from Ohio, and some club from.. what was it? Louisiana? Oh well. I keep thinking of Bethie, I keep imagining her being there for me, right in the front row. It doesn't help that one of the competing Glee Clubs is from OHIO.. gosh.


I thought and thought as I packed shirt after pair of pants after hat mindlessly into the purple travel suitcase. I shook my brain a little bit and snapped out of it. Looking down at my suitcase' contents, I realized I had packed my old shirt from when I was young, with Bitty Bear on it. Oops, I thought, quickly taking the shirt from the suitcase. I stopped stock still while trying to stuff it in a box underneath my bed. The toiled and teared sleeve corner of the T-shirt had a little doodle of permanent marker. "Beth + Sunali" it said, written clumsily with a shaky heart circled around the words. I rubbed away a tear as I remembered how Beth and I had no idea how to spell either of our names when we were younger.

I stuffed the T-shirt even further than intended underneath my bed, then kept packing.


-Sonali

Laura Ingalls Comes To Town

Grace sat cross legged in front of our doll beds & desk. She placed Kirsten in her lap and started toying with the strands of Kirsten's hair. We all sat frozen, lifeless, as we always do. But none of us frozen dolls could mistake the way Kirsten's face looked. It was frowning. Grace noticed it too. She did not freak out.

Grace sighed, and laid Kirsten beside her. She started talking, as if to herself.

"Oh Kirsten.." She said. Our frozen ears snapped alert.
"I really think you should have a friend who can relate to you." She kept on. I could just see the gears in Kirsten's brain churning, her little dolly heart pounding faster than usual. "So as of right now, I am in full intentions of creating a customized Laura Ingalls Wilder doll, just for you."

Grace sat there for a spell. Then she got up and left the room.

We were all shocked, but we managed to come out of dolly mode in just a few miliseconds.

"Laura Ingalls Wilder?!" Kit cried as she hopped off Kirsten's bed. "Her books are to die for! Just amazing!"
Kirsten sat up and gazed around in delight.

Turns out, Grace had chosen to re-read one of her Laura Ingalls Wilder books for her English assignment, and it enchanted her so much (again) that she decided a customization just had to be done. She will have sparkling blue eyes and brown or dark brown straight or slightly wavy hair, possibly freckles --- and we don't know whether she will have sun-tanned skin from rough work outdoors or pale skin because she is not a person of colour.
We will have her a lunch pail from the authentic stories of her coming to class, and Grace will draw and write mini versions of Laura's stories in doll size. We will try to create her some calico and muslim dresses, and little lace collars. So many more items from the stories would be fun to make.

Which doll do you think would be a good Laura Ingalls?
Comment below!

Yours truly,
Sonny

First They Came

Felicity sat in the corner of the room, on the hardwood floor. A crumpled tissue was held tight in her clenched fist as she turned the page of the catalog on her lap.

I sat on an easy armchair on the opposite side of the room. I watched as slow tears trickled, one by one, down Felicity's face. I couldn't do anything about it.

Elizabeth appeared at the open doorframe. She stopped before entering the living room, took one long glance at Felicity, and then sat down next to Lissie in the corner. Elizabeth took the tissue out of Felicity's hand. Felicity looked up, her mouth gaping innocently and her cheeks puffy.
Elizabeth leaned in to Felicity.

"First they came for the Jews,
and I did not speak out
for I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Unionists,
and I did not speak out
for I was not a Unionist.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak for me."
Elizabeth whispered the stanzas of a poem I knew. Our English teacher had been speaking to us about it the other day. I had no clue why Elizabeth had whispered this particular poem to the gloomy Felicity, but Felicity seemed to understand - she was deep into a hug with Elizabeth at the moment.

Elizabeth and Felicity got up slowly and silently and walked out of the room, Elizabeth supporting Felicity with her arm around her neck. I sat there and thought for a few minutes, and suddenly I understood.

First they came for Samantha,
and I did not speak
for I was not a Samantha.

Then they came for Kirsten,
and I did not speak
for I was not a Kirsten.

And then they came for me,
and there was no one left
to speak for me.

-Sonali

Walking With Bridget

Walking to school with Bridget was fun. At least, it was as much fun as my mind allowed me to have. Of course it wasn't nice to see all the upturned trees and the damaged houses from the hurricane - but besides that I loved to see the leaves falling to the ground, and the smell of autumn in the air.

But, wait, I totally forgot why I HATE Autumn.
Aha, just kidding.
How could I forget why I *HATE* autumn?!
Well, you all know already.
You know very well. I hope..

"Is something bothering you?" Bridget poked me in the rib.
I laughed half heartedly. "Nope! .. Everythings fine!" I lied with fake enthusiasm.
"Okay!" Bridget brightened, and she took my hand and we skipped like little schoolgirls to the brick building of the junior high, laughing the whole way.
But every laugh had a little nagging voice inside of me - each laugh made the voice louder and louder. "Don't abandon Bethie!" the voice screamed inside of me. "Imagine everything she's done for you!" It told me. My skips faltered as I listened to the voices inside of my head. "No!" I told the voices. "Bethie is gone.. she.. she.. she's forgotten about me."

"Uh, Sonny?" Bridget had to stop and poke me again. "You're talking to yourself." She reminded me.
"Oh, right.." I said, giving an apologetic smile. "Its a bad habit of mine - sorry."

-Sonali

Hurricane

The trees banged against the window. The moans of the wind grew louder.

Chrissa shivered under her blanket. She was curled up against the corner of Julia's bed. "Its so scary, Erin." She whispered. I watched as Erin sat up against Chrissa and looked out the window. "Its all okay, Chrissa. This storm's a baby one. We can handle it."
Chrissa smiled hopefully and faced the window. "Yeah.. yeah, we can handle it."
Erin grinned.


I was sitting at the low japanese eating table with Felicity and Elizabeth. Chrissa, Erin and Ruthie were snuggled on top of the bed. Kirsten had gone to get some more blankets. Kit was cheerfully making hot cocoa for us all - the storm didn't bother her one bit, as long as she got her large share of hot chocolate. Julia had gone to sleep on the big shelf on the bookcase, for her fear of hurricanes and storms was too great for her to bear.

Yes, we were in the middle of a hurricane. Yes, it was scary.
My only comfort was knowing that somewhere in the world, someone was enjoying a nice walk on a sunny day or tanning with an iced lemonade.. ahh, that would be nice.

I can't even go outside for AGMA photos - Grace swears I will be swept out of her hands - and no, she wasn't kidding.

In The Middle - Bio #2 - Felicity Anne Merriman

Full name: Felicity Anne Merriman
Birthdate: December 25th
Born in: A small rural town in Louisiana
Date Grace recieved her: Decembeth 25th, 2006

-------------------------------------------

The house was quiet except for the sound of Felicity's adoptive father doing his lawyering business upstairs on the laptop. Felicity's pen scratched across the paper. Homeschooling was boring. But as soon as she was done she got to go outside and play. Felicity suddenly wrote faster. One thing Felicity loved was to be outside. Nature was fun. Felicity wasn't the green thumb must-garden-all-the-time type -- she just hated being stuck inside. Unlike her fraternal twin Elizabeth, Felicity didn't enjoy sitting on the couch googling audition times and listening to the next hit songs. Felicity.. well.. she preferred being outside where she could hear the sounds of things that were NOT made by mankind - the river, the birds, or the crackle of leaves on the ground. Being perched on one of the highest branches of her favorite apple tree was the way she liked to spend the rest of her afternoon.

5"1 feet high, with dirty auburn hair and un-naturally green eyes, Felicity Merriman was a very proud person. Not too many insecurities except for the rare envy or two. Felicity was a star student, excelling in math and English. Felicity loved a good book. Her favorite was Little Women. She tried to model herself after the main character, Jo.

One thing Felicity didn't love was her parents. Her parents were dull, boring, and didn't like any fun. The reason Felicity resided herself to the outdoors all the time at first was because she didn't have a single thing to do - nowadays it was just a habit out of instinct.

At the age of 10 Felicity noticed Elizabeth wasn't her normal self. Liz didn't hold her head up as high, and didn't offer to help clean up after supper. She just went straight to the bunk room she shared with Felicity. Felicity knew something was coming.

Later that month they made the "escape". The dull parents had packed up and left - Elizabeth had had an outrage earlier that night and they couldn't seem to handle it anymore. Felicity Merriman & Elizabeth Cole hitchhiked, walked, and took trains until they made it to the nearest AGP. After a lot of time, they finally found themselves in a home.

Now Felicity has every tree in the world to climb upon. Elizabeth can learn her voice, act and dance skills as much as she wishes, to her hearts content.


(Sorry, I apologize, this was one of the less good posts - but either way, woot! 101 posts! If only Bethie were here to enjoy it... -.-)

NEXT BIO: KIT KITTREDGE

Trying To Make It - Bio #1 - Elizabeth Lee Cole

Full name: Elizabeth Lee Cole
Birthdate: December 25th
Born in: A small rural town in Louisiana
Date Grace Received Her: December 25th, 2006

-------------------------------------------------

"Try that note again please, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth fidgeted where she stood. Her voice teacher played the note for her again. She nailed it. Again.

"Very well, Elizabeth Lee." Her voice teacher said.

Elizabeth sighed. Trying to make it into the business from this small heck of a town in Louisiana was no easy task. Nobody was realizing she had talent! It was so unfair. Nobody in that town had an ear for music.
Elizabeth had moved to Louisiana from Williamsburg with her fraternal twin sister Felicity, when she had been 3. Everyone marveled at the two sisters and how they were nothing alike. Felicity spent 80% of her day outdoors, and had stunning green eyes with auburn hair that shined like a firetruck when it hit the sunlight. As for Elizabeth, she spent 80% of her day singing, dancing, or acting. She had blond Barbie hair that reached just above her butt, with eyes blue like the sky. God knows how they had turned out to be twins.

Every day at school, Elizabeth got jostled in the halls and as soon as she turned away from her locker with her books for the next class, a 9th grader would pass by and shove the books out of her hands, sending the papers and pens flying. Nobody understood Elizabeth's love for fame. Everyone in Elizabeth's school wore the same school jacket or the same faded jeans or the same Aeropostale polo - meanwhile she expressed herself out loud with celebrity perfumes, vintage denim skirts, and Hollister tee's that she ordered specially off the internet, paired with tall dark chocolate boots. Elizabeth was always leaving school to go to auditions - the other students never appreciated it. They thought she was the weird musical one. Always.

Felicity had always stayed at the house every day to be homeschooled, so Liz never had her tough & tougher sister at her side when the bullies were at their worst.

By age 10 Elizabeth had almost had enough. Her vocal world was crumbling, her grades were falling, and meanwhile, her sisters homeschooling skills were exceeding standards. So when Liz's caretakers got fed up and then left with most of the girl's belongings, Elizabeth made her escape. She grabbed her most precious things, took her sister's hand, and together they walked to the nearest bus station, and later found themselves on a train to the American Girl factory.

It took a little bit of time, but finally Elizabeth and Felicity were paired up on the list to go to a home.

On a Christmas Day in 2006, an overjoyed brown-haired girl found herself surprised to not only open ONE thin and long AG box, but TWO.

-Sonali

Grace says..

Sonali got a comment question in her previous blog that she has not enough brain-juice to answer - so I shall answer it for her. ;)

Claire asked to read about how Grace (myself) got all of her American Girl Dolls.

I wanted to know if you were saying you wanted to know the stories I made up about each one of my dolls & what their lives were like before I got them, OR if you wanted to know what time of the year I got them, who got them for me, what year, what order, etc.

I could do both, if you wish!
I started doing personal mini-bios on each doll at the beginning of the year, well, actually Sonali did, but I bet she'd continue them for you if you wish.

Love,
Sonali's Secretary :D

Hey guys. This is going to make me sound like the worst person ever.

But I'd appreciate a little bit more of feedback on this blog.
Grace, Erin & I all help out together for this. We try our very hardest to think up interesting topics for you guys, take time to take photos once in a while, and right now Grace is REALLY trying to find time to help me make the blogs. Do you realize how busy we are right now?

This sounds bratty to you, but just imagine it you. Maybe you have a YouTube. Nobody comments on your videos. Nobody comments on your channel. Nobody recognizes you as a talented person. It stinks! What we feel right now is just like a waste. We have lots of fun on our blogs, and would never quit just because of this, but we'd like to have some comments as we continue!

Please?
-Sonali

Not In The Mood

"Hey, Sonali. Why so quiet Sonali? Huh, huh?" Kit poked me relentlessly as I sat on the couch, unmoving.
"Go away, Kit." I said, my voice steely and cold.
"Why so quiet, Sonny Seas?" Kit prodded.
I bet she didn't even realize what she was doing.
"I said, GO AWAY!" I finally turned and blasted her in the face with my scream.
She shrunk back and silently hopped off the couch. I felt bad immediately.

Kirsten looked up at me from her needlepoint across the room and gave me a sad, sympathetic look. I knew that look. I'd seen it given to me many times, over and over, from everyone.
It was a I'm-sorry-you-have-depression-problems look. I hated it.

My phone vibrated.
It was from Annabeth.
"We're having a Glee Club meeting at 5 - don't come, for my sake. -Annabeth" It said.

I looked at the phone for 10 seconds, my eyes blank.
Then I set it down on the sidetable.
Stood up.
And left.

-Sonali

Back To School, Buddies

Apparently March comes in like a lion, and out like a lamb.. but what about, say, September? What does September come in like?
I say, September comes in like the first firework on New Year's Eve. You're waiting there, in the bone-chilling cold, for the dang fireworks, and the minutes tick by and the sky stays clear. You go buy a hot dog from one of the few vendors that even try to make sales on this pre-holiday night. You come back and watch the sky a little more. Still no fireworks. You finally decide it must not be going ahead, and turn around to head home, and then ... BOOM! The first firework comes in like a brainwhack and you're totally shocked.

Yup, that's September for ya...

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

"Welcome, students, to another year of learning and academics!" Ms. Appal gestured her arm to the rest of the room, as if welcoming us.
I jiggled my leg. I was impatient.
Spanish class had just started and I was dying for it to end already. Spanish was my last period of the day and I just had to get to Glee Club. I was just dying, I tell you.

I was prodded in the small of my back by the back of a pencil. I slowly turned around to make my actions un-noticeable by Ms. Appal, to find Bridget staring at me with a challenging, & playful look on her face.

"Wanna walk with me to Glee after this class?" She whispered.
"Uh.. you bet!" I said, then gave a smile, to show I was willing. She grinned back, a sparkling white grin that left me feeling sorry for my own teeth.

The bell finally rang, and I put away my papers and my Spanish textbook (lets just say it was the size of a bible) into my navy Aeropostale messenger bag. I turned to the desk behind me, but Bridget was already at the door.
"Lets go!" She said, urgently.
I followed her out and we walk-ran down the halls, trying to avoid trouble but trying to get to Glee on time.

We walked into the classroom just as everyone was sitting down.
I breathed a sigh of relief and sat in a plastic desk chair next to a girl in jeans and UGGs (and a Hollister hoodie) with her head stuck in the last Percy Jackson book, and Bridget.

Suddenly the room of teens went quiet as Ms. Pike's click-clack footsteps neared the classroom.
"Good afternoon, class!"
"Good afternoon, Ms. Pike." We said back.
"This is the first day of school, and the start to a great year." She smiled. "But our start was a bit late this year, so we will get down to work immediately!"

Everyone groaned. Ms. Pike laughed, because we all knew we didn't really hate Glee Club work. We were all just as excited as her to do it all.

"Alright.." Ms. Pike went through her clipboard sheets. "Our theme for Sectionals is Fame."

Everyone hooted. I looked at Bridget and we shared an excited look. Fame?! Cool!

"The selection will include three songs. A group number, a very heart-warming solo, and a duet." The hooting got louder. "And no, its not a romantic duet."

Annabeth, as I realized her in the room for the first time, looked disappointed when Ms. Pike said that. The bad Sonali inside my head snickered. Who was she wishing to do a romantic duet with? I wondered.

I searched the room, and then found Annabeth's eyes resting on Peter. Peter smiled at her.

I swallowed my own spit, then looked up to see Ms. Pike looking at me.

"Will you do it then, Sonali?" She said.
"What..?" I said.
"I asked you a question." She said sourly.
"Uh, then I guess my answer is yes?" I felt bad for not listening.

Ms. Pike's sour smile instantly turned into a rainbow grin. "YES! Okay! Alright Sonali, you'll be doing the solo!"

-Sonali

Thanks AG, for making our wish list a little bit longer.

New items on AG!
Wow!
Cool!
Shiny!
Amazing!


.. Not.
First of all, what IS this little furry snow outfit?! It looks like its made up of cotton balls! Baby blue and white cotton balls! Gross! No 8 year old in their right mind would wear that!
And the 'Snowflake Ball Gown'? Looks like a fairy. 'Nuff said.

But the Ruby & Ribbon Dress is quite decent. Kinda snazzy, actually. Another item to add to the wishlist. (Maybe a Christmas gift for us, Grace? Please?)

The Torturous Wishlist-
Ruby & Ribbon Dress
Pretty & Plaid Outfit
Pet Show Outfit


Grace didn't even want to buy anything more from AG until Felicity and Elizabeth were officially retired.
Thanks, AG. Thanks, thanks a lot.


I wonder what Bethie thinks of her retirement?

-Sonali

P.S. Is it too early to be thinking about Christmas?

The Rather Sour Idea Of Shopping

"Oooh, SONNY, you just HAVE to try on THIS pair!" Ruthie picked up yet another pair of jeans and threw it to me, just for it to land splat on my face. Without noticing, Ruthie chattered on: "And this shirt!" She threw it at me without turning around. It fell onto my outstretched arm.

I sighed slowly as I carefully picked the pair of jeans off of my head and the shirt off of my arm. The jeans were faded to a level of extreme, and the pockets were made to look hand stitched. They reminded me of Taylor Swift. With Gracelynne in mind, I walked to the change rooms and tried them on.

As I slipped my legs into the pants of the jeans, I imagined Gracelynne opening her mouth in shock "oh-mi-gosh" as she saw the jeans, then running and ripping them out of the hands of whoever was holding them, and making a mad dash for the changerooms, pushing aside anybody who was waiting.

I realized that I was standing there in the change room, frozen. I suddenly moved into action and pushed aside the change room door so I could show Ruthie the jeans.

She was going headfirst into a pile of shirts. I had to grab her hand and pull her away from the table of half-off clothing items.
She turned around, and realized it was me, and said, "Oh! Son-ALI! It looks AMAZING on you! You have to wear it on the first day of school."

I nodded. The jeans were very artsy, and made me give off a vibe that I knew it all. I liked them.

Ruthie went into the changeroom I had previously been using with a pile of pleated skirts and shirts.
She came out in an Aeropostale New York tee, with a flower splash design, and a plaid rocker chick skirt. I was envious of her curvy frame, with her brown curls that had the red strands that glinted in the sunlight. Her dark green high tops gave it a private-school edge.

Ruthie was a fashionista.
I was... Sonali.


I looked down at my new faded jeans, Avril Lavigne band tee, and Nikes. I doubted myself.


-Sonali

Quaint

I was originally going to continue my slightly stalker-ish investigation of Pleasant Rowland today, but I was interrupted by a certain 12" doll as I typed away like a maniac about how AG should eat a pie.

"Whatcha doin?" Meg sat on the desk. Her question sounded like, say, the Annoying Orange, or, more so, that little annoying girl who always has her Brownie troops surrounding her in the wink of an eye from Phineas and Ferb.

"I'm writing something, Meg. Go away, please." I sighed impatiently.
"What are you writing about?" She sounded genuinely interested for a second, but then covered her interest with an indignant snort.
"Nothing, Meg. Now GO." I spun around in my chair and pointed to the door.
"No. I want to know." Meg looked me in the eye.
"Not gonna happen." I slammed the laptop shut and walked out of the room.

Meg followed me.
"Have you seen my room yet? Huh? Huh?" Meg poked annoyance at me as we walked down the stairs.
"No." I lied. In truth, I had been stealing peeks at it all week. It was a work in progress. Grace had taken this huge styrofoam box, and filled it with quaint little Pullip-sized furniture and items. There was this quaint little dresser with a mirror, and this quaint little portrait of Meg and her best friend Celsiy, and this quaint little chair with a huge pink and purple butterfly on it, and a quaint hooked rug the size of Meg with lots of little squares of different shades of pink. And there was quaint little yellow walls and a quaint little tea set with its quaint little teapot and quaint little cups and quaint little plates.

And there were even little erasers made to be food, in the shapes of rice with chopsticks, ice cream cones, pieces of cake, chinese food take-out boxes, and even soy sauce. It was sickening.

Meg giggled. "Want to see it?"
"NO." I walked faster, forcing Meg's littler legs to fail to catch up.
I speeded away out the door, out to the backyard.


It was all so.. quaint.

-Sonali

Comments

I got a couple blog comments on my past post that really, really made me think.


Shortly after, I made a trip to the Google webpage. I found myself furiously typing the name Pleasant Rowland into the searchbox.

Before I knew it, I was reading all about Ms. Pleasant.
Turns out, she's totally forgotten all about American Girl, her very own company. Gosh darnit, I bet she doesn't even have a subscription to the catalogs (I knew it..). Pleasant founded AG in 1986. Woah, thats a long time ago. Its almost been 25 years. Next year is the anniversary, for pete's sake. Pleasant made the company in inspiration of the fact that there were no middle-aged dolls around. I'm very glad SOMEONE realized. Barbies and baby dolls are just too.. ick. (But I guess I shouldn't hate on barbies, since Mattel, our 'master', owns the barbie company too?)


Since then, Pleasant has sold the company to Mattel for $770 million, purchased a different company, and made a foundation. My oh my, she has a lot on her plate.

Did you know, that if Mattel hadn't bought the company, American Girl might not have been so... well, American? That was a real disappointment to me, because I wouldn't have minded a more international-based company.

Here it says that Pleasant and her husband Jerome are now major philanthropists in Wisconsin. Does anyone want to tell me what the heck does this long word mean?

WOAH. Pleasant is also in an ongoing debate about preservation and development. My god, what does this woman NOT do?

And some guy named John R. Lennon (not the John Lennon of the Beatles, I know, its disappointing) wrote a book roughly based on what Pleasant Rowland did. About preservation. And her foundations. And her projects.


She probably doesn't even know whats going on..
Which is the real, tragic part.
Would it be too much, to come up to her door, knock on it, and simply say, "Can you come and buy AG back?". I hope not, because I'm intending on doing that.
But then again, I guess she'd be kinda freaked, seeing a talking doll on her doorstep...

I wonder what color her house is? What her life is like? Is her house the color of the AG logo? Is she happy without AG?

-Sonali

Rainy Day, Go Away

"Click faster! CLICK FASTER!" Kit chanted.

I clicked the link.

Suddenly, YouTube filled the page. It was a video by AG2Elizabeths. Elizabeth was walking around with her chin up because she felt proud that her name was in the username.

I sighed.
A video started. I looked at the title and gasped.
"Um, Elizabeth?" I squeaked. She stopped her little graceful walk in its tracks and slowly made her way to the group of sisters crowded around the laptop.

Felicity was making a choking sound. "It can't be.."
Kirsten was looking at Felicity with round, sad eyes. She seemed far away, even though she was standing next to us.
The video kept playing.
To make it worse, the video has sad music playing in the background.
Oh god.

"... Its true, AG confirmed it!" The video was saying, in bold white letters on black. "Felicity and Elizabeth will be RETIRING THIS YEAR!!!"

That was all it took for Elizabeth to burst into tears.
I paused the video and turned to see all my sisters in a big group hug around Lissie & Liz. Lissie still hadn't said anything. She was standing, frozen, in the middle of the hug. Liz was apparently milking it, she was crying and hugging everyone in turn.
But she still was actually sad, of course.

Lissie moved away from the crowd of sisters, and walked up to me, who was still at the front of the laptop.
"Um, Nali?" Lissie whispered. A gave her a brief hug and said, "Yes?".

"Can you click that link?" She said softly. You could hear the pain she was trying to fight in her voice.

I looked to where she was pointing. Below the video, in the description box, was a link to the AG website, which apparently confirmed the facts of the video to be true.

I nodded and clicked the link cautiously.
A new page opened.


There it was.
That sickly little heart that they use everytime they retire a doll, to make it look more "friendly". Yeah, right.

"Soon, we'll say farewell to Felicity" it said.


-Sonali

New Sights (and not the good type)

Grace looked around, satisfied. We sat, frozen, as if time stopped, until Grace's steps faded and no one was around.

Suddenly the room was full of movement.

"Get me off of this STUPID SHELF!" Erin was wiggling around, trying to get a better measure of the length between the shelf to the floor. I sighed. Kit looked sorry not to be living by the candy cabinet anymore. As for Ruthie and Chrissa, I just think they were sad.

"... AND ERIN DOES NOT LIKE WHITE FIBERBOARD!" Erin was finishing.
I looked at her, wondering what she had been talking about.
She stuck out her tongue and glanced down.

".. Holy rubber ducks." She blew a whistle.
I joined her and looked down from the shelf edge.
"Oh my god."

The sight was horrific. We were on a shelf, the top shelf (which I guess is a bonus, since we had started off on the bottom one, but Grace couldn't see our "pretty faces" so she moved us up to the top). The TOP SHELF. Thats a long way down. How were we going to get down to do all our nightly stuff while Grace was asleep? Daaang.
Kirsten, Julia, Elizabeth & Felicity were all chillaxing in the doll furniture, which had been reduced to the huge three-in-one bed, Kirsten's bed, and Kit's desk and chair. It had all been moved to where Grace's old desk had been, and now a desk was located where our ROOM was. Our DOLL ROOM. The desk was made of white fiberboard - which I guess explains what Erin was talking about. It was 4 organizational cubes put together to form two sides. Plus a top. Boom bam, and there's a desk.

Naturally, the newest 5 dolls got put on the shelf, and oldest 4 dolls are with the mini doll room. Eventually we'll switch, and then again, and so on and on.

I'm not feeling happy.

-Sonali

A Lot Can Happen In 7 Days

"Sonali, lets go back-to-school shopping!"

"No, Sonali, we have to work on your model poses!"

"Sonny! You promised that you would teach me how to blog!"

"Nali! We were gonna have a sleepover!

I stood in the middle of the room, like a hermit crab, bunched up inside. All of my sisters had different things to do with me, and I didn't have the energy to do it all. Kit wanted to use the blog, Ruthie wanted to go back-to-school shopping, Julia was going to help me with my model poses, and Chrissa was trying to get a very cheery sleepover in the art room organized.

One word:
Ugh.

Its as if they were trying to keep my mind off Bethie. When all I truly want to do is go to my room, bury my head in my pillow, and wallow.

So much has happened in one week.
I just got back from my overnight trip camping the other night. I shot my AGMA assignment there. It was hard. After the one night of camping, I pretty much just sat there while Grace had the rest of her trip. The assignment was "Favorite Outfits". I got to have a bit of fun with it.

Also, I started receiving real hate mail.
REAL hate mail.
From my best friend.
Or my.. my.. ex-best friend?
I can't think of it.

Annabeth ignored my past 3 emails, as well.

And Ruthie turned 13.

Eek.

-Sonali

Summer's almost over?

Ruthie stood in front of all of us, holding the calendar in front of herself.
"Here we are now," Ruthie pointed to a circled date on the calendar from behind. It was today's date. "And here is the beginning of school." She flipped the page of the calendar and set her finger on another circled date. Her finger made a satisfying 'tap' sound against the firm paper.

Kit sat on the ouch in silence. We all turned towards her, waiting for her to calculate. Ruthie smiled gently.
"Thats only 32 days!" She claimed.
We all gasped.

32 days?
That was fast.
Wow.

Just..wow.
In 32 days, we'd be starting school again.
And me? I'd be starting Glee Club.

"Hello, anyone in there?" Julia poked my side again. "I called your name 5 times." She was sitting next to me on the sofa.
"Oh, sorry." I frowned. "I guess I zoned out."
"Anyway," She said.. "Do you wanna go school supply shopping with me?" A hopeful smile spread across her face.
"Sure!" I grinned. I loved to shop for school supplies. The smell of them, and the excitement that came with them, it was all fun. My stomach always tingles with butterflies of excitement when I shop for school supplies. Well, no, thats an understatement. The butterflies in my stomach are of excitement, yes, but also anxiety, worry, doubt, wonder. A lot of things.

But --
oops.
My butterflies just turned to sadness.
Because I remembered.

*flashback*
Sonali: *on the phone with Bethie* Beth, yknow what?
Beth: What?!
Sonali: We should fly to meet somewhere just to go back to school supply shopping together.
Beth: And pick out new clothes for school, too! OOH, and maybe some pipe cleaners so we can make our own Lady GaGa costumes!
Sonali: ...Um, maybe not that. But back-to-school clothes, for sure!
Beth: Promise?
Sonali: I promise. :)


*end of flashback*

Bethie.
Oh, Bethie.

:(

-Sonali

The Fact Is...

"Um.. we could play darts?" Felicity suggested.

"Too dull." Julia groaned.

"...Uh, how about Monopoly?" Elizabeth said.

"I hate Monopoly." Kit winced.

"Well, what about a lemonade stand?" Kirsten spoke.

"Too classic!" Erin said.

"Fine, fine, FINE! We could watch a movie?" Chrissa gasped, exasperated.

"I can't sit still through movies." Felicity and Kit said in unison.

We were all sitting there, sprawled out in the living room, in the sticky heat. It was a violent heat. Not the sort of heat you could enjoy, or sunbathe in. It was a cruel heat, a harsh warmth, the sort of heat that makes your hair stick together in strands and your layered tanktops melt into ONE tank top.

I know, ick.
And the worst thing is, all we could hear is laughs and squeals of delight from the festival down the road, which Grace had abandoned us to go to.

"We're just as important! Why can't we go, too?!" Chrissa shrieked.
"Because we AREN'T as important, Chris." Erin patted Chrissa's back.

"We should be just as important." Lissie growled.
I watched them all bicker and banter from my spot on the couch. My black-brown hair fell in stringy clumps all around my face. Cheeks flushed, I lay back and groaned.


We all fell silent as we let the reality of it all sink in.


The fact is, Erin was right.
-Sonali

Hate On Me

"Choose a few sisters you would like to watch the movie with, Julia!" Grace cheered Jules on.
"Uhm..." Julia thought deeply. "Kirsten!" She pointed. Kirsten jumped up with a grin. "Ruthie..Erin.." Julia added. "And.. Sonali!" She smiled.

I looked up from my sketch. Julia wanted me to watch her birthday movie with her?

Thats a ...
shocker.
You see, for the people who haven't been following my blog since eternity, Julia and I didn't start off ... beautifully. When I got here, Julia glared and hated and growled. Well, she didn't literally growl at me, but when she spoke to me it was as if she were growling. No more explaination needed.

But I was happy to do something cheery with a few of my sisters on my Saturday night. So I hopped up, grabbed a cream with pink accents nightgown and sprinted off to the couch with Grace, Grace's mom, Grace's brother, and Julia, Kirsten, Erin, and Ruthie. I guess it would be okay to say that I was happy.

We were watching Night At The Museum. Personally, I liked Jedidiah and the roman dude best. They were hilarious!

After the movie, Julia decided we should all hang around in her room. We pigged on dill pickle chips and cream soda. The conversation rolled along nicely until all of a sudden, Julia decided to chirp, "Anyone heard from Kristy lately?".

I gulped.
Dang, I hadn't thought about Kristy in a whiiiile.
Erin gulped louder.
My head whipped around to stare at her.


No way.

A Very Interesting Q&A With Megan

I just know the thoughts that are running through all of your puny little brains right now. "Who is Megan?", you are all wondering. Well, to answer your question, she is the most selfish, conceited, impossible Pullip -- ugh, Megan just slapped me and deleted half of that sentence. As I said, she is selfish - ouch, there's another slap.

She doesn't like people calling her Megan, though. She prefers Meg.

Q- "Why do you prefer people calling you Meg, instead of your birth name, Megan?" (insert a little eye-roll from me at my own very official-ness)

A- "The name Meg is short. And its sturdy. And strong. Just like me. I'm a strong little 12" doll.. you should know that before you mess with me."


Q- "What are your favorite things to do?" (another eye roll from me)

A- "Hmm.. lets say I'm REALLY adventurous. I can't keep my hands or my feet still, and I'm always getting my nose up into something I shouldn't."




Q- "Describe yourself." (okay, lets just say I make an eye roll at every one of these questions)

A- "Adventurous, obviously. Kind, and I love to make new friends.. my favorite singer is Ke$ha and I love comfortable, breezy clothing. My best friend is Celsiy."

Sonali's version of Meg: Meg loves to talk about herself, and she can't help but butt into everyone else's business. She goes around screaming Ke$ha songs all the time, and all she can talk about is the time when she met Ke$ha and had her pillow signed by her. She doesn't give a dang about anyone else's sorrow but her own, and when she DOES have sorrow she feels terrible for herself all the time until she gets over it.

Okay, I just got a major spanking for typing that out. ^^^ Who knew a doll with hands the size of a pebble could inflict pain so hard?!

(Meg screams in the background, "I TOLD YOU NOT TO MESS WITH ME!")




LAST QUESTION:

Q- "Grace posed you by a rose plant for your last few photos of your photoshoot earlier this evening. Do you think she was imposing that you were a prickly sort of person, by posing you next to thorns? Just think about it."

A- *bloodcurdling scream*
"I'VE GOT YOU NOW!!!!"

Thanks for liste --- *shriek*

Soda Pop, Soda Pop

A car honked in the driveway. "Sonali, c'mon, lets go!" A guy popped his head out the backseat window and yelled up to me.

I grabbed my purse from the hook and sprinted out the door, my thoughts and nerves whizzing about in my brain like soda pop fizz. I quickly grabbed open the car door and got in. My emotions slowed when Annabeth shot me a stiff smile, but for the heck of it I threw back my head, laughed, and said, "Lets go!".

And with that, Annabeth's mother speeded off to the bowling alley with 10 kids crowded into her van.

The bowling alley was having Glow-In-The-Dark Friday, and my white Avril Lavigne tour shirt glowed immediately. The guys started shoving each other and pointing out to their glowing high-top laces or shirts. The girls giggled as they watched the bowling alley manager set up our game stats.

10 minutes later, we were all laughing so hard that the manager shot us looks. Bridgette was in the lead with 130 points, she was trying her hand at bowling for the first time but seemed like a pro already. On her heels was Peter, with 124. Then there was Annabeth, with a grim smirk on her face. (I had a feeling she wasn't having the best time.) Then there was James, Michael, Taylor, god, I can't remember half their names.. oh, and then there's me. Felicity's taught me a few things about bowling.

"Sonny, its your turn! Go go go!" Taylor squealed, pushing me to the front. I turned around to smile at her, then took the bowling ball (It was blue! Yes, BLUE! Yay!) from Stephen, and turned back to the lane, glowing in all its glory.

Suddenly I was flying through the air, tripping over my own feet.. wait, I wasn't tripping over my own feet! As I fell to the floor, I glanced behind me to see a neon pink high-top pulling away. Annabeth! But I didn't have much time to think, as my face fell flat against the floor. The bowling ball dropped out of my hand, rolled down the alley and knocked down all 5 pins. I smiled weakly, but I really was in much too shock to care.

"Oh my gosh, Sonali, are you okay?" Taylor, Abby, Bridgette, and Quin were lining up behind me. Bridgette bent down and helped me up. "Are you okay?!" She cried. I nodded. I really wasn't hurt. I was just shocked. I dusted off my corduroy slacks and glanced around to see Peter staring, his eyes full of concern. I looked away quickly and asked for my next ball.

My scores were quickly moving up the chart. I found myself next to Peter and Bridgette in the standings. I was flustered. But finally someone cried, "I'm hungry! We should go buy snacks.", and soon enough we were all seated, feasting on golden brown fries (which probably is bad, I don't think foods are supposed to be golden brown), soda pop, and Dorito chips. I was happy and content, here with people of my kind. Maybe not all of these people were depressed psycho's with un-naturally beautiful blondes as their BFFs, but thats okay with me. I needed a night of relaxation. I was just about to get up for some more ketchup when a seeping cold spread down the front of my shirt. I looked down to see I was drenched in nothing other than grape soda. I shuddered as I realized Annabeth was staring at me with satisfaction and evil hunger for power. I also realized she had "spilled" this soda on me. Ugggggh.
"Let me help you with that."
I heard a voice from beside me and was shocked to see Peter sitting there, napkin in his hand. He rubbed the purple stains from the front of my shirt. "This is going to need a wash.." He muttered. "Aha." He smiled contentedly as he rubbed. "You like Avril Lavigne?"
"Yes.. like, a lot." I blushed.
He nodded. "So do I. Although most guys just think I'm stupid for liking girl singers."
I shook my head vigorously. "No, no, I mean, that's true, I mean, its true that girl singers are awesome.. I mean, you're not stupid." It all came out in a blur.
He laughed. His laugh was like vanilla smoke.
"Well, it looks like its my turn to bowl!" He laid down the dirty napkin and got up to do his round. I gazed after him, then realized I was staring and suddenly looked down at the floor.

Peter picked up the bowling ball.. I blinked as I realized he was about to throw it incorrectly.
"Um, Peter, your fingers should be more spread.. and please, position your arm like this.. I really don't think you should bend your elbow back like that." I said, pulling his arm back to reveal a beautiful, proper posture. I stood back and admired my work.

But then I realized he was grinning at me.
And then it hit me.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to.. I didn't.. I didn't want to correct you, its just, I have bowling.." My words trailed off.

He was smiling at me.
His smile was perfect.
His eyes were sparkling.

Oh. My. God.

"...instinct." I finished my sentence weakly.

Then I ran off.

-Sonali

Anna-beth

Felicity smiled at me. "C'mon, Sonny! You're no fun. Just try one little piece?"

I pushed away the plate of dried cranberries and got up to answer the door, happy to have an excuse to get away from Felicity's never-ending "boredom cure" (as she calls it).

I opened the door to find Annabeth. Again. Yes, again.


I had just realized this morning that the name Annabeth is made up of two names -- Anna and Beth. Anna-Beth. Annabeth. UGH. Please go away, god forsaken coincidences. And go away, Annabeth. I don't want to talk to you.

But thats not what I told her. I told Annabeth a polite "hello" and ushered her inside with a grim frown. Kirsten's face lit up as she saw Annabeth walk through the entrance to the living room. She got up from her knitting and exchanged a hug. I rolled my eyes, careful to make sure nobody saw me do it.

"Hello, Kirsten!" Annabeth grinned. "Hello, Sonali." She said a little less enthusiastically as she turned towards me.
I returned the mood.
"I'm here to ask Sonali if she'd like to come bowling with the Glee Club this Friday?" Annabeth's smile was warm as butter. Kirsten was obviously buying it.

I nodded. No matter what Annabeth did, I couldn't disobey her. I needed a reputation for Glee.
Kirsten grinned. "Yes, please! Take her away!" She laughed at her own joke.

"Great!" Annabeth said. "See you soon, Ms. Larson!" She skipped away to the front door, me following closely behind. I was about to close the door after her when she suddenly came back and got close.

"I'm not inviting you because I want to, Sonali. I'm inviting you because I have to. And I hope to see your absence from Glee at the beginning of the school year."

Annabeth's fake smile returned in a nanosecond, as if nothing happened, and she backed away and left. Actually left.


Kay then.

-Sonali

... sigh.

Grace is forcing me to let you know of all our updated personalities.


Ugh.
I guess we might as well start..

KIRSTEN Taylor Larson
Fave artist: Taylor Swift
Fave book: A Summer To Die
Fave movie: Nanny McPhee
Best friend: Julia
Hidden talent: Ballet

JULIA Rose Starr
Fave artist: Owl City
Fave book: Twilight
Fave movie: Valentine's Day
Best friend: Kirsten

ELIZABETH Lee Cole
Fave artist: Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus
Fave book: Miles To Go
Fave movie: The Last Song
Best Friend: Felicity or Kristy
Hidden talent: Jump-rope

FELICITY Anne Merriman
Fave artist: Paramore
Fave book: Anne Of Green Gables
Fave movie: Bend It Like Beckham
Best friend: Elizabeth
Hidden talent: Pottery

KIT Margaret Hayden Kittredge
Fave artist: Colbie Caillat
Fave book: Inkheart
Fave movie: Alice In Wonderland
Best friend: Ruthie
Hidden talent: Swimming

RUTHIE Angeline Smithens
Fave artist: Show tunes
Fave book: Finally
Fave movie: Valentines Day
Best friend: Kit
Hidden talent: Singing

CHRISTINE Jane-Marie Maxwell
Fave artist: Kelly Clarkson
Fave book: Eleven
Fave movie: Toy Story
Best friend: Erin
Hidden talent: Designing

SONALI Beth Lynne Matthews
Fave artist: Avril Lavigne
Fave book: Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants
Fave movie: Letters To Juliet
Best friend: Bethie Cole
Hidden talent: Blogging

ERIN Lilly Violet McCartney
Fave artist: Lady GaGa and The Beatles
Fave book: Peace, Love, And Baby Ducks
Fave movie: Grease
Best friend: Chrissa
Hidden talent: Photography

-Sonali

Best friend:

Sing a simple song.

I stood, facing the wall, pretending to be focusing on the multitude of Taylor Swift pictures, hiding my tears.

Erin and Bethie and Annabeth stood behind me, pacing. Bethie spun me around to face her. They all had fiery eyes, full of deadly ambition and anger. And revenge.

"Oh, sweet sweet Sonny." Bethie laughed.
Erin and Annabeth came up on each side of her, like a possy.
"You don't know what's happening, do you?" Erin giggled.
"Oh, how innocent and clueless." Annabeth snickered.

I pressed into the wall. A picture of Taylor on an escalator fluttered to the ground from its held-by-tape place on the wall.

"Heres the lowdown, sister: We don't happen to like you very much. I happened to take a liking to you back at the factory, but I must have been on drugs or something, cause you aren't the girl you used to be.." Bethie shakes her head to clear her mind. "You're obnoxious, useless," she pushed me farther back into the wall with every word, "bragging, dangerous, mean, snotty, germy, ugly, and a shame to AGMA." I cringed. "Oh, and darling? You can't sing worth a dang." Bethie sneered.

"And I guess I'm gonna come out and say this straight.." Bethie paused, and put one finger lightly on her chin. "You're not my best fr-


And I woke up.


-Sonali

Um..

Bella Alexis Flynne said...

Sorry Bout' all the heart breaking stuff, grace... You probably have NO idea who i am.. But i am A HUGE fan! I can't believe it's just cuz a pullip! Don't over what you don't have, be happy for what you do have! Be happy about the fact that your even getting a pullip!
I think getting mad that you got a pullip is just TOOPID-BURG!
Sheeesh.
Nuff' Said.

This is a blog comment I got on my last blog.

To clear things up, I didn't mean that Grace was sad she was getting a Pullip. ^_^


It was of something or someone else.
Thanks.

-Sonali

A Brief Break

I can't blog for a few days - Grace is too busy hogging the computer.

She's horribly sad. I can tell, she keeps listening to heartfelt songs.. some of them are quite cheesy..

I can't say much more, and this is a terrible time for me to announce we have a Pullip sister on the way.

I thank very bitterly the person who broke Grace's heart.

-Sonali

Ddalgi Of Strawberry Fields

When you see this photo, what comes to mind?

Strawberry Fields by The Beatles? Picking strawberries in a field? The colors red pink and green? Summer?

For us, we think of all of that, plus one more.
We also think..

Sister.

Grace has been battling over buying iPod dock speakers or a Pullip for a while now. She's been frustrated, confused, and doubtful. Some people even told Grace not to get a Pullip, because most people "who become Pullip people become ONLY Pullip people" (*cough* Katie *cough*), and that REALLY got to Grace. But we trust her, and we know she'll still love us. We're too gorgeous to ditch for Pullips. Aha!

Grace finally knows.
She's buying her speakers very soon (today or tomorrow), and since the Pullip she has fallen in love with is on pre-order for cheaper than usual until it releases in September, she's going to earn money day and night so she can buy her before she goes on for regular price after she releases.

Of course this Pullip has a name! Ddalgi. Not Grace's sort of name.
So what do you think?

We're thinking something summery.. something about her gentle eyes suggests summer..

Sonali

Annabeth Strikes

I sat in my chair awkwardly, watching Annabeth's mother pour me some juice. Annabeth sat opposite me, hands folded on the lace doily. She didn't say a word.

"If you girls need anything, I'm in the sewing room, okay?" Mrs. Rollins called as she trotted up the stairs. I still wondered how Mrs. Rollins had all this free time to create Annabeth costumes - even in the summer, when Glee wasn't happening! I grimaced.

Annabeth suddenly turned in her seat to look at me straight-on.

This was reminding me of my "chat" with Erin way too much. Waaaay too much.

Annabeth smiled sweetly (and fakely).
"Look, Sonali..." She patted my hand from across the table. "We're not all set out to sing, right?" She smiled at me.
I was taken aback. Was she trying to tell me something?

She went on, "You're good, but not good enough, y'know? You can go far, but just not far enough to cross the border line?"
I understood completely.
I nodded, up and down, 3 times. Fast.
"Maybe you should.. leave Glee Club, if its not meant to be? I mean, you just, wouldn't be in pitch with the rest of the group. Its not a bad thing or anything, we just can't have you in it if you're not worth it, when we can be giving the spot to someone fresh, and young, and talented..." Annabeth got a fiery look in her eyes that made me scoot my chair back.

"I, I understand. Completely. Yup. Understood." I gulped. I stood up. "I should.. go." And then I ran out of the house, praying Mrs. Rollins wouldn't think I were rude.

If I had looked back, I would have seen Annabeth, smirking viciously.

-Sonali

Invasion

Invasion on what, you ask? My blog. My privacy. My life. UGH.

I'm kinda annoyed at Grace for posting on my blog. Its MY blog. Did anyone change the name to "So Grace" lately? I didn't think so.

Sorry, I've been super moody and sulk-ish lately ... Erin and Chrissa have been the main cause of that. Its as if Erin's trying to make my life even worse. Why is she doing this?

Chrissa and Erin decided to bring back the art "studio" on top of our bed. Yeah, on TOP. We have a weird luxury bed, that flips out, with a closet on the side, and a bathroom-without-a-sink-or-toilet on the other side, and the .. well, its hard to explain.
Grace enjoyed helping decorate, I must admit, its craftily cute in all its glory .. but it annoys me.



And do you see this poster? Do you see it, bloggers? READ IT AND WEEP.



For those of you who can't read it, it says "Chrissa and Erin" in huge letters, then "+Sonali" at the bottom in tiny letters.
So they are literally trying to hurt my feelings.

Sure.
Go ahead.

A few last pictures:



What happened to the beautiful little Erin I used to know?

-Sonali

VEEERY Important Summer Updates!

Hey to all you bloggers, its Grace here!
(and for those of you who are wondering, yes, I DO know about Sonali's blog, and I think she spends too much time on it, so I'm taking her place today..!)

I'm here to explain about some ... stuff.

PHOTOGRAPHY -
We have two themes that we are going to work our photos around for this summer! "Imagine" is our main theme, which means most of my photos will be quirky, colorful, sets with dolls doing all the things you humans do when you like to let your imagination go wild and free - imagination games, reading, dancing when do one is watching, exploring. Its all going to be VERY quirky .. Our second theme isn't as grande, its "True Colours" and we are going to be taking a set of photos to coordinate with the music video of "True Colours" by Glee we are doing. "True Colours" will be photos taken with vivid, exploding color, whether its a bursting-with-brightness flower or a colorful sunset..

All these photos will be available on Flickr, and hopefully YouTube at one point.


MUSIC VIDEOS -

Time Of Our Lives - Miley Cyrus - Starring Erin (JLY #35)
True Colours - Glee Cast - Starring Chrissa


Aaaaaand, lastly....

WE WANT TO KNOW YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD IMAGINATION GAMES!
Did you have tea parties with a few fellow teddy bears? Did you go to ballet class with your favorite doll? Did you roam the "jungles" in your backyard, searching for the mighty jewel that would save the whole kingdom?

We want to know! We need ideas for some "Imagine" photoshoots. Hopefully we'll incorporate every single one of your ideas! :)

-Grace

Corolle

Grace's mother found this doll at a yard sale, and Grace did a little background search. Its a Corolle doll, a doll company for toddlers established in France.



Although this particular doll is not on the website today, it looks a lot like the other ones on the online catalog in a specific category (Les Cheries).

She has a snobby and airy look about her, and we've been pondering about her personality/name/heritage.

Help?

-Sonali

What HAS been going on?

"Sonali, I want to know whats been going on."

Ruthie pressed down on me with her questions.
I fidgeted.
"Put that book down!" Ruthie snatched Bluestar's Prophecy from my hands and laid it down beside her on the couch. "I want to know why you're even more depressed than usual." Ruthie repeated.

"Bethie doesn't need me anymore, okay?! I have no purpose in life." And with that, I took my book back, and bent my head down in it so Ruthie couldn't see the tears escaping my eyes.
Immediately Ruthie's eyes softened.

"Aww, Nali." She scooched closer. "Theres always a purpose in life." She put her arm over my shoulder and sighed.
"No there isn't!" I sobbed.
"I just know, I truly do know, that Bethie hasn't abandoned you." She soothed.
"How do you know!" My cry was muffled by the now wet pages of my novel.
"I was on the phone with Rebecca the other day." She paused to make sure I was listening.
I was. She had me at the word 'Rebecca'.
"She was telling me about Bethie's habits." Ruthie went on. "She hinted at the fact that maybe Sonali didn't like Bethie anymore, and I said 'No no no. That's impossible!' right away." Ruthie shook her head sadly.
"But Rebecca didn't believe it. 'Yknow, Ruthie, Bethie thinks Sonali ditched her for Annabeth.' Rebecca was saying." Ruthie kept on going. "And I said --"

"STOP!" I said, standing up. My book fluttered to the floor. Ruthie's eyes were in dismay. "I know this is just to make me feel better! But I personally, truly, don't appreciate the lies, Ruthie. Sometimes lies may be the polite thing to do, but right now the truth is awfully better, as much as it hurts."

I stomped away.


Elizabeth would be proud of me.