Chatterbox: Inkwell

Chapter 1 

                “When will they arrive?” asked Charlotte. 

                “Soon enough,” replied Lesli, Charlotte’s Mother.

                The Anderson family:  two girls named Charlotte and Liana with Charlotte as the older at eight and Liana the younger at seven.  A mother named Lesli, a Father named Rodney and three Labrador Retrievers.

                Charlotte had long, blond, strait hair that went down to the middle of her back and dark brown eyes.  She was a tom-boy and never wore anything but blue.  She had freckles and was skinny and was somewhat short.  She was scared of her younger sister Liana and let out a scream when ever her sister came toward her with her fists clenched and flinched whenever she said something rude about her.

                Liana had long, rusty blond, wavy hair that went just beneath her shoulders and wore pink glasses with blue eyes.  She liked anything that had to do with Jewelry, dresses and bling and her dresser top was covered in all her little pink and orange bracelets and necklaces.   She was very temperamental and thought that just about anything said about her was an insult.  She hit hard and Charlotte usually had bruises to prove it.

                Lesli had wavy, almost curly, hair that just about reached below her shoulders and wore brownish bifocal glasses and had Brown eyes.  She had several large moles on her face and had a triangular like chin and brown eyes.  She hated to listen to arguing and constantly wished that Rodney would build a door for the children’s bedroom.  She taught piano and enjoyed it mostly except when her students didn’t practice.

                Rodney had gray hair that grew fast and had to be constantly cut and a beard and moustache.   He wore glasses and had brown eyes.  He was temperamental and if you didn’t do what he asked perfectly the first time you had to do it again.  Also there was one way to do things. His way.  He was a custom woodworker and one of the best of his craft.

                The dogs were, from oldest to youngest, Amber, a five-year-old, dark yellow lab, Gem, a two-year-old light brown lab and Amber’s niece, Diamond, a one-year-old black Lab and Amber’s daughter.

                Now, the reason this family had all these dogs was because they were all for another business.  They bred and sold Labrador Retrievers.

                These dogs just weren’t any slap-dash together Labs, the family did tests and were very careful about who they bred to.  They knew the genetic code and made sure that the optigens on their dogs were good.  Most all their dogs were show quality and they could hunt or just be a wonderful family pet.  These dogs were beautiful.

                Currently they were waiting for a first litter from Gem on the 21st of September on a Thursday afternoon.  She had been locked up in a pen for dogs that were pregnant and for puppies and Lesli was out there with her.

                “I wonder what they’re ‘gonna be like!” said Charlotte excitedly.

                “They’re ‘gonna be cute!”  said Liana, “Look!”

                Gem was having her first puppy all wet and messy.  Soon The puppy was nursing.

                “Mom,” asked Liana, “how come the puppy is black instead of brown?  Their dad is chocolate too isn’t he?”

                “Because he’s wet, dummy, and looks darker,” said Charlotte.

                “Well excuse me for being younger than you!”  

                “Nag, nag, nag!”

                “eight puppies!  Yay!!!!” shouted Charlotte.   Then came a knock at the door.

                “Elizabeth and Katie!” said Liana, “There here!”

                Charlotte ran to open the large wooden door and greeted her best friend, Elizabeth Webb, enthusiastically.  And, of course, said hi to Katherine who insisted to be called Katie.

                Elizabeth Webb was a tall, skinny nine-year-old with long rusty-blond hair that almost reached her legs.  She had brown eyes and sparkly blue glasses.  She thought her opinion was the only one that mattered and loved to read and right.  She was a complete pessimist and was nick-named Ebbie because her mother, Sam Webb, hated the name Lizzie.  It was often wondered how Elizabeth and Charlotte stayed best friends.  They were complete optimists.  Charlotte said it was because they kept each other balanced.  Elizabeth had no idea.

                Katie Webb, was a short, slightly overweight seven-year-old with dark blond hair that went a little ways below her shoulders.  She had blue eyes and liked to wear pink.  She was sweet and cared about her friends as much as anyone would want.

                Sam Webb was kind of short and very much overweight.  She had brown hair and wore glasses.  She didn’t care for any rudeness and when her children upset her they had to pay a nickel.  Her rules were strict and she sometimes didn’t let her children go to dance class if they misbehaved enough.

                “Do you want to see the new puppies?” asked Liana.

                “Yes!” they both said at the same time.

                “Girls,” said Lesli, “They’re here for a piano lesson.  They are allowed to look but they can not enter the pen!”

                “Yes mother,” said Charlotte.

                Elizabeth, Liana and Charlotte immediately ran out the front door to see the puppies.  Charlotte went into the pen and lifted the flap on the dog house so that Elizabeth could see.

                “They’re so cute!” said Liana.

                “They’re a bunch of little furballs,” said Elizabeth, “but they’re still pretty cute!”

                “They look like hamsters now!” said Charlotte, “Look at how they’re little ears stick up!  They’re usually cutest at five weeks though when they’re playing but don’t get tired near as easily!”

                “Are they all chocolate?” asked Elizabeth.

                “Yup!  Since both their dad and their mom are brown all the puppies will be brown too.  There is four boys and four girls.”

                After that the girls left to play and all too soon, it was Katie’s turn.

                They basically went through the same thing with Katie, except Liana insisted on being the one to hold the flap open.

                “Bye guys!” said Charlotte as the friends left.

                “Bye Ebbie!  Bye Katie!” shouted Liana.

                On Monday the girls went to elementary four dance class 

unter to the death of Castello.  Here it is: