It took Emerald a second to realize that she was still very close to Kasen. She jumped back and looked away, partially to see if anyone saw her but also because she could feel herself blushing. “I can't believe you did that,” she said, frustrated.

“Sorry,” he said, but he didn't sound sorry at all. “But that was amazing!” he exclaimed after a minute.

Yes, that was amazing, Emerald thought, smiling inwardly.

“Whatever,” she said. “We need to go inside.”

…

Kasen followed behind Emerald as she walked into class. He observed her hair bouncing as she walked. He appreciated how Emerald always walked with a spring in her step. She opened the door to their classroom and then stopped in surprise.

“What is it?” Kasen asked, pushing his way to the doorway. Emerald silently moved to let him look, and the first thing Kasen saw was Ruth.

“Hi Kasen,” she said with a wave and a cheeky smile. Oh no, Kasen thought.

…

Turns out Mr. Henson was sick, so the younger kids’ teacher had to teach Kasen and Emerald’s class. That meant the younger kids would be sharing a class with the older kids. This isn't going to end well, Kasen thought as Ruth asked the teacher if she could sit next to him.

“But he’s my brother,” she was saying.

“I’m sorry Ruth,” the teacher said gently, “But you have to stay on the girls’ side.”

Ruth pouted. Emerald turned to look at Kasen, and he could see that she was trying not to laugh. “Oh dear,” the teacher said, frowning. “Where have I…” she looked up. “Class, I need to look in my classroom for something. I expect you to sit quietly and study until I come back.” She looked around the room severely and walked out, closing the class door behind her. It was silent... for a second.

Then someone (from the boy's side of course) farted. Giggles erupted around the room.

“Ewww,” said a younger girl.

“KASEN!” said Ruth. “That was disgusting!” Kasen’s face burned.

“It wasn't me!” he said.

“Liar liar!” Velma said.

“Velma!” Kasen said. Allen giggled, and Kasen glared at all three of his younger siblings. The older kids looked away or pretended to not care, but the younger kids were trying- and failing- to hold back giggles.

“Ruth's brother farrrrrted,” one kid said. Now Ruth's face was flushed.

“Hey!” she said. “I didn't ask to be related to him!” Emerald coughed, though it sounded suspiciously like a laugh, and Kasen looked over at her. She was staring determinedly in the other direction.

Allen giggled again. Kasen sighed. It was no use. His siblings would always be like this, and there was no changing them

A second later the door opened and the teacher walked in. The children quickly stifled their giggles and pretended to focus on their studies. The teacher looked around but didn't say anything. She walked back up to the front of the classroom.

Before she could say anything, Allen put his hands to his mouth and made a farting noise. All the younger children giggled (and a few of the older ones too).

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

The teacher frowned and crossed her arms. “Allen,” she said in a warning tone.

“It wasn't me!” Allen exclaimed. A girl sitting in front of Emerald snorted. The teacher put a hand to her head.

“This is going to be a long day,” she mumbled.

…

Emerald pushed the door open glad that the school day was over.

“That was a nightmare of a school day.” James shrugged.

“I thought it was great.”

They walked into a mess of a kitchen when they stepped through the front door. Flour splattered all over the kitchen table, opened jars, and dirty utensils everywhere.

“Hey kids,” Emerald's mom said, she wiped her forehead with her wrist. She took a glob of dough and plopped it down on the kitchen table. She added even more flour and started kneading it. “I’m making bread for Mrs. Miller. I'll be gone for a while. I won't have enough time to clean the kitchen and Rueben will be back with Father in a few hours, I don't want him to come home with a messy house so I need you two to clean the house before Rueben and Father come back.”

Emerald’s mom took the dough and plopped it into a loaf pan. She used two towels to help her not burn her hands while she put the dough in the oven. She washed her hands and rushed upstairs to get dressed in nicer clothes.

“I guess we should get to it as soon as possible,” Emerald said as she put down her school bag and handed the broom to James. He groaned and got to sweeping.

…

It took a while but Emerald and James had almost finished all of their chores. James had to go get water for the horse at the barn and Emerald had to muck the stalls. While their father had been gone Rueben Emerald and James had neglected the muck the stalls chore. When Emerald walked toward Stallion the smell almost made Emerald retch. Then an idea struck Emerald. She ran over to the clothesline grabbed one of the wooden clothespins and skipped back to the barn. She put the clothespin on her nose and began her last chore. The look of the brown manure never disturbed Emerald, it was always the odor. Over time as the clothespin pinched her nose the pain became a little less bearable.

…

Emerald put her hands on her hips.

“I'm so glad I'm finished.” Stallion neighed. Emerald walked over to her and stroked her mane. I wonder if James is done with his chores. Emerald thought to herself. She walked back to the house as she did and she heard her name called in the distance.

“JAMES!” Emerald said as she jolted over to the well. She saw five little fingers bracing onto the edge of the well. Emerald looked into the well and saw James hanging on for dear life. Emerald immediately jumped into action and grabbed James’s left arm which was dangled beside him. James got a small grip on the side of the well with his left foot. Emerald pulled James’s arm until his torso was flat on the edge of the well. James rolled off and hit his back onto the ground. Emerald kicked him.

“Ow!” James exclaimed.

“What were you thinking James!” Emerald kicked him again, James’s face scrunched up, and groaned.

“I thought I saw something shiny in there. I thought there was gold. And gold means we’ll be rich.” James let out a grin from ear to ear. Emerald was about to kick James again but she heard their names in the distance.

“Father is home,” Emerald says. James jumped up and they both dashed to the front gate.

They open the front gate and they see the wagon is covered in mud, including their father.

Emerald and James stared in awe at him wondering what had happened.

Rueben grabs his father’s bags and walks to the outdoor water pump. On the way back he talks to Emerald and James.

“Go tend to the horse, and stop staring.” He rubbed James with his muddy sleeve.

“HEY!” James exclaimed. They walk over to the horse. Emerald detached the horse from the wagon. She guides the horse to the stables to wash up. Emerald glanced at her father when he was cleaning his face with a rag. His face was scarlet. Their father walks to the house. You can hear the front door slam from the barn. While James and Emerald tended to the horse Rueben joined them. James didn't even wait to say hi before popping the question.

“So, how did you guys get mud all over you?” Rueben chuckled.

“Father complained that the ride was taking too long so I sped up and we rode through the biggest mud puddle I've ever seen. It could be considered a pond and the best part was the mud was on my father's side so he got sprayed all over him where it barely splashed on me.” James laughed hysterically and Emerald let out a good laugh.

…

For the rest of the day, Emerald’s father was furious. After the three washed up his luggage the wagon and the horse. The three walked in and got dressed in new clothes. The three washed their clothes and their father’s. After the horrendous number of chores James and Emerald did that night, they never wanted to touch a broom again. The three were yawning and their eyes drifted off before sundown. And their father being in a dreadful mood didn't help things either.

He only got better when Emerald’s mother came home from her visit to Mrs. Miller.

Emerald, James, and Rueben went to bed way earlier than usual that night.

…

Primrose stands next to the policewoman sobbing. A cop runs up to the policewoman.

“Ma'am we cannot find the girl or any sign of where she is.” Primrose looks up to the house devastated by the news she just heard. She looked at the forest behind M’s house.

And behind the house is the town graveyard.

Primrose had never sprinted faster in her life.

…

Ring… Ring… Ring…

The church bells rang. Church was about to start. Emerald looked around for Roselle but she couldn't see her anywhere. But right in front of her eyes was Kasen. She walked over to him.

“Hi, Kasen.” Kasen turned around and his face lit up.

“Hi, Emerald!” Kasen gave a small wave. “You know… it's still ten minutes till church starts.” Kasen reached his hand out.

“KASEN! NO-”

Flash

“Too late.” Kasen grins. They looked around. The area is eerie and dark. Kasen saw a gravestone in the distance.

“Are we in a graveyard?” Kasen turned to Emerald hoping to confirm his question. But she's gone.

“Emerald? Emerald! WHERE ARE YOU?” Kasen heard a faint voice in the distance he immediately ran towards the voice praying it was Emerald.

Flash

Kasen finds himself back at the church. He frantically looked around. Kasen came back to his own time.

But Emerald didn't.

…

“Oliver. OLIVER!” Emerald stared at the gravestone with Melaine on her knees crying her heart out in front of it.

Oliver died? Emerald thought to herself. Melanie looked so different from what she looked like at the movies. Her clothes were all torn and wrinkled, her hair was filled with dirt and she had bald spots on her scalp. Cuts and bruises all over some being fresh with blood still dripping. Her eyes were bloodshot red. She looks like she's dead. Emerald’s hand shook and she put it over her chest. Emerald dropped to the ground and wrapped her arms around her. Emerald knew she couldn't feel with her skin.

But Emerald hoped Melaine felt it with her heart.