Paper by: Hannah McGraw

Main charactersMain characters Billie JoBillie Jo FranklinFranklin The momThe mom The dad The dad A relativeA relative Mr. NobleMr. Noble Mr. RomenyMr. Romeny Doc Rice

In this section I have three of the most important things and here is one: I turned nine my mother is pregnant with a baby boy. My dad is making bad choices. We haven’t had a good crop in three years.

Here is the second: Mr. Noble and Mr. Romeny have a bet going of who can kill the most rabbits. It all started last Monday at rabbit drive over at Strugis when Mr. Noble got himself worked up about the jacks wrecking his crops. It was a tie.

Usually grown men in my town club bunnies to death. It always makes me SICK!

Here is the third: Livi Killian moved away. I didn’t want her to go. We’d been friends sense the first grade. The goodbye party was at the old rock school house. Livi cleaned up her own going away party. Now Livi ‘s gone west, out of the dust, and on her way to California.

In this section I have three of the most important things here is one: I got burned bad. Daddy put a pail of kerosene next to the stove and ma fixing breakfast, thinking the pail was filled with water. Ma pored a trial of fire. It rose up from the stove to the pail. And it burst in to flames. Ma ran across the kitchen door, screaming for daddy! Then I tor after her, thinking that the pail was in the kitchen. I flew back to grab it. I splashed on her apron. We both got burned bad. didn’t know that she was coming back. Flaming oil

Daddy made a tent over ma to make sure that nothing got on her burns. I thought mommy’s baby was going to die soon. That is why I had a bad nightmare. It was very scary. Ma can hardly take a sip of water, ot spils all over her.

Daddy found the emergency money in the shed. It wasn't very much. So he went to the bar and spent all the money and beer well ma was dying of thirst.

In section three I will tell you two things here is one: Birth~ A family moved in to our class room, the other day. There are three people the mom, the dad and the grandma. One morning I arrive at school. Miss freland says to keep the kids out. The mom is having a baby.

Here is the second: Time to go~ They left a couple weeks after the baby came. Non of us wanted them to to go. I yelled after them, “Wait for me!”

In this section I will tell you two of the most important things. Here is one: Dreams~ Each day before class begins I sit at the school piano and begin to dream. In spite of my scars and burns I begin to play in my dream, then school starts I get up.

Had to check yesturday mornong if it was still snowing. And not dust. When it is dust I can echo across the field. But when it is not I can’t. It was snowing.

In this section I will tell you about the two most important things here is one: Finding a Way~ Daddy started talking about planning the rest of the acres wheat. But then said no. Lets go with what we’ve got. And I’ve been planning for a ½ and hour every day. Stretching my skin and burns.

Here is the second~ The wheat is still growing throw the dust. But not very well.

I gave this book and 7 out of ten because it was sad at some parts but happy in the other parts!