Patricia had a bad attitude.Even if you were the oldest of eight children, that didn't always mean you got everything you wanted.Patricia was given the responsibility of preparing her younger siblings for school after their beloved mother became ill and their father went on business.In addition to the seven lunches she needed to pack and the seven sets of teeth and faces she needed to clean!She also had to prepare dinner, breakfast, and lunch, to top it all off!
The magical age of sixteen was supposed to be when you could hang out with friends, skip school, and talk about boys.Not chasing after children to get them all dressed, fed, and cleaned before the school bus arrives.It was simply unfair!
After the "troops" had finished eating and drinking, Patty, as she liked to be called, looked around the kitchen, which happened to look like a war zone!Before she even began to clean the pigsty that covered most of the bench space and some, she was exhausted!She almost wanted to cry!Everything was just too much!
"There!That ought to suffice!Patty speculated as she observed the now spotless kitchen that she had meticulously cleaned for so long.She carefully balanced a bowl of soup, toast, and her mother's favorite English breakfast tea as she headed upstairs to check on her mother, feeling quite proud of her morning accomplishments.
Patty's face lit up with joy when she saw her mother awake and smiling a little more.She was naturally content that her mother was improving with each passing day, but what really excited her was the prospect of giving her "freedom" to do whatever she wanted.
When her mother tried to stop the vomit from rising in her throat, she cried out for the bucket that was next to her bed.Patty almost screamed in disapproval when the chunky corn chowder from last night splattered on her hand as she held the bucket.She was now also performing nursing duties as a result of this!Simply superb!
After Patty scrubbed her hand until it was raw and cleaned the vomit bucket, she placed the tray over her lap and gently propped pillows behind her mother's head so she could try to eat some soup and drink her tea in comfort.Patty did not appear to be going anywhere else, let alone to school.Not while her mother remained ill.
The phone rang so loudly that it almost made Patty jump out of her skin as she sat down to enjoy a cup of freshly made cocoa with melting marshmallows in the quiet office of her father.She picked up the phone, placed it against her ear, and said, "Hello?" as her silence broke.
"Hello, Patricia, are you my beloved?I'm Mrs. Wilkins, a teacher.I'm just calling to see if you'll be in class today because you were marked as absent for roll call and your younger siblings informed me that your mother is ill.
"Ah, yes!I'm sorry, Mrs. Wilkins; I completely forgot to call because I had so much to do and my mother was sick.To be honest, I have only just sat down."
"Oh my goodness, poor thing!That is quite acceptable.That should be sufficient, so I will mark you as absent for "family reasons."
"I'm grateful, Mrs. Wilkins.When I can return to class, I'm not sure.This morning, Mum threw up once more.And just when I thought she looked much better with her cheeks redone!"
"Hmm, I see, that is indeed cause for concern.I'll see what I can do to prevent you from falling behind in your studies.I might be able to arrange for some workbooks to be completed at home.Naturally, whenever you have time!"
"Um...Okay, Mrs. Wilkins, sure thing!I need to check to see if my mother ate her soup, so I better leave right now. Bye!"
"Of course, yes!The booklets will be sent home with your brother Martin by me.Patricia, bye!Also, please inform your mother that I inquired about her!
"Yes, Mrs. Wilkins!Bye!"
Patty sank back into the cozy armchair in which her father often read from his extensive collection of unusual and rare books that he had accumulated during his travels abroad after hanging up the phone.She regained her appreciation for everything her mother had done for her family in that instant.Patty made a promise to herself that she would work harder to assist her mother whenever she could in the future.
Patty made the decision to begin by cleaning all of her father's office surfaces after noticing the thick layer of dust on his desk.a task her mother had intended to complete prior to her illness.To clean each service, this would require rubber gloves, some polish from Mr. Sheen, and a lot of CHUX cloths.Naturally, a job would not be complete without some motivational music to ease into routine.Patty even managed to surprise herself by dusting underneath rather than around all of the objects when she lifted them up.She was eager to please her mother!
Patty had really come up trumps!As she looked at the once-dust-covered surfaces that were now spotless and shiny, she exuded pride.That's when she noticed something.while she was focused on the task at hand, something she had missed.It seemed to be a glowing, round button-sized object that pulsated like it was alive.It had been concealed in one of her father's mystical and supernatural books.Because they were bound in leather, each book she pulled out to polish seemed to have some dust on them, so Patty must have loosened it inside the pages!
“Patty-cakes!I require you!Just as Patty's mother was about to reach for the shiny object that seemed to be beckoning her to touch it, her mother called out.to experience its enchantment.
Her mother's screams sent her racing upstairs.The sight of her mother all tangled up in the sheets, looking rather distressed, was the first thing Patty saw.In order to free her mother from the bedsheets, Patty carefully untangled them.Patty had lost several hours while staring at "The Shiny," which she had discovered during her cleaning spree earlier that morning, because the bedside clock said it was 1:35 p.m.That would explain why her stomach was grunting at her to eat!
Patty considered how she would discuss "The Shiny" with her mother while preparing a light salad sandwich and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice for herself and her mother.Given the circumstances, it might be preferable to wait until her father returns from his business trip before making the decision.After all, one of his books contained The Shiny.Therefore, it's possible that he was well aware of what it does.
Patty's peace was about to be shattered when her younger siblings began to chatter and get excited when they got home from school.Even so, it was encouraging to see everyone smiling despite everything.It indicated that Patty was not so bad of a substitute mother after all.Martin did not waste any time handing her homework booklet, as Mrs. Wilkins had previously discussed.However, even that was insufficient to dampen Patty's spirits.
Patty checked on her mother to make sure she didn't need anything before going to bed herself after the children had all been fed, washed, and secured in their beds.Patty couldn't wait to show Dad what she had found when he got back tomorrow morning!
Patty had awoken from her deep sleep because of something.a shrill, high-pitched squeal that went right through her eardrums and into her now-throbbing head!She felt a wave of dizziness wash over her as soon as her bare feet touched the ground.She immediately reclined until the sensation subsided.She tried once more to get out of bed to find the source of that horrible noise after she was certain it was over.She had an odd sense that The Shiny was connected to her.
She went to the kitchen utility drawer in search of a flashlight after making sure that everyone else in the house was safe.By turning on the study lights, which were actually quite bright, she didn't want to put everyone at risk of being woken up!She took a slow, deep breath as she felt her heart beat faster and adrenaline kick in to replace the fear that had been creeping up on her.
Patty gently opened the study door and looked over at The Shiny's now very bright pulsating light.Fortunately, the piercing noise had stopped!As she continued to watch the pulsating Shiny expand, its light almost filling the room, she immediately felt calm.She was motivated by this to get even closer to the light's source.Imagine her surprise when the light appeared to collapse into itself and vanish without a trace in a flash!
Patty was saddened to see that The Shiny had vanished as she looked at the empty space where it had once been.She saw a movement out of the corner of her right eye as she was about to turn away and return to bed.Patty's eyes grew large as she came face to face with a dragon as she slowly turned to face whatever had caught her attention.She had never seen such a magnificent beast before!
Patty's last thought was being overcome by the dizziness once more before collapsing to the hardwood floor beneath her!Her world went from shining and bright to dark in an instant!
Martin stared at his sister's semi-conscious body as she sank forward in their father's favorite reading chair with her mouth open and drool slowly trickling down her left cheek.As he checked to see if Patty was okay and wasn't having a seizure, Martin gave off an anxious, bug-eyed look.
Martin, "What the heck!"is all that Patty was able to say.She had the impression that she had been struck by something, like a freight train!with all of her windblown out!
“S-sorry!Patty-Cakes!With all of the drooling and strange expression on your face, I was just checking to see if you weren't having some sort of tantrum!
"Oh... It's okay, I'm fine, Martin."
However, Patty was far from fine!She was really having a hard time deciding between the real and the fake!Particularly in light of last night!
Patty organized the kids and her mother as best she could in her usual morning routine, as if she were operating on autopilot.Patty went into her room to lie down when the house was empty and quiet because she suddenly felt very, very tired.
“Patty!Patty!Get up!”
Patty opened her eyes with trepidation to discover her father seated at the foot of her bed.His face was covered in a worried expression.She screamed out what had transpired while her father had been away when she saw his familiar face and suddenly burst into tears.
I'm so sorry I wasn't able to attend your amazing event, Patty-girl!Wowsers!Wow, wow, and more wows!I was aware of its impending occurrence, but I truly believed I would return in time to assist you!
“Wait!What!You mean to say that you were aware that this would occur?Dad, why didn't you at least let me know?I mean, come on!I thought I had somehow misplaced the plot!”
As he took a tissue from the dispenser on Patty's dresser, Fergus gently held his daughter's tear-stained face in his left hand.Patty was led downstairs into his study by Fergus after he carefully removed the blotches of snot and tears.Fergus prompted Patty to take a seat while he opened a secret draw beneath the bookshelf where all of his paranormal books were and let out a long, deep sigh.Patty's shock at not having discovered the hidden drawer herself is even greater.She also missed her father's pendant, a key in the shape of a dragon that hung from his neck, which he always wore.
Fergus discovered yet another substantial leather-bound book with a glowing dragon emblazoned on its cover when he opened the secret drawer.He handed Patty the book with such pride as he turned to his wide-eyed daughter.Patty seemed to absorb an entire world of information as soon as the book touched her hands.It became abundantly clear that she was the new keeper of the last Dragon.A Role in which her father had resided for more than 40 years.In fact, all of the "business trips" were just a disguise for his actual job.
“Wow!Wow, WOW!Dad!I had no idea that you were so cool!
As he handed Patty the key that had been around his neck for a very long time, Fergus felt tears well up in his eyes.It was strange not to feel the familiar gold dragon's touch on his chest.However, it was time to retire.He was worn out and deserved to spend his retirement with Maggie, his beloved.
There were feelings of excitement and anxiety associated with Patty.What if she was unable to perform her duties as well as her father had over the years?
A strangely recognizable voice that seemed to come from everywhere around her said, "You will do just fine Patty-Cakes."Additionally, she truly believed she would be alright.She clearly had a lot of experience taking care of her younger siblings.Therefore, how difficult would it be to care for a Dragon?