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THE STAINED GLASS UNICORN
Jodee pedaled her bike as fast as she could, allowing for the busy
downtown traffic. In her back pocket of her jeans was twenty-seven dollars.
She didn't want to think about the puzzled look on the clerk's face when she
returned her beloved unicorn. When the clerk asked why,all Jodee could say was, " I want to get something else."
However, the something else was for her friend, Brian, and it was a bus ticket
to Melford. She couldn't forget the look on Brian's face at the Huntington bus station. When his father's luggage and a letter
arrived, but no dad! Brian had looked forward to his father's visit for weeks. Since his parents' divorce, Brian hadn't seen
him.
His father had a problem with drinking and after the divorce, Mr. Tauls had left
the city for a job in another state. He had also spent nine months in an alcohol-abuse rehabilitation program. He wrote and
called Brian during this time, but never came to visit. Now since he had decided to see Brian, the long bus ride had given
him time to think. Jodee thought, maybe too much time.
Melford was a rest stop before coming in to Huntington, and it's there that Mr.Tauls
got off the bus, leaving the letter on his seat.
When Brian read that letter, once, then twice, he brushed his hand over his eyes
and looked at Jodee. "He can't come, he says he loves me but that he feels terrible about all the trouble his drinking
has caused. He can't face me now, because he doesn't think he's a good enough father for me." Brian looked stricken, " What
am I going to do? He's my dad, the only one I've got!"
It was then they decided Brian should go to Melford. But Brian had only five
dollars and it cost thirty-one dollars for a one-way ticket to Melford. The bus schedule didn't give them much time either.
The next bus out of Huntington was also the bus that would stop in Melford, and if Brian was to catch his dad before Mr. Tauls
returned to St. Louis, he'd have to be on that bus. They had exactly one hour to come up with the money! After ten minutes
of deciding it wasn't possible, Jodee thought of her stained glass unicorn.
The unicorn she had so proudly worked and saved for, doing odd jobs for the neighbors,
saving her birthday money and allowances, till the magic moment came and she had the full amount. Her father had helped her
hang it from her bedroom window. There it was, suspended on its silver chain, dancing through green, surrounded in blue glass.
The beautiful white unicorn with its golden horn! Each piece of glass cut to carefully fit its lead frame. And when the sun's
rays touched it, the unicorn seemed to glow!
But that was over now, she thought, as she rode up to the bus station. She walked
over to Brian, who was standing at the ticket counter, and handed him twenty-seven dollars. He looked at her in amazement
and protested, " You didn't have this money in your savings account, you returned your unicorn didn't you? You worked so hard
for it and spent weeks worrying that someone else would buy it before you could. Why?"
" Don't argue," she said, " just buy the ticket and go to your dad, so he knows
how much he means to you." Brian smiled and gave her a huge hug.
She saw him waving to her from the bus as it pulled out of the station. Dear
God, she thought, please let everything work out for Brain and his dad!
On the way home she passed the gift shop and there in the window, hanging from
its silver chain, was the unicorn. She patted her back pocket where she had tucked the change from the bus ticket. One dollar,
it was a small start, but it was a start. She pedaled home.
By Jacqueline Ann Piech 6/13/1985
JODEE THE IMP
The door to the gift shop bursts open and giggles and the smell of bubble gum mixed
with light perfume fill the shop. The clerk, bent over paper work asks without looking up, " May I help you?"
" We're looking for a gift for Fer-nan-do! You see, Fer-nan-do is Beth's one true
love. And Beth...!" The clerk looks up to see the shorter girl poking an elbow into her friend's side. The friend meets the
clerk's gaze with a broad smile accented by dimpled cheeks and with a twinkle in her almond-shaped, dark brown eyes she laughs.
" Okay, okay, I'm just kidding Beth. Where are your Valentine's Day gifts?" Pointing to the section of shelves loaded with
gifts, the clerk turns back to her work.
" I could kill you," Beth grumbles, her face still a light crimson. "You just love
to embarrass me, don't you?"
The taller girl rocks back and forth on the heels and toes of her light pink sneakers.
Another generous smile fills her thin, heart-shaped face. She purrs in a light alto voice, " Now why would I want to
do that? Beth, you know you are my best-est friend in the whole world, even if you are ga-ga over Fernando."
" But you promised me you wouldn't make a fuss if we went shopping for his Valentine
gift! Now the clerk probably thinks we're a bunch of geeks. Thanks a lot, Jodee!"
" That's what friends are for," Jodee giggles. Suddenly her hands dart out of the
pockets of her gray woolen jacket. Scooping up a white plush unicorn, she holds it to her small bosom and coos,
" I love this. Look at the tiny red hearts in its mane and tail. It's so beautiful!"
" Oh, great! Just what you need, Jodee, another unicorn. Why don't you ask Jamie
to get it for you. He's so dense you have to tell him what to get you for Valentine's Day," Beth says.
Jodee plops the animal down on the shelf. Her long, dark, bountiful hair swirls
across taut shoulders as she turns toward her friend. Jodee snaps, " You're just jealous because Jamie is older than Fern
and has a job and can buy me nice things and can take me on real dates. At least we don't have to sit at home and watch movies
on a DVD."
" Oh, brother!" Beth exclaims. " Here we go again. Can't go anywhere without you
arguing. Look, do you want to help me pick out a gift or not? We only have about thirty minutes before my dad comes to pick
us up from the mall."
Jodee's up-turned nose twitches but her pouty look fades, then she reaches for a
plaque on the wall and hands it to Beth.Crossing her long, jean clad legs, she tucks her hands back into her pockets looking
very pleased with herself. Dark, thick lashes frame twinkling eyes as she says with a smile, " That's perfect. It looks like
you and Fern, check out the poem."
A moment of silence and very quietly Beth answers, " That's what I love about you.
You can be such an imp but you do have class. I'll take it."
Spinning on her heels, Jodee briskly walks to the counter following her friend.
as they leave the shop, Jodee pops back through the closing door and happily announces, " Fernando really is her one true
love." A moan followed by laughter fills the outer walkway as the two girls race off to meet Beth's dad.
By Jacqueline Ann Piech 3/14/1986
JODEE AND THE HORRIBLE UNDER THE BED CREATURE
I hug Jamie and laugh at how quickly his coach leaves him at the door. Mr. Vaber knows
Jamie's mom and how she'd have a zillion questions about poor Jamie's soccer injury, even if it is only a sprained ankle.
Poor Jamie! I reach to hug him again but he pushes me away.
" What's wrong with Brad?"
" Jamie, I just spent the last half-hour trying to calm him down but he still insists
a monster is under his bed, " I say.
" Brad, not again, " Jamie moans. " I thought you were safe now because you new bed sits
on the floor and nothing can get under it."
His little brother starts crying and sucking his thumb again. I really like Brad, he
is such a cutie but sometimes he can be such a pain, like now! The few times I've babysat for the Flechters, we have a regular
ritual of looking under the bed and sitting in Brad's room till he falls asleep. I figured tonight I could get my homework
done and watch some TV this time, since Brad's new bed had just arrived this afternoon. I guess I figured wrong. And
now I'm not so sure I'm glad Jamie came home early as he's trying to force Brad into his bed. I better think of something
quick before Brad gets hysterical.
" Brad, what if we take your bed apart, just to make sure there is nothing under it?"
I ask, even though I'm a little scared myself. When Brad called me into his room earlier, I could have sworn I heard a strange
scratching sound coming from under his platform bed.
Sort of making this like a game, we march into the bedroom. Jamie and I remove our 'army
helmets' but Brad keeps his cooking pot on his head and holds the flashlight we gave him for protection, tightly between his
little hands. I giggle at the sight of this little soldier, Brad gives me a faint smile but his large, blue eyes stay glued
to the bed. Poor kid! I really hope this proves to him for once and for all that there are no such things as monsters. I think
perhaps my mind was playing tricks on me earlier.
" Jodee, you'll have to help lift the boards off, " Jamie says as he hobbles around
the bed removing the screws one by one.
What was that? There really are hissing and scratching noises! I know Jamie hears them
too by the way he is backing up against the mattress leaning on the wall. We look at each other and then at Brad cowering
in the corner beside his dresser. He keeps whimpering something about a monster.
Oh no! The lamp tumbles off the dresser leaving us all in darkness. Jamie loses his end
of one of the boards from the base of the bed. It is too heavy to hold by myself and as it slides across the bed a deafening
thud fills the room.
Something with glowing eyes and sharp claws pounces on my chest, I scream and try to
pull off whatever is on me. I can feel its hot breathe on my face and throat. I close my eyes tightly, I don't want to see
this horrible creature's face! My heart's pounding like a sledgehammer, how can this be happening? There are no such things
as monsters!
Why are Jamie and Brad laughing hysterically? I'm doomed! It must be so awful, they just
flipped out looking at it. I don't want to know, but I have to.
Slowly I open one eye, the beam from the flashlight is shining directly on the creature.
I can't believe my eyes or my own wild imagination. Bewildered and embarrassed I ask, " I thought your mom had put Rascal
out for the night?" I rub his head and chin as he clings to me for dear life. " I guess you were just as frightened of me
as I was of you." I softly tell the Flechters' cat.
Looking at Jamie and Brad still giggling, I ask, " Boy! For a minute I thought I was
a goner. Who would have ever guessed your silly cat got himself stuck under the bed when it got set up today?"
" I never saw you so paranoid, you really thought a monster was attacking you. I'll never
forget the look on your face," teases Jamie.
" Your just glad it wasn't you, though I guess I must have looked pretty funny. Let's
get the light back on and get Brad's bed together. Ready to go to bed now?" I ask Brad as I hand him, Rascal, the 'monster'.
He eagerly nods yes.
Well Brad is safe and sound asleep on his new bed while Jamie and I watch TV. He
keeps giggling and teasing me so I know I will never live this down, but I still can't help wonder how Jamie would have
acted if Rascal had pounced on him instead of me?
By Jacqueline Ann Piech 9/16/1986
Freedom for Fritter
"Follow me, squeaked Fritter as she dashed up the back of the curtains. Chewy,
her mate, was right behind her as they jumped for the open bedroom window. Alfred The Awful, as the gerbils had named him,
did too. Up went Alfred's big paws and bang, the window slammed shut!
The Irish Setter ran and hid in a corner, cowering and whimpering.
"Whew! That was close," gasped Chewy.
"Too close," agreed Fritter.
"What a mess!" Chewy exclaimed.
Pressing her pink nose against the glass, Fritter looked around the bedroom. Overturned
furniture, toys, books and papers were every where. Even the gerbils' cage and its contents were spilled across the floor.
"That's for sure, Chewy! Ryan, our human, should have checked the bedroom door
to make sure it was closed. I guess he was late or something. He certainly left in a big hurry this morning. Look at Alfred
licking his paw. He must have hurt it on the window. Serves him right! Chasing us like...."
Chewy interrupted, "That's not what I mean, Fritter. We're the ones who are
in a mess! In case you haven't noticed we're trapped. How are we going to get out of here?"
Fritter saw what he meant. In front of them was glass and behind them was a screen.
Noticing a small tear in the screening, she said, "Look, we can get out through here."
"But where will we go?" Chewy asked.
" Why outdoors of course. The big, wide, wonderful outdoors."
The hole she had just finished chewing, was now large enough to squeeze through
and Fritter said, "Come on, what are you waiting for? Unless you'd prefer to stay here." Fritter pointed behind Chewy.
"Rowf! Rowf!" Alfred's huge red head and paws appeared on the other side of the
glass.
Chewy looked at Alfred The Awful and then back at Fritter. "Well maybe we could
go out and stand on the window sill."
Crawling through the hole, Fritter announced, "There's too much to explore. I'm
not sitting around here all day."
Hoping to change her mind, Chewy asked, "Well what about our human, Ryan, won't
he be upset to find us gone?"
"Oh, Chewy! Ryan's been too busy with his friends. Why he won't even miss us probably.
After all Ryan didn't even take time to close the bedroom door. How do you think the dog came in?" Fritter, her arms crossed,
hunched down, her whiskers twitching as she waited to see what excuse her mate would try next.
"I guess you're right, but Ryan left in such a big hurry I think forgetting
to check the door was an accident." Chewy knew there was no sense arguing with Fritter once her mind was set on something.
"But before we go off exploring..."
Fritter scampered off before Chewy could finish.
How could Chewy not want to visit such an exciting place? Instead of being caged
up and watching from behind a window, they could really touch, taste, smell and be a part of this wonderful world. Just then
Chewy's plump body plopped down beside her.
"Oh, look!" Fritter exclaimed, as she darted off to chase a monarch butterfly.
"Please be careful, Fritter," pleaded Chewy.
"Don't be such a jittery gerbil," she teased. Spying some seeds, Fritter said,
"Stop fretting and have one of these."
Chewy caught the sunflower seed that she tossed to him. As he cracked the shell
open with his sharp front teeth, he noticed a trail of acorns, grains and seeds that led right up to the downspout of the
rain gutters. "Fritter," Chewy spoke between bites, "I guess this wasn't such a bad idea after all. At least we have plenty
to eat."
Just then a rumbling echoed from the downspout. Dropping the piece of grain she
held, Fritter's ebony eyes widened as a scowling chipmunk came stomping toward the two gerbils.
Chattering and scolding, the chipmunk slapped the food out of Chewy's paws. Whoosh!
The half-eaten seed flew up in the air. The two gerbils began to back away. "We're sorry, we didn't think this belonged to
anyone," Fritter apologized.
Fritter ducked and rolled under some ivy as the chipmunk lunged at them, landing
on poor Chewy. The two animals tumbled out of the flowerbed and onto the lawn. Suddenly, as an awful roar filled the
air, the fighting chipmunk turned and retreated back to the downspout.
Dazed, Chewy lay on his back. The ground vibrated beneath him as a loud vrooming
noise made his ears twitch. He jumped to his feet just in time to see a large, metal, chewing monster heading straight for
him!
From under her ivy, Fritter darted toward Chewy. The metal monster growled and
spit bits of grass and leaves at her and she backed off, trembling. Again the monster roared and turned as the human riding
on its back drove it across to the neighboring lawn. Fritter looked across the yard, Chewy was nowhere in sight.
Her little heart racing, Fritter ran frantically to the place where Chewy had
last stood. There was no trace of him. As she searched, Fritter thought, "All I wanted was to have fun exploring, to smell,
touch and eat wonderful things but never this." Just then she spotted something under a maple tree. It was Chewy but he wasn't
moving!
Fritter nudged his still body. She cried, "I promise no more exploring, no more
outdoors. Just please be alright. Oh,Chewy, it's all my fault. I'm so sorry."
Stunned, Chewy mumbled, "My tail, I'm afraid to look. Is it there? I jumped to
get out of its way but that thing bit my tail."
"Oh Chewy, you're alive!" She hugged him rejoicing, "Silly, you still have a tail,
well sort of."
Chewy opened his eyes, sat up and looked. His tail was pink and bald where the
fur was missing. Clutching his tail, he said, "I thought I lost you."
"And I thought I had lost you. Let's go home," Fritter said as she hugged him
again.
Cautiously looking for the metal monster, Fritter declared, "All clear," and they
dashed across the yard as fast as their feet could carry them and scurried back through the window screen.
The gerbils saw Ryan and his parents were busy cleaning up the mess in the bedroom.
"They don't know we're out here. What can we do?" Chewy asked.
"We'll have to get their attention," Fritter answered and started thumping her
back feet against the window pane. Chewy joined in.
When Fritter saw Ryan's tear-stained face, she knew she had been wrong about him.
As the window opened, she and Chewy rushed to their human's waiting arms.
Chewy whispered, "I think Ryan's as glad to see us as we are to see him."
Nestled between Chewy and Ryan, Fritter felt their beating hearts. She knew nothing
could be as exciting as being surrounded by love. "Yes, Chewy, it's great to be home," she said as she hugged them both.
By Jacqueline Ann Piech
02/1990
 Hurray For Spring
Cold winter is gone for awhile.
Soft showers make flowers smile.
No more boots or cold noses.
Soon there will be red roses.
Big rain puddles to jump over.
Bunnies munch on fresh clover.
The sun appears on the scene.
Birds chirp, grass turns green.
Everything new this season brings.
We cheer hurrah-hurray for Spring!
By Jacqueline Ann Piech
03/21/2008
My Magical Ship
With both my feet I push off earth.
Take off is a sweet skyward burst.
Momentum builds, wind blows my hair.
Sun kisses my face as higher I dare.
A magical ship to touch the sky.
Soon I will pass birds flying by!
Reaching to clouds with pointed toes.
Guessing how high I really can go.
Mom calls, my flight must end.
Slowly to earth I softly descend.
I have fun pretending whenever I swing.
Wonder what tomorrow's trip will bring?
By Jacqueline Ann Piech
05/18/2008
 The Hamster's Secret
Settling down for bed I gazed at my hamster's home.
Sandy was asleep, tucked safely inside unable to roam.
I slept the whole night through but woke with a start.
Sandy's lid was pushed off and panic seized my heart!
Looking through every nook and cranny of my little room.
No hamster to be found, I worried was Sandy doomed?
Then I noticed I was missing my right soft plastic shoe.
I had left it beside my bed as a pair shiny and new.
Were other things missing I wondered, asking myself?
Pencils and a sail from a large boat on the desk shelf.
Something drew me to the window, slowly I pulled up the shade.
Sandy, in the center of the pool, proud of the boat he had made!
The missing sail stuck firmly in the shoe I once wore.
Pencils I had written with now served as tiny oars.
Sandy waved and tipped the captain's hat upon his head.
He steered the shoe boat to help the sail and wind wed.
A swimming pool was his deep blue ocean, a tiny sailor brave.
Touching the snooze button, my ears, from the alarm were saved.
What a crazy dream I thought as I dressed and put on each shoe.
The right one was feeling very wet and from it my foot I withdrew.
Picking it up, the small hole in the top flap made me blink.
In the hamster's house stood Sandy, giving me a quick wink!
By Jacqueline Ann Piech
03/13/2008
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