The Headache by Lydia, age 7
A few weeks ago, Lydia and I went to Allentown with Lydia’s mom. When I climbed into the car, I could tell that taking a long drive was not Lydia’s idea of a good time today. I sat in the back seat with my special “Frida bag” to help make the time go faster.
The Frida bag, purchased in San Antonio, has always carried books and art supplies.
Inside the bag was a graph paper book with a hard cover. I asked Lydia if she wanted to write a story. She took a pen and got to work. Here is the first page, where we meet our heroine, Delilah. She lives with old-fashioned parents in an old-fashioned house.
The Headache. Gotta love phonics, right?
Once upon a time there was an old house with a crooked roof and a shabby door under a sad sun. In that house lived a little girl named Delilah. Delilah had old-fashioned parents — just like her house! Delilah liked her house a lot, but there was just one problem. Delilah’s parents loved to talk. They talked to her in the morning, afternoon, and night. And she was SICK of it. So Delilah went to her room. It was peaceful and quiet there. That’s why she enjoyed it.
Mom on left. Delilah on the right. “Did you know you are going to have fun today?” “I wish,” said Delilah.
Also, Delilah’s house was a mansion. It took a long time to find the staircase, but there it was, and it led right to her room. Just as she was about to enter, her mom found her. She started talking so loudly even the crows on the next farm could hear her! At last her mom stopped talking, and she could go to her room in peace.
Then she started thinking, “Why does my mom have a big nose, and also, no hands, but a heart? And why does she talk so loud?
I guess I’ll sleep through it. And I’ll go to Dunkin’ Donuts for breakfast tomorrow.”
Delilah at rest.
Thus ended Chapter One.
(By the way, we had lots of fun that day!)
This story reminds me a little of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good,Very Bad Day. What do you think will happen in Chapter two? The author really wants to know your thoughts.
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Julia, age 11, and Lydia, age 7, co-authors of Chapter Two.
Lydia was so happy to see all the comments on this post. She appreciated how you seemed to understand Delilah and how stories work. She read them with her cousin Julia. Julia and Lydia live 1200 miles apart from each other and only get two or three long visits each year. We are in the midst of our summer visit, and both girls enjoy reading, writing, and illustrating stories. Here’s what they did after reading comments:
Note Mom peaking in the door.
They go to Dunkin Donuts and then dance. Even Grandma shows up!
Thanks again, everyone, for helping us celebrate the power of stories together.
I have a few of these kinds of stories by the grandkids as well, usually composed during our cottage holidays. I kept them in a special notebook which I brought along every summer.. This summer I forgot to bring it. The kids are now all in their teens and early twenties and.it’s a different scenario. But they stilll all love to come!
I remember reading about the special notebook you take every summer., Elfrieda. I am sure there are many memories locked in that notebook. Each stage of development brings different kinds of creative endeavors. You are the constant in their lives, and you gather all their creative energies as they move out of Lydia’s stage into young adulthood. I know they count on you for that. Oh, and by the way, I enjoyed coming across your name in Marlene Epp’s book, Eating Like a Mennonite.
I was quite surprised myself to see my name in Marlene’s amazing book about Mennonites and food! The book gave me much food for thought!
Maybe Lydia’s story needs an animal that communicates feelings without talking … a companion animal inside the house and/or outside animal. Please tell Lydia I now make my living writing stories and I really, really like hers.
I can’t wait to show Lydia your comment, Maren. You have a wonderful instinct for this young author’s world. She has a cat named Cupcake and a cousin cat named Biscuit. They appear in many of her drawings. Now they might appear in Chapter Two of this story. Thank you so much for taking time to read and encourage a young aspiring author. I will tell her you are the real deal. 🙂
Lydia, I really enjoyed Chapter 1 and look forward to chapter 2. Having donuts always makes me feel better. Does Delilah have a friend or grandma who might want to go for donuts with her?
Thanks for this great question, Roveen. You helped inspire Lydia and her cousin Julia to write Chapter 2. See above.
Lydia, you are so very lucky to have a Grandma as a literary agent to showcase your work as a published author at age seven. Wowsa!
Tell you Grandma that I admire her for encouraging you. And I also remember that special “Alexander” book by Judith Viorst, another writer who isn’t afraid to express her true feelings.
Ha, Marian. You made me laugh. We are both fans of Judith Viorst, and Alexander is one of her very best books, in my opinion.
Shirley, thank you so much for sharing a granddaughter’s story.
Lydia as a 7-year-old has a wonderful talent as an author and an artist. I like that she wrote that Delilah’s mother has no hands but a heart.
Perhaps in Chapter 2 Lydia could write that, “after sleeping through it,” Delilah could have a change of 💜 and ask her mother if there is something she needs her to do for her. Then off they both go to Dunkin’ 🍩 Donuts 🍩 together.
Barbara, thanks for those good emojies. You must have creative grandchildren yourself! I think you will find that your suggestions were taken seriously! I added Chapter Two to the story above.
I can’t wait for the next chapter! I wouldn’t want to stifle the young author with any outside thoughts! Please tell Lydia to keep writing!
Sarah, your wish has been supplied. See the three pages now added to the story after Lydia and her cousin Julia read the comments. Also, thanks for recognizing the sanctity of a young person’s imagination. You know.
I am wondering what will come in the story’s next chapter, Lydia. Chapter 1 created a good deal of engaging suspense! 🙂 I like the idea that Delilah isn’t sure about several important concerns. Taking a break, getting a good nights rest, going somewhere fun like the donut shop— those are all good choices when perplexed. Maybe you will delve into an answer for each of the 3 questions in chapters 2-4 and your fifth chapter will show how understanding the questions helps Delilah understand her mom and herself. Of course that’s just one idea. You will probably come up with a good plan on your own because it’s your story.🥳 I particularly like the detail in your story illustrations. Thanks for sharing. I hope we get to read chapter 2 soon.
Di, thanks for this lovely explanation of how details work in stories. Can’t wait to share it with Lydia and her cousin Julia when they get back from camp today. You may even inspire the girls to take the story into five chapters! We’ll see. Chapter 2 emerged this morning when the girls saw the comments the first readers made. Thanks, dear Grandma, for chiming in!
Budding Roz Chast! I wouldn’t mess with that imagination!
This was a wonderful inspiration to offer both girls. Yes, Roz Chast is one of my favorite writer-artists. I enjoy her Instagram feed and shared it with both Lydia and Julia. They liked her too. You can see Chapter Two, above, now. They got into it!
Granny has white hair and black glasses—love it and the bunk beds! Thanks for sharing.
🙂
I enjoyed Lydia’s story! And I think she already has a good sense of how to tell a story. Delilah has started wondering why Mom is the way she is, so now we wonder too. That makes us want to read more! And I like the art that goes with the story, too. It helps give an added expression of what Delilah is feeling, just like graphic novels do. Please tell Lydia to keep writing and drawing!
How insightful, Tina. As a librarian, you know how stories work! Chapter two, added above, was written before Lydia and Julia read your comment. They didn’t explore why Mom is the way she is. But I will talk to them about the element of suspense. How authors drop little facts in stories that turn into questions in the readers’ minds. Julia is a big fan of graphic novels. She may have written a few herself.
How fortunate Lydia has you, Shirley, to nurture her wonderful imagination! Plus, I’m thinking you also know about all the fun! Party on!
Ha, Phyllis, I actually showed up in Chapter two (see addition above) with a “fun” bubble over my head. Thanks for encouraging us here in Tulsa.
I love Lydia’s story and her illustrations! She is VERY talented. Write on, Lydia!
Sweet of you, Grandpa Richard, to send these words. I’ll bet your house is full of pictures and stories from those lovely grandchildren I enjoy seeing on Instagram.
Hi, this is Lydia. I like how you inspire me to write even more stories. I’m already thinking about one about colors, which is what my mom loves. And my cousin Julia is already illustrating it right now!