A young girl writes about her life.

Aurora Lee Mendelssohn is my name, and I am 12 years old. I live in Parkersburg, West Virginia, with my family.

I am fairly tall for my age, but I am as skinny as a rail; never could get any meat on my bones! I have long, copper hair and grey eyes; and I also have freckles on the bridge of my nose. I am not a raving beauty, but I am not THAT ugly either!

I have three sisters: Emily-Jayne (10), Cole Marie (Nicole is her name, but we have always called her "Cole"; she is 8), and six-year-old Spring Rain; and I also have two younger brothers, Dalton Kage (4), and the baby of the bunch, 2-year-old Jeb (Jebediah) Peter. There's six of us kids total, in addition to Nonna and Paw-Paw.

Our parents are dead; they died a year ago in a car wreck, and ever since, we have lived with our grandparents here in Parkersburg. We used to live in Elgin, West Virginia, but when our Maw and Paw died, we moved in with Nonna and Paw-Paw.

Now the young'uns really don't remember Maw and Paw, or know (or understand) that they will never see them again, but I am old enough to remember, and ever since, I have been very sad. I have done more than my share of crying, and I have also been doing a lot of writing down my feelings. I have a journal I write in, and if I ever catch the young'uns ever snooping in my journal, boy, I am gonna' WHOMP 'em good!

I am in the sixth grade at Eaton Elementary School, and my teacher's name is Miss Penny. Her name is really Penny Washington, but we kids call her Miss Penny 'cause that is what she told us to call her. She is really nice, and I love school--except for having to put up with that nasty ol' Dade Crockett! He's a PAIN in my BUTT! He's allus telling me that he and I are boyfriend and girlfriend, and I can't STAND HIM! He thinks 'cause his Paw is in politicks he can pick on us 'cause he rich and we ain't! (We's poor folks. Most of us in this town are.) And I don't know WHY he thinks I am his girlfriend when I CAN'T stand the boy!

I was named Aurora 'cause the night I was born, on December 24, 1991 (I'll be a teenager soon), there were the northern lights a-shinin' in the night sky; and Paw was so amazed at 'em that he decided to name his first child (me) after them. They are really called the aurora borealis, but most of the time, people allus call 'em the northern lights. So because of the aurora borealis that night I am named Aurora.

'Sides my brothers and sisters (and also Nonna and Paw-Paw), I also have a pet goat that sleeps outside (or in the living room when it rains or is cold out). Her name is Tinka, and she is brown and white; and she is very sweet. I have had her since she was a baby, and she is my best friend other than my family or my friends at school.

My best friend's name is Tallulah Cole, and she is a year younger than me. Her birthday is in November, so she isn't quite 12 yet. Her birthday falls on Thanksgiving this year. She is really nice, and she and I love to go to each others' house crost the holler; sometimes we spend the night on Friday night. Sometimes I go to her house, and sometimes she'll come to mine. It is really fun when we spend the night 'cause she and I will spend half the night just a-talkin' and sharing ghost tales. (I met Tally in third grade when she moved to town. She came from Ohio after her daddy got transferred on account of his job.)

Well, that is enough about me. There isn't much more to tell. I hope you like what you read so far. Maybe I'll come back one day and tell y'all more about myself and my life. I would write more, but Nonna is callin' me to tell me to take care of the young'uns afore they get into any more mischief. So I gotta' go! 'Bye for now!

~~Aurora Lee.