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Jackie leans out the car window. April 16th Dear diary: today we moved the last of our stuff to our new home in Teaville Washington. The moving truck travels an empty road at night. I have exactly 14 hours to get settled in. They pass a sign that reads ‘Tea-vill population 3,000 tomorrow at eight I start at the local Junior High. The truck pulls into a drive way. Oh joy! Jackie-ug! Our house is Yellow. Dad-hey! Nothing’s perfect.
Jackie sits on her bed writing. Her cat is curled up next to her. I wish dad didn’t have to move around so much. I never get to settle into one school or the other. Here at Teaville junior high I only have two months before summer vacation. But on the bright side, that’s only two month of being ignored and laughed at by the other students. Jackie’s dad enters the room. Dad- the boxes in the corner have your clothes. Good night hon. Jackie- Alright. Dad- Well...good night then. Jackie-Good night!
April 17th Dear diary: to day I made an enemy. I managed to get to class alright and on time too. The teacher was having a test that day and asked me to help her hand out papers since I wouldn’t be participating. Jackie gets the papers from the teacher. That's when I ran into trouble...and her name was Rebecca. As Jackie passes Rebecca’s desk, Rebecca trips her. Jackie falls and papers fly everywhere. Rebecca snickers. Rebecca-oh I’m soooo sorry. Teacher-Are you O.K. Jackie? Jackie-yeah I’m fine. Teacher-Good. Rebecca, could you help her with those. Rebecca-Of course, Mrs. Plumb. Rebecca helps Jackie. Rebecca-welcome to Teaville, city girl. Why couldn’t I have gone to a boarding school somewhere? Jackie puts her diary and pen down she goes to the window. Bonny hops up on the sill. A light falls across the sky. Jackie-look Bonny a falling star. Better make a wish. I wish… I wish for a friend...a least one friend in this place.
April 18th Dear diary today was kind of nice despite the fact that Rebecca ‘accidentally’ spilled her milk on me at lunch. Why? You ask. I met my locker neighbor. Jackie takes her books out of her locker. Some one pushes past her and she drops her books. Girl-hey! Watch it, clumsy. Jackie bends down to pick up her books. A pair of feet stop in front of her. Darius bends down and helps her collect her books. They stand up. Darius hands her books to her. Jackie pushes her hair back. Jackie-thank you. Darius-hey my name is Darius, you must be new here. Jackie-um yeah. I’m Jackie. Another boy comes up to them. Boy-hey Darius you coming? Darius-yeah just a minuet. Darius takes a book out of the locker next to Jackie’s. he shuts it. Darius-see ya later, Jackie. Jackie-bye. Jackie watches him leave. She sighs. She turns and shuts her locker. Oh diary! Darius is just dreamy. It’s kind of neat that he noticed me. He's so nice. Oh well, tomorrow is Saturday so I won't be seeing him again till Monday. Curse the weekends. P.S. maybe if my wish comes true he will be my friend.
May 19th Oh Diary you won’t believe it. I met the strangest person today. O.K I’ll tell you the whole story. It started out I was just working on some homework in my room Jackie lays on her bed with a math book. A loud noise startles her. She sits up. The tree outside her window shakes. She hears another thump. She goes to the window. She gasps. A skinny girl hangs by one leg from the tree branch. Pepsi-well hello! Don’t just stands there. Help me down! Jackie-oh! sorry! Just a minuet. Jackie runs down stairs and out the door. She runs around the corner of the house. The girl is gone. Jackie-that’s strange. Pepsi’s pet runs up to Jackie. Jackie-oh! Hello! Where did you come from? Pepsi-why did you run away? Jackie screams, startled. Pepsi-oooh you sound like a wild pindatoe in the jergerian valley. Jackie-what? Pepsi-thanks for catching pip for me. Jackie-what is it? Pepsi-he’s a Pooma bullygoat. Jackie-that’s a goat. Pepsi-do you like paper cups? I like paper cups. Jackie-you're kind of freaking me out. Pepsi giggles. Pepsi-I like you! Jackie-who are you and what were you doing in my tree. Pepsi-I’m Pepsi. But not the kind you drink. Ooooooh a butterfly. Pepsi holds out her hand and a butterfly lands on her finger. Jackie-Neat how did you do that? Pepsi-I have special powers. Jackie-yeah right. So, do you live around here? Pepsi-Yeah! I just arrived. Jackie-really? Me too. I came from Montana. Where did you move from? Pepsi-Jupiter! Did you know that no matter how hard you try you can’t touch your elbow to your ear? Jackie-Well...I never really thought about it… Wait! I didn’t know there was a place on earth called Jupiter. Pepsi-ha! There’s not. Jackie-But you can’t be from Jupiter in space. Pepsi-but I am. I just arrived here on earth two nights ago. And It’s such a beautiful planet. You’re lucky to live here. I’m just visiting. Jackie-O.K. I get it. this is you just playing a joke on me right? Pepsi-nope! Could you help me find my friend. Jackie-What? Er..sure, what is you friends name? Pepsi-hmmm. I’m not sure. It might be Harry… no maybe it’s Jessie. No that’s not right either. Oh well we’ll ask when we find her. Jackie-Err…O.K. where should we look. Pepsi-ha lets go look at the Star Mart down the street. They sell some wonderful treats that make your mouth giggle in happiness. Jackie giggles. Jackie-you say the weirdest things. Pepsi-come on. Pepsi carries pip and Jackie runs after them. They arrive at the store and enter it. Pepsi-mmmm…look! Pepsi holds up a can of soda. Pepsi-it’s me. In a can. You know I taste pretty darn good. You earth people make everything taste soooo wonderful Jackie-right! Do you see your friend here. Pepsi-oh my friend. Hmmm. Not yet. But she’ll be here. I just know it. What would you like? Pick anything. Jackie-um I don’t have any money. Pepsi-that’s O.K. just pick something you like. Jackie picks up a bag of m&ms. Pepsi grabs a bag of gummy bears. They go to the front counter. Clerk-Hey Pepsi! How can I help you ladies? Pepsi-I would like all this stuff, please. Clerk-sure! that will be five dollars. Pepsi-oh…well…I have three rocks and this bird’s feather. Will that be enough? Jackie-um…Pepsi? I don’t think… Clerk-well…I think you need two feathers to make it good. Jackie-WHAT? Pepsi-oh…well. Is it O.K. if we have the candy now and when I find another feather I can give it to you? C-well…O.K. Pepsi. Just for you. Pepsi-thank you! Come on. Pepsi grabs the candy and Jackie’s hand. She pulls Jackie out of the store. Jackie-hey! Do you know him? Pepsi-yep! he sure is nice isn’t he. Pepsi crouches down. Jackie-how come he let you have this stuff for free? Pepsi-nothings free silly. And we still owe him a feather. Jackie-but people can’t just buy things with rocks and feathers. Pepsi-I can. Pepsi picks up a rock. Pepsi-let’s trade! You find a nice feather and I’ll give you this beautiful rock. Jackie-but what about your friend? Pepsi-we’ll come right back. Look over there! A bird’s nest. there’s sure to be a feather in it. Jackie-O.K. Jackie and Pepsi go to the tree. Pepsi gives Jackie a boost and Jackie climbs to the nest. Inside are three baby birds. Jackie-oh…how cute. I wonder where their mother is. Pepsi-hurry we have to get back. Jackie picks a feather from the nest and climbs down. Jackie-there you go. Pepsi-thanks! They hear the sound of a bird calling. Pepsi frowns. Pepsi-it sounds like someone’s in trouble. Jackie spots the small bird caught in a bush. Jackie-over here. Pepsi and Jackie rush over to the troubled bird. Carefully, Pepsi helps the bird out. It tries to fly away but stumbles about with only one wing moving. Jackie-oh…I think it’s wing is broken. Pepsi-Here let me. Pepsi takes the bird in her hands. Jackie-I think it needs a doctor. Pepsi lets the bird go and it flies away. Jackie-no way! That’s impossible. Pepsi-lets go. Pepsi runs back to the shop and Jackie follows. Pepsi gives the feather to the clerk. Clerk-thanks, by the way who is you’re friend? Pepsi-oh I was going to ask but I forgot…what’s your name? Jackie-who me? Pepsi-yeah! Jackie-I’m Jackie. Pepsi and Jackie leave. Jackie-so where is your friend you were suppose to meet? Pepsi-oh I found her. Jackie-what do you mean? Pepsi gives Jackie the rock she picked up. Pepsi-well to be my friend first I have to buy you something you like, then you have to get something for me that I need, finally I have to ask you your name. Jackie-but… Pepsi-That means you’re my friend. Jackie-But...Oh. Well, that’s the strangest way I’ve ever made a friend. Pepsi- I have ta go home now. But I’ll see you tomorrow, Jackie. Pepsi turns and starts to run. Jackie-Wait! Where do you live? Pepsi-oh I live on my ship. Pepsi runs off. Jackie stares after her. ...And then she just ran off. With her strange goat thing running after her. Can you believe it. I can’t and I was there. Jackie puts down her diary and lays on her back.
April 20th Dear diary. Today I saw Pepsi again. I know there are no such thing as aliens but some of the stuff she does makes me wonder. But on the other hand I also saw Darius… Pepsi stands on her head. Jackie sits with Bonny in her lap. Pip licks Pepsi’s face causing her to laugh and lose her balance. Jackie-so if you’re really from Jupiter what is it like. Pepsi falls down. Pepsi-oh it’s O.K. but everyone looks the same there and they all have to wear the same thing and do the same thing and…it’s much nicer here. I can do and say and wear what ever I want. And I have you. Darius-hey there! Hullo! Darius walks up hands in pockets. Jackie-hi Darius! Darius-so what are you up to? Jackie-oh me and Pepsi were just hanging around. Darius-oh. You just hang with you cat often. Jackie-wha…oh no my cat is Bonny. Pepsi is my friend… Jackie looks around but, Pepsi has disappeared. Jackie-well, I guess she wandered off somewhere. So what are you you up to? Do you live around here? Darius-yah I live at the other end of this street. I was just headed for Star Mart to pick up some milk for my mom. Say! Do you want to walk down there with me? Jackie-sure…oh wait. I have to find Pepsi first she might want to go too. Jackie gets up. Jackie-PEPSI Jackie pip dodge behind a tree. Jackie runs to the tree. She looks up and sees Pepsi in the branches. Pepsi-hey Jackie! I almost caught a blue jay. It might help if I had some salt for its tail. Jackie-listen Pepsi do you want to go the Star Mart with me and Darius. Pepsi-oh sure! I just want to catch this bird first. You guys go ahead. I’ll catch up. Jackie-O.K. Jackie hurries over to Darius. Jackie-Pepsi said she’d catch up. The two walk down the street. Darius-so how come you guys moved here? Jackie-oh, my dad is a contractor and his work takes him around. So now we’re here. Darius-does you’re mom work too? Jackie-my mom died in a car accident when I was three. Darius-oh…I’m sorry. Jackie-it’s O.K. I don’t remember her and my dad has always taken good care of me. So how long have you lived here? Darius-oh I’ve been here almost my whole life. I was born in Texas and a year later my parents moved us up here. we've lived here ever since. Jackie-Wow, you must know everyone here. Darius-more or less. Jackie-that’s what I hate most about moving around so much. I never get a chance to make good friends or get to know people. Darius- Sounds tough. Darius and Jackie enter the store. Jackie-hey you know something weird happened the other day. Darius-what’s that? Jackie-I came in here with Pepsi and we got some stuff. When we went to pay for them Pepsi… Rebecca-Well, well, Look who’s here. Jackie turns and sees Rebecca and some of her friends standing around. Rebecca-better not get too close to her. She’s really clumsy. The girls with her laugh at Jackie. Darius-What’s going on? Rebecca is startled. Rebecca-oh…Darius I didn’t know you were here. Darius-Hey, Rebecca. Jackie starts as she sees Pepsi pop out from behind a shelf. Pip is sniffing around and Pepsi crawls after him sniffing the floor. Rebecca-I see your getting to know our new classmate. Darius-yeah I was just on my way here and she happens to live on my street. Pepsi waves to Jackie and disappears. Rebecca-really! Well, I was just leaving? Darius-Oh yeah? Well, bye then. Rebecca-yeah…See ya later. Rebecca turns away and heads towards the door. Darius goes to gets the milk. Jackie sees Pepsi whispering to the sales man. The man stops Rebecca as she is about to leave. Clerk-Excuse me, but you forgot to pay for that stuff. Rebecca is startled. Rebecca-Wha...I don’t... Clerk-could you empty your pockets please. Rebecca takes the stolen items out of her pockets and puts them on the counter. She hurries out of the store. Pepsi appears at Jackie’s side. Pepsi-Hey, where’s your boyfriend? Jackie-he’s not my boyfriend. Pepsi how did you get here so quick. Pepsi-I flew. Jackie-no. really. Darius-hey! I’m ready to go. Jackie-great! Darius this is Pepsi. Pepsi? Pepsi is gone. Darius-maybe she’s shy. Well then we checked out and he walked me back home. Pepsi didn’t show up again so I just with Darius for the rest of the day.
April 21st Well, diary, today was interesting. I didn’t see Pepsi at school so I guess she doesn’t go to the same one as me. But I still got to learn more about her… Rebecca stops beside Jackie in the lunch room. Rebecca-so you like to tattle tale. How goody, goody of you. Jackie-what are you talking about? Rebecca picks up Jackie’s cup. Rebecca-I bet you thought you were real smart making a fool of me in front of Darius at the store yesterday. Rebecca pours the drink on Jackie’s lap. Jackie jumps up. Jackie-hey! I didn’t tell on you. Rebecca-right, I bet you didn’t leave that dirt in my book bag either. Jackie-I didn’t. Darius-hey Rebecca. Why don’t you leave her alone. Rebecca-Oh...hi Darius. I was just… never mind. Rebecca walks away. Darius hands Jackie a napkin. Darius-here. I guess Rebecca’s changed a lot. We grew up here together. she didn’t use to be this way. Jackie wipes at her pants with the napkin. Jackie-thanks. Darius-can I sit with you? Jackie-oh sure. Darius-I saw your friend Pepsi last night. Jackie-really. Darius-yeah. Me and my dad were helping a family that just moved in to unpack. A Mr. and Mrs. Cola and their two kids. Pepsi and Coke. They have this weird pet. Some kind of goat. Jackie-yeah. I know. Funny though. Pepsi likes to tell me that she’s from Jupiter. So who’s Coke? Darius-oh Coke is her brother. He’s about 20 and works at the Star Mart. Jackie-ah ha, that makes sense. Say did you notice anything strange about Pepsi when you met her. Darius-no, she seemed normal, but her parents acted kind of weird when ever she was around them. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. I decided to find out more from Pepsi herself. But what happened later only rose more questions. After school I found Pepsi waiting for me at my house. Jackie sees Pepsi sitting on her porch. Pepsi-hello Jackie. Jackie-hey Pepsi Cola. Pepsi-Oh Jackie we have a lot to do today. Jackie-Wait! You told me that you lived in a space ship. Pepsi-I do. And today I’m going to take you to see it. Jackie-really? Pepsi-yup. Come on! Pepsi takes off running andJackie follows. Jackie-but you can’t have a space ship. Pepsi-why not? Pepsi and Jackie travel down the street and into a woods. Jackie-Darius told me about your family just moving in, and your brother working at the store. Pepsi-They aren’t aliens. They’re from earth. I'm just visiting them. They travel through the woods. Jackie-gee Pepsi. I’m getting kind of tired. are we there yet? Pepsi stops. Pepsi- yeah. We’re here. Jackie looks around. Jackie-I don’t see any thing. Pepsi-cause it’s camouflaged. Jackie-oh right. Pepsi pulls some bushes back and Jackie sees a ship door. Jackie-no way it can’t be. Pepsi-come inside. Jackie follows Pepsi inside. Controls and buttons cover the walls. Two seats face a window covered with branches. Jackie-this is impossible. Pepsi-do you like it? Jackie-Yeah it’s kind of small though. They sit in the seats. Pepsi turns her seat towards Jackie. Pepsi-you’re the best friend I’ve ever had. Jackie-thanks. You’re the only alien friend I’ve ever had. Pepsi-I wanted to show you this before I left... Jackie-you’re leaving? Pepsi-I want you to remember me when I’m gone. Jackie-of course, but Pepsi were are you going? Pepsi-back home. Jackie-are you coming back. Pepsi was still. Jackie-Pepsi? Pepsi-no. I’m not coming back. Jackie-but Pepsi your family just moved here. Are they sending you away? Pepsi-No. The Cola family does not want me to leave either but, they know I must. Jackie-I don’t get it Pepsi. Pepsi smiles. Pepsi-Never mind lets go to the Star Mart. We have to do lots of fun stuff on our last day together. Pepsi opens the door and gets out. Jackie follows. well we went to the Star Mart and got some more stuff there. But now some part of me is starting to wonder about what Pepsi says. I guess I’ll just have to see what happens tomorrow.
May 24th Dear Diary I know is been a while. But in two days I lost a close friend and aged about ten years. At seven thirty in the morning on May 22nd Coke Cola arrived at our house and talked to my dad… Jackie’s dad closes the door. Dad-Jackie come here please. Jackie-dad! What is it? Dad-Jackie, Pepsi Cola died in her sleep early this morning. Jackie-NO! She can’t be dead. I just saw her yesterday. Dad-she was sick Jackie. Jackie-NO! You don’t know what you’re talking about. Dad-Hon, I know you two were close but she’s gone now. Jackie-NO! She just went home that’s it. I saw her ship. She went back to Jupiter Dad-stop it Jackie! You’re hysteric. Jackie-no I believe her now! She just went home. Jackie falls to the floor crying. Her dad picks her up and hugs her. Dad-it O.K. I know what it’s like to lose some one special. Jackie pushes away. Jackie-she’s not dead. Her ship! It must be gone. Jackie runs out of the house. Dad-Jackie! Come back! Jackie runs down the street. She runs until she reaches the woods. She runs through the woods. She find the ship. Jackie pulls at the branches she uncovers the wrecked airplane. She falls to her knees and cries. Why do the best things in life have to be dreams? Coke leads Jackie into the living room. Mrs. Cola- Jackie? Jackie- Mrs. Cola? Mrs. C- I know she never told you, because she didn’t know her self…Dear, Pepsi had brain cancer. It’s a miracle she lived as long as she did. We made a choice the day we found out and we chose not to tell her. But Pepsi was a very special girl. She made many friends and left every one of them with a smile. Finally we moved here because we knew she didn’t have long. We didn’t enroll her in the school because we didn’t want any one else to go through the pain we were going through. But still she found a friend. Of course! Life’s not fair and all that junk! But how did she know and how did she do the things she did? How did she know she was leaving? Jackie sits alone in her room once again. Someone knocks. Jackie-come in! Darius walks in the room and sits on Jackie’s bed. Darius-hey how are you doing? Jackie starts to cry. Darius hugs her. Jackie-I’ll never forget her. Her name was Pepsi Cola. She changed my life in three days. |