Shy, Shy Stefeny
One Summer day Stefany sat on her back deck reading. Chapter 7, Stefeny closed her book and sighed, she looked longingly at her swimming pool, the water looked so cool and refreshing but she had no one to play with and she did not like playing by herself. The reason that she didn't have anyone to play with was because her fourteen year old brother Eric was always busy building something, her sixteen year old sister Shalines who she usually did stuff with was at the Olympic Trials, her Dad was at work, and her mom was inside cleaning. Stefany had nothing to do!
"Stefeny honey I'm going to weed the garden, want to help?” she heard her Mom call. She immediately dropped her book and went to help.
A little later her best friend Katie came over and asked if Stefeny wanted to play softball at her house which was just down the road. "Sure can I Mom?" Stefeny asked.
“Sure honey, just make sure to be home by 3,” said her Mom. So Stefeny and Katie ran to Katie's house, but when they got there there were a bunch of other people there. ‘Oh well,’ she thought, ‘At least Katie’s here.’
After Katie taught Stefeny how to play and everyone was finally playing, Stefany remembered that she forgot to put the bookmark in her book. ‘What chapter was I on 5,8, no 7,’ she thought. Just then she got clobbered by a softball. Stefeny fell down. Everyone was quiet for a moment, then seeing she was not hurt they all started laughing. She got up and ran home. ‘So much for doing something besides reading,’ she thought.
"Stefeny wait!” Katie yelled. Once she finally caught up to her Katie asked, “What's wrong, why don't you want to play?”
Stefeny took a deep breath. “I've just been having a hard time since Shaline left," she said.
“That’s ok you don't have to play if you don't want to,” Katie said.
"Thanks,” Stefeny said.
Later when she was on the phone with Shaline, Stefeny said, "All I do is read all day, it's a waste of Summer, when will you be home?"
"Well,” said Shaline, "If I don't get in then next week..."
"Yay!" Stefeny said, “You're coming ho-ome! You’re coming ho-ome!” she chanted.
"Or," Shaline interrupted, "If I do get in I'll be home by fall.”
“Fall,” Stefeny repeated, “That's so far away, you're sure to get in, I'll waste the whole Summer!"
“Stefeny calm down, we don't know that I'll get in and if I do I'll still come home for a week in between the trials and the Olympics, just remember that God's in control," Shaline said.
"Okay," Stefeny said. But she was still worried.
The next day Stefeny, Eric, and their parents were all huddled on the couch watching the Olympic Trials. Eric and Stefeny's parents all got up and started dancing when they heard Shaline’s name on TV but Stefeny couldn't join them. She would be bored until October.
Stefeny's Mom came into her room and sat on the bed. "What's wrong honey?" she asked, even though she was sure she already knew.
“Nothing," Stefeny lied.
“Come on we both know that's a lie," her Mom said.
"Why does Shaline have to go?” Stefeny asked, "I know I should be happy for her but I'll miss her so much.” Stefeny started to cry.
Her mom stroked her hair. "We'll all miss her,” she said, pulling Stefeny into a hug, “But she'll come back."
Stefeny looked up at her Mom. “What will I do until then?" Stefeny asked.
"You could see what Eric's always doing in that shed,” her Mom suggested. Stefeny shrugged. "Just remember,” her Mom said, "God's in control.” Stefeny told her Mom that was what Shaline said. "That's because it's true," her Mom told her.
The next day Stefeny took her Mom's advice and decided to go see what Eric was building. "What are you making?” she asked.
"Card table,” Eric said without looking up.
"What do you need a card table for?" Stefeny asked, trying to see what it looked like over his shoulder.
“Nothing,” Eric lied.
“Then why are you making it?" Stefeny pressed.
"Just because ok!" Eric turned to her with a very mad expresan on his face. Tears started brimming in Stefeny's eyes. “Yeesh girls are sensitive,” Eric mumbled. “Tell you what," he said, “Why don't I teach you how to play baseball?"
A smile lit Stefeny’s whole face. “Guess being over sensitive can be a good thing!" she said as she ran out of the shed with Eric.
"Ok Stef, do you want to be the batter or the catcher?" Eric asked after he explained the rules.
Stefeny thought for a minute, "Batter,” she said, "I'm not good at catching."
"OK," Eric said, "But you're going to regret that.” Eric was right; Stefeny was terrible at batting. Every time she threw the ball up to bat it, it fell before she even had a chance. "Why don't you try catching instead,” Eric suggested.
Stefeny shrugged, "Ok," she said. Stefeny proved to be just as bad at catching as she was at batting. She sank down on the grass in disappointment. Eric sat next to her, "What's wrong?" he asked. "The Stefeny I know wouldn't get this upset over a 'silly sport.’"
Stefeny sighed. "It's not about the sport, it's about Shalene."
Eric got up. "Oh no," he said.
"What is it?” Stefeny asked, getting up too.
“Is this going to be another of your sappy feeling talks?" Eric asked.
“How sappy do you think advice is?" Stefeny asked.
"Depends on what the advice is,” was Eric's anser.
Stefeny wasn't sure what he meant but he wasn't running away yet so she just poured it all out. "I'm worried I will waste the whole summer because Shaline will be away, I thought maybe baseball could keep me busy but I'm terrible at it," Stefeny paused. "What do I do?" she asked.
Eric thought a minute. "3 things," he said, "1, trust God, 2, keep looking, 3, not sports.”
"Why not sports?" Stefeny wanted to know.
“Well,” Eric said, "It sounds to me like you need something you can play by yourself." Stefeny noded and Eric continued. "Most sports need more than one person,” he told her. She thought about this for a moment then jumped up and hugged him.
“Thank you,” Stefeny said.
“Any time, sis," Eric said.
Stefeny did keep trying, she tried hopscotch (boring), jump roping (too hard), and ballet (not easy to do outside). One day when she was about to give up Stefeny saw someone. He was in the yard two houses down throwing an orange ball in a hoop. Stefeny didn't immediately realize what he was doing, she just realized he was doing it alone. She ran to get Eric. “What's he doing?” she asked.
“Basketball," he told her.
“And you can do it alone?" Stefeny was almost scared of the answer.
“It works better with more people but you can practice shooting hoops yourself,” Eric said.
Stefeny was inside in an instant. "Dad, can we get a basketball hoop?" she asked.
“Sure honey," her Dad said. “But if you don't mind my asking, why do you want one?" her Dad asked. Stefeny told him the whole story. When she was finished, her Dad just stared at her.
"What?" Stefeny asked, “You didn't think we wouldn't go to Paris to support your sister did you?" her Dad asked.
"Wait, what!" Stefeny couldn't believe her ears. "You mean we're going to Paris! I won't waste the Summer!" Stefeny paused. “Can I still get a basketball hoop?"
Her Dad laughed. “Yes, you can still get a basketball hoop.”
Eric knocked on the door. "Can I borrow Stef?" he asked poking his head in. "What is it?" Stefeny asked when they were outside.
"I got something for you,” Eric said, leading her into the shed. When she saw what was in there Stefeny gasped. In front of her was a beautiful pink desk with intricately curved legs and a cushioned stool to go with it.
"When did you do this?" Stefeny asked in awe.
"When you thought I was making a card table," he said with a sly smile.
"Why?" Stefeny asked.
"I wanted to give you something and a desk was the first thing that came to my mind,” Eric explained. "You're always reading, you'll be out of books soon so I thought maybe you could write your own stories. I also got you a journal to complain to," he added.
“Thank you," Steffeny aaid, hugging him. Now she had plenty to do!
Sections: Balance, Christianity, Excitement, Family, Fiction, Happy, Kids, Lonely, Nervous, Short Stories, Shy, Summer, Worries