Seven Days for Grandma

Once upon a time in a small city lived a young girl named Alice and her grandmother. They were very poor; they worked very hard every day. Alice’s grandmother was very old and didn’t have a good health, so Alice worked very hard every day.

Christmas would be 7 days from today. She wanted to grant her grandma wish to saw the fireworks in Disneyland on Christmas. Alice saved all the money that she earned from work for years to buy the Disneyland ticket. Alice sold Christmas decorations and other Christmas things. Alice felt very tired and it was very cold but there were still a lot of things to sell; she couldn’t go home yet. Suddenly she lost her consciousness and fell down. When she regained her consciousness, she was laid down in a bed. There was a beautiful lady near her, and that beautiful lady asked her,
“What is your name, little girl? What did you do in this cold night?”
“Umm.. My name is Alice, I was selling this Christmas decoration and I felt very tired... and I lost my consciousness...” said Alice.
“My name is Paulina, why don’t you stay here for this night? It is dangerous for a little girl like you to go out alone in the night.” said Paulina.
“Thank you for your kindness, Miss, but it’s alright for me, I already get used to it. And I have to sell these things for my grandmother. We really need money.” said Alice gently.
“Ah it must be hard for you, ‘ill kid. But you haven’t recovered yet, I’m afraid you’ll faint again!” said Paulina.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be okay. Then, thank you very much for saving me!” said Alice while she walked to the door.
“Ah, here! Take this!” Paulina gave her a leather pouch.
“What-what’s this? I-I can’t take this home..” said Alice.
“I hope this small amount of money can help you a little,” said Paulina. But Alice kept refusing, and then Paulina said,
“Ah I got an idea! I’ll buy all of your Christmas decoration.”
“Really?!” Alice surprised and then Paulina gave her the money,
“Ah, Paulina! This is too much.” said Alice.
“It’s okay. You can keep the pocket change.” said Paulina.
“Wow! Really? Thank you, Paulina! I owe you so much!” said Alice. And then she went home after said goodbye and thank you to Paulina.

The next day, Alice’s neighbor, Anita, asked Alice to sell her flower. Alice accepted her request, and she hoped that she will earn some money for her grandma. It was already afternoon, but she hasn’t sell any flower. When she walked down the street, an old couple called her.
“Ah come here, little girl!” called the woman.
“Yes, Miss, what can I do for you?” said Alice.
“Ah! What a beautiful flower! Would you sell those flowers to me?” said that woman to Alice.
“Sure! I’d like to! This flower is still fresh from our garden!” said Alice.
“That would be perfect for our house, dear!” said the woman to her husband.
“Yes, that would be great! Ah, why don’t we buy all of them? I think this little girl would be very happy.” said her husband.
“Here, sir!” Alice gave him all the flowers she got. And after she had the money, she said thank you to that couple. And then she walked home happily. In the way home, she realized that all of the money is not hers. And she gave that money to Anita. Anita was very happy to know that her flowers were sold out. She paid Alice 40% from the profit.
“Who-whoa... This is too much, Anita. Can I really have them?” asked Alice.
“Of course, dear. It’s a bonus from me because you worked very hard to sell my flowers.” said Anita.
“Thank you very much, Anita! You are so kind!” after said thank you she went home and she saved her money in her piggy bank.

Four days until Christmas. She recently cleaned her house. She was very tired. She sat in the awful sofa that she had. Inadvertent, she saw her grandma who lying weakly in the bed. She thought about the way to get much more money to make her grandma’s dream comes true. When she was about it suddenly, someone was knocking the door. She was very shocked. However she opened the door and looked who was knocking the door.
That was her neighbor, Mrs. Cathy. “What she is doing in this horrible house” thought Alice.
“Hello Alice. How are you?” said Mrs. Cathy.
“Oh, I’m fine. Thanks. Ummm, what are you doing in this horrible house ma’am? Do you need my help?”
“Exactly. I need your help to do the home chores, replace my nanny’s job. Is it okay for you to do that?” said Mrs. Cathy. Alice thought a while. If she replaced her nanny’s job, she will got some money. So, she accepted that job. “Al, you will get a hard job. And you will replace my nanny’s job in a long time. Are you sure to accept this job? I’m afraid this job will make you sick or something…”
Then, Alice thought again about this job. But she was really need some money.
“Okay. I accept that job. When I can start to do that job ma’am?”
“Of course, now. Prepare your needs. Don’t worry, I’ll pay you. I’m waiting you in my house. See you!”
“Thanks ma’am for your job. I’m very glad to do this.”
“You’re welcome,” said her with smiling at Alice.

In 15 minutes, she finished prepare her needs. After that, she went to Mrs. Cathy’s house to start her new job. Just in 5 minutes, she arriveed in Mrs. Cathy’s house. Mrs. Cathy welcomed her kindly.
“Welcome in my house, Alice. Okay, your first jobs are washing our cloth, and then dry them, and….” Suddenly, Mrs. Cathy’s son came. He was 5 years old, and he seemed like a naughty kid. Mrs. Cathy looked at him closely. “Oh, don’t forget, you must make a lunch for my son, Dick! And you must bribe him. Remember, he has a problem with eating something…” said Mrs. Cathy to Alice.
“Oh…. I see… okay…” said Alice.

She started doing her job carefully. She didn’t want to cause trouble in this house. First, she washed that family’s clothes. Then, she cleaned the house. Made a lunch for Dick, and she bribed him. Dick was very naughty kid. He didn’t want to swallow the food. And that made Alice in trouble.
She really worked hard. At 6 pm, she went home and she got a tip from Mrs. Cathy. The amount wasn’t much. But, she continued to be grateful. At home, she looked at her grandma’s face. Her grandma was sleeping.
“I’ll do everything to make your dream comes true…” said Alice slowly.

Sun was shining brightly. It’s made Alice awake.
“Hoaaaaamm…, oh… I’m still tired… hoooh…” sigh Alice.
Today, she must work at Mrs. Cathy’s house again. She got up, took a bath, and prepared her needs. She said goodbye to her beloved grandma. Then, she went to do her job.
In 5 minutes she arrived. Straightaway she did her job. Started from sweep the floor, wash their clothes, water the plant, and cook for this family. There was no time to take a rest. So, she was very tired and did anything without power. When she cooked fried rice for them, she made a mistake. She didn’t add salt but she added some sugar. Alice didn’t realize it and she still served it to them.
When Mrs. Cathy’s family ate Alice’s fried rice, they vomited up directly. Alice was very shocked.
“Uh-uh…, w-what’s wrong?” said Alice.
“Don’t you know?? This is the worst fried rice I ever eat!!!” said Dick loudly.
“Heh? W-what’s wrong?” said Alice frightened.
“This fried rice is sweet. You made a mistake when you cooked this!” said Mrs. Cathy angry.
“Sorry. I’m unintentional. That’s my fault. Please forgive me…” said Alice.
“Are you stupid?? Sorry, but I can’t forgive you! You are fired Al!” said Mrs. Cathy with angry sound.
“But…”
“Ok, this is your salary!” said Mrs. Cathy while took out some money from her wallet and she gave that money to Alice. Then Alice went home. In her mind, she was crying loudly because she lost her job. She couldn’t imagine how sad her grandma will be if she knew about this. She walked slowly in the road. Suddenly she stopped and closed her eyes. She heaved a sigh.
“Oh, Grandma… forgives me… I’m failed today. I lost my money and I lost my job. What can I do to find much money??? Oh, God, give me enlightenment to find a way to get much money….” Said Alice slowly, very slowly.
She opened her eyes and heaved a sigh for the second. Then she walked around to go home.

It was time to work. Alice didn’t have a job again. She didn’t know what she had to do to earn money. In the cold morning, she ran through the city. She hoped there were people who proffer her a job. "Getting near Christmas, I should be able to get money to encourage grandma to Disneyland!” as Alice thought. Suddenly she stopped her step; she saw a poster on the wall. In fact the poster was announcement that Disneyland was looking for someone to work as a mascot in Disneyland. Alice was very happy and immediately ran toward Disneyland. That day, Alice got a job as a mascot of Minnie Mouse in Disneyland to entertain visitors. The cold night was arrived, Alice felt very tired and she went home, but she got a lot of money. At home, she told what she did on this day to her grandma. Grandma just smiled while Alice told her.

The next day, one day before Christmas, Alice worked again as the Minnie Mouse mascot. However, she still tired; it made her little bit dizzy. She was not aware that she hit a child and made the child fell and cried. She tried to help the child, but the Staff Leader called her. Alice immediately fired from Disneyland. She went without money. She was very sad, she afraid she couldn’t grant her grandma wishes. She was crying while she walked on the roads of the city. She sat in the garden near the city and brooded. Suddenly she saw a boy that would be crash by a car. She immediately saved the child. Alice asked the boy where was his parents. Alice had notice that the boy was wearing nice and expensive clothes. Alice hoped that if she took the boy home to his parents she will get some money in return. But in fact, in the house, they only gave Alice a lot of food. Alice went out of the house and back to her house. She saw many people gambling in casino. Alice wanted to gamble too. But Alice did not attempt to do so. After that, Alice sat on the curb again. Suddenly there was a young man talked to her,
"Hey, young girl, what happened? Why are you crying?" Alice didn't say anything. But, the man forced her and he said again that it was loans. Alice received it, and she was very grateful. Finally she earned enough money to buy 2 tickets to Disneyland.
In the evening, she brought her grandma to Disneyland. They watched some shows there. Finally, they went to the front of the Snow White Castle. The popular fireworks started. Grandma remembered when she watched the firework with grandpa when they were still young. Alice said to her grandma, "Grandma, the firework is very beautiful, right?"
Grandmother said to Alice, "Yes, thank you, dear. Finally I can watch it again."
Alice replied, "Hmm" Grandma rest her head to Alice's shoulder. When the parade reached its peak, Alice said to grandma,
"Grandma, look! The fireworks are very beautiful! Did you see that?” But grandma didn't say anything. Alice cried and called her grandma, she hoped her grandma would wake up. Alice screaming loudly, but her voice drowned in the thundering fireworks.
“Grandma! Don’t dieeeeeeeeeee!!! Come back to me grandma! NOOOOOOO!” Alice realized that her grandmother has gone. “Grandma, I was very sad that you left me. But, I’m glad that finnally I can make you happy for the last time. Grandma, I love you.”


Created by @ 2007:
Alinda Nur Fitriana, Dyah Anindya Widyasrini, Primavera Desta AP