Annabell’s Talent Search

CHAPTER 1

Soccer

My father teaches sports to children. Everyone calls him Coach Anderson. My mother is the science teacher at my elementary school. Then there’s my brother, Brandon. He is real smart and makes all A’s. He is a lot like my mother; he likes math and is good at science. It was up to me to be athletic for Dad, so that spring I decided to try playing sports to make my dad proud.

It was on a Saturday in April that Dad said, “Let’s play soccer.” He kicked the ball to me and I ran as hard as I could to hit the ball. But I tripped and fell. Dad picked me up and drove me to see Dr. Baker who wrapped my ankle and put me on crutches. “You need to put ice on your ankle and elevate it with pillows,” she said. “You are out for the rest of soccer season.” I was not good at soccer. What was I good at if I couldn’t play soccer?

The Volcano

Mom said, “Since you can’t play soccer, you can help me set up my science lab and experiments.” Everything would have been okay, but Mom left me alone for one very long minute. I couldn’t help myself; I put some baking soda and a cup of vinegar into the volcano. The volcano exploded all over the table and onto the floor. Mom was mad. “I only left you alone for one minute and you ruined the experiment! The whole room is a mess! Clean it all up, Annabell! You are on a Lifetime Ban from the science lab!” she shouted.

No one has ever had a Lifetime Ban from the science lab. I was not good at science and not good at soccer. “Was I good at anything? Did I even have a talent?” I wondered.

Softball

In May, I tried to play softball. The very first day of practice, I broke a bat and ended up with splinters in my hand. The first game I slid into home plate and broke two fingers on my right hand. Then, to make everything worse, the umpire called me out.

Once again, I went to see Dr. Baker. She put splints on my fingers then let me pick out the color of the medical tape. I picked polka-dots.

When I got home, I flopped on the couch in pain. I was no good at softball. I couldn’t play soccer, and I wasn’t talented at science. Once again, I wondered if God had given me any talents at all.

CHAPTER 2

The Invitation

After a long spring, it was finally the last day of school; a whole summer to play and read books! “School’s out for summer!” Brandon and I yelled as we came in the door.

“Annabell, you got a special letter from Grandma Gigi,” Mom said. I tore open the letter! Grandma Gigi was inviting me to spend the summer with her!

“Mom, can I please go to Grandma Gigi’s house?” I asked.

“I’ll talk to your dad about it,” Mom replied. I glued myself to the window, waiting and watching for my dad to get home.

At last, I could see the old red pickup truck pull up to the driveway. I ran outside. “Dad, Grandma Gigi has asked me to come for a visit! Please, can I go to Grandma Gigi’s for a few weeks? She invited me. Please, Please?” I begged.

“Annabell, I’ll talk to your mom. Let me get out of the truck first!” Dad answered.

After dinner, I said, “I’ll clear the table and do the dishes!” hoping this would give them time to talk about my trip to Grandma Gigi’s. Mom and Dad went upstairs to talk.