From the book, Writer's Block... Begin a story with a character who has lost something important to them.
She stood up, straightening out her red dress, evening out the pleats that gathered at her waist. Little white hearts were scattered on the dress like candy confetti on the funfetti cake that was waiting for her at her aunt's house - though she didn't know they were there waiting for her. They were her favorite.
She suddenly felt a sense of dread creep up in her causing her cheeks to flush a deep red, matching her dress. Snoopy! What did she do with Snoopy? She looked at the brown slat bench she was sitting on. Wasn't her just here on the bench with her? She never goes anywhere without Snoopy - his arms uneven from years of being dragged by one arm. He was missing one ear. His bead black eyes were smoking with scratchy cataracts from being loved so hard and dragged across so many surfaces. He wasn't a branded Snoopy dog but a knock-off mother had gotten her at the Dollar Store before she was born which is the time she calls anytime before she can remember. She can remember Knock-off Snoopy's fur was white and brown and these days the white was beige with a little bit of red from the Kool-Aid that she had split on him or the paint from art class.
She looked under the bench. He wasn't there. She around the tree closest to the bench, careful not to muddy her nice shoes in damp spring grass. She could see her dad and her aunt in the distance. Surely Snoopy wasn't with them? She looked back at the large brick building - did she leave him in there? She ran to the door splashing through a puddle but the door wouldn't open. She looked over at her dad. He must know where Snoopy was. She started to panic. She never lost Snoopy. Never. Where could he be?
She started down the sidewalk. She shouldn't run and muddy her shoes but she had to get her dad quickly. Time was of the essence. She had to find Snoopy! She started to skip. She was definitely allowed to skip in her dress and good shoes. She skipped past the bench and the tree which she just noticed was covered in cherry blossoms. She skipped around a puddle. And slowed down as she neared her father. She scanned the small crowd that was gathered under a deep purple tent. The rain that had awoken her and Snoopy this morning had let up. Slowing her skipping to a hurried walk and quietly stepped up next to her dad. His suit was deep blue. She slipped her little hand into his, it was so big but cold.
"Dad." She looked up at his face which was splotchy and red likes hers gets when she cries. "Dad, I can't find Snoopy."
He bends down close to her, "Snoopy?"
"Yes, my Snoopy dog. I think I left him in the building over there. Can you come to help me find him?"
"Snoopy?"
"Yes, Dad. Yes. My Snoopy dog. He's in the building." She starts to tug at his hand. How can he not know who Snoopy is? How can he not know where he is. Mom always knows.
"Amelia, you gave your Snoopy dog to Mommy." Amelia looks up at him.
"I did?"
"Yes. Remember, you put it in the coffin next to Mommy. You didn't want her to be scared. Remember?"
"But Dad, I need my Snoopy dog. I need him. Who is going to make sure that I'm not scared?" Amelia started to panic. What if Snoopy was gone forever. She needed him. Mom didn't need Snoopy. She was an adult and wouldn't get scared. Amelia let go of his hand and started running away from her dad, her aunt, and all of the other people under the purple tent. She needed Snoopy. How could her dad not understand that?
"Honey." She ran past the tree and the bench and to the building and pulled on the heavy doors. Why wouldn't they open? Why couldn't she get in? "Let me in!" Amelia screamed. "I need my Snoopy!" And just like that she was being swooped up in the air and grabbed her father's neck, crying onto the blue suit now covered with raindrops. "Daddy. I need my Snoopy dog."
"I know honey. We'll get him. Let's go. Let's go get some funfetti cupcakes at Aunty Mia's house. They're you're favorite."
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