Alphabet: A History

I'm starting a new feature called "Alphabet: A History," inspired by Amy Krouse Ronsenthal's Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life.

A: Allison
I'm six and we've just moved to Tokyo from Chinhae, Korea. We've left our dogs behind and the only thing that gets me over it is the anticipation of a new baby. Allison is born on a cold day in the middle of winter five months after the move. My first grade class is at a special concert on base for the Air Force band. They're in the middle of my favorite song, "Eye of the Tiger," when I hear the familiar jangle of keys coming down the aisle closer to my seat. My father is the assistant principal at my school and whenever I hear, outside my classroom, the jangle of those keys he wears on his belt, I sit up straight, put my brush away, and fold my hands over my lap. Today when I hear the jangle at the band concert, I swerve in my seat and see my father and even in the dark I can make out his smile.

I spend the night at my friend Kristy's house and her mother braids my hair and I feel like a whole new person. At the hospital the next morning, my mother doesn't mention my braids and I wonder what it will be like sharing her now. My father asks if I want to see my new baby sister and I take a deep breath and nod. He walks me to the nursery and I peer through the window. All the babies look the same to me. "Which one?" I ask. He points to Allison and says, "That's her." I stare and wait, I'm sure something's supposed to happen now. "She has red hair just like you," my father says after a few minutes. "She looks like a bulldog," I reply. A month later I teach her to touch her toes.

Comments

[Rachel]

I read that book a few years ago and adored it.

Also: Love that your favorite song was "Eye of the Tiger"

[Rachel]

This is a very awesome idea whether you ripped it off or not! Love it! Can't wait to read em all!

[Allison]

Yay! I get to be first, right where I like to be.

By the way, I think we need to mention that I grew up to be beautiful and I quit looking like a bulldog at least 2 months ago!

[Elisse]

My little sister would come under K, for Karen. I was 7 and my parents left in the middle of the night without telling me. My aunt came over and slept on the couch. When I got up early in the morning and went to go sleep on the other end of the couch like I had been doing for weeks with my mom, my aunt said "Your mom & dad are at the hospital" and practically scared me to death! And we both have red hair too :)

[Alice]

Agreed -- great idea, and you've put your own spin on it, so somehow that makes it your own in the end! Love the telling of your sister's arrival in this world... And can't wait to read more as well!

[Natalee]

Awesome story!

[tracey]

I love this whole idea. Beautiful.