1st place || 2024
5th through 6th grade
STRONG IN LOVE
by Gabrielle Minehart
“Mother? Could we go on a vacation, all twelve of us?” asked Anastasia one night at supper.
“Well,” began Mary, her mother. “I suppose that if you all do a good job helping on the farm for the next week or so, then your father and I could have a chance to think it over.”
“Yes. Children?” answered Charles, her father.
“Yes, Mother, yes, Father,” answered the children. Anastasia’s family consisted of her, 14, Benjamin, 12, Stirling and Annastina, 10, Kateri, 8, Felice, 6, Willow and Washington, 4, Lucia, 2, and Maurice, 9 months. Still, Mary and Charles had agreed, and the children went to bed peacefully.
The next day at breakfast, Charles announced, “Children, if you finish your porridge quickly then I can get you started on the farm work.” What he really needed was time to talk with Mary about the journey they would need to make. After they ate, everyone raced to get their boots on, but as they walked past their parents’ room, they stopped short, and listened. This is what they heard:
“Yes, Charles, but…” Mary’s voice lingered.
Charles answered, “Mary, we need to tell them the truth.”
At this point, Lucia had started to tug at Anastasia’s dress, Kateri was sitting down with Willow, Felice was trying to get Benjamin to hold her, Annastina felt like bursting right into the conversation, and Stirling was inching toward the front door to get his boots.
The conversation continued and Mary said, “Charles, the children are happy and if we told them, then our house would be full of sad children, and we don’t want them t—”
Annastina opened the door wide, walked in and asked, “Mother, Father, where are we going? Did something happen? Oh, please tell us!”
Charles answered, “Children, all of you, come into the room and your mother will tell you what we are going to do and what has happened. Anastasia, go and get Maurice from her crib.”
When Anastasia returned with Maurice, Mary said, “Well, children, I will tell you what we know. First, we are leaving home tomorrow because houses are being burnt down by the government. They do not like people living on farms with big families like ours. They want to have more room to build factories instead.” Mary paused for a moment, waiting for the children to respond.
“And second, “Mary continued, “we have to leave someone behind in order for the rest of us to leave successfully and safely. This is because the government can only legally burn the houses if there is a whole family, a mother, father, and children, but if one child stays then the rest of us could possibly stay away from danger long enough to see if they change the law and we could come home. We were about—”
Kateri interrupted, “I will stay.”
Charles answered, “No, Kateri, I will stay. You are too young, and you could get hurt if you are in the house if the government decides to burn it down.”
But Kateri was determined to have her siblings protected.
“Father, I don’t usually say no, but this time I say that I will not leave with you tomorrow. You need to find food for the family and make money. My siblings are enough help for you and mother.”
At this the room became quiet, you could hear the low fire crackle. Then Mary broke the silence.
“Kateri, I trust that you actually want your siblings to be protected, but y—”
Kateri interrupted and said, “Mother, Father, everyone! I want to be clear about what I am about to say, and I will not change my mind. I am staying here.”
At this, Charles decided to let Kateri stay if she wanted to, so he replied, “Kateri, as much as I do not want you to stay, I am going to let you for two reasons. One, no one else has volunteered, and two, because you are brave, and strong in love.” At this Annastina stood up, tears beginning to fall down her cheeks and left the room hurriedly. Then, Stirling stood up with his face full of sympathy for Annastina and anger at the government and ran outside to the barn.
The rest of the day, there was silence while everyone packed their most important belongings.
The next morning, Anastasia packed breakfast and watched the youngest children, while the rest of the family loaded the wagon.
“Okay, children get in the wagon,” Charles commanded. Once everyone was in the wagon, Kateri stood by the house waving. Charles snapped the reigns and the wagon started to move out of sight.
A few days later, Kateri was reading in the house when there came a loud knock at the door. She looked up startled, walked over to the door and opened it. Outside, there were three men.
“Yes?”
A tough looking man with stern eyes boomed. “Are you alone?”
“Yes, you may search the house if you’d like, but I promise you that it is just me and the animals here.”
The men searched the house, but of course, did not find anyone, and quickly left disappointed. Kateri closed the door, let out a deep sigh, and took her rosary from her pocket and began to pray, Hail Mary…
Gabrielle is an 11 year old girl who enjoys reading, playing the guitar and viola, and baking. She has 4 siblings and lives in Northern Virginia with her family.