Ella's Fairytale (Chapter One)

Chapter 11

Introduction: Car Ride2

Ella was blind. She had been blind since she was eight. It had been a car accident. It had killed her older brother. Four years had passed since then. No one spoke of it – Steph was dead and Ella was blind. That was all.3

Now, during one of the rare times the family could go on a vacation, they were all travelling to Ella’s grandmother’s in the countryside. Ella did not know whether to be bored or sad. She could not see the green hills. She could not see the lakes, or the bits of forest. She could not see why her parents wanted to drive many hours to visit her grandmother.4

Her grandmother June Ackerley was her father’s mother. Ella could remember her as an old friendly woman. She made wonderful pancakes. And she told fantastic stories by the fireside in winter. Too bad it’s summer now, Ella thought.5

Her father was singing along with the radio. John Ackerley did not have a pretty voice. But Ella forgave him. He did not get much time during work to practise singing. Busy men did not get much time to sing at all.6

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Her mother was quiet. Ella’s mother was usually quiet. She was a gentle and caring person, which was why she made a perfect nurse. Being quiet did not mean that Martha Ackerley was angry or sad though. She was just happy to listen to her daughter and husband sing.8

Ella sighed. She wished she were with her friends at school. She didn’t much like family vacations.9

She thought they were boring. Especially ones to the countryside, where there were only sheep and cows to talk to.10

What could happen on such a normal holiday?11