The Ugly Hashbrown 3

Back at the house, or what was left of it, Hashbrown's mother and Brownie were huddled together crying. They had seen the smoke from town and rushed home to find the house fully engulfed in flames. Now the fire had died down. The ambers crackled as they worked to incinerate whatever they could. The evil stepfather never made it out of the home. His charred remains left evidence of his fate. Could he have passed out mid-stride in his pursuit of Hashbrown? Maybe he tripped and knocked himself out? Whatever the cause he was not alive anymore. Had Hashbrown been there, alive and well, her mother and Brownie would have nothing to cry for. 

The villagers that had followed to investigate the cause of the smoke combed through the ruins and the trees nearby to see if they could find any sign of Hashbrown. They did this until all daylight diminished. Many offered lodging to the now homeless duo. With the season still being mild, Hashbrown's mother decided she wanted to stay in place in case Hashbrown came back. She did not want to entertain the possibility she may have lost her elder daughter. They set up "camp" under the pergola that still stood.

A boy from town named Beonut brought soup and bread to them that night. He had wandered into town when he was 9 years old. No one could find his parents and he would not speak a word about his past. The town butcher took him in as his own. He was one of Hashbrown's few friends in school but one of the many boys that secretly had a crush on her. He was not much for reading but he frequented the library to have an excuse to hang out with her. Hashbrown's mother invited him to stay and eat with them. He was comforted his company was welcome. 

After they were done eating they lit candles to stay burning throughout the night to guide Hashbrown back lest she still be wandering in the night. Beonut went back home with the promise to be back in the morning to check on them. Brownie and her mother slept with aching hearts but otherwise the night was serene. The full moon made it's way slowly across the sky speckled with bright stars. Crickets sang just far away enough to not be irritating. The peaceful night beckoned for all to be right. All they could do was pray.

The Ugly Hashbrown 2

One day Hashbrown's mother had to take Brownie to the dentist, her evil stepfather made her pull the horse carriage for his sheer entertainment. He told her he was doing it for her own good as he cackled ruthlessly from his shaded perch on the porch. When he was satisfied with watching her humiliation he went back inside and went to sleep. Drained of all energy, Hashbrown could not find the strength to sneak off into the woods. She lay down on her cot and closed her eyes.

She was soon rudely awaken by the evil stepfather who demanded she clean the kitchen that instant! She dragged herself out of bed now wishing she had just gone to lay in the forest. She swept the floor and washed the dishes. Anticipating his next order, she started making dinner. Chicken soup and bread seemed a good choice. Thinking of how good it would taste and how proud her mother would be lifted her spirits. She boiled the chicken. She chopped the celery, onions, and carrots. The dough her mother made was fully ripened. She rolled it into the baking pan and sat at the oven door to watch it rise.

Hashbrown didn't get to see it rise. Instead, sitting there on the floor, head propped on her hands, she went into a deep sleep. She dreamt she had wings and flit about with colorful fairies, sniffing flowers and playing a game of tag with hummingbirds. She was so tiny she fit perfectly on the petal of a purple lily. Her favorite color. She lay there looking at the leaves above her. She inhaled deeply.....and she smelled... smoke? She woke with a start. The bread!

She heard her stepfather's angry footsteps approaching. She scrambled to her feet. He came around the corner, a whip already in hand. She ran for the door and made it out of the house. Into the woods she ran, not turning around to see how closely he followed. She knew how angry running away made him. She was not going back this time no matter where she was going. She ran and ran until she could not anymore. She collapsed to the ground trying to slow her breathing and quiet the fire in her lungs.

Hashbrown lay there. Her tears started to well up. She thought of her mother and Brownie missing her. She would not go back! She couldn't.... She would live in the woods by herself if that's what it took!

The Ugly Hashbrown 1

Once upon a time, in the Kingdom of Naboians, there lived a little nerdy girl named Hashbrown. At the age of 8, not a shape to her body there was. Just a twig with a big head and buck teeth. She had an evil stepfather and an industrious loving mother. Hashbrown and her sister, Brownie, were left to taking care of themselves most of the time. When her mother was working, the evil stepfather would bark orders at her and make her do unreasonable tasks. Brownie played quietly not wanting to exacerbate the situation. When the evil stepfather fell asleep (which he did very often) Hashbrown and Brownie would sneak out to play and not come home until they knew their mother was home.

Mother loved her daughters dearly and wished she could leave but the dowry the evil stepfather had paid for her meant she was to spend the rest of her life with him. The days went on with obeying his orders and sneaking out to play. Going to school and sleepovers at grandma and grandpa's were welcome refuges from the evil stepfather. Even the taunting bullies at school were easier to manage for Hashbrown than her evil stepfather's demands.

At school, Hashbrown was teased for numerous reasons. Her large front teeth, light skin, tall lanky figure, and her corrective lenses. She immersed herself in books and extracurricular activities to stay away from the mainstream Naboians. Her best friends were her teachers who adored her.

As Hashbrown grew, she became more and more beautiful. Hashbrown wasn't aware of her beauty though because the more beautiful she became the teasing intensified.  Little did she know the troubles beauty would bring her.