The Cosby Show

The Cosby Show was an American television series that aired its first episode on the 20th of September 1984, and aired its last episode on the 30th of April, 1992.
The cast consists of Heathcliff Huxtable (Bill Cosby) Clair Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad) and others.
The show is based on the day to day antics of the Huxtable family.
My favourite episode was "Gone Fishin'" which was about Theo finding a dead body whilst on a fishing trip. A local news station offered to interview him, but his youngest sister, Rudy's rescued pet birds was the main hit for the news show.
My favourite character is definitely Theo, as he is rather humorous and the episodes featuring him, in my opinion, are funniest. 
The Cosby Show cast has grown rapidly now, and they certainly look very different from in the photos below.
You can see reruns of The Cosby Show on many television channels, such as Hits TV and others.

The Cosby Show cast 1990's

The Cosby Show cast 2014

Alone?

I stood there as if the rain could help me. As if it could return the happiness of my life, my family, everything I had.
Everything I lost.
It was raining, suiting my dark mood perfectly. I stood in front of the Indian restaurant, letting the water rinse my face. My sodden clothing, wet hair, and squelching boots made me feel as if this water was slipping between me and my sadness, letting everything disappear. This made me immensely happy, even if it were only for a few seconds.
I may be a drama queen. I may be spoilt. I may be ungrateful. I may take over the remote control. I may take all of Smith's when nobody's watching.
But don't I deserve a second chance?
I cried long, slow tears, biting my lip, stomping my feet, releasing all my anger.
Just then, I felt a sudden pain in my head, and the world went dark around me.
*
I awoke in a soft, quilt sheet, a fan pattering softly beside me. Soft, pastel colours surrounded me. Rag dolls and teddies sat neatly in a cream basket, adorned with stars made of foil.
"Ah, you're finally awake sweetheart!" a lady with a soft teacher voice smiled. She had curly brown hair and blue eyes.
"Who are you?" I asked. My heart beat quickly. Who was this lady?
"I...I'm Ellie Goulding." She cocked her head to one side. "How about you, love?"
"Emmie." My mind seemed blank. My fingers were numb. It was like I knew this person.
"What's your full name, sweetie?" Ellie seemed thoughtfull.
"Um...Emmie Starlet.."
She started shaking. Ellie covered her mouth. She closed her eyes as a tear came sneaking between her eyelids.
"Ella...Oh My Lord..." she whispered over and over as if it were unbelievable.
"What are you talking about?" I sat up and gazed into her eyes.
"Well...let's sit down and have some tea first," Ellie said shakily, wiping her eyes and standing up slowly.
I slid out of the bed slowly. My legs wobbled a bit, and I saw that they were red.
We sat down at a small white table.
Ellie poured some tea into a plastic cup, then handed it to me.
As I took a sip, Ellie blurted it out.
"You're my nephew, Emmie," she said.
I froze.
What?

Velvet and Silk

Chapter One ~ Velvet

I woke up at 2 AM trying to figure out why my stomach churned restlessly and my heart drummed like the wind.

Then it hit me.

I was going. To Aussie. Back to the place that suffocated me with beautiful memories and friendships.

I felt a lump in my neck. What if Dani and Wanda didn't want me anymore? What is Miss Petunia forgot that I had once been a spelling champion? 

My heart drummed. But this time it wasn't happy or excited. It was sick with worry and fear.

At breakfast Mum saw my pasty smile and pulled me into a hug. "You OK, precious?" 

"I'm fine Mum, honestly, I just had a bad dream." I stretched my lips into a fake grin. 

She nodded but I knew she wasn't fooled. 

"We're only going for a few weeks, Orchard." Mum smiled soothingly.

Suddenly Jamaica burst into the room. She whooped, punching the air with her thickly gloved hands. "Five hundred followers! Would you believe that?!" she danced, clearly not understanding we were in the middle of a touching family moment.

Mum congratulated her with a jug of lemon cordial, while I offered my chocolate chip cookie.

Jamaica was family. She was my cousin, mum's nephew, uncle's daughter, so on. 

Her family owned a photo studio at the largest mall in the country, so Jamaica learned a lot about technology and stuff.

Her usual outfits were jumpsuits that made her look like she was going to the moon,leather biker gloves, sneakers, thick glasses and headphones.

Dad burst into the room. "All of you packed?" he said, rubbing his eyes.

"Yep," we chorused.

"We're leaving at 10 AM sharp. Is your um..rodent at the petshop, Jamaica?"

"Techno's not a RODENT!" she said, clearly offended. "He's a long-haired rat!"

Dad nodded blearily. 

We had a quick breakfast and showered.

Jamaica had a stomach ache from the cordial so we were 15 minutes off schedule. 

I texted Hilary before we went off. 

Bye! Aus is calling! Laters! xx Orchid

Book Review: Opal Plumstead

One of Jaqueline Wilson's recent releases, Opal Plumstead is a fictive story of a clever and studious fourteen year old girl.

Her mother is selfish but loving, her gorgeously dazzling sister risking everything for love.
Opal receives a scholarship to st. Margaret's and becomes best friends with Olivia.
Opal loves her father dearly, even when he is sent to jail for embezzlement. Opal is then forced to take a job at Fairy Glen Sweet Factory, Olivia is no longer her friend, and she has to deal with horrid bullies.
But she makes friends with Mrs Roberts, Mr Beeston and Alfred.
The words Jaqueline Wilson has selected carefully for this story makes Opal Plumstead a sweet read. I nearly cried and often giggled as I read this book.
Will life go on as planned? What does fate have in store for her?
Read Opal Plumstead to find out.

Animal Halfbloods-Willow Ease

     This is a story that I am collaborating with some authors!
      There may be multiple authors in one blog...
                      dianeandherwritingworld.wordpress.com
                      feliciaclar.wordpress.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

      Chapter One

I jump on the bus as the driver starts the engine. THAT's how much of a slop I am.
I peer dreamily out of the foggy window. I'm in Texas.
Not in Indonesia.
Texas.
My bag shifts as another girl sits down next to me.
Her face curls as she eyes my muddy sneakers. "Um, must've stepped on a puddle...." I try to act nonchalant.
"Oh, sure," she mocks me. Her hand reaches out to my bow.
"Uh..." I'm worried now. Very worried.
She grabs it, and slowly, mockingly, releases her clasp.
"No! Please..." I shriek.
"Whooops, too late!" she giggles.
I gasp as the bow flies out the window, into the streets.
The bus stops abruptly at a cafe`. I don't exactly know why I'm doing this.
My body doesn't want to stop. I race out of the bus and grab my bow.
As I fumble to put it on, I peer into a petshop.
I'm not sure it's true.
A dozen hamsters, winter whites I believe, are whispering.
Some playing on the plastic wheel shriek and whoop.
A hamster edges near me (as near as you would get in an aquarium) and says, "Hi."
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I scream.
The reflection of my face in the glass of the aquarium.
I have furry round ears.

                Chapter Two

I quickly pull my mouth shut, struggle to drape my hood over those ears.
This seems like a dream, it can't possibly be true.
But it is.
My feet sprint away, pounding on the dirt, dust flying like mist around me.
The bus driver yells, and I hear the children giggling around me.
I reach a small, dark alleyway, and my feet aren't strong enough to hold me up.
My eyes shut, and the world goes dark.
*
My eyes open.
The world looks strange.
My red hood has turned......black? No, no...
I rub my eyes with my paws. Wait, paws?
I look up. The walls around me seem higher, bigger...
No.
No no no.
This can't be true.
I'm a hamster.

A giant, furry animal 5 times my size pads past me.
Strangely, her claws don't jut out, her ears don't twitch.
She just looks....
Sad.
I look back and see a crowd of kids gathered round a shattered window.
Shattered.
Just like my mind.
What is wrong with me?

          Chapter Three

I pad into the strange looking building.
Slowly, carefully.
I've heard about hamster eating rats. Viscous and cold blooded.
I never liked rats.

This room is filled with books.
Vast, colourful (not that I can see most of them now in hamster form) shelves stuffed with
dozens of thrilling pages. I hope.

I shall read.
Read until I wake up from this dream.
I stumble up a shelf.
The Halfblood Encyclopedia 
Yes, I'll read that.
What are halfbloods?
A fictive beast I suppose?
I open the first page with all my hamster-sized strength.
Halfbloods are extremely rare. Kanine halfbloods are the most types to be found.
Hamster and feline halfbloods are the most rare of the rare.
Hamsters?
Wait, this book seems nonfiction.
Hm...

                          Chapter Four

My paw skims the yellow, aging page.
Types of Halfbloods on Page 11.
Yes!
I heave the pages up and down.
This is it!
Hamster Halfbloods
 Humans born with an extremely rare DNA cell. Most find out about their animal powers at 9 to 12 years of age. 
Symptoms of Hamster Halfbloods
-Unable to control their bodies at points
-Hamster ears appear
-Are able to communicate with hamsters

I gasp.
Those winter whites! I...communicated with them!
I must be a halfblood!

CRASH!
The book slides of the shelf, dragging me with it.
Plop!
I fall into a jar.
A jar that smells extremely delicious.
Sunflower seeds.

              Chapter Five

I open a few seeds, realising how large they appear in my paws.
Mmm....
Suddenly, the jar opens once again.
A girl with oldish earrings, wings, and a Pikachu shirt gasps.
Is there a Sunflower seed stuck to me or something?
"What are you doing here, little one?" she asked.
 Like I knew!
She pulls me out by the scruff of my neck.
"Who are you!? Put me down!" I scream.
Didn't ANYONE tell her that only mother hams could do that?! Was she my mum or something?
The teen girl brings me to a small room in the corner.
"We need to get you to Fawnheart, quick!" she exclaims.
*
The girl takes me into a room and pops me into an aquarium.
Suddenly, I faint again.

Chapter Six

A girl from my English class.
Tora.
Besties with Eva.
Friends with Miyuki.
I squeal.
"Tora, it's me Willow, from your English Class!" I scream.
She gapes at me, frozen.
I sniff around the room.
Books, chemical/sciency equipment.
A lab, I suppose.
Fawnheart, Nightbreeze and Cinderfur chatter away.
Finally, Nightbreeze says something about someone liking children.
What is going on?
Suddenly, something flashes in my thoughts.
The explosion.
Maybe it wasn't a dream after all.
Some liquid explosion, 3 days before my 10th birthday.
I have to piece these clues together, one by one.
And I think that the book I found in the library may help me.

Chapter Seven

Nightbreeze carries me into the library.
"Sssh.." she says."Be quiet Willow."
I can't seem to stop wheezing.
Tiny, little, hamster-sized wheezes.
"Sorry, I'm just excited. I have asthma." My eyes scan the room.
"Uh, wait then." Nightbreeze pulls out a puffer and does some kind of magic to it.
The puffer shrinks to my size.
She hands it to me.
Nice little puffs.
I calm down.
"Is this the book?" she says.
" Yes!" I shriek, and start wheezing again.
The puffer is in reach of my paws, thankfully.
"Hey, who was the cat?" I ask.
"Oh, Miyuki."

"Miyuki is also a halfblood?!"
"Yep, but she has her animal name, Silvertail." Nightbreeze grabs the book and places it carefully on an old, oak table.
"Can I have one?" I ask.
"Okay."
"Uh, Whistletoe?"
"That's great!" Her eyes light up. "Now, which page, Whistletoe?"
"Eleven, I think."
Nightbreeze caresses the pages carefully.
Suddenly her eyes widen.
I look at the book.
Page 11.
It's gone.

Chapter Eight 

 Please read chapter 15 and 16 of Diane's blog to find out what really happened.

I'm so happy that Whistletoe has left my body, for now at least.
Even though Tora had to stab my wrist for it.
The little blue bandage hides under a sweatband on my arm.
I open the family computer.
Hey, it's still on Mum's email. I look around the room to make sure nobody is there, then I click randomly on one email.
To: Melania_Ease@gmail.com
From: Gardenhall_admin@mail.com
Subject: Land Ownership

Dear Madame Melanie Ease,

As you have recently done an Immigration from Australia to the US, and purchased land as large as 300 meters, it is our job to make sure the land you bought was not purchased with illegal money.
Bla bla bla.....I scroll down quickly.
We are sorry to say that this land was not actually owned by the person who sold it to you.
With that, we very much regret saying that you must move out of this house before the 22nd of November, 2014. 
If you have troubles with finding an accomodation as we process things through legally, that is the Human Rights Association's job.
Regards,
Kennedy R. Jones,
Communication Services of Gardenhall

I gasp.
That means we have to find a place to live.
Fast.

Chapter Nine

"You're worried that you'll get kicked out?" says Miyuki.
"Something like that."
Tora walks into the class.
She looks like she's about to cry.
"'Sup, Tora?" I greet like a 2nd grader.
"Uh...." She looks at us, her blue eyes brimming with tears.
"Well, Willow might get kicked out," says Eva.
She makes it sound like I'm going to the park.
I poke her with my elbow. "Sorry," she mumbles sheepishly.
"I think I'm going to move to Aussie again," she finally says, not daring to look at us.
"WHAT?!"
*

                       

 

A Million Pages

Drip.
A tear smudged the letter. The letter that said it all.
Sniff.
A girl in a brown dress wiped her nose. The room smelt like lemon rind, the smell that made her want to breathe in it forever. But not anymore.
She was trapped.
Giselle slumped in her purple armchair.
"Madame Gisella, your lunch, if I may," said Gordon, her butler. With the ease of a professional, a tray of roast landed swiftly on the table in front of her. Gordon slid the glass of Earl Grey onto a brass holder without spilling a single drop.
"Thank you," replied Giselle, her face buried in the silk pillow on her lap.
Gordon swept out of the room and shut the door with a swift click.
She couldn't believe it.
Emily. Where was she?
They'd made it to the city together. Then, that morning.
Giselle had awoken to find Emily's bed empty, the sheets curled and thrust aside, like she'd gone in a hurry.
And the letter under the pillow, like the coins Mama used to promise her if she had a tooth pulled.
"Emily...." whispered Giselle. "Where are you...?"
************************
The girl with blonde curls stumbled to the station, her small bony hands peppered with bruises, her foot black with dust.
Her green eyes skimmed the row of trains. "Number 21, number 21....." she mumbled, clenching a filthy ticket in her wrist.
Finally a mossy blue train pulled up in front of her. It stank of bad breath and tears, and had a faint sickening aroma of wee.
Emily took a deep breath and stepped in.
She would find him, soon.
"I'm sorry, Giselle," she whispered. "I'll see you soon..."

In a stinking house on the other side of town, an old man waited at the front of his house, grinning. "I didn't know how easy it was to trick a girl."

CHARISMA : Not Your Average Teen BLURB

I decided to make this story...yeah....

Charisma is one of the many abused children in Indonesia. Her mother, under pressure at work, channels her frustration through whacking Charisma for every little fault. And her father turned and walked out of their lives.
Charisma accepts that, and she and her friend Aisyah  steal food whenever they get hungry. The girls ditched school at a young 8 years old to help their temper-full mothers.
Until one day, Aisyah is caught by the police, and Charisma finally looks properly at the world.
She finds a job and gets on with her life, until one day Aisyah and her sister Tamara invite Charisma to become thieves, or else. What will the 16 year-old girl do? Read the upcoming online series to find out!