(This story takes place after the Wilder & Wilder episode)

Six years. It’s been about six years since we moved to Walnut Grove. A lot has happened in that time. I still remember vividly all the crazy things I got myself into as a little girl. I am now fifteen years old and have noticed how I have changed as I have gotten older. It seems that time flies by sometimes. One day you are a little girl and then you are getting excited for your sweet sixteen and before I know it, I’ll be getting married and having my first child.

You see life differently when you are a kid. You don’t worry as much about the future but I noticed I started to think more about it as I have gotten older. My pa will always see me as his little girl I think, his half-pint as he likes to call me. I had never minded being called half-pint until the day Almanzo came into my life.

It was hard to have everyone see me as an adult when my Pa kept calling me half-pint like if I was still a little girl. It’s hard to describe what I felt when I first saw Almanzo. I saw him and I wanted to appear more grown up to him. He is older than me by a couple of years so he doesn’t see me as a woman I think. But I can’t help but feel that Almanzo does care about me and may have more than just a friendship feeling for me. Oh I hope he does.

Last night Pa and Almanzo stayed up all night long taking care of Barnum. Early this morning Ma and I went to the barn and when I asked about Barnum Almanzo looked really excited and gave me this wonderful hug. Oh, I felt like if I was floating on clouds. I was so excited I offered to prepare breakfast for the family and he complimented me on my cooking. It’s been an hour since Almanzo went back to his place and now I sit here writing in my book. I can’t wait for the next time I will see him.

Something sure is changing inside of me. It’s a little scary but wonderful at the same time, oh so wonderful. I told Ma once that I would make Almanzo see me as a woman someday; I hope that day is near.

I stop writing in my remembrance book and look out the window in the loft. A soft breeze blows through the window fiddling with my hair. I sigh and fall back on my bed as I hold the journal to my heart.

“Manly… my manly…”

Great Story Halfpint