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Gemma

AuthorHouse

Chapter One

Gemma loved her brother and liked being a big sister. Although Griffin sometimes was a little challenging to watch, Gemma knew her parents appreciated her help with keeping an eye on him.

She enjoyed lending a hand everywhere. It made her feel good inside to help others and by watching Griffin, she not only was helping her parents, but she was also helping her brother.

"Be careful, Griffin," Gemma repeated as Griffin continued to reach for the cookie dish by leaning across the coffee table in the family room.

Griffin once again ignored his sister's warning and kept reaching for the cookies. Gemma, worried that Griffin was going to get hurt, grabbed his shirt and pulled him away from the table.

"Noooo!" Griffin yelled.

"I'll get it for you, Griffin," Gemma said as she pulled the cookies closer to the edge of the table.

Griffin had a huge smile on his face and his eyes had a twinkle when he was able to reach the cookies. Gemma held the dish as Griffin chose a cookie so the dish wouldn't fall off the table. Then, she got one for herself before placing the dish back in the middle of the table.

As Gemma and Griffin munched on the cookies, their father stood up from his seat.

"Gemma, will you keep an eye on Griffin?" he asked.

"Yes, Daddy!" Gemma answered.

"I'm going to make lunch," he said.

"Okay," Gemma replied.

"I'll just be in the kitchen," he added.

"Okay," Gemma said as her father walked toward the kitchen.

Gemma and Griffin finished their cookies. Then, Griffin climbed up on the couch. A cartoon was on television. Gemma sat beside Griffin as they watched the cartoon. Soon Griffin rested his head on the pillow. By the time the cartoon ended, he was asleep.

"Griffin," Gemma whispered.

"Griffin," Gemma repeated softly.

Noticing that Griffin was sleeping, Gemma quickly became bored. Thinking that her brother would stay asleep, Gemma slowly slid off the couch and quietly headed toward the kitchen. She wanted to see if lunch was ready.

Gemma heard her father's voice as she approached the kitchen so she peeked her head around the corner to see what was going on. Her father was sitting at the kitchen table using his computer. Gemma was about to ask him about lunch, but noticed that her father had a headset on and was talking to someone through the computer.

She knew not to interrupt a conversation so she thought she would wait until her father finished. However, as Gemma continued to peek around the corner, she could hear her father and he was beginning to talk about them.

"I'm spending the day with Gemma and Griffin."

"They're watching cartoons."

"Thank you!"

"Yes, Griffin certainly is the little guard."

"Yes, of treasure."

Just then, Gemma felt a tug on her sleeve.

Gemma turned around.

Griffin was staring at her with his big blue eyes.

"I thought you were sleeping," Gemma said softly.

"I ... I woke up," Griffin said.

"Whacha doing?" Griffin asked.

"Shhhh ..." Gemma said.

"Whacha doing?" Griffin asked again in a louder voice

wanting to know.

"Nothing," Gemma answered.

"Go pick out a movie and I'll be right there," Gemma continued.

"You promise?" Griffin asked.

"Yes, pick a movie and I'll be right over to watch it," Gemma answered.

"Any movie I want?" Griffin asked.

"Yes," Gemma answered.

"Cool!" Griffin said excitedly as he hurried back across the room and started looking through the movies.

Gemma turned back and peeked around the corner again. She wanted to hear more about the treasure.

"I'll talk to you later," Gemma's father said before taking off his headset.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Gemma by Shannon K. Mazurick Copyright © 2012 by Shannon K. Mazurick. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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