AN: Here's the second chapter I promised you!

This morning I woke up early. I always wake up early, but this was even earlier. I was having a weird dream, involving an... army hat? Anyway, I just played my piano for a couple hours until Churchie called me down. "Jeffery, dear, a Jane Penderwick is here and wants to talk to you!" I rushed down the stairs. Maybe the Blond Girl was back! I'm calling her the Blond Girl because I don't know her name (Jane Penderwick?). Where did she come from anyway? When I finally reached the door, I saw not the Blond Girl, but a curly brunette that reminded me of her for some reason. "Hello" I said. Her eyes flew open. Why were they closed...? "How's your head?" The question caught me off guard. How did she know? Go with the flow I guess. "It's okay." Now I remember! Mother said the family's name was Penderwick! The Blond Girl must be another Penderwick, which would be why Jane reminded me of her, and had told Jane what had happened! I guess I wasn't imagining the kids... but the dog had to be in my imagination! "Churchie put ice on it when I got home."I continued. You'd be surprised how fast I can think. "Good." Jane smiled. "I have a speech for you!" I wonder why... "Sure you don't want to come in, Jane?" Churchie said from behind me. "She has a speech." I informed her. "Heavens!" She exclaimed. "You can listen if you'd like." Jane offered. "How could I pass it up?" Churchie asked. I am so grateful for Churchie. She's so kind and generous. Jane stood tall and clasped her hands behind her back. "Good morning, Jeffery. I'm Jane Penderwick, officially elected spokesperson for Skye Penderwick, whom you met yesterday." Oh, so the Blond Girl's name is Skye. It fits her. "Skye asked me to express her regret for crashing into you and for her subsequent rude behavior and hopes you will forgive her and not take it too personally. The end." Jane took a bow. That speech was great! Churchie started clapping, "We don't get many speeches here and that was a good one. What do you think, Jeffery?" That was amazing. "That was fine, I accept the apology." Jane looked surprised. "Already?" She asked. Did she think I was going to gibe her a hard time? "I figured you'd need persuading," she continued "so I've been thinking up more things to say. Like how Skye's always saying the wrong thing to people- it's not just special for you. And how she's really nice, sometimes, once you get to know her. And then I'd ask you to take pity on motherless girls brought up without a woman's gentle influence, which doesn't really count, because our father is plenty gentle, but I thought it sounded good. I have more too if none of that worked." That girl can talk! " You can stop," I interrupted. "Not that it wasn't great." I hurried on. "Yes, very well put." Churchie backed me up. "Thanks!" I could practically see Jane's pride well up inside her. "Jeffery, can you come back to the cottage, please? "We have a surprise there for you!" What surprise? "Sure, I'd love to!" We waved goodbye to Churchie, and set off towards my favorite place in the world. The cottage.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A little longer? A good length? Next up, memories of the cottage and Skye's famous explosion!

riderwritergirl: I'm touched! Just one chapter made your day? How's two for ya? And I completely agree!