Dogs are such caring loving creatures and they each have their own personality. 7.6+ million dogs enter a shelter each year. 2.7 million of those dogs are killed in those shelters because they have been there “too long”, or “nobody wants them”. 40% of that 2.7 million, are pit bulls. I, personally have a dog named Poppy, and she’s a pit bull. So many people dislike pit bulls because they are “dangerous” “violent” and “aggressive”. She wouldn’t hurt a thing, all she wants to do is be curled up on the couch and be pet and loved, and trust me she is. I would like to lower the number of dogs that are being euthanized. 19% of Illean citizens have a disability and it’s difficult for them to do everyday tasks. Since dogs are such loving and caring creatures they make good service animals.
I am proposing to have animal shelters and volunteer citizens to train the “unwanted” dogs to become service animals. It takes 4 months to a year to get a puppy fully trained. These dogs will need probably about 8 months to 1½ years to be trained since they are older and not learning this as a puppy. And a lot of the citizens who need this help are in the lower castes and it can cost a lot to get and to have a service dog. These dogs will be given to the people who need them the most at a very very little cost or nothing at all. And their food and other supplies will be provided once a month. Not only will these dogs care for you and help you with your everyday life but they will be a friend to you. Just because they are trained to be a service dog doesn’t mean that they won’t act like a normal dog, they will love you no matter what.
"Yes Berklee, yes!" my coach screams, giving me two thumbs up. I start smiling, I just nailed my first triple wolf on the beam. "Do it again," I prepare myself to do it again, I position my feet, concentrate and go. I nailed it again, "Berklee! Yes! This is your day!" he shouts. Molly is standing there next to coach, smiling and bouncing on her toes, giving me a thumbs up. I get off the beam and go to stand in line with the rest of my team. Practice was over and Molly wanted to celebrate our success today with ice cream.
"So, how are you feeling?" Molly asks me with an evil smile.
"I feel great, I finally landed that. Do you know how lon-"
She cuts me off, "no, stupid, about tonight, the Report." She says like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
"Oh, I don't know, I guess I'm excited." I lied, I had totally forgotten about it, "it'll be cool knowing who could be the future queen." I finished by shoving another bite in my mouth.
She looks disappointed, "really, no excitement at all?" I started thinking about it, I was starting to get nervous what happens if I do get selected. Molly looks at me, "it's okay, you'll be fine."
We got in the car and I dropped her off at her house, "good luck!" I shout to her as she is walking up her driveway. "You too!" she shouts back and blows an air kiss. I drove home and parked in the driveway. Walking into the house I see Poppy sitting at the door waiting for me. I kneel down to pet her, "Mom! Guess what!" I yell excitedly.
"What?" she asks sitting on the couch watching tv.
I plop down on the couch next to her, "I nailed the triple wolf, twice!"
"Really! Oh, my! That's amazing!" She looks at me giving me a super big grin.
"What's amazing?" Landon asks walking into the room.
"Me," Logan replies falling into dad's big recliner.
I just roll my eyes, "Nope, I nailed my triple wolf," the twins look at each other like I just spoke gibberish, "I can now spin on the beam three times," you could see the confusion leave their faces.
"Well that's cool," Logan says very unimpressed. I stick my tongue out at him, he does it right back.
It was 5 minutes until the report starts, the nerves start to kick in. What if I get selected? I know I won't, hundreds, thousands of girls in my province applied. What will happen? I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard the anthem play and saw Hyacinth Pierce's face on the screen. The Prince talked for a little bit but then Hyacinth Pierce started naming the selected. I'm sort of paying attention to who got selected but I'm also just waiting for Tammins. The provinces just keep going, Tammins is next…
"From Tammins, Lady Berklee Boyer,"
There was my face on the TV looking, back at me. "Oh my god," I say quietly.
"B!" Landon shouts.
"Berklee…" mom says looking at me shocked, I could tell by her expression that she was thinking a thousand things.
We kept watching the rest of the Report, I'm now wishing that I had paid better attention to the previous girls. I couldn’t stop thinking, I'm going to the palace. I'm going to meet the prince, the whole royal family. The Report finished and I went to my room, I couldn't sleep that night.
Molly and I are just chilling in my room when I get a message, "Hi, I'm Evadne. I just followed all the Selected's social media accounts, so yeah!!" "Molly! A selected just messaged me." I shouted quickly sitting upright.
"Which one?"
"Evadne Leventhorpe," I said calmly.
"I've heard that name before, well message her back!" Molly yells at me.
"What do I say?"
"Um, Hi, I'm Berklee…? I don't know." Molly says with a shrug.
"Wow, you are such a help." I roll my eyes and she just gives me a fake smile.
It was the day of send-off, I wore the dress code: white blouse, black pants, and a blue columbine, my province flower, in my hair. My hair was waved with the flower sitting on top of my ear. I didn't know what to expect after I got to the airport, I knew the plans of the send-off pretty well. There was a knock on the door, "Lady Berklee! Time to go!" I heard Earl, my royal helper, say.
"Okay, I'll be there in a sec," I yell back. I took a last look at my room before I felt, picked up my bag and left. I walked down the stairs to find my whole family there waiting for me. They were all dressed so nice. My parents looked so proud.
"Everyone hop in the cars now," Earl says, looking at his watch. "We have a 15-minute drive ahead of us." I get in the limo with the twins and my parents. I start shaking, I noticed and tried to hide it.
"B? How are you feeling?" Landon asks. This is the first time today someone has actually asked me and not told me that ‘you'll be fine'.
"I don't know, anxious, nervous, excited," I answered trying not to let my nerves show.
"Berklee, you got this. I know you're nervous, anyone would be. Just breathe." Mom says leaning over to give me a hug. We got there and I could hear and see some people already.
"Lady Berklee and family, follow me," Earl said helping me out of the car and leading us to the stage. I looked out and saw so many people, holding signs and screaming my name. They were all cheering for me, I was amazed. I waved and there were more cheers. So many people showed up to see me.
It was now the time I said goodbye, first it was to the twins, Landon was about ready to be in tears and gives me a hug, "B, I'll miss you so much."
"I'll miss you too bud," I respond, and let go of the hug, trying so hard to hold in the tears.
I look over to Logan, "Now you be nice to your brother," he rolls his eyes, "I'm serious," I give him the most serious face I could at that moment.
"I will," he answers blandly and goes for a hug, "I'll miss you," he whispers in my ears.
"I'll miss you too."
Next was dad, "Berklee, darling, you look beautiful. Now you have fun, okay? Be you, and try not to break anything." He laughs at his own comment.
"Okay, dad." I roll my eyes with a little chuckle. He leans in for a hug, "I love you." I tell him.
"Love you too, pumpkin." I wipe my tears that started to flow.
Mom was in tears, "Mom, thank you." I start crying, "make sure the boys don't kill each other, I'll call as much as I can. I love you."
"Please do. I love you." I give her the longest hug, tears falling down both of our faces. I wipe my face one last time, wave to the crowd and hop in the car. As we drive away I hear the cheers. I turn around to look out the back window and I can't see my family anymore. There is no backing out now.
When I arrived at the plane there were already two girls, I said a quick hi and sat on the opposite side of, who I think is Annelise, next to the window. Nobody was really talking so I just sat there fidgeting with my fingers and looking out the window when I noticed another girl had arrived, she had really light brown hair. I looked up and smiled. "Hey… may I sit?" she asked.
"Oh, yeah go ahead. Hi, I'm Berklee," I said as a way to introduce myself.
"I'm Charlotte," She seemed really sweet and someone I could befriend.
"Hi, I'm Annelise, but you can call me Anne. And I'm an actress and singer," she chimed in.
"Oh and I'm Felicity, I'm a two," she said quickly taking out one earbud just to put it back in.
Since Charlotte seemed sweet, I wanted to start a conversation, "so do you have any siblings?" Was the first question to pop in my head.
"Two, actually. Victoria and William. What about yourself?" Charlotte answered.
"I have two brothers, Landon and Logan. I wish I had a sister."
"Everyone says that until they get one, they can be a pain," she says with a laugh.
"Girl, I have 15 year old twin brothers, I know pain!" We both laugh, and continued talking until another girl joined.
"I'm Seraphine. Two," I could tell by the way she carried herself. She walked with power, then sat between Annelise and Felicity. Charlotte and I talked pretty much the rest of the flight. Sera and Annelise seemed to bond quickly and were having their own conversation. Felicity had her earbuds in and didn't seem to want to talk. The flight wasn't too long, but having a conversation definitely helped. We landed at the airport and got into cars. Driving up you could see the palace, it was so big and beautiful, I was awestruck. I'll be living there for a little bit, I couldn't believe it.
The hallways were even amazing, it's like they took a children's book and made it in real life. We were taken to the "Women's Room" to get makeovers.
"Lady Berklee," I heard a woman say behind me, I turn around, "Go over there," she pointed. I walked over to the makeup stand and was quickly greeted by a short woman named Denise.
"Hmm, what should we do? Well not very much, you’re very pretty,” Denise says, as I smile and blush a little, “I'm thinking hair extensions and a natural makeup look." "Sure, that works for me." Charlotte was seated next to me, so we chatted and laughed so more. "Lady Berklee, what do you think?" she asks as she hands me a mirror.
"Oh my gosh, I love it!" I exclaimed with a smile, I look back and Denise seems very pleased with herself. She quickly ran away and came back with a cute black and white short dress, "We designed this for you."
She hands it to me, "Wow, it's amazing!" I put on the dress and got my ‘after' picture taken.
I saw lots of groups of girls and didn't know where to go. I saw I smaller group of girls at I somewhat recognized and walked over there, "Hey, can I join you guys?" I ask kind of shyly.
"Yes totally! Hi, I'm Madelyn but you can call me Maddie," sang the brunette with a sweet voice.
"I'm Emmalyn but Emma is fine," said the girl with short dark brown hair.
"Hey! Berklee, right? With the chicken nugget crown?" that must be Fiona because she sent a letter asking for my favorite flower, but I said I prefer nuggets.
"Yup, that's me!" I laughed.
"Wait, a chicken nugget crown? That's so great!" Emma chuckled.
"Speaking of food, thank you for the sleepover invitation, Berklee." Said Debbie, I recognized her from a few of the magazines.
"Yes! I'm really excited! I bought pie!" Maddie cheered.
I smiled, "I'm excited that you're excited. I brought nuggs!" I told them laughing again.
"You seem to really love nuggets," Fiona mentions laughing.
"Well yeah, they are good," I said still laughing. So far I'm known as the girl that likes nuggets, what a way to be known. We continued talking but they were sent on a tour, but I said that I could stay behind and waited for the next group.
"And over here we have the kitchen," says the tour guide.
"Gosh that pasta smells so good, I'm starving." mentions the girl next to me, "do you think they'd notice if I snuck in and stayed there the entire time?" she joked, I started laughing.
"I doubt it, but don't!" I quickly say before she decides to sneak in there.
"I'm Annette, by the way, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"I'm Berklee but you can call me Berk. I'm gonna to be honest, I'm going to forget your name so I'm going to call you pasta." We laugh but I know it's true.
"I'll settle for that, I love pasta. Hmm, I'll call you beaver." She declared so proudly. I realized that we should probably be paying attention to the tour because I know for sure that I'll get lost because the palace is so big. The tour finished up and it was time to get our rooms, the tour guide walked in front of each hallway and listed the girls that were in that hall. "Queen Amberly Hall: Lady Margarita, Lady Nina, Lady Jyn, Lady Annette, Lady Berklee, and Lady Evadne." Annette and I look at each other excited to find out that we are next to each other and walk to our rooms.
I wasn’t in the mood to stay in my room until dinner so I left to wander the palace some more, I chose the gardens. The gardens were really quiet and calming, I was wandering and then noticed a teeny head pop out from behind a bush. "Hello?" I ask.
"Who are you?" I hear a tiny voice ask me, It took me a quick second to realize it's Princess Callie.
"Oh hi. I'm Berklee. What are you doing?" I ask her.
"Oh! You're one of the selected girls. I'm hiding from my brother. He's trying to get to me to go inside and get ready for dinner." she mumbled.
I kneel down so we are at eye level. "Oooh, and which evil brother is doing this to you?" I asked her.
"Evan," she pouts, "he's always telling me what to do," she says very sadly.
"Hey, that's the only thing brothers know how to do," I tell her.
"Do you have brothers?"
"Two younger ones, I bet mine are worse than yours." I try to tell her to make her feel better.
"I'm pretty sure mine are worse. First, they're older, so they think they can boss me around. Second, they're princes, so that goes to their heads and makes them think they can do or say anything to anyone. Including me." She tells me, I could help but laugh.
"Okay fine you win." I still say laughing.
"Ha!" She yells.
"I have nothing to do right now, could I stay and hide?" I ask, hoping that I could stay out of the palace a little bit longer.
"Sure, sounds fun!" I move over to sit next to her.
"So what do you do at the palace all day?" I ask her just to start up some conversation.
"Usually I like running around the gardens but I do have lessons sometimes. What you like to do for fun?" she asks.
"I'm a gymnast. Do you know how to do a cartwheel?"
"I've never tried." she sighed.
"Here, I'll show you." I slide my heels off and do a cartwheel, "Wanna try?" I show her what do to, Callie tried and does an okay cartwheel. "Yeah! That was so good!" She gives me a high five and keeps trying with my help.
"Callie! There you are! I've been looking all over of you!" I heard a new voice come up behind us.
Callie looks at me. "Oh great," she sighs.
"Oh, uh, hi." I blurt.
"Hello, who are you?" Evan asks me.
"I'm Berklee," I replied quickly.
"Were you helping Callie hide from me?" He asks me with putting his hands on his hips.
"Of course, you were going to make her go to dinner" I responded with crossing my arms.
"Yes, it's important that she is there, come on." he waves towards Callie. But Callie just crosses her arms in rejection.
"Okay, fine," she looks towards me, "can we play again tomorrow?"
"If I have time, I have to meet your cousin tomorrow," I tell her.
"Oh yeah, what about after?"
"I'll ask, as soon as I know I'll call for you, okay?" I wink at her.
"Okay!" She cheers and walks off will Evan.
I pick up my heels and walk off in a different direction towards the palace. I almost made it to the main entrance to the palace when I saw another girl not too far ahead of me. "Hey! Wait up!" I yell doing a quick little run.
She turns around and notices me. "Oh, well hello there," she smiles, "Berk?"
I smile, "Yup! You're Jyn right?"
"The one and only, done with makeovers?" She asks.
"Yeah, you look really good!" I say with a smile.
"I considered making my hair shorter... but I'll let my purple tips last a little longer," she says touching the ends of her hair.
"I think it looks cute! Tomorrow have your dress go with it, that would be so cute."
"Hmm, I'll really have to think about it since we're meeting Dominos for the first time."
I start laughing, "Dominos?" We continue talking as we walk back to our rooms, "Wait, are you in the same hall as me?"
"Hmm, I'm across from Annette..."
"Really! I'm next to her in the middle." We arrive at our rooms and wave goodbye.
It was the night of the sleepover, Evadne and I were running around everywhere trying to get everything together. Girls starting arriving with their food, putting it on the table. Then Annette walks in, "I brought the booze and pizza!" she shouts. The night mostly consisted of Vad and I taking away alcohol from Annette, Fiona and Finley, truth or dare, and Percy coming to join.
