Snowflakes by Tal Lingenua (ereader manga .TXT) 📖

said they would!” She picked up Vanessa and spun her around in a big hug. “You’re a great little sister.” She ruffled Vanessa’s brown hair and rushed back into their bedroom and ran behind her.

“Oh man this is so awe-some

!” Gabriele sang. She didn’t know why she ran back into her room. There weren’t any clothes in there, which she needed before her pajamas cut off her circulation.

Gabriele and Vanessa went across the hallway.

Gabriele opened the master bedroom and went into their mother’s drawer.

“What are you doing? Vanessa whispered.

“Getting clothes. Mine don’t fit and yours won’t cut it.” She held up a bra, “I need a real bra.” She smiled like that was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

“Mother wears that!”

Gabriele tossed it away. “Ew.” She waved her hand around before opening a lower drawer. “Mother will have to take me bra shopping later.”

“You’re just so proud of yourself aren’t you?”

“Uh-huh.” Gabriele started throwing various articles of clothing behind her. “Ugh. She’s going to have to take me clothes shopping as well.”

“Don’t be picky.” Vanessa said, “And besides, how do you even know what you did is permanent?”

Gabriele nodded, “True, true. But I do need clothes to wear today.”

“Look around you!” Vanessa gestured to the piles of clothing.

“Those are-”

The bed creaked and the girls turned to see their mother sitting up and yawning. “Good morning.” She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She noticed the piles of clothes on her floor and frowned. She turned at the girls and noticed her youngest daughter had undergone an improbable amount of development in one night.

“Gabriele?” Mother threw the covers off and rushed over to Gabriele. She put her hands on her shoulders, “Oh my god- is that really you?”

Gabriele beamed and she nodded, “Uh-huh.”


First thing after breakfast, mother took Gabriele shopping at the mall.

“We’re not buying you any new clothing. With any luck, this is just temporary.”

“It’s not temporary mother.” Gabriele said as she and mother unboarded the car. “I’m not going to turn back into a ten-year old.”

“Let’s not have this conversation now.” Mother said, “If anybody asks, you’re my niece and you’re staying for Gabriele’s birthday.”

“I think they should get used to the new me.”

“Gabriele...” Mother said sternly before opening the mall door. Gabriele sighed and rolled her eyes before walking inside.

“She’s doing a fine job being a teenager so far.” Mother muttered and followed Gabriele into the store.

The mall was holding sales for Christmas already. They couldn’t make it to Thanksgiving this year.

“The underwear is in the back.”

“Mother!” Gabriele said, then she lowered her voice, “There’s no need to broadcast what we’re doing.”

Mother sighed, “What was I thinking?”

As they trekked through the mall, Gabriele noticed shiny new toys that were upwards to 15% off. She had to resist the urge to call her mother’s attention to it. She was afterall a mature grown up now.

They passed the soft pretzel. The smell of fresh baked dough and salt beckoned to Gabriele and she just had to look inside. There was a young man, in his late teens or early twenties, behind the counter.

A new feeling welled up inside Gabriele’s stomach. “I’m going to get a pretzel.” She walked over to the counter. She had seen the pretzel boy many times before, but this was the first time she really noticed he had dirty blonde hair.

“What are you doing? You just had breakfast.” Mother said walking up besides her.

“I’m still hungry.”

“Hello ladies,” The pretzel boy’s voice was hypnotic, “What can I get you today?”

Gabriele stared into his emerald eyes, “Can we have soft pretzels?”

“Of course.” The pretzel boy turned around and walked to the oven. Gabriele observed his pretty backside as he fetched two soft pretzels. He sprinkled on salt and returned to the front. He laid them on napkins.

“Can I get you any mustard or cheese?”

“Um...” Gabriele looked towards the back of the stand then pointed to the cinnamon, “Can I get some of that?”

“Of course, and what about you ma’am?”

“This is fine.” Mother said.

The pretzel boy picked up Gabriele’s pretzel and took it to the back, to have cinnamon put on it. He had changed Gabriele’s opinion about backsides in a matter of seconds. He handed the completed pretzel to Gabriele. “Here you go ma’am. That will be $3.87.”

Mother gave him the aforementioned amount. “You have a good day.”

“You too.” The pretzel boy smiled brighter than the sun and Mother gave Gabriele a small tug, signalling her to follow.

“He’s too old for you.”

“Huh?” Gabriele said.

“He’s at least 15. He’s too old for you.”

“Mother, I do not like him.”

“That’s good.” Mother took a bite of her pretzel, “Because he’s too old for you.”

“If I did like him, which I don’t, we’re practically the same age.” Gabriele bit into her pretzel. Ruining her pretzel with cinnamon was definitely worth it.

“You are only 10.” Mother whispered.

“I’m... about 16. Hey, after we’re done shopping can I get a license?”

“No.”

Chapter 3

“You’re not Gabriele.” Maxi said. He raised his hand a few inches above his head, “She’s only this tall.”

“If I’m not Gabriele, how do I know everyone’s name?” Gabriele said.

“Lucky guesses.” Maxi crossed his arms.

“How about this.” Gabriele walked into the living and Maxi cautiously followed, staying close to Vanessa and his mother.

Gabriele lifted the flap board of the piano and played the intro to 100 years

. “You know Maxi, now that I’m older we should reshoot the video.”

Maxi screwed up his face in thought. “I’m not sure, But Gabriele is the only person I know who can play 100 years

.” He ran over to Gabriele, “How’d you get older?”

“I made a wish on snowflakes.”

“Don’t wishes not come true when people learn them?”

“a) That’s only before and b) You’re thinking of candles.”

“Oh.” Maxi said.

“Now get the video camera. We’ve got a video to reshoot!”


Gabriele was sad to discover that her singing voice had been ruined by puberty. But at least she still had her younger voice on file. It would sound strange to hear a little girl’s voice coming from someone her age, whatever it was.

“What do you guys think?” Gabriele said turning to her younger siblings.

“Honestly?” Vanessa said, “I believe you should use your younger voice and older video. It won’t look as professional, but I think the sound is more important than the video.”

“I like the first video better.” Maxi said, “It looks funny.”

“We’re not using the first video.” Gabriele said.

“Then why’d you ask?” Maxi stamped his foot.

Gabriele chose to ignore him and went with Vanessa’s idea. She uploaded the finished product to YouTube. “We’ll get to see the video first.” Gabriele pushed the play button. It was almost, but not quite as good as the original. The camera angle was really low and the age progressions were a bit jerky, despite Gabriele’s best editing skills.

But all in all, Gabriele loved the video. She watched it several times. Maxi left after the first viewing. But Vanessa seemed increasingly bothered with each viewing.

“Is there something wrong with the video?” Gabriele asked after the fifth viewing.

“What exactly did you wish for?” Vanessa asked.

“Just to be older than you... why?”

“Nothing.”


Even though she was now the oldest, Gabriele still had to go to bed at 9:30. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair. So she crawled under the covers of the top bunk with a flashlight and a good book. She only managed to get past the first two chapters before the covers were thrown off.

“Gabriele?” Vanessa said, “What are doing in my bed?”

“It’s my bed now.” Gabriele said, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to do some more reading.” She pulled the covers back over her head.

Vanessa pulled them back off, “You were supposed to be sleeping a half-hour ago. Now get out of my bed.”

“I’m oldest. So the top bunk is mine and since I’m, I don’t know 3, 4 years older than you, I’m staying up till 11.”

Vanessa snatched Gabriele’s book and chucked it onto the floor. It landed with a soft thud and slid into the dresser.

Gabriele furrowed her eyes, “Go get it.”

“Make me.”

Gabriele grabbed onto Vanessa and wrestled her onto the bed with relative ease. Growing up, Vanessa always held a slight psychical advantage over her. It was such a sweet feeling to pin Vanessa down.

“Get off of me!” Vanessa pushed Gabriele to no avail.

Gabriele shifted her body so she was sitting on top of Vanessa’s stomach. “How the tables have turned, eh Vanessa?”

Vanessa huffed. “Fine you can have the stupid bed. Just get your fat butt off of me!”

Gabriele laughed and let Vanessa up, “Give me my book before you go to bed, little sis.”

Vanessa hopped onto the floor, “Don’t call me that.” She collected Gabriele’s book. “You may be older than me physically, but there’s so much more to being an older and mature person.” She flipped the book to Gabriele and crawled into the bottom bunk.

Chapter 4

The top bunk was so much more comfortable than the bottom. Gabriele felt so well rested having gone to bed at 11:00 rather than too early at 9:30. She was never tired at 9:30 and wound up staying up for hours. She looked at her hands to make sure her wish was still working. They actually seemed a little bigger

than yesterday.

She hopped over the cot rails and rushed into the bathroom and looked into the mirror. Her face wasn’t as round, her hair was slightly long but her bangs were