Aleu: Seventh Grade Half-Breed (And Outcast)
By HuskyPup
As you may know, Aleu is the daughter of Balto and Jenna, and happens to
be part husky part wolf, but to make things simple; I think I'll give you
a cast of characters:
By the way, I didn't like what happened in Wolf Quest, so I pretend it never happened.
Also, this takes place in late November...there IS snow on the ground
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleu: Eldest daughter of Balto and Jenna, tormented by her classmates because she is part wolf
Balto and Jenna: Aleu's parents; Balto (whom she resembles) who is Nome's hero and part wolf, and Jenna, a rust-red husky who is a pedigree and Balto's mate
Jill, Kiara, Masai, Jen, Zoë: Aleu's best friends; Jill is a golden retriever who always wears a blue bandanna, Kiara is a mature (she has a boyfriend) lioness, Masai is a sophisticated (and sometimes conceited) giraffe, Jen is a champion prankster kangaroo, and Zoë is a shy, sweet, sensitive Zebra
Laurel, [April, Autumn], Tinko, May: These are Aleu's five sisters, put in the order of their ages. I put April and Autumn in brackets because they are twins
Boris: Dumb Snow goose who thinks he knows everything and is Aleu's babysitter (yuck)
Muk and Luk: Frisky Polar Bear cubs that Aleu loves to play with (yea!)
Steele and Stephanie: Steele is the Black and White Alaskan Malamute who hates Balto and Aleu; and Stephanie is his daughter; who is in Aleu's class and worst enemy
Stacey and Lila: Stephanie's friends who also hate Aleu, they are filthy rich and wear Abercrombie collars and all have a crush on Napu even though Napu doesn't like them
Napu and Grace: Aleu's other friends; Napu is her crush (a black wolf [no one but Aleu knows it] with grey patches around his eyes and mouth), and Grace is (yet again) a red and white wolf with L-O-T-S of freckles! (Whisker holes???) And she is Aleu's best friend
So that's it for characters, and without further ado, here's your story:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleu-Seventh Grade Half-Breed Know-it-all Outcast
(Why O Why did I name it that???)
Well, the story begins in Nome Alaska, a small mining town in (duh) Alaska. The year is 2004. I absolutely hate Stephanie, Stacey and...Oh, yeah. Sorry, I'm ahead of myself. I am Aleu, daughter of Balto and Jenna, a little older than a year (12 in people years) old and I am technically not an outcast. Oh well. I guess I'm ahead of myself again. Sorry. Well, a little while back when I started middle school, a few of the dogs thought they were better than everyone else, spoiled, filthy rich, strutting around in diamond collars and pedigree papers-there was a lot going on. Well, I am sorry to say that things weren't going well for wolves. Dogs were taking over. I think of them as weak, unknowing, sorry inferior animals (although Papa says I shouldn't). Well, the story that started all this was a long time ago. This wolf was rabid, you see, and he kind of was at the last stage of the disease, which is where the animal goes insane sort of and starts attacking things. Anyway, the wolf attacked this camera guy, and wolves were said to be dangerous, because people didn't know about things like rabies. So everyone believed that a healthy, normal wolf attacked (for no reason, mind you) some innocent, healthy guy-dude. And THEN...some scientist studied the wolf and found out that he was a rabid, very sick animal (while he was dying the camera guy killed the wolf with his camera...nice ending huh?) and no one believed him. The End. Now here's where the REAL story begins...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hey Jill, seen that paper I had you read? I need it back-it took forever
to type and I'm sure I'll get a good grade. Where is it?" I was looking for
a creative story that was due next period-and I was guaranteed a good grade.
It was just over two pages long.
"Sorry, Aleu, I put it on your desk."
"Oh HERE it is," I picked it up off the floor and put it in my binder. "I DON'T want certain species to be reading and plagiarizing it." Jill nodded and said quickly after a glance at the clock,
"Good luck, Aleu, I'm sure you'll get an A. It's the best of the three I've read so far. Gotta go, though, Ms. Butler's expecting me to make up computer time." She made a face. I laughed. "See ya in lunch, okay? And DON'T let the "Certain Species" get you down." She hustled out of Social Studies just as the bell rang for Language Arts. I sighed and picked up my homework assignment. Language Arts was easily my best class-except for a few "weaker species" in it. Stephanie, Stacey, and Lila (including Star and Malo, their "best regular guy friends") were all in my L.A. class, and, of course, Stephanie was in my group. I forced a smile as I walked into my class, and it was as joyful as walking into a death camp. Good, I thought, glancing around the room, none of them are here yet. I set my supplies on my desk and settled down to read. I didn't even look up as Stephanie heaved a huge sigh and sat down diagonally from me. She walked around the room a couple of times before Lila and Stacey came in. Then they stood next to my desk, giggling and showing off. Fakers, I imagined in my head over and over. When they finally sat down, Star and Malo came in, and they started talking again. I heaved a huge sigh (that I hope no one else heard) and kept reading.
And then it was time for the writing prompt. On top of everything that went on that day, the prompt was the worst. In a nutshell, everything went O.K. until I was halfway done. I was (as always) minding my own business until a sudden whisper made me stop. It was Star.
"Hey, hey Lila, go out with," he pointed to Malo "go out with him okay?" Than Lila turned around and smiled and was flirting with him AGAIN. Just ignore him, I thought. Don't make a scene. But my other instincts got the better of me and I said kind of loudly,
"I am trying to work if you don't mind, and I'm NOT interested if Lila is going out with," I glared at him.
"Oh Aleu," he replied, "mind your own business, I'm trying to work." He gave me a smug smile.
"I am minding my own business."
"What's going on here?" was the reply. Our teacher-in-training, Ms. Muraca, had heard us.
"Aleu won't stop talking. We're trying to work," said Star and Malo in unison.
I was outraged. "I WON'T STOP TALKING?!? YOU WON'T STOP TALKING! IF YOU WEREN'T SO BUSY FLIRTING WITH LILA..."
"Star, Aleu, stop talking and get back to work." Ms. Muraca went back to her computer. I was so mad I almost didn't hear Lila say rudely in a whisper,
"What's your problem?" I didn't stop working for the rest of the prompt.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"...And then he deliberately put the blame on ME! It wasn't as if I wasn't talking," I looked at my friends' disbelieving faces, "but I was just, you know, telling him to shut up. If not, I would have never finished the prompt. I better had get a good grade you know, after all that. It was a prompt that I knew I'd do well."
"What was the prompt?" Kiara wondered aloud. She is always into what's going on. She studies hard and ACTUALLY READS THE NEWSPAPER.
"Oh, just something about, 'write a letter to your principal explaining why or why not the seventh grade students should have to complete 6 hours of community service, blah, blah, blah.'"
"Is that all?" Masai joined in. She is very mature, but sometimes can be a conceited snobby drama queen...but only if you get on the wrong side of her.
"Is that all what?"
"You know, to the story."
"What do you mean 'is that all?!' I probably had 50 eyes on me trying to tell him off! I was SO upset!"
"Well, it couldn't have been that bad," Jen was in tune now. "I mean, you're the top of the class. So what if Smelly Lila did something?"
"SO WHAT?!?!? I was so embarrassed! It's not that good for my, you know, reputation." I glared at them.
"So-rry." Jen you-know-whatted.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The weekend was a nice break...and then there was the school trip to WILLIAMSBURG! For five days I was indulged in history, and then I was home again. I liked it. Saturday was a nice break, and Sunday, but Monday was HORROR. Stephanie's on the warpath.
"I need a job," I told Jen in L.A. On Sunday, I went to a Wolfpack hockey game...and was thinking about working there. I told Jen this. Of course, Stephanie stepped in. Jerk.
"Yeah, I'm sure you could get a job there...as a MASCOT! You're certainly big enough!" Of course, I took this as an insult. I'm really very big, bigger than most of my fellow students. I hate it when someone takes my size as a target for teasing.
"Don't think about it," I muttered, glaring at the ground beneath my oversized paws. "You're better then her."
"What?" Jen asked, writing on a piece of paper labeled 'What Stephanie Is.' From what I could see, she was scribbling down a bunch of words that were definitely not allowed in school.
"Stephanie. She's always putting me down."
"Oh."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That night, I had a training marquee with my best friend and teammate, Jill. We were finally practicing with the sleds. I wanted to be a champion racer someday, but I knew I'd have to compete with some prissy sassy show dogs that have the looks but not the speed.
Jill and I were team 23. Unfortunately, Stacey, Stephanie, Lila, who were originally team 12, merged with team 18: Kaltag, Star, and Nikki (Yes, they are Kaltag, Star, and Nikki's sons), and became team 13. If we managed to even beat them it would take a miracle. Two dogs versus five is too much of a challenge. Ah, said a voice in my brain, but you are not a dog are you? No, I figured, but I wasn't a wolf either. But you are more wolf than dog. You have the build, the speed, and the spirit. You are wild, independent, and intelligent. Yes. You have the wolf in you. I didn't argue with that. I wasn't all dog. But I wasn't all wolf either.
Our trainer was an old Saint Bernard by the name of Mr. Bernard. He trained us every day...even on Thanksgiving. Today was our first day with the sleds. Actually, we were testing out new sleds. The new sleds were exactly the same but instead of two rudders they had one, down the middle. It was longer and skinnier too. A half-breed like me couldn't use it. Only small dogs could. Mr. Bernard told us that it was the latest fashion to use a one-ruddered sled, but it was uncomfortable for me. I asked Mr. Bernard if Jill and I could use the two-ruddered sled.
"You don't like the new ones?" Our trainer was surprised.
"It's not that we don't like them it's just..." I looked at Jill. "...they aren't very well balanced and they're uncomfortable for me. It's like a horse pulling half a sleigh with one rudder down the center. I can't do it." At that moment, who should come up but Stephanie's team themselves.
"Mr. Bernard," she said, not even noticing me (not that I cared) "we are definitely using this new sled. I recommend it to everyone. It's fashionable AND great for practice, nonetheless a great accessory to when we cross the finish line first!"
"Yeah," I said loudly. "Notice how you didn't say how well it balanced. Or how comfortable it is for you. You only care that it's fashionable. For your information, I'm here telling Mr. Bernard the truth: I don't like it."
"Aleu," Mr. Bernard said warningly, his eyes flashing.
"What's goin' on heeyah?"
"What...?" Walking down the pathway was a huge, stocky husky, a malamute. She was almost bigger than Lila and Stephanie put together, although fell a little short of me.
"Who are you?" Asked Stacey with interest.
"Ahm known as The Coming of the Storm to mah race mates," said the dog, "But mah nickname is Lightining. Who are you?" The threesome of course, ran up first to the attractive dog.
"Oh, we're Stephanie, Stacey, and Lila, and we race up here. Do you?"
"Uh course I race! Ahm a lead dog." Stephanie talked for a few seconds about her being a lead dog, and then Lightning said, "Who, in hell's name, are you? You're a bit big to be a husky. Are you a mutt? Probably part Shepard," she added under her breath. I stood up tall.
"I am Aleu. Do you know Balto?"
"'Course. That's why we came heeyah, to meet 'im. 'Aint he that dog that saved this town?"
"Yes. I'm his daughter." The threesome barged in.
"I see you've met Aleu," said Stacey with a half Look at me. Lightning noticed it.
"Why you givin that dog a look like dat?"
"Oh, she's a mutt."
"I know."
"No, she's a mutt. She's part wolf." Lightning looked at them, then me.
"I can see the resemblance. No wonder you hate her. I can't stand wolves. Let's go."
Great, I thought, they've found themselves another prejudiced lead dog. I'm sure they'll be fighting for the lead. Or they're going to race each other. Either way, it's double torture for me. I turned away and ran up the trails, alone.
-----------------------------
Chapter 2
"Where were you?" was my greeting in my room. Oops. I had forgotten there was a club meeting and I left Jill at the training marquee. The day was already bad enough.
"Aleu," Mom had said with a half glance in the middle of stirring a huge pot of macaroni salad. "your friends are here. And where is Jill?" I gulped. I was saved by Papa coming in the door.
"Ugh," he said, "there are times I wish I were still a sled dog." (Papa's a mail carrier)
"Supper's almost done," Mom said, "and Aleu's friends are here. And Jill's mom called. It seems Aleu just ran off, and left Jill at her training marquee."
"Oh really?"
"Uh, Papa, see, there was this new dog and..."
"Oh, so all of a sudden you neglect your friends because someone new comes along, Aleu? Is this new friend of yours here?"
"Papa...she's not really my friend..."
"Alright, alright, just go up to your meeting."
"Fine, Papa, fine."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And so I'm back to "where were you?" 8 pairs of eyes were on me, for the first time late for a club meeting. And then...
"Aleu! Get the door!"
"Okay." And who could it be but Lightning?
"Kay, where's the club?"
"What?" And she barged right in without a second look at me.
"I heard there's a club here. Where's the munchies?"
"What is your problem?"
"Oh. It's you. Is this your...house?"
"Yes. Dolt. Go away. You're imposing."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you're barging in MY house." Mom came to the door then, asking,
"Aleu, what is all the ruckus?"
"Hi there." Mom looked at Lightning, and I felt my face redden.
"Uh, Mom, this is Lightning. She's the new dog I told you about..."
"Yeah, I guess so. Where's the club?" Mom's eyes flashed, I could tell she did NOT like Lightning.
"Upstairs. Are you a new member?"
"Whaddya mean, am I a member?"
"All of Aleu's friends are members. Do you want to see how the club runs? Meetings last until 6:30," she added.
"Mom I don't think..."
"Why don't you call your mom, uh,"
"Lightning's my name."
"Yes, Lightning, and tell her you're staying until 6:30. Aleu's room is upstairs."
"O.K." Mom returned to the kitchen and Lightning pulled a cell phone from on her collar. I grimaced, knowing what was coming. "Don't YOU have a cell phone?"
"No. No one in my family does."
"You're sure behind on the times, half-breed. I'm sure you ain't allowed online, either."
"Sure I'm allowed."
"Oh. So you just don't have a cell phone?"
"No. By the way, cell phones can KILL you. The radio waves are so close to your brain when you use it that they actually cause damage to your nervous system and shrink your brain. I'd never use one."
"What are you a talking brochure on cell phones?" She mumbled, putting the phone to her ear. Then she talked to her mother. "Yeah mom, I'll be home at 6:30, bye." She clipped the cell phone back onto her collar and said mostly to herself, "Jeez she gets on my case. Why can't I have a mother who isn't so fricken' nosy?"
"Didn't you tell your mom where you'd be?"
"No. Why should I?"
"Forget it." Then, I trudged up the stairs with Lightning at my heels as we approached the meeting to end all meetings.
----------------------------------------
Chapter 3
"What the...?" The gawking expressions on my friends' faces were enough for me to burst out laughing. But I was in no mood to fool around. Jen was sitting on my bed with her eyebrows raised so high you'd think they'd come off and fly to the moon. The rest of my friends were on the floor with their mouths opened slightly and their eyebrows raised. My heart sank to the floor.
"This is Lightning," I said in a voice too low to be my own. "She's the n- the dog that came to Nome today."
Not a movement came from my stunned friends until Jen spoke up.
"I saw you."
"What the heck are you talkin about?!"
"On T.V." I saw you.
"Oh yeah," Lightning smiled smugly. " I did some commercials. I'm a purebed Malamute. And don't tell me...you're friends with the half-breed right?"
"That half-breed has a name," Kiara said through clenched fangs.
"Oh right, Aleu. What the heck does that mean?"
Jill burst in right then. "Aleu! You left me at the..." She spotted Lightning. "Oh it's you."
"Mom let her come to the meeting after she barged into OUR house asking where the club was. I'm so sorry Jill. I just got upset."
"No prob. Now we've just gotta take care of....her." She nodded towards the dog who was looking around my room and shaking her head.
"Don't worry Jill. She's already insulted my name and my species."
"Well now we've just gotta show her that you're better than her. Way better."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Order! Okay people, calm down!" The meeting had begun. I was calling it to order. "As you all know, we have a, uh, guest, at our meeting. Her name is Lightning." I held out my paw to indicate who Lightning was. (Jen clenched her fists) Lightning stood up and cleared her throat. She looked about ready to say something until-
"What da heck are you doin?" Jen was now pretending to choke herself. Then she stopped and spoke up.
"I'm just saying with my actions what a big fake you are," Jen said calmly.
"Yeah," Kiara spoke up. "You hated Aleu ten minutes ago...and then all of a sudden you're her best friend or something?" Lightning started to say something but my friends were on a roll.
Masai was in the game now. "You really don't have to say anything because we can see right through you," Jen looked murderous.
"Even if that Stephanie, Stacey, and Lila think you're sooo great."
I stared unbelievably at my best friends. They got me through everything!
"At least I'm not part of a dopey 5th grader's club! Why can't you grow up?"
Zoë, the sensitive and sweet, said in unison with Jill,
"Why can't you just shut up?"
Then Jen completely lost it, and belly-flopped onto Lightning's perfect back.
"You're revolting you stupid, pathetic, piece of JUNK!"
"Get off me!"
"Aleu! Everything okay up there?"
"YES MOM! Meeting dismissed you guys." The shouting, insulting, and fighting continued. "GUYS! MEETING DISMISSED! CUT IT OUT AND GO HOME!" It was like pressing the pause button on the VCR. Everything stopped. The hubbub and fighting. And they stood, glaring at Lightning. But the white malamute didn't break down and apologize. She just calmly approached my dresser, took out some mascara, applied it, and threw it back into my makeup pouch. Without a word to anybody, she stalked conceitedly out the door.
By the way, Kiara, Masai, Jill, Jen, Stephanie, Zoë, Stacey, Lila, Lightning and Mr. Bernard are MY characters, and are not to be used without permission.
If one needs permission to use my characters, I can be e-mailed at HuskyPup23@aol.com And my S/N is HuskyPup23 if you want to IM me. Thanks for reading and I hope I meet some new Balto Fans!