Chapter 1 - Goodbye, July!

Summer, was the hottest season here. The leaves went very green and very lively, but the lakes were almost boiling. The streets were full of people: men, women, teenagers, and kids. Everybody seemed to be all disturbed by this weather. They wore T-shirts and shorts. Teenagers yelled and fought with each other. Little girls begged their mothers to wear their favorite skirts. Boys yelled at their brothers and sisters to ask them to buy an ice cream. Nobody wanted to study or work. 

It was July 31st. Almost everyone was at a small street. It was the biggest street in this town, but it was really small. Everybody – including a little girl named Jane – was all looking at a sculpture in a small square and waiting for something. 

Jane was a six-year-old girl with long straight blonde hair and shiny sky-blue eyes. She had also got thin blonde eyebrows, pink lips, a straight nose and smooth fair skin. She was very short and slim. She often wore a yellow T-shirt and a pink jacket with flower patterns on it. 

Jane thought it was so boring. She didn’t smile and licked her ice lolly again and again. 

“I’m bored, mom. When on earth will we stop waiting?” asked the little girl impatiently.

“Just wait, my honey,” said Jane’s mother.

Sweat ran down from Jane's head. She took a big bite of her ice lolly. When will we stop waiting? Jane thought quietly, Maybe we are waiting for some fantastic people in the town, or some heroes. 

Suddenly, Jane heard a sound, “ding!” She looked up. Lines of men were holding drums and horns and playing them. They walked from the square. It was a loud music! And then, after the men, there was a woman , a young beautiful woman! She had long straight green hair, shining green eyes, and she wore a long green dress with small yellow and white flowers in it. Her dress, her eyes, and her hair, all glittered with vitality in the sunshine. Jane gasped. She had never seen such a beautiful person. 

“So that’s July!” whispered Jane. She was excited, so excited that she forgot all about waiting.

“Yes,” said Jane’s mother,“she will leave soon.”

“Oooh,” whispered Jane sadly.

“Do not worry,” Jane’s father said,“we will see August soon. Maybe August is better than July!”

“OK,” Jane said excitedly. She almost forgot July. 

“Mom! Mom! MOM! SHE’S LEAVING! ” Jane cried,“SHE IS LEAVING! MOM!” She pointed at July, who was walking quickly back to the square.

“Don’t be so sad!” said Jane’s mother softly,“say goodbye.”

“Goodbye! Goodbye! GOODBYE!” Jane waved to July. July unexpectedly waved back!

“GOODBYE! GOODBYE! JULY! GOODBYE, JULY! GOODBYE!”

“Stop, honey!” said Jane’s mother.

“Stop! NOW!” shouted Jane’s father sternly. 

“I WANT TO SEE JULY! I WANT TO SEE HER! I WANT TO SEE AUGUST, TOO! JULY! AUGUST! I WANT TO SEE THEM! PLEASE! I WANT TO SEE JULY AND AUGUST!” Jane cried loudly.

But Jane was pretending. She didn’t really cry. 

“Jannie! STOP! ” shouted Jane’s mother, “Stop now! There is a ceremony for ‘July to August’ at midnight, but you, you are too young! You can’t go! You can’t stay up at night and wait for midnight.”

A ceremony? At midnight? Jane thought quietly. She almost couldn’t believe it. She stopped pretending. An idea went through Jane’s mind like a lightning. She had a plan.