My Day as Laura Ingalls Wilder
By: Kaylyn McAnally
One day when I was reading a book in my bed, I saw a cloud shaped like a covered wagon. I was reading Little House in the Big Woods. I said, “I wish I could be Laura Ingalls Wilder.” The cloud turned colors, and then it wasn’t a cloud at all! It was a real covered wagon.
When I found out I was Laura Ingalls Wilder, I was as overjoyed as a child at Christmas. I was looking out of the window of my, or Laura’s, little cabin looking at Pa carrying logs and sticks in the wagon. Suddenly, I felt someone tugging on what I thought was my ball cap, but it was my bonnet. I turned around and saw a little girl about two years old. She said, “Gracie play with you.” I guessed that was Gracie, Laura’s youngest sister. I decided to play with her. She was playing with paper dolls. “Laura,” someone said, “I want you to help Mary sew her wedding dress.” I decided that was Ma.
I went up the ladder to the loft and saw Mary sewing lavender lace onto a light blue dress. Mary told me to get the white flowers and sew them to the collar. When I finished, I was told to fetch the water for lunch.
It was warm outside and the grass felt warm under bare feet. When I got to the well, I saw Pa drinking from it. He took the bucket, filled it up half way, and then poured it on my head! The water was icy cold but I loved it! He said, “Run on in Half-pint. I’ll get the water today.” I ran inside, and when Ma saw me she said, “Laura, did you fall into the well?” She pretended to be stern, but she was joking. She told me to dry off, and then put Gracie to bed. I fell asleep.
Five minutes later, I was back up on my feet to help Ma with lunch. In one blink of the eye, I heard a scream. I ran downstairs, and saw Carrie screaming with her hand burned black. It was under the kettle, so she couldn’t get her hand out from under it. Pa had come back with the water. I ran into the big room to get the bucket to dump it on Carrie’s hand. Then I picked up the kettle, and put Carrie’s hand in the water. Carrie’s hand was black and red all over! Pa came in and saw her hand. He almost screamed himself with he saw it.
Ma walked to town to get Dr. Baker. Dr. Baker came to our house, and I got very tired going back and forth to the well. Dr. Baker said, “You just need to keep Carrie’s hand under cold water or ice at all times. Ma got out her biggest cooking pan and put water and ice in it.
When Dr. Baker left, I was told to make a lunch of veggie rolls and applesauce dumplings. My brain didn’t know how to make it but my hands did. After a wonderful lunch Pa said it was time for studies. Laura was studying division, so I studied division. In about 25 to 30 minutes I was allowed to go outside.
The warm air felt good on my face. Carrie came out with a rag on her hand. She said, “Laura, you need to milk the cow.” I went to the barn and milked the cow. I had a little taste and it was delicious! Then Ma called me in for an early dinner. We had stuffed duck, corn pudding, and peaches and cream. Afterwards, Pa got out his fiddle and played Yankee Doodle. Then we climbed into bed.
When I woke up, I wasn’t Laura! I was in my t-shirt and ball cap. My book was on my stomach and it was 3:01. I looked at my clock, and I had only been gone for one minute! I hope someday I will be Laura Ingalls Wilder again.