My Friend in the Sky

My Friend in the Sky

When I was little, my mother worked two full-time jobs to support our family, so I didn’t see her very often. Our morning rides to the babysitter’s was a special time for us. Mom would teach me things, read me books, and tell me stories whenever she had the time. I loved it when she would read to me, but my favorite was when she would create a story of her own. I would often ask “Mom will you make me a story?” In combination with my own early childhood memories, and helpful reminders from my mother, this children’s book is inspired by the following memory: One morning, on the way to the babysitter’s, mom was driving me through a hilly gravel road out in the country. It was early morning, and the ground was covered in fog. My mother asked me “Do you know what that is?” I said "Yes mother, it is fog." Mom replied in an excited tone, “Tessie! It’s a cloud on the ground!”. Thinking of the Care Bears cartoon, where being up in the clouds looked like a lot of fun, I got so excited and asked “Mom, can I go play in the cloud?” Mom pulled into an open grassed area, and said “Okay, but you have to stay close to me, listen for my voice, and keep your eyes on your feet so you don’t trip.” It was so much fun playing in the fog! When we got back into the car, I said to mom, “Mom, I made a story. Once upon a time…”