A Tea Party

By Janet Quinn

Chelsea is having trouble with her fifth grade history homework. Theodora, the magic cat, offers to take both Chelsea and her friend Robby back to the time of the Boston Tea Party. There they get to meet famous people such as John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Benjamin Franklin. They meet regular people and find the customs strange. Then they run up against the British soldiers. Theodora helps them while they learn about the Boston Tea Party and have an adventure in old Boston.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Janet Quinn
• Release date: Apr 4, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476217284

Janet Quinn

Janet F. Quinn, Ph.D., registered nurse, associate professor, and distinguished researcher of Therapeutic Touch, has been profiled in The New York Times, Time, and Utne Reader. She makes her home in Boulder, Colorado.

Book preview

A Tea Party

Historical Fantasy Middle Reader

By Janet Quinn

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 Janet Cornelow

Cover art by Lex Valentine

All other reserved by author. The reproduction or other use of any part of this publication without the prior written consent of the rights holder is an infringement of the copyright law.

To my biggest fan, my sister Kathy. To my sons, Tom, Michael, and Robby for all their confidence, support and love. To my daughter-in-laws Jessi and Loki for their support. To Debra, my critique partner, for all her help and encouragement.

Chapter 1

Robby left class, playing with his finger skateboard. Suddenly, Chelsea snatched the skateboard from his hand and ran off. Robby stood for a moment, then yelled, Hey, give that back.

Come and get it. Chelsea laughed and raced toward the playground.

Robby ran after her. Come on, Chelsea. That's brand new.

Chelsea kept running, but called over her shoulder. You shouldn't be playing with toys and ignoring your friends.

Robby was gaining on her, but he couldn't tackle her when he did catch up. He'd be in trouble for tackling a girl. He'd be in trouble for tackling anyone, but especially a girl.

He almost had her when he started to wheeze. It was springtime and his asthma always bothered him when everything was in bloom. He stopped, bending over and resting his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. Just give it back. His brown ponytail fell over his shoulder.

She walked back toward him and stood just out of his reach, holding the skateboard clutched in one hand. What's it worth to you?

Come on, Chelsea. Mom gave that to me for getting an A on my grammar test last week. He stood up and flipped his backpack over his shoulder. Chelsea could be so irritating at times, even if she was one of his best friends. He wondered if he could snatch the skateboard back, but she seemed to have a pretty good hold on it and he didn't want to break it. It had orange flames painted on the board and was one of the best in his collection.

She danced around, her curly red hair bouncing on her shoulders. I could be bribed to return it. She flashed him an impish smile.

Why do you do this? Robby took a shallow breath. He still couldn't get a deep one.

She giggled. Because you're such an easy target. She stopped and stared at him for a moment. Do you need your inhaler?

He nodded and pulled it from his pocket, holding it to his mouth.

Better. She cocked her head to the side and examined him.

Yes. Now give me my skateboard. He made a grab for her.

She danced off. Not until the bribe has been settled.

Fine way to treat a friend. He took a step toward her and she backed up. If she were a boy, he'd knock her to the ground, sit on her, and take back the skateboard. He'd worry about the punishment later, but since Chelsea was a girl, his mother would get really angry and throw away the skateboard. Boys didn't ever hit girls. Period.

Okay. What's the price? He'd pay most anything to get his treasure back.

She waved the skateboard in the air. Help me with my fractions. We have a test tomorrow and I'm going to flunk and then I'll be on restriction for two weeks.

You could have just asked. Robby held out his hand for the skateboard.

Chelsea unzipped the top of her red backpack and dropped the skateboard inside.

Chelsea! I'll help you with your fractions. Robby wanted to snatch the backpack from her arm.

When we're done. She set the backpack on the ground between her feet and pulled her green sweater on over her T-shirt with a kitten printed on the front.

Now. Robby kicked a rock with the toe of his brown boot.

She smiled at him, picked up her backpack and fell in step beside him. Do you think your mom will have baked cookies today?

Maybe. Probably, but he wasn't sharing until he got his skateboard back.

Good. I'm hungry.

Chelsea stuffed another chocolate chip cookie into her mouth. Your mom makes great cookies. I like them best when they’re fresh out of the oven and still warm.

Robby nodded his head and swallowed, picking up his glass of milk. Me, too. Now that your fractions are done, what other homework do you need help with? His finger skateboard sat on the table between them. He picked it up and skated it across his closed math book, his own math homework undone.

Meow. Robby's black cat, Theodora, rubbed against his arm, making his skateboard dance across the table and hit the floor.

Look what you did, Teddi. It better not be broken. He picked the cat up off the pine table and plopped her down on the green tiled floor.

Chelsea pulled her history book out and laid it on the table. I have to write a report about the Boston Tea Party.

Theodora bounded back up on the table and sat down in the middle of Chelsea's history book. She licked her front paw and cleaned her face.

She doesn't want me to do my history. Chelsea laughed and stroked Theodora. The cat arched her back as Chelsea rubbed her fur. I'm with you. I don't want to do my history either. It's so boring.

Oh, it's not that bad. Mrs. Howard at least brings in lots of neat stuff to look at. Robby picked his skateboard up and examined it.

Chelsea rubbed her face against Theodora's fur. You don't like history, either, do you, kitty?

Theodora nuzzled Chelsea's history book open and flipped the pages with her paw.

Chelsea stared at the cat. I didn't know she could do that.

Robby laughed. He'd seen Theodora nuzzle open books before, but he'd never thought too much about it. I think she wants you to do your homework.

Chelsea pushed Theodora to the side. Traitor cat.

Theodora stared at her for a moment, then took a bite out of Chelsea's cookie.

Chelsea grabbed up her cookie. Did you see that?

Bad, Teddi. Robby picked up the cat and placed her on the floor.

Theodora leapt back onto the table and washed her face.

Teddi, you're not behaving. Robby reached for the cat.

She jumped away from him and peered at Chelsea's history book.

I think she's reading. Chelsea smiled at Robby. Maybe she'll write my report for me.

Robby picked up his finger skateboard. Right. If she was going to do anyone's homework, it should be mine. She's my cat.

Have you ever asked her to do your homework? Chelsea stroked Theodora's fur.

Robby made a face at Chelsea. Like a cat's going to do my homework.

Chelsea put her face against Theodora. Teddi, you'll write my report won't you?

Theodora licked Chelsea's face.

See, she said yes. Chelsea grabbed Robby's skateboard.

Chelsea, give that back. He made a grab for the toy, but she held it out of his reach. Why do you always do that?

Because it irritates you. She waved the skateboard over Theodora's head.

Theodora watched it, then went back to staring at the history book.

Give me my skateboard, or I won't help you with any more of your homework. Robby grabbed the toy from Chelsea and placed it on top of his math book. I hate when you take my stuff.

Chelsea stuck her tongue out. I don't take your inhaler, just unimportant things.

It still isn't nice. Robby hated when she teased him. He never did mean things to her.

Chelsea cocked her head to the side. It's just ’cuz you’re one of my best friends.

You should be nicer to friends. Robby wanted to skate his toy across his book, but he figured the minute he touched it, Chelsea would make a grab for it. You'd better get started on your history. Mrs. Howard will expect it done or you'll be sitting at recess.

Chelsea grimaced. I know. I don't know what to write.

Just tell what it says in the book. History was his favorite subject and the only homework he didn't mind doing. It really isn't that hard.

Chelsea pushed Theodora from her book. She sighed and picked up her pencil. The Boston Tea Party. A bunch of men dressed up like Indians and threw tea into Boston Harbor. Why is that important?

That's what you're suppose to figure out. Robby shook his head. It tells you in the book.

There's only three paragraphs in the book about the Boston Tea Party. Chelsea chewed on the end of her pencil. How am I supposed to figure anything out from that. She laid her head against Theodora. "Please, Teddi, help me with my homework.

Theodora rubbed her face against Chelsea's. If you really need help, I suppose I could.

Chapter 2

Chelsea blinked, opened her mouth, closed her mouth, then stared at Robby.

What's wrong? Robby flipped his skateboard over.

Did you hear Teddi? The cat couldn't have just said she'd help with her homework. She must have been reading too many fantasy books lately. The one she'd finished last night had a talking dragon. Or maybe she was just wishing someone would do her history homework, which she really didn't want to do.

She meowed at you. Robby flipped his math book open.

Are you sure that's all? Chelsea put her face near Theodora's face again. Did you say you'd do my homework?

Of course she didn't. Robby laughed. You're hallucinating. You really have to stop reading all those books with strange talking creatures.

It's okay, Chelsea. Theodora rubbed her cheek against Chelsea's. He can't understand me because he didn't ask for my help.

Chelsea pulled back. Maybe you're right, Rob. Maybe I should start reading adventure stories like you do.

You better start doing your history homework. You know my mom doesn't like it when you goof off instead of working when you come over. He wrote a problem on his paper and stared at it.

"My dad said