The Girl with No Shoes

By B. J. Rand

The path is wide, the grass grows high on either side. It is the path that Arielle follows with her dog Britches when they go to their secret place in the woods.

Discover your passion with B.J. Rand’s inspirational debut, The Girl with No Shoes.

Arielle is a young girl who, with her dog, Britches, and her cat, Nosey, explore their secret hideaway called “The Hollow.”

But one day, Arielle and her companions encounter a young girl sitting all alone in The Hollow—and without any shoes!

The girl’s name is Francesca, but she is soon summoned out of the woods by an angry voice. Before she goes, however, she promises to come back to The Hollow the very next day.

The group becomes fast friends, and Arielle, Nosey, and Britches make it their mission to find Francesca a suitable pair of shoes.

Soon they come across a pair of shoes for Francesca.

Francesca promises to repay her friend's kindness by taking them on a magical journey to the place where magic began.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B. J. Rand
• Release date: Oct 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311811172

Book preview

The Girl with No Shoes

To Dede Reagan

who inspired me to write

Copyright © 2014 Authored By B.J. Rand

All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014905019

LCCN Imprint Name: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

North Charleston, South Carolina

Chapter One

The path was wide; the grass grew high on either side. It was the path Arielle followed with her dog, Britches, when they went to their secret place in the woods. Arielle discovered this place quite by accident one summer day a few years previous. Arielle and Britches were on an adventure that summer day, in the meadow behind Arielle’s house. It was a beautiful meadow with high grasses and trees scattered about. Arielle decided to lie in the tall grass, as she looked up at the bright-blue sky and watched the large, puffy white clouds pass by.

But Britches got bored very quickly and decided to go on an adventure of his own. He ran through the grass, not knowing where he was going. He was simply enjoying his romp, barking as he went, when all of a sudden he came to a path. Arielle, over here, he yelled.

Arielle was still lying in the tall grass, relaxing, watching the clouds. What is it, Britches? she yelled.

A path. Come see for yourself! he exclaimed.

Arielle’s curiosity got the best of her. She stood up and looked for Britches but couldn’t see him. Where are you, Britches?

Over here, he yelled. Then he began to bark loudly.

Arielle ran through the high grass, which reached to her hips. Keep barking, Britches, I don’t see you.

Britches barked loudly as Arielle made her way closer to the path. Finally she could see the black and white fur on the top of his head. When she reached the path, she knelt down next to him and said, I wonder where it leads.

I don’t know, he replied, but I’m curious. Want to follow it?

OK, but you lead the way. Britches ran down the path as fast as he could leaving Arielle far behind. Not so fast, Britches. I can’t run that fast, she yelled.

Arielle could see that the path led straight into the woods. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to venture that far. I don’t know if I should go into the woods! exclaimed Arielle.

Britches stopped and looked back. Are you a chicken?

No, I’m just not sure if I should go into the woods by myself.

You’re not going into the woods by yourself, he replied. I’m going in with you.

Arielle thought, Britches is right. I’m not going into the woods by myself if he is with me. Then she ran quickly and caught up with him. Come on, Britches, she said as she ran by him. Let’s see where the path leads.

They were about to come to a place that would change their lives in a way they could never have imagined, a place that Arielle would call the hollow.

Chapter Two

They were on the path leading to the hollow several summers later. As they neared the edge of the woods, Nosey, Arielle’s black cat, ran passed Arielle and caught up with Britches, who was far ahead of Arielle on the path. Arielle yelled out to them, Wait for me!

Nosey turned and yelled, Come on, Arielle. Hurry up!

Arielle ran as fast as she could and finally caught up with Nosey and Britches. There was a stream flowing next to the path. Nosey and Britches were thirsty, so they stopped for a drink. Arielle scooped the cool, clear water into her hands and drank as well. They were finally ready to finish their journey to the hollow, so off they went, Arielle in the lead—Nosey and Britches close behind her.

Arielle skipped along the path as the sunlight came through the tree limbs like rays of light from flashlights. It was warm outside, and the birds were singing. Arielle was happy to be going to the hollow. She so loved it there.

As they neared the hollow, they heard a strange noise. Arielle stopped on the path a short distance from it. Nosey and Britches stopped, too, right behind Arielle. Nosey said, What is it, Arielle? Why are we stopping?

She looked at Nosey and Britches and said, Listen. Do you hear that noise?

Britches’s ears perked up as he looked toward the hollow. Nosey looked at him and said, What is it, Britches? What’s that sound?

Britches looked somewhat confused. I’m not sure. I’ve never heard it before. Britches couldn’t keep himself from barking loudly.

Arielle looked at him and whispered, Be quiet, Britches. We all need to be quiet. She suspected that someone was in