Sleep Over

I wrote this story a long time ago. Then, I thought it might be a children story book. However, I found out that it's not easy to write fiction. This story is only the beginning. I don't know if I can finish it, though.

It is a lovely afternoon. Diana is sitting on the front porch. She seems like in a deep thought.
“Hi Di”, a friendly greeting went without answer.
“Di, are you okay?”, says the person while touching Diana’s shoulder.
Surprised, Diana answers, “Yes, fine.”
“What are you doing here?”, asks Diana to Tika, who is now sitting next to her.
Tika is Diana’s best friend. Both of them are in fourth grade in the Ki Hajar Dewantoro Elementary school. They live not far from each other.
“I was on my way home from the store, and I saw you. So, I thought I dropped by.”
“What were you thinking about?”.
“I was thinking about something to do this weekend,” answers Diana unexcitedly. “You know, I sometimes get bored. I read and watch TV, but I need something else. Something morefun.”
“You can come over to my house and spend the night,” suggests Tika.
“That’s a good idea, but we have done it often. Don’t take it personally, but it gets boring,” answers Diana. She has thought about that idea.
“Then, let’s make it more interesting,” answers Tika sounding very cheerful.
“How?” Diana does not sound very optimistic. “How can you make a sleepover more interesting?” says Diana to herself. “You just go over to your friend’s house, play some games, and talk until you fall asleep. Unless you have good games and interesting topics, a sleepover will be dull.” Of course, she does not say it out loud. She is afraid it will hurt Tika’s feeling.
“I don’t know,” answers Tika while scratching her head.

“Hi girls. I didn’t know you are here, Tika. How’re you today?” Diana’s mother comes out of the house carrying a roll of garden hoses.
“Hi Mrs. Tobing. I’m fine. Thank you,” answers Tika. “Are you watering the flowers?” she asks.
“Yes. The grass looks dry. Besides, I planted some rose bushes yesterday and I think they need water.” “What are you two talking about?,” asks Diana’s Mother.
Quickly Tika answers, “Well, Di is thinking about something to do this weekend. I suggested sleeping over in my house, but she thinks it is getting boring.”
“I see,” answers Mrs. Tobing.
“Mom, maybe you have an idea to make it more fun,” asks Diana. She knows that her mother always has a lot of good ideas.
“I know,” shouts Tika. She is smiling wide.
“What?” asks Diana. “Tell me! Tell me! What is it?” she is shaking Tika’s arm.
“Di, you’re hurting my arm. Let it go!” tells Tika.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I got too excited,” replies Diana. “So, what is it?” she asks again, more calmly this time.
“Well, we can sleepover..”
“But I’ve told you it’s boring,” interrupts Diana.
“Listen! We’ll sleepover in your backyard,” continues Tika.
Diana cannot say anything. Her mouth is wide open. She says to herself, “Is Tika going crazy? Sleeping over in the backyard, what was she thinking?”
“In a tent,” finishes Tika. She is smiling, feeling proud of her great idea.
“Hmm…that’s a great idea,” responds Diana. “But, where can we get a tent? Do you have one?”
“No. I didn’t think of that,” answers Tika.
“Besides, I don’t know if my parents will let me do it,” she continues.
“I didn’t think about that, either,” says Tika. Then, she suggests, “But, you can ask your mom now, and I’ll ask my mom later”
Diana’s mother is listening to their conversation while watering the grass. She does not say anything, though.
“Mom, is a tent expensive?” ask Diana to her mom.
“I guess so. What do you need it for?” she asks her daughter.
“Tika suggested a sleeping over in our backyard in a tent. Can we, Mom?” Diana asks for her mother’s permission.
“Of course, you can. I’m sure your father won’t mind, either. It’s quite save here. Besides, there is a fence around the backyard,” replies Diana’s mother.
“Thank you, Mom,” Diana shouts.
“Thank you, Mrs. Tobing,” shouts Tika almost at the same time.
“What about the tent?” asks Diana to herself.
“Why don’t you ask Miss Yunita if you can borrow a tent from your school?” replies Diana’s mother.
Miss Yunita is their fourth grade teacher.
“What do you think, Ka?”, Diana asks Tika.
“We can try,” Tika answers.
“Great. So, we’ll ask Miss Yunita tomorrow. And you should ask your mom for permission,” Diana suggests.
“I’ll do that. I’d better go home now,” Tika says. “See you tomorrow at school. Bye, Mrs. Tobing,”
“Bye,” answers Diana and her mother at the same time.

*****

“So, did you ask your mom?” asks Diana when she sees Tika the following morning.
Tika does not answer. She only nods. She is busy getting some of her books and pencil case out of her bag.
“What did she say? Can you sleep over?” asks Diana without stopping. She is a little bit worried if Mrs. Hartono, Tika’s mother, does not let Tika sleep over.
“She said yes,” replies Tika for Diana’s relief.
“My dad also thinks that the sleep over is a good idea,” adds Tika.
“I also told my dad about it when he got home from work. He said he would help us build the tent,” tells Diana happily.
“Cool!” answers Tika. “When do you think we should ask Miss Yunita?” asks Tika.
“At the first recess,” suggests Diana.
As soon as Diana finishes her sentence, Hasan enters the classroom. Hasan is Diana’s and Tika’s best friend. The three of them have been in the same class since the first grade.
“What happens at the first recess?” asks Hasan. It seems that he hears what Diana has said.
“Should we tell him?” asks Diana to Tika.
“Tell me what?” asks Hasan again.
“Not now,” answers Tika.
“Why not?” demands Hasan. From the way he asks, Diana and Tika know that he really wants to know. But Tika says, “The thing is, we are not sure, yet. We’ll tell you later.”
“O, come on. I won’t tell anyone,” demands Hasan.
“It’s not that,” replies Diana. “Tika is right. We are not sure, yet.”
“Okay, then. But, promise to tell me as soon as you know,” demands Hasan again.
“It’s a deal,” replies Diana.
“We promise,” adds Tika.

As soon as the recess bell rings, Diana and Tika runs to the front of the class. Miss Yunita is sitting at her desk putting some paper into one of the drawers.
(To be continued.)