Amelia and the Big Mess

Chapter Four: Spark’s Big Ideas (and Bigger Messes)

It was Saturday morning in the Stratton household, which meant two things: Elias was outside launching spaghetti from his catapult, and Iris was attempting to “clean” the house by smearing bubble soap on every surface she could reach.

Amelia Jean Stratton sat at the kitchen table, nibbling on a piece of toast while trying to pretend her family wasn’t ridiculous.

“Elias!” Dad called from the doorway. “Why is there a noodle stuck to the garage door?”

“That’s my trajectory test!” Elias shouted back.

“It’s a noodle!”

“A very aerodynamic noodle,” Elias clarified, with just the right amount of smugness to make Amelia roll her eyes.

Mom walked into the kitchen, holding Iris under one arm like a wiggly, soapy football. “Amelia, can you watch Spark today? I have to clean up Bubblepalooza over here.”

Amelia sighed. “Why can’t Elias watch her?”

“Because Elias plus Spark equals spaghetti explosions,” Mom replied flatly.

“Fair,” Amelia admitted, glancing at the unicorn currently lounging on the counter. Spark had once again shrunk herself to the size of a cat, but she’d also managed to wrap herself in a dish towel like a toga.

“Amelia Jean,” Spark said, dramatically holding a carrot like a scepter, “I am ready for today’s adventures!”

“No adventures,” Amelia said firmly. “You’re staying inside and out of trouble.”

Spark gasped, clutching her carrot-scepter to her chest. “Inside? On a Saturday? Amelia Jean, that’s practically a crime against the cosmos!”

“It’s either that,” Amelia said, pointing at her, “or you’re cleaning spaghetti off the garage.”

Spark grimaced. “Fine. But I reserve the right to complain.”

The Plan That Should’ve Worked

Amelia decided the safest place for Spark was her room.

“Just… hang out here,” Amelia said, pointing to her desk. “No glitter, no glowing, no… whatever it is you do when I’m not looking.”

Spark hopped onto the desk, her tail swishing. “You wound me, Amelia. I am the very picture of restraint.”

“Right,” Amelia muttered.

For the first twenty minutes, things were quiet. Amelia sat on her bed, flipping through a library book, while Spark played with a stack of trading cards Iris had left behind.

But then Spark got an idea.

“Amelia Jean,” Spark said, her horn glowing faintly, “I believe your room could use some… enhancements.”

Amelia looked up from her book. “Enhancements?”

Spark nodded. “This décor is functional but uninspired. You deserve something more… cosmic.”

“Spark, no,” Amelia said, standing up. “No magic in my room!”

Spark grinned mischievously. “Too late.”

The Room Makeover

In a flash of light, Amelia’s room transformed. Her plain purple walls now shimmered with a galaxy pattern that moved and sparkled as if the Milky Way had decided to vacation in Wisconsin. Her bed floated a few inches off the ground, and her desk chair had turned into a throne made entirely of glittering stars.

“Ta-da!” Spark announced proudly.

Amelia stood frozen, her mouth hanging open. “Spark, what did you do?”

“I gave you the room of your dreams!” Spark said, gesturing grandly. “You’re welcome.”

“I didn’t ask for this!” Amelia snapped, pointing at the glowing constellation of a unicorn galloping across her ceiling.

“You didn’t have to ask,” Spark replied smugly. “I’m just that thoughtful.”

“Amelia!” Elias shouted from downstairs. “Why does it look like NASA exploded in your room?”

“Nothing!” Amelia yelled back, panicking. “It’s fine! Don’t come up here!”

Elias, of course, immediately stomped up the stairs.

“What in the—” he started, stopping in the doorway to stare at the spectacle. “Did Spark do this?”

“No,” Spark said, pretending to inspect her hoof. “It was definitely aliens.”

Elias turned to Amelia. “How do you live with her?”

“I don’t know!” Amelia wailed, gesturing at the glittering disaster that was her room.

Mom and Dad Step In

Mom appeared a few minutes later, carrying Iris, who was now wearing a colander on her head like a hat.

“What is going on in here?” Mom asked, her eyes narrowing as she took in the floating bed and glowing walls.

“Uh… science project?” Amelia said weakly.

“It’s art!” Spark declared.

Dad poked his head into the room, taking one look at the scene. “Is the bed supposed to be floating, or is that an accident?”

Spark grinned. “It’s intentional. Very feng shui.”

Mom pinched the bridge of her nose. “Spark, this is not what we meant when we said ‘stay out of trouble.’”

Spark sighed dramatically. “I was merely trying to inspire your daughter with the beauty of the cosmos.”

“Unfloat the bed,” Mom said.

“Fine,” Spark muttered, her horn glowing as the bed lowered back to the floor.

Lessons in Restraint (Sort Of)

By the end of the day, Amelia’s room was back to normal—mostly. There was still a faint glitter residue on the walls, and the constellation unicorn refused to leave the ceiling, claiming it had “squatter’s rights.”

“I told you,” Elias said, glaring at Amelia, “Spark is nothing but trouble.”

“Yeah, but she’s… fun trouble,” Amelia admitted, glancing at Spark, who was now curled up on her pillow like a smug cat.

“See?” Spark said, yawning. “Amelia Jean gets it. Life is better with a little sparkle.”

Amelia rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “Just… no more room makeovers, okay?”

“Agreed,” Spark said, closing her eyes. “Next time, I’ll focus on the garage.”

Amelia groaned. “I was kidding.”

The End (until Spark’s next idea…)

Disclosure: These prose were written with the assistance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT 4o.