The Pretend Pregnancy

    By Richard Brooks

    The Pretend Pregnancy cover image

    12 Mar, 2024

    a girl smiles while holding a tray of candy beads in her hands and sitting on a bed in a bedroom, action painting, a stock photo, Ella Guru, promotional image

    Ella, an imaginative 12-year-old, was known for her creative ideas. One day, she discovered a new way to play with Orbeez. She had an idea: what if she could pretend to be pregnant using Orbeez?

    a young girl standing in a room full of balloons and balls in the air and smiling at the camera, kinetic art, a stock photo, Chris LaBrooy, promotional image

    Ella collected buckets of Orbeez and filled her shirt with them. She looked at herself in the mirror and couldn't help but giggle. Her plan was working.

    a woman walking down a street with a smile on her shirt on her stomach and a group of people walking behind her, rayonism, a stock photo, Elinor Proby Adams, sun

    Ella decided to take her act outside. She walked around the neighborhood, pretending to be heavily pregnant. The neighbors were surprised and curious.

    two girls playing with a large tray of candy beads on a sidewalk in a city street with people walking by, neoism, a stock photo, Emily Murray Paterson, shallow depth of field

    Ella's best friend, Lucy, saw her from across the street. "Ella, is that you?" she asked, surprised. Ella couldn't contain her laughter and revealed her secret to Lucy, who found the whole situation hilarious. They spent the entire afternoon playing with Orbeez and pretending to be pregnant.

    a group of women laughing and laughing together in a room with other people in the background and a woman in the foreground, vancouver school, a stock photo, Caroline Lucy Scott, promotional image

    Ella's mom, Mrs. Johnson, saw the girls and couldn't help but laugh at their antics. She decided to play along and asked Ella when her "baby" was due. Ella, not missing a beat, said, "In about five minutes, mom!"

    three girls playing with a variety of colorful beads on the floor of a living room area with a couch, net art, a stock photo, Claire Falkenstein, promotional image

    As promised, five minutes later, Ella "gave birth" to thousands of colorful Orbeez, much to the delight of Lucy and Mrs. Johnson. They all laughed heartily, ending the day on a light and cheerful note.

    a group of children standing in front of a classroom full of people in a classroom with a teacher in the middle, vancouver school, concept art, disney, promotional image

    The next day at school, Ella and Lucy shared their Orbeez adventure with their classmates. The story quickly spread, turning Ella into a mini celebrity. Even the teachers found it amusing.

    a young girl with a smile on her face and overalls on, standing in a crowded area with people, hyperrealism, a photorealistic painting, Elinor Proby Adams, girl

    Ella felt proud of her imaginative idea. Not only did she have a fun day, but she also brought laughter and joy to others. From that day on, she promised herself to never stop being creative.

    a young girl sitting at a table with a pencil in her hand and a bunch of beads on the table, kinetic pointillism, computer graphics, Claire Falkenstein, promotional image

    After school, Ella decided to write a short story about her Orbeez adventure. She wanted to share the fun she had with others and inspire them to be imaginative. She worked on it diligently, and within a few days, her story was ready.

    a cartoon girl smiling while holding a book in front of her in a classroom full of children in the background, photorealism, a storybook illustration, Bob Byerley, promotional image

    Ella read her story to her classmates, and they loved it. They clapped and cheered for her, making her blush with happiness. Even Lucy, who had been part of the adventure, was impressed with Ella's storytelling skills.

    a woman and a girl are writing in a notebook at a kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a mug, arts and crafts movement, a stock photo, Art & Language, promotional image

    Mrs. Johnson was also proud of Ella. She encouraged Ella to continue writing and exploring her creativity. Ella promised she would, already excited about her next big idea.

    a young girl smiles in a classroom with balloons and toys on the wall behind her and a group of children sitting at desks, american barbizon school, a stock photo, Art & Language, promotional image

    Days turned into weeks, and Ella's story about her Orbeez adventure became a popular tale among her friends and classmates. It was a reminder to everyone that with a bit of imagination, everyday objects could turn into a source of joy and laughter.

    a little girl sitting on the floor surrounded by balloons and streamers of colored lights in the background,, art photography, a stock photo, Daniel Lieske, portrait photography

    Ella, the imaginative girl with a love for Orbeez, had turned an ordinary day into an extraordinary adventure, leaving an indelible mark on everyone's hearts. Her story continued to inspire her peers to be creative and find joy in the simplest things.