Good morning, FFFFs!
Happy day after Thanksgiving. Okay, happy Black Friday. ;)
I'm going to keep this part short because you might want to go look at books and read the final part of the Thanksgiving story.
But it's been a good week. My grandparents and aunt came down on Monday and we spent several hours over at my brother's new house eating lunch, putting the swing set together and playing baseball. Yes, my 90-year-old grandpa pitched for most of the time. Then my mom pitched.
Yesterday it was just my parents, sister and I here at the house. We had our turkey dinner around one, and even started decorating for Christmas. Usually we wait until after Thanksgiving to start, but since everyone was home and no one else was over, plus the fact that Thanksgiving came really late this year, we decided to get started. We got a good bit done! Today my nieces and nephews are coming over to help do some decorating. My oldest niece wants to decorate the stairs, and everyone wants to help with the village. I have to get the landscape and snow done before they come so they can help with houses and all the people and trees.
I've gotten some writing done this week. And it's NOT a Christmas story! :) I'm hoping to reach 10k this month. I think I can.
Now here's the rest of your post. :)
Are you ready to add more books to your reading pile? Do you need some sale books to keep you reading until Christmas? What about books to give your friends and family members for Christmas? Or just because more books are fun?
Yes?
I thought so. Check out the books on the Black Friday sale! There are over 100 titles!
And nearly all of mind are included in it! :D Including my Christmas books!
Head over now! It might take you a while to decide what to get because of all the genres and books in each category. So start looking.
The sale ends Monday.
And now we return you to our regularly scheduled program.
Thanksgiving Makeover
Part 3
“Hey, Brad,” one of the boys asked, “what are we going to do next? I mean, we’ve already had the big game and the parade.”
“Well, when it gets dark we are going to have a bonfire–”
“And roast s’mores!” Cherry put in eagerly.
“But until then,” Brad shrugged. “We could always play some games like monopoly, or freeze tag, or capture the flag.”
“Hey, yeah, let’s play capture the flag! We could use the whole
neighborhood and the yards, and maybe some of the older ones would play
too!” the boy’s enthusiasm was catching.
With a grin, Brad stood up and picked up his paper plate. “I’ll check with Dad, but I think that’d be fun.”
Mr. Miller had no objection and, after checking with the other adults,
gave permission, provided there was to be no going in and out of houses.
“And no one is allowed to cross any street but this one. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” Brad replied, and hurried off to see if Sgt. Crawford and
Mr. Hunter would join them. Much to Brad and the other children’s
delight, both agreed to play after everything was cleared off the
street. Never had a Thanksgiving feast been cleared away so quickly.
Trash bags were filled with paper plates, utensils, cups and napkins.
The extra food was divided up and taken to houses, tables were wiped off
and then folded and returned to houses, though some ended up in the
wrong place and had to be switched a day or so later. All the chairs
were also put away, and before long the street was back to normal.
It was a lively game that followed. The street was declared “no man’s
land,” and the only safe place to cross into “enemy territory” without
being certain you were seen, was the empty lot where the parade had been
organized. Many were the prisoners caught, the daring prison breaks,
and the mad rushes back for the safety of your own side. It was growing
dark before Sgt. Crawford, with a few select team members, Brad
included, managed to slip across the street one at a time under cover of
a diversion farther down the street. Once over, they hid for a little
while before creeping stealthily around the houses. The flag was found,
but before they could hope to get it, they would have to elude the vigil
of the two guards who paced the yard three feet from the swing set
where the flag rested in the baby swing.
“If we all rush them
together,” Brad whispered, “They’ll just call for help. I think we
should try to get closer and then just have two of us appear and try to
lead them away.”
“Good plan,” Sgt. Crawford nodded. “Who volunteers?”
Brad and two others did. When he wasn’t chosen, Brad was secretly
relieved. He wanted to be in on snatching the flag and taking it to
victory.
Before motioning the decoys to leave, Sgt. Crawford gave a few other whispered instructions.
Moments later, the “guards” were drawn farther from the swing set. Not
too far, but far enough to give Sgt. Crawford and his companion time to
rush for the flag. Tingling with excitement, Brad remained where he was,
motionless, hoping that the growing darkness would hide him from the
sharp eyes of any opposing team members.
Shouts came from the
two guards and Brad wished he dared steal a peek around the corner of
the air conditioning unit behind which he crouched. Heavy footsteps were
coming closer. Was it–? Brad fairly held his breath until a white cloth
dropped almost in his lap and the footsteps turned and darted away.
More shouts and footsteps. Brad hid the cloth behind his bent knees and
watched as two figures from the other side raced past his place of
concealment. When the shouts grew distant, he ventured to lean out and
glance about. All was still, even the guards had left their post to
chase the two who they thought had their flag. Springing to his feet,
Brad raced as quickly as he could towards the street, the white flag
clutched firmly in his hand. If he could only make it to the street
without being seen, he stood a good chance of winning the game. Just
before he ventured from between the two houses, he paused. No one was
close. With a burst of speed he dashed for the street waving the white
flag and shouting “Victory!”
From everywhere members from both
teams seemed to appear, but there was really no contest, for Brad had a
head start and crossed the street to safety well ahead of the fastest
runner.
There was much laughter, a few groans, and one or two complaints, but no one paid attention to the latter.
By six o’clock darkness had settled over the neighborhood. The promised
bonfire had been started and everyone was gathered around. Most of the
younger ones begged for hot dogs to roast, for they had run off most of
their dinner. After the biggest appetites were satisfied, the s’mores
were brought out, and soon sticky fingers and chocolate-adorned mouths,
gave proof of their enjoyment.
It was a perfect evening to sit
around a fire with friends and family. Mr. Miller started the final
event of the day by naming three things he was thankful for. “The Lord
Jesus Christ, a wonderful wife and kids, and a neighborhood to enjoy a
day with.”
From his seat beside Trenton, Brad looked up at the
sky as one by one each person named three things he or she was thankful
for. Without the streetlights on, the stars seemed brighter, closer.
The moon, a crescent, shone with unusual luster, and there seemed to be a
new hush over the homes and yards all around them. This was a
Thanksgiving Brad would never forget. He half wished that next year the
power would be out again. “But nothing would quite equal this year,” he
mused, watching the sparks shooting up as a few more logs were placed on
the fire.
Have you ever had an unusual Thanksgiving?
How was your Thanksgiving?
Are you planning on getting any new books from the sale?
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