Two Stories I Like To Read on Thanksgiving Day

Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen

This is a story by O. Henry.

Thankful

This is a children's story by Mary E. Wilkins. I first read it in when I was in
elementary school, but I don't remember what grade I was in. I've also forgotten
whether I read the story in a school reader, or a regular storybook.
I have to admit that I was surprised to discover how long ago this story was written!

A Small Thought for Thanksgiving Day

One thing I love about Thanksgiving Day is that it is a day set aside for all Americans, no matter what their religion, to give thanks to God. It is a Movable Feast for the entire nation.

Sitting on the Stoop

I remember sitting on the stoop (actually just a long, low, red step) in front of my old apartment building:
Reading comic books.
Eating ices.
Listening to the radio.
Eating David's Pumpkin Seeds (the shells were covered with salt; they were more salt than seed!)
Talking with my friends,
Eating Button Candy (and getting paper in my mouth every time!)
Not all at the same time, of course!

November 22nd, 1963

Friday. Fifth Grade. Friday was Club Day for the fifth and sixth grades; I was in the Citzenship Club.
What were we discussing? I can't remember. Part of my mind may have been focused on the upcoming weekend.
Then the announcement came on the Public Address System.
What we'd been discussing, what I may have been thinking about, no longer mattered.
President Kennedy had been shot, and they didn't know if he was going to live.
Up until that moment, I had thought that presidents getting shot was something that happened
in the past. Not now.
I remember going outside at dismissal time, and seeing my Baba and her friend Mickey coming towards the school. Baba USED to pick me up from school, but she hadn't for several years, and she had always come alone.
I knew then.
I looked at Baba and Mickey.
"He's dead, isn't he?"
Baba nodded.
"Yes. He's dead."
And my next words?
"But what are his kids going to do without their daddy?"
Or something like that.
I knew that losing their daddy was a worse tragedy to those children than losing a president
was to us.
It is a simple matter to fill the Office of President; the Vice-President is sworn in almost immediately after the death of an incumbent.
But there is no such office as Vice-Daddy.

On EVERY SINGLE PAGE

In the first chapter of "Beezus and Ramona", Beezus takes Ramona to the library, and borrows a picture book to read to her. Also, in this chapter, Ramona wants to learn how to write her name, the way Beezus writes her name. However, Ramona is not satisfied with the way "Ramona" looks in script; there are no dots or lines as in "Beatrice".
But, being Ramona, she creates her own version of "Ramona" in script!
And when the day comes to return the book to the library, Ramona insists that it is HER book.
When it is explained to her that the book belongs to the library, Ramona goes sulkily to her room to get the book.
She comes back and informs her mother and sister that it is, too, her book, because she has written her name in it.
And indeed she had! On EVERY SINGLE PAGE, in purple crayon! Remember?
Fast-forward to the last chapter. Aunt Beatrice comes to dinner to help celebrate Beezus's
birthday, bringing a cake from a bakery. (Ramona had managed to ruin two, yes TWO cakes!)
We learn that, as children, Beezus and Ramona's mother and aunt didn't always get along!
But the worst thing that the younger sister, Aunt Beatrice, ever did was to write her name
on EVERY SINGLE PAGE of her sister's brand new autograph album! Remember?
I have to admit that it was only recently that the similarity between these two incidents occurred to me.
And perhaps we can imagine either Beezus, or Ramona, someday having a daughter who writes
her name on EVERY SINGLE PAGE of her older sister's book!

I'm trying something new: reading the Bible at mealtimes.
(not necessarily at EVERY meal).

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and other Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Thanks to RAnn for hosting every week!

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(post includes my own comments)

Semper Gaudete!: Red Sour Balls

Semper Gaudete!: Honor Roll of Hits

Semper Gaudete!: Pippa Passes, Pippa Passes, Pippa Passes


Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Semper Gaudete!: Books I Plan To Read Next Week