Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Park (10/25/12)
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TITLE: Abbey and Emmy at the Church Picnic | Previous Challenge Entry
By Laura Hawbaker
11/01/12 -
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“But, Mamma…” Emmy whines. Mommy doesn’t seem to hear. I hold Emmy’s hand. She is only four and I’m six so I’m big enough to take care of her when Mommy’s tired. Mommy is tired a lot these days.
“When can we come back?” I ask as we stand in the doorway.
“Oh, Abby, I don’t know. Just…after a while…” Mommy’s voice kind of trails off and she gives us a little push out the door. I hear the door latch and then the soft click of the lock and I know it’s going to be a long day in the park.
It’s nice to have a park so close by. Emmy and I can just walk across the street. When we lived in the city and had to stay in our room and watch TV when Mommy needed to sleep or when strange men came around. But Mommy’s new boyfriend moved us to his house right across from the park.
There are lots of swings and slides and kids to play with. Some of the older kids come alone like Emmy and me, but the little kids usually have folks with them—moms and dads or grandmas.
Today the park is quiet. A couple kids on bikes ride through and some big boys play basketball for awhile, but no little kids come to play. Then I remember it is Sunday so I figure most of the other kids are probably in church. Emmy and I, we don’t go to church, but I’ve heard they talk about Jesus there and that Jesus loves kids.
Emmy and I swing awhile and I push Emmy on the merry-go-round, but that’s not much fun with just the two of us. I wish Mommy would come and push us.
“Can we go home yet?” Emmy asks. “I’m hungry.” I tell her Mommy is probably still sleeping. I try to think of something new to do when I see a bunch of cars pulling into the parking lot. Now, this looks interesting. Car doors open and before I know what is happening the park is full of people! Little kids run toward the swings, boys start throwing a football around, moms and dads unload picnic baskets and jugs. “Hey, Emmy,” I say happily, “I think we’ve got us a church picnic!”
Wowzer! They are a jolly bunch of people. Everyone seems to be talking and laughing as they buzz around getting ready for dinner. Emmy and I watch as they set out a whole table full of food—sandwiches and chips and watermelon and pie and cookies… I’m starving hungry!
Someone hollers, “Lunch time!” and all the people gather around the loaded table. Emmy and I, we just run in with all the other kids. Those kids look so shiny and clean I hope Emmy and I won’t stand out too much. Maybe no one will notice that we don’t really belong here.
Someone starts singing and when the whole group joins in it sounds like angels. Then a man prays a very nice prayer. I try to keep my eyes closed like the other kids, but I can’t help peeking at that wonderful table.
After the prayer Emmy and I join some other kids getting in line and I think maybe we are going to pull this off when I hear someone say,” Who in the world?”
Fearfully, I look up and sure enough a tall lady is frowning at Emmy and me. “Where is your mother?” Her voice sounds sharp.
“Sleepin’”
“Well, now, you really shouldn’t…” she seems to swoop toward Emmy and me. I feel Emmy tremble.
“Oh, Ada,” the man who said the nice prayer interrupts the tall lady. “There’s plenty of food. Let ‘em eat.”
Then he not only hands plates to Emmy and me, he takes us around the table and lets us pick out anything we want to eat.
Just before Emmy bites into a big piece of watermelon she looks at me with shiny eyes, “Abby, that man must know Jesus!”
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