Luke is smiling today. He jumps off the school bus and waits for the bell to ring with the rest of his class. Most days the bell rings too early, before the morning game of tag or kickball is done, but not today. Today the bell is taking forever and Luke can’t wait for school to start. Today is the first of the month and that means it is Holiday Time. Holiday Time is the best day of the month because Luke’s class gets to make decorations for the classroom and the refrigerator at home.
Last month was Columbus Day and Luke made three sailing ships; the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. The best part was the Conquistador hat that Luke made and got to wear home. Mommy let him wear it till Daddy got home and Daddy let him wear it all through dinner. Afterwards Luke and Daddy played explorers till it was bed time. The couch was their ship. Luke wore his hat and Daddy wore a bed sheet like a cape. That was why Luke loved Holiday Time. School was more fun than usual and home was even more fun.
This month was Luke’s favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, and Luke knew all about that Holiday. At his house, they never missed a Thanksgiving celebration. All of his Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles and even neighbors and friends would come over for a big dinner feast.
The bell was ringing! Luke’s Teacher Miss Angie was outside and she was dressed like a Pilgrim lady! Holiday Time was here!
“Good Morning Class!” said Miss Angie
“Does everyone know what time it is?” she asked.
“HOLIDAY TIME!!!!” they all shouted in unison.
"That’s right! Who can tell me what holiday we are going to learn about today?”
“THANKSGIVING!!!!” came the reply.
“Correct!! Let’s all come inside and put away our things and take our place in the story center and get started.”
Miss Angie read a story about the people called Pilgrims, and the boat they sailed to America named the Mayflower, and how a Native American named Squanto helped them learn to plant corn. Luke loved stories about sailing ships and wondered what kind of hat he would get to make today. After the story, Miss Angie taught the class a lesson on Thanksgiving including the original date it was celebrated, December 9, 1621, and how we celebrate it now on the fourth Thursday of November. She talked about all the traditions, and since they lived in Michigan, Luke loved the football part. Luke loved football. Luke’s Daddy loved football too. They played all the time and everywhere. Luke would be the running back or the quarter back and Daddy would be the defense and try to tackle Luke; but he was too fast and always made the touchdown. Sometimes they were Lions but mostly they were Wolverines. Mommy was the referee. She would pretend to blow a whistle and tell them to play outside or that it was a time out and that dinner was ready. At the end of the lesson, Luke raised his hand.
“Yes Luke?”
“Miss Angie, what about the other Thanksgiving? You forgot to talk about the other one.”
“There is only one Thanksgiving Luke.” she answered.
“No, there are two. One with Pilgrims like you said, and the other one with Doctors and Nurses.” said Luke.
“I’m afraid I don’t know about that one, but I’ll look it up tonight and we can talk about it during our next Holiday Time.” Miss Angie smiled when she said it. She always smiled in a sun-shiny way that reminded Luke of Mommy. Her smile meant good things.
“OK, but if you need any help let me know because we celebrate both Thanksgivings in my house and I know all about how it works.”
Guliana asked, “What do you have for dinner when you have the other Thanksgiving?”
“Turkey, of course! It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without Turkey!”said Luke.
Ian asked: “You get two turkeys at your house?”
“Yep, and they’re both big ones too.” Luke loved turkey. The bigger the better.
“What about pies? Do you have pies?” asked Ava.
“My one Nanna makes the apple pie for the Doctors and my Grams makes the cherry pie for the Nurses. But we put candles on them and everybody helps blow them out.”
“That sounds like a birthday party. I love my birthday party.” said Guliana.
“Why are the Doctors and Nurses there? In case somebody gets a bump? I got a scrape yesterday and it still hurts. LOOK!” said Ian.
“UGHHH!” “OWWW!” “YUKKK!” came from the whole class.
“I’m not sure why the Doctors and Nurses come; Mommy says we are not related but that we’ll be family forever. Anyway, it works just like the other Thanksgiving but we have candles on the pies and we all blow them out and then Mommy and Daddy run around hugging everybody…”
Miss Angie says “Wow what a great story Luke! Thank you! Now we are going to make Pilgrim hats that you can all wear home.”
Hats!
Luke loved Holiday Time; it was the best school day of the month.
“Wow that’s a big hat! You look like a regular Miles Standish!” said Luke’s Mommy. “How was school today?”
“Great, it was Holiday Time and we read stories and played games and made cool hats. Miss Angie put a note in my folder.”
“A note? Well let’s get inside and I’ll read the note while you have snack. Do you want to wear your hat till Daddy comes home?”
Luke’s answer was not made with words, just a nod of his head and a gap toothed grin as he ran inside shouting “I’m Miles Standish and this is my friend Squanto!!!” His Mommy’s smile was bigger than his as she picked up his backpack and thought about couch ships and bed sheet capes.
©Andrew Barter 2007
Comments