Three days ago we drove to my grandparents community, and got to their little pretty house in the neighborhood of Soleil. We had worksheets, history books, a history of flight book and the Grimm Fairy Tales, which I'm reading. It's in a little tiny addition, a grey hardback with some of the characters on it. I started that two days ago, but on the way there I read a different book, my history textbook, and learned of the creeping communist and fascist parties in the 1930's, and the New Deal and Great Depression, which they didn't talk about so much because of it being a WORLD history textbook, not really an American one. The depression was felt world wide though. Oh well. We parked and brought in our school stuff, being welcomed by Pop working in the kitchen and MaPoc relaxing on her reclined chair. Pop did hug, but MaPoc was very tired from two nights of parties and so stayed where she was for a while. Her being tired and drowsy was a foreshadow of what I was to feel that night, and the next night. I still feel it. And me saying this right now is a foreshadow of it happening in the blog and you reading it. I like foreshadowing. They make the books interesting, you know. Yes they do. I like the ones of where the writer doesn't proclaim it's a foreshadow. I'm doing the opposite of that. So it's ruining the splendor of it. I should stop.
Later in the visit, after talking and settling down and many good discussions, I showed Pop the flight book and we flipped to many good planes that he described and has seen, while he was in the air force. Very interesting to learn about old planes. I talked to MaPoc of a sign that was on the frame of the front door by the doorbell, it being Arabic or Jewish. She said it was a Hebrew symbol Jews used to put on their doors, meaning some old verse in Exodus. I said she wasn't Jewish and she said that it was a rule or a phrase for Christians too. This was the start of a puzzling behavior MaPoc had the whole day, that would come again later. It got close to lunch time and so we decided (with some difficulty in deciding) to go to the clubhouse restaurant, and we drove over and parked. It was a pretty large building, complete with the whole cabin look and good appearance, and we came into the restaurant, sitting by the window, also by a large tall fireplace, overlooking the golf course. Over the course of a good meal with sandwiches we talked of golf, Uncle Jeff's trip with his family to Texas, and the trip, which has been a pretty big subject of interest over the last few weeks, of course. I had a pretty good philly cheese steak, the only part I didn't exactly like being the steak. A man came over us, him having ears sticking out sideways, laid back grey hair, and a bored and solemn attitude. He kind of looked like the character in that new movie coming out, Bobby English Reborn or what ever it was, except bigger and not funny and having an expression. He asked how everything was and asked about some of his employees. He is the owner and he's working hard to improve his investment.
MaPoc did that puzzling thing again, saying there was a very pretty menorah on the fireplace, it being little and blue with fake candles. Why is she talking about all these Jewish things? I'm fine with people celebrating Hanukkah, it's just odd to see my grandmother (who got a degree in Theology, and knows the Bible head to foot and quotes verses like all the time) to be saying a Jewish ritual and object in their religion is really cool, and then complimenting it and also having a phrase on her door which is Jewish. I didn't know why. My mom explained that many of the early Christians were born Jewish and a lot of the Jewish traditions are recorded in the Old Testament. As we drove to their activities center, coming into a big lobby, she straight away looks at a table full of Hanukkah items, with blue and gold and Happy Hanukkah on it, with dredals and menorahs and rabbi hats. There's also a Christmas Tree, with delicate and pretty things on it, and the manger and all the Christmas characters by it.
We saw classrooms, an office, and met a secretary named Sue who had a nice office. Then we saw where Pop did Sunday school, which was a little room with a table, and then their theater, which had a little stage and seats, and then their cooking room, which looks like any other, and after that the library. The library was nice and pretty, with books on high, high bookshelves, stretching above on thin shelves. All kinds of books, fantasy, fiction, non-fiction, biography, science fiction, and travel and literature, all in order from the authors last name, alphabetically. There was a few couches and a counter with water, a sink, and coffee and hot chocolate. I saw John Steinbeck's Grapes Of Wrath, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but I didn't see any other classics (I like those kinds) besides Gone with the Wind. It was cool to stay in there for a while while looking at a book about wacky and weird places in America before we drove away and went back to their house, then leaving. I had a great time there. A lot of fun.
The day was less than half than over though. Mom had prior on another day arranged for Henry and his brother to come over, and I waited for them at like 4:00. I waited outside and on my kitchen sink area, which is the only good inside place to look at cars coming, besides going upstairs. It's uncomfortable though, and that's why I went outside. Finally I saw a silver jeep looking car coming down, and placed my book down, running outside down to the driveway. I yelled to Mom and Rebecca, and they followed after me. Mrs Friedman and Charlie (brother of Henry) Henry all got out. Here's a description. Mrs. Friedman is thin and pretty tan, has black hair and is usually having a purse and scarf or something. Charlie has brown hair, thin, tan, and is like 9. Henry has brown hair also, usually back, showing his forehead. He is a little tan, and is a small guy comparing the two of us. He's a good talker, nice person, but gets a little... interesting and unique and creative sometimes, thinking of the strangest things. He is sometimes sarcastic, sometimes laugh out funny, and sometimes solemn and thinking of vultures and grey skies. He has eyes that could kill a person, a voice that could make anyone laugh, and has a personalty that is truly unique. He's a nice person, a good problem solver, and is logical on many accounts but crazy on others. He thinks of life's biggest problems and can have fun, can cease fun, and can make fun. He's Henry, and there's no one in the world who's quite like him.
I hugged Charlie, Henry and Mrs. Friedman, and we talked about coming home, and how the trip has been. Mrs. Friedman left in the car again, and we all went inside. We went into the den and decided what to do. Rebecca for some reason didn't want to be on Charlie's team in CAPTURE THE FLAG, and wanted to be with me or Henry, but, as I had not seen my good friend in 6 months, we wanted to be on the same team. I think that's understandable. Rebecca persisted though, but we said we would start and ran out the door to the den going outside. We jumped off a deck and went up a hill to get to the gate to go inside. We did and then talked on the playground, about the trip, middle school, but mostly middle school. We talked of teachers, classmates, girls, and why Henry believes Middle School is Prison, and the weekend is only bail. We didn't get to talk long before Rebecca and Charlie crept up the hill with hoods on, trying pathetically to hide themselves. They came over and we talked, convincing them to at least let us talk in private for 20 minutes; we had a lot to catch up on. They consented, going into the basement. We talked on the leafy swing set and slide and lower and upper levels of it, also going on a balance beam. It's all run-down and wooden, but I enjoyed talking of everything from pest control to someone talking about monkeys to smuggling cokes into a classroom. I got a broader and more understanding definition of the school I was going to go to, defense tactics, people who are there, and the different traits of the teachers. Mrs. "C", for instance, is a mean Science Teacher, from what I understand. It's also bad to talk to the eighth graders, to keep a low profile. Very informing to learn those things. I also learned some shocking things over the course of the talk, and also some pretty normal ones. It was not just a talk though, it was also a debate. We talked of rats, and why to kill them or to not do it, also touching on the matter of the kinds of people you would go away from if they told you something about them you hated. Like I said earlier, he is a logical and fierce debater, and makes some good points, but without screaming or getting excited or loud as some do. Cool, calm, and collective he is on that note. But he CAN yell, and say outrageous things, also running around and being wild. He defended the rats though, saying he took pity on them. I fought back with, "Well I feel pity for the people who were hurt or killed in the holocaust, I feel pity for the people in Africa who are eaten and killed by a dictator, and I feel pity for the people in Japan and Haiti following the tsunami and earthquakes. I feel pity for the rats, but I feel more pity for the people of the world, human beings!" The debate went on and on. I felt like Lincoln and Douglas in a presidential debate in the 1800's. Henry may be a good debater, but wait 'til you see my other friend, Caleb, in a week or so!
An hour eventually passed. We were amazed all that time had come and gone as Mom yelled for us to come in, about to go home. We went in and looked up a guy who we thought was a famous artist, who's name, Tim Carroll, I wanted to use as a character in a story I'm writing. We looked him up and then told the 9 year olds (Charlie and Rebecca) to come down. I was sad for Henry to leave, after so short a visit. I said goodbye, after a short, good visit, and then took them to their house. Final goodbyes were sent and Mrs. Friedman invited us to go to dinner the next night.
We drove to RNE, passing by, and almost did pass by it before we saw our Principal's car and her back in one of the windows of the school. We came into the little parking lot by the road, seeing the big area that is covered by a big roof, and the actual school, which is red brick at parts and has a new attached wing not visible from where we were. We parked where kids are picked up and dropped off by buses, and left the car running. By a door going inside the school, was a short haired black skinned ladies backside facing not us but her desk. We got out and tapped on the window. Mrs. Smith, our principals mouth went up wide. Right then she recognized who we were, and got so excited and went out of her office to open up the door. We went through it's two big doors, and we hugged her. Last year was her first year and my last year at RNE, and even though I only saw her for a year I got to know her pretty well, and she kept up with our blog and stuff. She's a really nice lady. We talked of the trip a lot, and homeschooling and us being here. As we talked I heard a door shut, footsteps, and so I stepped out of the little hallway we were in (with doors going to a nurse office and Mrs. Smith's, with also pictures of previous principals) and looked out into the big hallway of the fifth grade hall and the doors going down stairs and to other places. I saw Mrs. Glover, who was my fifth grade science and math teacher and awesome logical and enlightening lady. She's kind of short with brown curls going down near her shoulders. She did a surprised and excited facial expression, and I said,"Hi Mrs. Glover!" We hugged and she asked me about the trip, and about me writing, of which I said I was, also saying all about the blog. Mrs. Glover joined Mrs. Smith and us, and we talked about the learning experience, the places we've been, and about different things of that nature.
We drove to RNE, passing by, and almost did pass by it before we saw our Principal's car and her back in one of the windows of the school. We came into the little parking lot by the road, seeing the big area that is covered by a big roof, and the actual school, which is red brick at parts and has a new attached wing not visible from where we were. We parked where kids are picked up and dropped off by buses, and left the car running. By a door going inside the school, was a short haired black skinned ladies backside facing not us but her desk. We got out and tapped on the window. Mrs. Smith, our principals mouth went up wide. Right then she recognized who we were, and got so excited and went out of her office to open up the door. We went through it's two big doors, and we hugged her. Last year was her first year and my last year at RNE, and even though I only saw her for a year I got to know her pretty well, and she kept up with our blog and stuff. She's a really nice lady. We talked of the trip a lot, and homeschooling and us being here. As we talked I heard a door shut, footsteps, and so I stepped out of the little hallway we were in (with doors going to a nurse office and Mrs. Smith's, with also pictures of previous principals) and looked out into the big hallway of the fifth grade hall and the doors going down stairs and to other places. I saw Mrs. Glover, who was my fifth grade science and math teacher and awesome logical and enlightening lady. She's kind of short with brown curls going down near her shoulders. She did a surprised and excited facial expression, and I said,"Hi Mrs. Glover!" We hugged and she asked me about the trip, and about me writing, of which I said I was, also saying all about the blog. Mrs. Glover joined Mrs. Smith and us, and we talked about the learning experience, the places we've been, and about different things of that nature.
We eventually left though, saying goodbye and that we would come in again. We left in the suburban, later getting ready to go to my parent's Sunday school classes party, taking a shower and getting dressed into nice clothes. It was to be hosted by the Howell's, and they have a son who is my good friend, Zach. I was lucky that day. I got to see two friends. We drove to there neighborhood and parked on the curb of a really decorated house on the block, with lights and reindeer and candy canes. The Howell's house. We rang the doorbell as we saw all kinds of people inside. This would be the start of a pretty fun night.
Zach, who has blonde hair that is down in bangs with a cool collared shirt and hat, answered the door. I said hi to my not seen for sixth month friend, and hugged his parents. Mrs. Howell is blonde/brown hair and is very nice. Mr. Howell has close cropped grey hair and and little beard. There were other people I did and did not know there, and I said hello to all of them. There was a guy dressed up like Santa whom I talked to a little bit. We saw the open rooms on the left, a living room and dining room, with the big kitchen with all of the counters and kitchen appliances and materials. Then there's a table by the deck outside, and a den with big sofas and T.V. For a little while we stayed down there, Zach and I, but we later went upstairs to his room, by way of their twisty stairs. There's a new style going on. It's called having a staircase you can go up on in two ways. Olivia have it, the Shelton's(family friends) have it I believe, a lot of people have it. We don't though. Oh well. In Zach's room with swords and guns and all that stuff on the wall, we talked about the trip a little and he showed me a cool spinning thing called a bey-blade, spinning and taking it apart to show how it works. Zach is a very mechanical and innovative guy. Smart and kind too. After a while of talking we took a few swords and guns down and went outside into his big backyard, with the deck, the fire and chairs, and the big hill with wooden wall that overlooks a forest. We fought wreath-goblins for a while. Zach and I made up a game called Adventuretories of the West, like Adventure Stories, of the people of the Western Hemisphere, America and such. Pretty fun. We dodged bullets and cut heads off. It's a fun game. At one point we fought each other, which came to a stalemate. I advanced, I backed up, he advanced, he backed up, he struck, I struck. No one was hurt or killed in the battle. I couldn't take him down and he couldn't me. Besides, we were friends, why would we want to fight?
After putting up his stuff in his room, we talked to our Pastor Mike downstairs, who is a cleanshaven grey haired preacher. We talked about the trip, and I joked that the worst thing that happened was us knocking down a few fences. We talked of the bible and different churches we've been to over the course of the trip. Zach and I ate dinner, consisting of grapes and chicken, shrimp and bread and some other things. We ate and talked about different things, like the skit that Zach was participating in Sunday. It was to be a very interesting one.
After eating we went downstairs and played a video game called wii, playing with and against each other. That was where we sat as Mr. Howell called that we were going home. I hugged goodbye to Zach after a good long visit and left. Upstairs I saw that all of the other people were gone too except for my family and the Howell's. It was very eerie.
We left, and I went straight to bed, it being 11, and felt what Ma Poc had, being tired and drowsy and just put out. I then fell asleep easily after a great day. Oh yeah forgot to mention. Rebecca didn't go to the party, she went with Julie to someone's house to babysit them. Just forgot to mention it. Goodbye for now.
Die, Wreath-goblin! In the name of (Zach: Oh just kill him already.) Adventuretories all over the world (Zach kills it) Wait, why did you do that. (Zach: You took to long. ) Meanie,
Andrew.
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