In the store was all kinds of little trinkets, cute signs, garden things, and pots and plants. There was a little table-sized tree with pretty hummingbird magnets on all of the stems, green ones, in all kinds of positions. There was a sign which said something like: I want my kids to have all the things I didn't have money to own, and then I'll move in with them! There were pots of dirt and a sign saying GROW DA---- and many other silly things of that matter. On the table with the tree and hummingbirds was a open box with paintings in it, ones of Roswell, Canton Street and some others. It was by an old lady named Gabby Herndon. They weren't the best but weren't too bad. A brown haired lady with long hair, charms and bracelets and necklaces galore asked us if she could assist us. She had too much make-up and jewelery on, it was so funny. Mom talked about getting the birthday present for Beth, that she won her battle to cancer, and some other things. She's really inspirational, and it's amazing and great that her brain tumor went away. The lady recommended some bracelets and candles and scented oils, plus a few nice signs and trinkets. We said we would look around, and the lady started to ask why we were not in school. Mom explained all about the trip.
The lady asked me about the trip, how it was and about school and friends and how I miss them. I came to know her name was Nora. In another room of the shop, I saw a gold cross platform trinket and funny signs like: Dogs Have Masters. Cats Have Staff. There was a little sign thing I liked a lot. In that room was a large Christmas, beautifully ornamented with all kinds of sparkly pretty things on it. In other rooms were picture frames saying funny things about being in the south(that chicken is fried and at some point someones heart is being blessed, for instance an old woman might say, "Bless my heart!"), and a manger where all the characters fit in a pyramid and it shut, making it portable. Very innovative. There was a room with different articles of clothing, and I saw that their was a staircase going upstairs, which on the stars had signs saying Private. My hunch is she lives there. Probably right. Mom got some article of clothing for Beth, and Rebecca and I got trinkets for her. I can't tell you what we all got her, sorry, but Aunt Beth reads the blog so I don't want her to know until her birthday. There is a slight chance she won't read it in the amount of time, but you can never be so sure. Mom overspent a little, getting some of the paintings and things for other people, but I only got the one trinket for Aunt Beth, and I payed for it with my own money. Nora bagged everything up into wrapped things, and we left, with Nora holding up an umbrella we all took cover in. It had been a nasty rainy day from the beginning, with slight rains and puddles and drizzles, but then it was pouring, To make you know that Nora didn't get rained on (we would never be so mean as for us to be dry and her wet) let me state she was under the umbrella too; she didn't get wet. Good, now I'm not blamed for something I didn't commit. Cheerio!
We left for Buckhead, where we were to meet up with Uncle Greg to eat at a restaurant/bakery called Henri's. Why in Buck Head and not in Roswell? Well, Greg has his business in Buckhead, his office is close to there so it ended up pretty convenient. It took us a while though, going through suburbs and forests, and coming into Buckhead, the city close to Atlanta. It has the King and Queen, some other tall buildings, and other things. We approached a small building which had a few parking places by it and downhill. We tried those downhill but Mom was a little rusty, thanks to Dad driving mostly on the trip. I had to get out to help her back in to a place, but I wasn't much help. We tried the other parking spots, and did get one kind of close to the front. The bakery had an old sign of Henri's Bakery on it, and when you walked in had a long counter with pastries in it, visible to your eyes. In front were tables full of Christmas cookies in bags, with beautiful velvet ribbons and elaborate designs. To the right was a counter with a blackboard above it, with all kinds of food choices. Further on was tables and another counter, where you pay. It wasn't too big, but not too little. We waited for Uncle Greg to arrive, loitering, but not for too long. We stood by the door at times, and their were several false alarms, of the door opening and seeing someone you thought was Greg but you in a few seconds realized wasn't. Then a station wagon car came up, silver at that, and the grey haired fit blue eyed flat haired Greg stepped out, jacket, green shirt and all!
We hugged, shook hands and said nice words, then talked of what everyone talked about to us...the trip. We decided what we wanted, and told the man that I wanted a Reuben, Mom and Greg also got a sandwich and Rebecca had salami and cheese. We waited as they made it right in front of us. They put them in wrapped up plastic, and we went over at the next counter around the corner to pay. $39.31. Uncle Greg very kindly paid the bill. Very nice he is. There were no seats inside, or none that were comfortable, so we went and ate outside, which is technically classified as inside, because of there being see-through rubber that bordered all the sides of the square we sat in, but it was still cold by the rushing winds. My Reuben was very good. We talked mostly about Greg's business, where it was located, and that he sells and ships things. He mentioned Home Depot, and I was reminded of me reading the book about it and Mom telling me he knew the founders and me calling Greg, telling him about it. I talked about it again, and Greg told us some stories about his encounters with Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank, and I told stories which were in the book they wrote. I also told him I would send the book to him sometime. He told us about a golf championship at the Atlanta Country Club that him and Pop went to, and how Pop beat Bernie on one of the parts, and how Bernie joked he would make Greg's business go away just because of that.
Which was a joke. It really was pretty cold, and we left the patio soon after that. We went into the bakery and Rebecca got a chocolate and me a gingerbread cookie. We don't eat like that often, in fact, I just came back from a walk at our park, and also ate a banana. My cookie though was German, I believe, and so I wanted to eat him, tis be better for the world. He had those little shorts and that little hat, with white and red and green all on him. I took pleasure in eating him.
We went out to the car and got the presents out, Greg was going to hand them to Beth. But, a problem occurred, we couldn't find my little trinket. We looked everywhere. Greg said he would say the one present Rebecca got was from both of us. I got to be really sad.
Mom said we would go back to Elegant Attic and ask Nora what about it. We said goodbye to Greg, after a good and interesting lunch, even though it was rather short. And, we drove off, in search of the missing trinket. We drove back to the Electrifying Mean Attic, as we thought it to be. We thought she had done something with it, maybe keeping it, to sell it again or she misplaced it. I brought the receipt in, alone, ready to face a dragon, a witch, or even, a scam- artist! Yes, a scam- artist! I was ready to face a monster even worse than a witch, dragon, or anything close. A scam-artist.
It turned out to be nothing of the kind. Nora apologized as I came in, saying she was spacey and was talking and out of it, that she was going to call us but didn't have a number to call. She wrapped the trinket up, and although I didn't get to give it to Beth right away, I'll do it in the next day or two. I forgave Nora. It was just a little thing, you know. We drove back home, and stayed around for a while before I was to go to RDPH.
Mom dropped me off at Red Door Playhouse and I ran in alone. It opened this time, last time it was locked. Kids were in all kinds of crazy outfits, one in a cowboys, another in a flight suit(complete with leather jacket, goggles) and some in dresses and colonial uniforms. What play was THIS? Seth said hi, and told me the video camera was by the sound equipment on the right side of the balcony, and that the tripod was by there. He was taking pictures with a phone of all the kids. I went up the stairs, passing the white shelves of books with masks on there too, and looking down at the wooden floor and metal chairs with cushions. At the top of the stairs on the left are two bathrooms, and everywhere else tables, a counter with stuff behind it, and the sound area. There's a big chunk of equipment and a computer, microphone and other things. I found a bag and took the video camera out of it; it also had a chord that charged to the camera. Leah was up there and told me the plot, it was about the states of America in all these arguments and such, fighting and not getting along, and how Kentucky and his best friend North Carolina want to bring everyone together and make a party. In it they dance and have a talent show. California proposes to all switch places, and, as crazy as the idea sounds, they do. But they don't like the places they go to, New York in South Carolina (too hot) and Texas in PA ( too cold!) and so they go back and appreciate their home a lot more. Good story, in a way.
Mom dropped me off at Red Door Playhouse and I ran in alone. It opened this time, last time it was locked. Kids were in all kinds of crazy outfits, one in a cowboys, another in a flight suit(complete with leather jacket, goggles) and some in dresses and colonial uniforms. What play was THIS? Seth said hi, and told me the video camera was by the sound equipment on the right side of the balcony, and that the tripod was by there. He was taking pictures with a phone of all the kids. I went up the stairs, passing the white shelves of books with masks on there too, and looking down at the wooden floor and metal chairs with cushions. At the top of the stairs on the left are two bathrooms, and everywhere else tables, a counter with stuff behind it, and the sound area. There's a big chunk of equipment and a computer, microphone and other things. I found a bag and took the video camera out of it; it also had a chord that charged to the camera. Leah was up there and told me the plot, it was about the states of America in all these arguments and such, fighting and not getting along, and how Kentucky and his best friend North Carolina want to bring everyone together and make a party. In it they dance and have a talent show. California proposes to all switch places, and, as crazy as the idea sounds, they do. But they don't like the places they go to, New York in South Carolina (too hot) and Texas in PA ( too cold!) and so they go back and appreciate their home a lot more. Good story, in a way.
I got the video camera down the steps and placed it in the tripod, also hooking up the chord to the outlet under my seat and finding a hook up spot on the camera. I set it up in the same position I did the night before, and practiced on the actors again. They were the same age group, but more mature, and also there was more. Girls who's sisters and friends sisters were in the play asked me what I was doing, and I explained I was making a DVD for Mr. Seth Decker for him to give and sell to their parents and all the people who didn't get to see the play and wanted to know what happened. By and by a lot of people got here, a lot more than the previous night. People on the balcony, in another corner, everywhere, I had to make my tripods legs go in repeatedly because of all the movement. The actors went in the green room, and music went on. I saw one of Rebecca's friends from school and church, Logan, who has blonde hair and is about the size of Rebecca. He waved to me. I don't believe he knows about the trip yet, because he acted as if he saw me last week or something. He still was nice, though, and we said hi. Seth went through the announcements and such he did the prior night, and once again introduced me and what I was doing. Awesome Seth. Great guy.
The play was cute. Kentucky had overalls, NY a fedora, sunglasses and nice expensive vest, PA colonial suit('cause of Philly) and New Mexico and California nice dresses.(They were girls.) It was a great funny play, with NY and PA arguing over what to eat.( NY: "PIZZA!" PA: PHILLY CHEESE STEAK) South Carolina was a nice southern dressed girl with a big old dress from the Civil War Days. Colorado was the classic big plush coat for all the mountains and snow they have. I liked how when they were introduced they told things about their state, very funny. North Carolina was a fly suit because Wilber and Orville Wright(makers of first air plane) flew their plane first in NC. Seth must have done a lot of research to do this. I liked when they moved they had cardboard cut out states, all colored. Kentucky had a "bag" in a Kentucky shape, true for all the others, only they had their own. It was harder to get good shots of people on the right or lefts of the stage, because of the audiences' heads in the way, but I managed. Pretty fun and better than the previous nights show. At the very end when the Queen of Italy called(really just Leah in the greenroom) to ask if the states wanted to move and switch places with her(which they said no to, they had learned their lesson) Mom texted me saying she was in the car, waiting. I said hello to Logan a little, telling him and his mom of our trip, and then I told Seth I was leaving. I got a punch and left.
I walked down to the car and got in, telling Rebecca and Mom all about the play and such. It wasn't THAT good, but it sure was a lot funnier and a little better than the other one. I bumped around in my seat, and we drove to get Libby, Will, and May, to take them out to dinner.
We walked in, amid barking dogs, and I went to the restroom. I saw Will and that he had a buzz cut, he tried to fool me and say he didn't have one and surprise me, but I had seen him go across the hall earlier, although he had not seen me. I said hello to Libby, who had dressed up for the occasion, and, May. Will wanted to know where we were going. Mom said to a restaurant or something. "WHAT?!?!" He said. "I thought we were going to your house!" Mom explained that they were going to dinner, but when everyone was in the car away from Andy and Leah's house, we took a vote in the car. It seemed everyone except for Libby and I (we didn't care) wanted to eat at the house, and stay there. Mom said she guessed she could put something together, and we drove to the house. We went up the stairs on the back porch, and went upstairs where my room and Rebecca's is. Will and I did a few things in the room, like looking at a book and trying on things. We looked at a pop-up star wars book (really cool) and placed the "Strangled States of America" (play I taped that night) into my script bowl, a drawer in which is a lot of scripts for plays and movies I've done. I wrote: CAMERMAN on it, saying I did not ACT in the play, I only video taped it. We asked the girls if they wanted to play a character game, and we all went downstairs, brainstorming.
Rebecca wanted to play another of those poor people in a junk yard games, ones we had done so much before. If you overuse a game, you don't like playing it anymore, it's not fresh and exciting how it was when you first played it. I pulled up an idea of college students finding a mysterious old diary, and Libby came up with some stuff too. Then I had it! Pearl Harbor! We would play that fateful day, as it was December 7th on the day they were there. We would be on ships or at a base, have to hide out and get underground, and run away from the coming planes, subs, and bombs. It turned out to be a lot of fun. But before we could play, Mom called us for dinner. She had bagel bites, which are pizza/bagel things, and chicken tenders, rice and brocoli. We played while we ate, and I complained in the game of not having enough excitement. We talked like we were really there.
Me (I played as army guard.): So, what ever happened to that man caught in the fire on U.S.S. Alabama last month?
Libby(who played as a nurse): Died.
Me: Awww, that's too bad. Is it weird to see people die every day? Does it ever bother you?
May(nurse also): I have a cold heart.
Me: Well then. What did you thing of the parade in Maui last week?
Will(guard)l: That was really cool. I liked all the floats.
Rebecca:(nurse, in reality she likes art) I designed the float.
(PAUSE FOR A WHILE)
Me: You know, I get so bored here. I signed up on this job for action, and all I do on that boat all day is talk to friends, look at the harbor, do a few jobs, and twiddle my thumbs. I want action!
Libby: Be careful what you wish for.... Those people in Europe have too much action, some much destruction, thanks to Adolf Hitler. Do you want THAT? America to be in another war?
Me: No I just(rumble of planes and bomb noises) ....What was that?
That is an excerpt, modified for the blog. I had a huge nerf gun I used, and a green army suit. It was a lot of fun, rescuing people and dodging all the bombs. But, I will not make light of the day. It was terrible all those people died, not fun. I am deeply saddened by the event.
We did have a lot of fun shooting and running though. We hid in the underground lair the nurses made for the chance something like this did happen, and we listened in grief and inspiration too on a radio as Franklin Delano Roosevelt said:
"Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan."
They left after a fun time and a great dinner, although Will didn't like some of it. Thanks Mom!
We drove them home and then left for home. I slept in my room. A great day.
A personal thank you for the people who protect and defend our country, and who so valiantly died courageously that terrible day. God Bless America. -
Andrew.
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