that Veronica really hadn’t been much trouble so far. The evening before, Colonel Hanson had taken them out for pizza and amovie. He and Veronica had spent a lot of time talking about their foreign travels, including a lot of places Carole had never even heard of, much less visited. Colonel Hanson’s military career had required the family to move frequently when Carole was younger. She had lived on or near military bases all over the country. But though her parents had traveled all over the world before she was born, Carole had never been out of the United States.
Veronica, on the other hand, had been just about everywhere. Carole figured that was just another of the advantages of having wealthy parents. What’s more, it seemed to Carole that when her father and Veronica were discussing foreign travel, even on the rare occasions when one or the other of them hadn’t actually visited a place, they both still seemed to know an awful lot about it.
Now, as she tried to wake up, she could hear that the two of them were discussing the benefits and drawbacks of someplace called Abu Dhabi. Carole shook her head and laughed. “At least they’re getting along,” she told her black cat, Snowball. But Snowball just purred and stretched in reply.
By the time Carole had showered and dressed and arrived downstairs, her father and Veronica had already finished breakfast.
“Morning, sleepyhead.” Her father greeted her with a kiss on the top of the head. “Happy Thanksgiving!”
“Happy Thanksgiving, Carole,” echoed Veronica with a smile.
“Happy Thanksgiving to both of you,” Carole replied.
“Grab some cereal, honey, and then you can help us stuff the turkey,” Colonel Hanson said.
Carole noticed that Veronica was wearing an apron and holding a dish towel. She stifled a giggle. She was certain that Veronica had never even gone near either object before in her life. But she had to admit that her guest seemed happy enough to be using them now.
Carole gulped down a bowl of cornflakes and joined Veronica at the counter. Colonel Hanson soon had both girls laughing and groaning at his terrible jokes, most of which had a turkey theme in honor of the holiday. Carole was having a lot of fun, and she could tell that Veronica was, too. She was beginning to be glad that she’d invited her.
When they had finished stuffing the turkey, they put it in the oven. “Good job, assistant chefs,” Colonel Hanson told them, giving them a mock salute.
They saluted back. “Thanks, Colonel,” Carole said. “What next?”
“It’s almost time for church,” he replied. “Let’s get cleaned up.”
“Church?” Veronica repeated, seeming confused. “But it’s not even Sunday or anything.”
“We always go on Thanksgiving,” Carole explained toher. “It’s an interdenominational service.” She wondered if Veronica would refuse to go.
But Veronica only shrugged. “What should I wear?” she asked.
A FTER THE SERVICE they checked on the turkey, which seemed to be coming along nicely. “Well, there’s not really much more to be done right now,” Colonel Hanson said. “The turkey should be ready by two, so we can eat then. We can wait awhile before we start getting the other stuff ready.”
“So what should we do in the meantime?” Carole asked. “
Miracle on 34th Street
doesn’t start for more than an hour.”
“Let’s see,” her father said. He wandered into the living room and opened the cabinet where the Hansons’ board games were kept. “How about a game of Monopoly?”
Veronica had followed him and was peering over his shoulder at the stacks of games. “Oh, what a beautiful chess board,” she exclaimed, pointing to a board that was leaning against the side of the cabinet by itself. The different-colored squares were formed by dark and light woods.
“Why, thank you, Veronica,” said Colonel Hanson proudly. “That board was a gift from my uncle for my high-school graduation.”
“Yeah, it’s
Veronica, on the other hand, had been just about everywhere. Carole figured that was just another of the advantages of having wealthy parents. What’s more, it seemed to Carole that when her father and Veronica were discussing foreign travel, even on the rare occasions when one or the other of them hadn’t actually visited a place, they both still seemed to know an awful lot about it.
Now, as she tried to wake up, she could hear that the two of them were discussing the benefits and drawbacks of someplace called Abu Dhabi. Carole shook her head and laughed. “At least they’re getting along,” she told her black cat, Snowball. But Snowball just purred and stretched in reply.
By the time Carole had showered and dressed and arrived downstairs, her father and Veronica had already finished breakfast.
“Morning, sleepyhead.” Her father greeted her with a kiss on the top of the head. “Happy Thanksgiving!”
“Happy Thanksgiving, Carole,” echoed Veronica with a smile.
“Happy Thanksgiving to both of you,” Carole replied.
“Grab some cereal, honey, and then you can help us stuff the turkey,” Colonel Hanson said.
Carole noticed that Veronica was wearing an apron and holding a dish towel. She stifled a giggle. She was certain that Veronica had never even gone near either object before in her life. But she had to admit that her guest seemed happy enough to be using them now.
Carole gulped down a bowl of cornflakes and joined Veronica at the counter. Colonel Hanson soon had both girls laughing and groaning at his terrible jokes, most of which had a turkey theme in honor of the holiday. Carole was having a lot of fun, and she could tell that Veronica was, too. She was beginning to be glad that she’d invited her.
When they had finished stuffing the turkey, they put it in the oven. “Good job, assistant chefs,” Colonel Hanson told them, giving them a mock salute.
They saluted back. “Thanks, Colonel,” Carole said. “What next?”
“It’s almost time for church,” he replied. “Let’s get cleaned up.”
“Church?” Veronica repeated, seeming confused. “But it’s not even Sunday or anything.”
“We always go on Thanksgiving,” Carole explained toher. “It’s an interdenominational service.” She wondered if Veronica would refuse to go.
But Veronica only shrugged. “What should I wear?” she asked.
A FTER THE SERVICE they checked on the turkey, which seemed to be coming along nicely. “Well, there’s not really much more to be done right now,” Colonel Hanson said. “The turkey should be ready by two, so we can eat then. We can wait awhile before we start getting the other stuff ready.”
“So what should we do in the meantime?” Carole asked. “
Miracle on 34th Street
doesn’t start for more than an hour.”
“Let’s see,” her father said. He wandered into the living room and opened the cabinet where the Hansons’ board games were kept. “How about a game of Monopoly?”
Veronica had followed him and was peering over his shoulder at the stacks of games. “Oh, what a beautiful chess board,” she exclaimed, pointing to a board that was leaning against the side of the cabinet by itself. The different-colored squares were formed by dark and light woods.
“Why, thank you, Veronica,” said Colonel Hanson proudly. “That board was a gift from my uncle for my high-school graduation.”
“Yeah, it’s
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