Author's Note: For those of you who would rather enjoy a story when the Rugrats are younger to celebrate your Thanksgiving holiday, please check out my latest Rugrats Bobby's World crossover, When Two Holidays Collide! But if a story in their AGU era fancies your tastes, then by all means, please continue reading, and, I hope you enjoy this story!
A Thanksgiving to Remember
Summary: After paired to do a class project to show the importance of Thanksgiving, and Tommy have to come up with a new Mitsfa project for his Hebrew School, the rugrats gang helps Tommy's grandma Lulu out at a homeless shelter on Thanksgiving day, and learn a valuable lesson. Takes place one year post the Thanksgiving they were celebrating, in the RV Having Fun Yet episode of AGU.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Rugrats or All Grown Up, they're the property of their original creaters. I only own any OC's you don't recognize, and Peter, is owned by TCKing12.
Chapter 1, The Project
Location: Yucaipa, California, November, 2023
The seventh grade class was getting ready for their Thanksgiving break. Everybody was in the halls on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, rushing to get to their seventh period class, eager to begin the long awaited, Thanksgiving vacation.
"So, what do you got planned for this Thanksgiving?" Phil asked, as he was walking down the hall between Tommy and Chuckie.
"Oh, just the usual, another Turkey Day Extravaganza at the Java Lava." Chuckie said with a sigh.
"Me? I'm probably just going to enjoy a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving with my family. Filling up on turkey, watching football games with my dad and Dil, it will be a great day, just kicking back and spending time with my family." Replied Tommy, as they headed into their seventh period English class, and took their seats.
"Everybody, why don't we all sit down, on your chairs this time?" Said Mister Beaker at the front of the room.
"Mister Beaker?" The class said in unison, shocked.
"What are you doing here Mister Beaker? I thought you were a science teacher." Asked Tommy.
"Yes, I am, but with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, and your teacher, Miss O'Keefe out on vacation, and a shortage of substitute teachers, I've been asked to cover the seventh period English class today." Said Mister Beaker.
"Mister Beaker teaching English, this ought to be good." Whispered Lil to Kimi.
"Yeah, he'll probably just let us have a study period." Whispered Kimi to Lil.
"Now class, I've been asked, to give you all your assignment that you'll be doing over the Thanksgiving holiday." Said Mister Beaker.
The class groaned.
"Now, all are you are to get into teams, and your project, is to come up with a presentation, that explores the importance of Thanksgiving." Explained Mister Beaker.
"Now, everybody, split up into groups, and use the class period, to discuss what you will do. Miss O'keefe will be taking an extra week of vacation, and while this period is normally my prep period, I've been asked to cover this class all next week, at which time, all of you will be giving your presentations." Continued Mister Beaker, as he wrote the instructions up on the board.
The class all split up into groups. Tommy, Kimi, Chuckie, Phil and Lil, all forming a group, while Z, Nicole, Wally, Geoffery, and Nicholas, formed another group.
"Ok, first we need a name for our group." Said Tommy.
"How about, Project PDF." Suggested Kimi.
"That's a lame name." Said Chuckie.
"No! I like it! Pickles, Deville, and Finster! PDF! It's perfect!" Said Lil.
"Then Project PDF it is." Said Tommy, as he scribbled down some notes in a notebook.
"So what are we going to do with our project?" Phil asked.
"Well, our project has to do with Thanksgiving, and its importance." Said Tommy.
"Well, we could do a report of the history of Thanksgiving, we can go to the library after school and research information about the pilgrims and Native Americans." Suggested Chuckie.
"Eeewww, that sounds so boring!" Griped Kimi.
"Guys, I think Mister Beaker wants us to put some personal involvement into this project." Said Tommy.
"Face it Tommy, Mister Beaker is not qualified to teach English, he's a Science teacher, that's why he gave us this dumb project, so he doesn't have to prepare anything for this class." Explained Lil.
They kept trying to brainstorm ideas throughout the rest of the period, but nothing came to them that was worthwhile. So after school, they headed back to Tommy's house, where they took a dip in the pool, as it was unusually warm for late November that year.
"Anyone notice how it's Indian Summer?" Phil asked.
"Duh, that's why we're heading over to Tommy's, to take a dip in his pool." Replied Lil.
"Hey, maybe a dip in the pool will help us think of an idea for our project too." Said Tommy.
"But Tommy, don't you have Hebrew School today?" Chuckie asked.
"Nah, it only met once this week on Monday, because of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday." Tommy replied.
"So, how is Hebrew school going anyway?" Phil asked.
"It's ok, I unfortunately, still need to find a new Mitsfa project though, I've only got one more year of this, till I turn thirteen, and can have my Barmitsfa." Said Tommy.
"Wait a second, I thought you were building a house for homeless people." Said Kimi.
"I was, but when Rachel moved away last year, I had to forego the project, because they did not approve of me working on it by myself." Replied Tommy.
"What are you gonna do then?" Kimi asked.
"I can't decide, but I know something will come to me eventually." Said Tommy, as they reached the front door of his house.
Everybody headed off in different directions once inside, to change into their bathing suits, which they had all left hanging up to dry in the bathroom, as with it being Indian Summer, they had more or less, been hanging out in Tommy and Dil's pool after school all week.
Everybody got into the pool, and started doing cannon balls, back slips, and their favorite, shooting jelly beans out their nose, and seeing how far across the pool they'd land, when Tommy's grandma Lulu and Peter, showed up.
"Hey kids, how goes it?" Lulu asked.
"Hi grandma, we're doing great, just trying to stay cool on this freakishly warm day for late November." Replied Tommy.
Just then, Dil came outside and did a cannon ball into the pool, splashing Lil, who was lying on the side, trying to get a tan.
"Hey! You got me all wet!" Lil complained.
"Oh, sorry Lil." Said Dil.
"So, how goes things?" Peter asked, taking off his shoes and dipping his feet into the pool, after rolling up the pants of his gray Confederate uniform, so as to not get them wet.
"Well, we're trying to figure out a project to do for our English class. Mister Beaker is substituting and he's given us all this dopy project over Thanksgiving break, where we have to do some kind of presentation that represents the importance of Thanksgiving. And I'm also faced with the delimma of having to come up with a new mitsfa project for Hebrew School, one I can do by myself." Explained Tommy.
"Well T, I don't know about you, but if it were up to me, I'd find a project to fulfill both needs. Of course, in Dil Pickelism, such projects aren't necessary." Said Dil.
"Dil, I'd really appreciate it if you wouldn't bore us with your Dil Pickelism stuff, it's not even a real religion." Snapped Kimi.
"I know, that's why I like it." Said Dil.
"You know, every year since 2014 your grandfather and I have been helping out at the local homeless shelter on Thanksgiving. Perhaps you kids would like to come help us tomorrow. We could use all the hands we can get." Said Lulu.
"Actually, I've been helping out there even longer. Remember back in 2013, when you and Lou were off on your one year wedding anniversary cruise, Taffy and I helped out at that homeless shelter? Well I've found it quite enjoyable, and very rewarding." Said Peter.
"What kind of reward did you get for feeing people who can't feed themselves? Free food?" Phil asked.
"Well, there is that, but you really need to spend a day there, to see what I'm talking about." Said Peter.
"Guys, how come we didn't have a stupid project to do last year?" Lil asked.
"Probably because we skipped school the week of Thanksgiving last year, to take Susie across the country in our mom's RV, so she could sing in the Gracy's Thanksgiving Day Parade." Replied Phil.
"Oh yeah." Said Lil.
"It's too bad that Susie didn't get picked to sing again this year, but I'm glad she's getting to go visit her great Aunt T for the holidays." Said Kimi.
"Guys, how can you compare a road trip in an RV to helping to feed the homeless? I think it will be a great experience for all of you! You'll see." Said Peter.
"That's what we'll do then guys. After all, feeding the homeless is the next best thing to building a house for them." Said Tommy.
"And maybe we'll get some ideas for our project." Added Kimi.
"Guys, I think we might have just found our project." Said Chuckie.
"What are you talking about Chuckie?" Phil asked, confused.
"You'll see." Said Chuckie, as he got out of the pool, and wrapped his towel around him, as the sun was starting to go down.
Everybody else did the same, as they got out of the pool, changed out of their bathing suits, and prepared for a Thanksgiving day they would never forget.
And this, ends chapter 1. How will their time at the homeless shelter go? We'll find out, in chapter 2.
Author's Note: And, I'm sorry to say, that as soon as I started working on chapter 2, I've been having endless power blinks, that keep causing my computer to reboot, causing me to lose my work. So, I apologize if this story wasn't completed for the Thanksgiving holiday, but I will see what I can do, to have it completed and posted, by the end of the long Thanksgiving day weekend.
