Chapter 11

It was early November and Mrs. Frieda's class was busy practicing for their Thanksgiving play. "Alright guys, let's practice the song again" she explained.

Come, ye thankful people, come

Raise the song of harvest home

All is safely gathered in

Ere the winter storms begin

God our Maker doth provide

For our wants to be supplied

Come to God's own temple, come

Raise the song of harvest home

Leia smiled. "I have some big news" she exclaimed.

"What is it?" Junior asked.

"I'm going for a pony ride soon" she announced as the kids cheered.

"I know Tiffany love ponies…she'll love hearing this!" Leif squealed.

Suzie smiled as she played with her pilgrim hat, humming the song happily. "Say, Junior, how about I come o'er for Thanksgiving dinner?" she asked, blushing a little.

"Well…" Junior began.

"It's settled then" Suzie smiled, shaking his hand. "You're touching my hand, you sly dog"

"Well…how do I get stuck in these situations?" the raven haired toddler asked his twin sister.

"Beats me, Junior" she whispered back.

~Later~

"She what?!" asked Charlie Brown in alarm.

"Suzie told me she an' her mom are coming over for Thanksgiving" Junior responded.

"Well?" Marcie asked.

"Why not? I am inviting Lucy and Schroeder, Sally and Linus, my mom and dad, your parents and the kids" Charlie replied to his wife.

"Translation: Pull up a extra two chairs for dinner" whispered Robin to her brother.

Junior sighed. "I never wanted 'er to come to dinner, but fine" he sighed, giving in.

Shadow barked happily at Mrs. Brown as the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" the twins exclaimed in unison, only to be greeted by Tiffany 'Tiny Tough'.

"Hey Junior, hey Robin…I wanted to give you two something" she muttered, blushing as she gave the two a faded baseball glove. The initials C.B made their eyes widen. "I think it's your dad's" she added.

"Daddy's old glove" Junior pointed out.

"Looks like it" Robin agreed.

"What looks like what?" asked Charlie before noticing the glove. "Awww…that's nice of you to give it back" he praised, patting 'Tiny Tough' on the head.

"You're welcome" she giggled. Tiffany was bundled up in a midnight blue hoodie (she was reluctant to take it off), light blue sweatpants and was holding a toy doll in her left hand.

"Say, Tiffany…wanna stay for Thanksgiving dinner?" Mrs. Brown asked from the kitchen.

"Sure" she jumped for joy. "Thank you" the brown haired girl with the sideburns added.

"You're very welcome" Junior answered, opening open the door.

"So wanna have some fun?" Robin asked.

"Sure" 'Tiny Tough' smiled, walking after the blonde girl. "So you're Leif's cousins?" she questioned.

"Yeah…his mommy, Auntie Lucy's sister in-law is my daddy's sister" the raven haired boy answered.

"You have a big family" the daughter of Thibault smiled, exposing a missing tooth. It was also very unusual to see four-year-olds missing teeth. If she were five, the twins wouldn't raise suspicious eyebrows. "All I have is my mommy, daddy and my dolly: Tina" she added.

"I've got another brother" the blonde three-year-old explained. "His name's Austin and he's a few months" she continued as they walked past the nursery where the blonde baby slept.

"Nice…do you think if I ask Santa, he'll get me a brother or sister?" Tiffany pondered.

"I doubt it…storks give out babies; not Santa" the blonde girl admitted.

"I agree with Robin" the raven haired boy added.

"Aww man" sighed 'Tiny Tough' as they walked to the bedroom.

"So, wanna draw?" asked Robin.

"Sure" Thibault's daughter sighed.

"What's your dad like?" Junior interrogated.

"He drinks lots of apple cider," Tiffany explained. "And he never plays ball outside with me" she added.

"And your mom?" the blonde girl questioned.

"She's real nice an' plays lots of catch with me…she also enjoys playing outside with me a lot" the brown haired girl sighed.

"Oh" the twins sighed.

Tiffany sighed as she drew her mom and dad. Above the former's head was a halo, above the latter's head were devil horns. "I see" Junior realized.

"Daddy once said he wished I was a boy so he could take me to baseball games an' play baseball an' stuff with me" she explained.

"You can stay here with me" Robin smiled.

"It's fine, Robin" 'Tiny Tough' sighed. "I'm fine with just my doll…she never says bad things 'bout me like my dad does" she added, hugging her doll tightly.

"We insist you live with us" Junior exclaimed.

"No thanks" the brown haired girl denied as she sniffled. "My mom never says bad stuff to me like Dad does"

"Don't worry" reassured the blonde haired girl. "We'll never let anyone hurt you"

"I'm fine…as long as I've got Tina with me, I'm gonna be fine" 'Tiny Tough' explained.

"Tiffany, we want to help you" Junior began.

"Just tell us how" added Robin.

"C-can I come for Thanksgiving dinner please?" 'Tiny Tough' asked.

"Mommy and Daddy said yes" the younger of the twins, Robin, reminded.

"I know…I just want to know when to RSVP" the brown haired four-year-old admitted.

"Yes you can" Junior promised.