Chapter 9

Chapter 9: October

When Mama was just about to call the docter she realized that Rosie was over acting and so she didn’t. The next day Rosie said she felt much better, so Mama was right. It was now finally October, everyone was so excited about the family reunion. It was a time in fall, when all the cousins meet up with each other at the Ferriers. A holiday where everyone carves pumpkins, chats, plays games, and does anything. And they always have a barbeque for lunch, and have delicious hot stew for dinner. Mama began to bake apple pies, and also pumpkin. And all day she was in the kitchen baking, or helping someone with school. She was so happy and excited too about the family reunion.

“I’m so excited! I’m so excited!” cried Sarah.

“Excited about the family reunion?” asked Mama.

“Yes!” said Sarah.

“I am too.” said Mama. And they both laughed together. Soon, Evelyn came up and said: “Me three!” Mama then gave her two daughters a smile. “Would either of you want to help me bake?” she said gently.

“Oh, yes!” they answered. So they both stepped near the stool and began to do what Mama said for them to do to help.

They cut up apples and put the slices in a big metal bowl, then coded them with sugar and cinnamon. And then they made the crust and put it in the pie dish, and put the apples in. And they made even more crust and put it on the tp. Mama then poked whole in it and made a drawing of a fall leaf.

Ooh, that is so pretty Mama!” exclaimed Sarah.

“Thank you.” said Mama. The whole house was filled with good smells of pies and other baking food. The little ones were always around Mama to see what she was baking or to hug her or wine for her to hold them. But she couldn’t because with one arm she was baking and the other arm she was holding Charlotte.

“Mama, hold me! Mama, hold me!” the little ones kept saying. Mama always had to tell them no though, until she was finished working. “Evelyn honey could you please you please take care of Joey while I work, and Rosie too?” asked Mama.

“Oh, of course!” said Evelyn, and quickly picked up Joey and took hold of Rosie’s hand, and brought them outside.

“Thank you so much.” said Mama to Evelyn. And Evelyn gave her a big smile and said: “It’s nothing, Mama.” She played a game of tag outside with them, to make them happy, and took them to the apple orchard to pick apples.

Evelyn was always a big help to Mama when it comes to taking care of little ones, baking, and a lot of other stuff. And Mama was so happy to have a daughter who was so helpful, especially, when a mother has a lot of kids.

Mama was finally done with baking, and got ready for the reunion and started to wash the dishes. Soon, Sarah decided to help Mama wash the dishes, because she knew that her mother was very tired of working all day, and wanted so much to help her.

“Thank you, Sarah.”Mama said when she heard what her daughter was going to do.

Sarah gave her a smile and said: Your welcome, Mama.” And she began to wash some dishes. In none too soon, they were done, with just a little help you could get the job done much faster. Then Sarah went outside, because all the leaves were falling and swirling around, and all her sibling were catching them.

“Hay, wait for me!” she cried. And ran out to the bright, red, orange and yello leaves, trying to catch them.

They laughed trying to catch the leaves, and jumped on each other grasping hard to get the leaf.

“Hey, come back here!” they laughed, and ran toward their sibling. After a big gust of wind came and all the leaves blew, they waited until the next gust of wind started. But it was only a little while until there was another one.

“Here it comes, guys.” said Samuel. And someone would cheer, then they would go and lift their arm out and run, and if they lost the leaf and yell: “No!” and give a big sigh.

Mama came outside too, and watched her children catch leaves and have fun, holding Charlotte.

Soon, little Rosie went up to Mama and said in her sweet voice crying: “Mama! They keep on getting the leaves I was going to get, and being so mean!” Mama looked at her three-year-old daughter gave her a smile and hugged her tightly.

“Oh honey, it is okay. I’ll tell them not to do that anymore, alright?” said Mama soothingly.

“Okay.” said Rosie still crying a little bit. And Mama hurriedly went toward the bigger kids, and told them not to do than anymore to Rosie, and scolded them. And Rosie went back to try to catch some more leaves, and Evelyn and Sarah said they were really sorry. Rosie w\said it was fine, and soon they were all catching lots and lots of leaves. They stayed outside until they got too cold. And Mama was inside waiting for them, and gave them cinnamon leafed shaped cookies and hot apple cider to warm them.

“Thank you so much, Mama!” exclaimed Evelyn.

“Oh, you’re welcome.” said Mama. And they all drank their apple cider and ate their cookies. Then Mama went outside to visit her husband, in the barn, and gave him apple cider and cookies too. “You are the nicest woman I ever met.” said Papa, very happy that she gave him this. Mama blushed and thanked him. But then went back inside, for she still had a ton of work to do.

She swept the floor, made everyone lunch, made herself lunch, then took out the pies from the oven. And then she had to clean the living room, and told the children not to touch the pie.

And after she did all the work she had to do then, she rested on a rocking chair with Charlotte on her lap.

“Are you okay, Mama?” Evelyn asked.

“Of course I am sweet heart. I am just resting for now.” said Mama.

“Oh okay, do you want me to help you with anything?” she said with a smile.

“Oh that would be great. Can you start by taking care of the little ones, and clean your room?” And Evelyn flashed her a smile and quickly did what Mama said. After she cleaned her room, she took the little ones outside, because that was the only thing she wanted to do with them.

She took them to the orchard and helped them pick apples.

“Evelyn, can you get that apple for me, I can’t reach it?” Rosie asked in her sweet voice.

“Of course, Rosie.” said Evelyn.

When they picked bushels full of apples, and the little ones did not want to pick any more apples, Evelyn played a game of tag with them in the field.

Soon after, all the children went into the woods. They went to the stream, or wrote in their nature journals, and cleared out their forts, and collected acorns. They had so much fun, running in the leaves and doing all sorts of things.

They played outside until late in the afternoon, and went inside. Mama had hot cocoa waiting for them, and she rubbed the little ones’ cold red cheeks. And soon everyone was warm and cozy in the house.