The Adventures of Geraldine Woolkins by Karin Kaufman

Author:Karin Kaufman [KARIN KAUFMAN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Karin Kaufman
Published: 2023-07-20T00:00:00+00:00

THANKSGIVING AT THE HOLLOW

Geraldine woke to the sound of clattering pots and pans in the kitchen and the swoosh and bang of the front door opening and closing. Mama was up—and Papa too by the sound of it.

“It’s still dark outside,” she grumbled, turning on her side and pulling her blanket up over her ear to muffle the sounds. Why on earth were her parents making such a commotion? Any moment now, she thought, Button was going to get up too and join in the noisemaking. And if he did, she was determined to be very cross about it—and let him know that she was.

The front door swooshed and banged again and Geraldine grunted. It was no use. She was fully awake now, with little chance of getting back to sleep. Nevertheless, she chose to stay in bed. Papa hadn’t started the fire yet, and the Hollow was colder than she had ever known it to be.

“My dear Lily, you’re already at work. How can I help?”

Geraldine shoved the blanket down to her chin and turned her face to the door. She knew that voice. In spite of the dark and cold, Theodora Cresswell had come to the Hollow.

An instant later, Geraldine sat ramrod straight in bed. Of course! It was Thanksgiving. Pumpkin soup and hazelnut broth, chives and dandelion leaves, acorns and sunflower seeds—maybe even maple syrup. And Mama would need her help to prepare it all. She hopped down from her bed, dressed quickly, and hurried to the kitchen.

“Good morning, dearest,” Theodora said when she saw Geraldine. She was sitting in a chair, her beautiful—and quite dry—white feather coat draped across the back of it. “You beat Button out of bed this morning.”

Geraldine struggled to keep her smile to herself—and succeeded only to a degree. It was rare that she beat her brother out of bed, and she liked the feeling. “Where’s Mama and Papa?” she asked, looking about the kitchen and peering into the living room.

“In the pantry, the pair of them. Your papa for acorn shells and your mama for sunflower seeds. Our first task this fine morning is to make sunflower-crusted pumpkin soup.”

“Ohh,” Geraldine said, her mouth beginning to water at the thought. “Can I help make it?”

“I’m counting on it,” Theodora said, laying her palms flat on the kitchen table. “It’s all hands on deck for Thanksgiving.”

“What’s a deck?” Geraldine asked.

Theodora chuckled, but before she could explain this new word, Mama returned with a basket of sunflower seeds in her right hand and three fat acorns in the crook of her left elbow. Papa was one step behind her, carrying an armful of acorn shells, some of which he carried into the kitchen, dropping them into the firebox in the cookstove. The remainder he hastened to add to the blossoming fire in the living-room fireplace.

Mama lit up when she saw Geraldine. “Good morning! You’re up early.” She put the basket on the table and the acorns on the counter next to the stove.

“More acorns?” Theodora asked.

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