Noe and Cindy write: Make this a summer to remember for your kids!

New blog series

Noe and I thought it would be nice to do something for the kids this summer. We wrote a children's book a couple of years ago that is special to both of us and decided to share it with you. The story is not fantasy-based, rather it highlights the fun that children can have in their own world of imagination and adventure.

So for the next few weeks, we'll be posting a chapter or two for you to share with your kids ... and now, here we go:

Welcome to Sarah’s World
At the dinner table, Sarah and her mother and father were talking over the day’s activities. “Sarah, how was school today?” her father asked.
“It was fun! The teacher had us do some games about things we learned this year. She said with school letting out this week for the summer, there was no sense in giving us homework. Besides, they have already started collecting our school books. Some kids said theirs were still at home—did you know if they lose their books, they have to pay for them?”

“Are all your books turned in?” Mom asked.

“Yes, although I wish I could have kept our reading book. It had a lot of good stories, and we didn’t get to finish all of them.”

“Well,” said her father, “I’m glad you took good care of your books. It shows your mother and me that you’re just as responsible at school as you are here at home. And I tell you what, since you saved me some money by not losing your school books, instead of you helping Mom clear the table, I’ll do that and you can ride your bike for a bit. Then you and I will go get some ice cream from the grocery store for dessert.”

Sarah smiled. “Thanks, Dad!” she said, and she was out the door and on her bike in a flash. Mom and Dad heard her saying as she was getting her bike, “Boy, am I glad I’m responsible!”

School was something Sarah really enjoyed, and the teachers could always count on her to cheerfully take part in all activities. On the last day of school before the kids arrived, their teacher had written some math problems on the chalkboards. She divided the class into two groups to play a fast skills game. There were enough problems for everyone on each team to do one equation, and no one could leave the board till they got the correct answer. Whichever side could finish all the problems first would win!

The class became pretty noisy as the race started, each side cheering their teammate at the board, but they could not help work the problem. If a student had to give up trying, they could sit down, but the teacher would add another problem to their side. Sarah’s team wanted her to go last, so that if there were any extra ones to do,she would be the one to work them, since everyone thought she was the best at math.

Eon, a very happy boy that everyone liked, was not very good at math and had to give up on his problem. He was on Sarah’s side, and they began getting behind until the other group hit a tough equation to work out too. Now Mike was able to make up for Eon’s lost time, and that made the sides even again, only Sarah’s side had an extra problem to do.

The teacher was smiling with pride as her pupils were flying through the math problems. She had made the last one very hard, knowing which two students the class would choose to work it. As Sarah and her good friend Lucy reached the boards, both sides were cheering them on. The two girls were busy working out the equation, and did not look at each other.

Then Sarah heard Lucy say, “I’m done!” Sarah’s arms dropped to her side until she heard the teacher say, “No, that’s not the right answer.”

Now Sarah’s team began urging her to hurry as she turned to the board again! She finished the hard problem, but didn’t say anything yet, because she wanted to start on that extra one, which she was able to do quickly. She then cried out, “I’m finished!”

Everyone cheered, it had been such a fun game! The teacher told the class how proud she was of them all, and someone teased, “Even Eon?” Everyone laughed at that, including Eon, because he had such a good sense of humor. And the teacher added, “Yes, even Eon.”

At lunch in the cafeteria, Sarah, Lucy and others were talking about how much they enjoyed the race. Lucy said, “It was a good thing Mike came after Eon, otherwise I don’t think you would have been able to catch us.” Everyone thought Mike was the smartest boy in the class.

There was a nice end of school party, with cupcakes and chocolate milk some of the mothers had brought. Before you knew it, the last bell was ringing and everyone was saying goodbye to each other and to their nice teacher. Sarah and Lucy got with their friends Abby and Pam, and they all walked home together, like they had so many times that year.

“I can’t believe this was the last day of school,” Pam said.

“No more homework!” Lucy cried.

Abby added, “I have to go visit my grandmother for two weeks. It’s kind of fun, but where she lives there aren’t any kids our age. She and I have fun together, going shopping and watching movies and stuff, but I’m always glad to get back here for the rest of the summer.”

“My cousin Margaret will be coming to spend most of the summer with me,” Sarah chimed in, “and we always have lots of fun. What about you, Pam?”

“Our family always goes to spend a month at my uncle’s farm. There are plenty of animals, like chickens and cows, and they have a nice pond we can go swimming in.”

“Does a rooster wake you up in the morning?” Sarah asked. The girls laughed, but Sarah really wanted to know, so she asked again. Pam said, “I know it sounds funny, but the rooster really does wake you up with its crowing.”

“And then you go right back to sleep, right?” joked Abby.

Lucy said she and her brother were going to summer camp again this year, which they always liked. This year they would be doing some art crafts, hiking and learning to play ping-pong.

One by one, they came to each girl’s house and everyone gave each other a big hug and said they’d see one another again soon. “Have a happy summer!” they all sang out.

At dinner that night, Mom asked Sarah about her last day of school. She excitedly told her parents the story of the math race and about all the plans her friends have for the summer.

“We’re very proud of you, Sarah, for doing so well in school. And it sure sounds like your friends will have a good time doing all those things,” Mom said, adding that she always liked summer when she was young because she had time to read a lot of books. Dad mentioned how he enjoyed playing baseball during summer.

To this, Sarah said, “I heard some boys talking about what they were going to be doing for the summer, and all they could talk about was playing some new video games.”

“You don’t like playing video games, Sarah?” asked her dad.

“I have played one or two, but I don’t think it’s that much fun. All you do is sit there and move your fingers, watching the screen. I would much rather be outside riding my bike, or just out discovering new things. Or if I am going to be inside, I would rather read a book or draw.”

“That’s my girl,” Dad said with a smile. “Maybe we can play some baseball this year... I’ll show you how to throw a curveball.”

Later in bed that night, Sarah thought, with a big smile on her face, “School is over and now we’re on vacation—I know tomorrow morning is going to be the start of a great summer!”