The Ghost and the McGee Twins

Festival Of Lights

Just gonna point out that I know absolutely nothing about Hanukkah, so I apologize to any readers who actually celebrate. -Mal.

It was a cold December night in the city of Brighton. Actually, it was the eighth night of Hanukkah to be more specific. If I'm being honest, I never knew much about the holiday. Even after meeting Libby, I still don't. Speaking of which, Libby and her mom invited us to the bookstore for Hanukkah. "Whoo! It's the eighth night of Hanukkah!" Molly exclaimed. "Thanks for having us, Libby!" "Yeah, Happy Hanukkah, guys. I'm so glad you're all here!" Libby exclaimed. "My mom and I have never had this many people... or ghosts, over for Hanukkah before." "Yeah, plenty of turtles though, huh?" Scratch asked. "Yeesh. Their beady reptilian eyes are looking straight into my soul." "Maybe that's because animals can see you no matter what." I commented. "Shalom, McGees! Be with you in a second!" Leah greeted. "Got the fryer going upstairs. Customers downstairs! Busy, busy, busy." "I wanted to be prepared, so I did a lot of research into Hanukkah, which I now know unfolds over eight subsequent nights and is also called the Festival of..." Molly said, just as the power went out for the entire town. "...Lights." "Might wanna double check that." Darryl pointed out. "Looks like the whole city is out!" Mom gasped. "Not to worry!" Leah reassured everyone. "I'd never be caught without a generator during a Midwest winter!"

My entire family went outside with Leah to help with the generator. Only problem was that it was gas powered. "Of course I forgot to stock up on fuel." Leah complained. "Oh, well, looks like we've only got enough juice to last an hour." "I'm going inside." I said, shivering in the cold air. "I don't want to get frostbite."

Hour 1

After heading back inside, we started getting comfortable in the bookstore. Luckily, I made some hot chocolate before the power went out. "Well, what a great Hanukkah it's been, but you know what, it's half past snack o'clock. McGees, let's roll." Scratch yawned, smelling some fried food that Libby was setting out for everyone. I wanna say Sufganiyot to be specific, which are basically jelly filled donuts. "What is that heavenly smell?" "Oh, if you're hungry, Mom made plenty of food." Libby explained. "And since it's Hanukkah, it's all fried in oil." "Good luck." I warned. "Once he eats, he won't stop. Don't say I didn't warn you."

Hour 2

Libby decided to show Molly, Darryl, Scratch, and I how to play dreidel. "Okay, the name of the game is dreidel." Libby explains. "You spin and if it comes up gimel, you win... all the gelt." Scratch spun the dreidel first. "Nun!" Scratch exclaimed. "Wait. As in, "none-none?"" "Sorry, Scratch, that's just how the dreidel spins." Molly said, placing another bet and spinning the dreidel. "Ooh! Shin. As in "win?"" "Uh-uh. As in, "put in."" Libby explained as Molly put more gelt in the middle.

During our game, I landed on shin every turn. Libby won this stressful game after spinning gimel. "And now, to taste this sweet victory..." Libby sighed, unwrapping the gelt. Scratch stopped her before she could take a bite. "Wait! The gelt is candy?!" Scratch gasped. "We were playing for candy?!

Hour 3

Libby hosted a spelling bee back down in the bookstore. "Welcome to the first annual Mega-McGee Hanukkah Spelling Bee!" Libby announced. "Your first and only word is, "Hanukkah."" Molly was up first, and I could tell she was a little nervous. "Uh, H-A-N-A?" Molly began before Libby hit her buzzer.

Darryl was up next. The first thing I thought was he was gonna be an easy out. "K." Darryl said as the buzzer went off. Called it.

Dad was looking more nervous than Molly was when it came his turn. "Can you use it in a sentence?" Dad asked as Libby hit the buzzer again.

Mom on the other hand, seemed very confident about her upcoming attempt. "H-A-N-U..." Mom began. "I wanna say... C?" Libby hits the buzzer again.

Finally, it was my turn. I took a deep breath and began to spell it out. "H-A-N-U-K-K-A-H." I spelled. "Correct, Amber!" Libby exclaimed. "That's my favorite way to spell it. There's also..." "C-H-A-N-U-K-A-H." I interrupted. "What? I'm good at spelling." "Correct again." Libby smiled. "Hey! I feel like I said that one!" Molly complained as the buzzer went off again.