Winning Skylinn

8

A/N: Above is the outfit I'm imagining Skylinn in for today. I might do a couple of these, when it's the holiday chapters. What do you think?

- - -

It was the day before Thanksgiving, and I had a bunch of fun holiday activities planned for the kids at Sunrise. They would make hand turkeys, write lists of things they were thankful for, and color pictures of pilgrims and Indians.

"Hi, Miss Skylinn!" Matthew greeted me, grinning from ear to ear.

"Hey, buddy," I replied, bending to his level. "How are ya?"

"Good! I made this for you!" He handed me a picture that I think was supposed to be a turkey; but it was mostly just brown and red scribbles.

"Aw, thanks, Matthew! This is really good."

"Thanks, Miss Skylinn!" He gave me a big hug, burying his face in my shoulder.

I stood up to go talk to another kid, but Matthew grabbed my hand and said, "I wanna come!"

I smiled down at him. Who could say no to that face?

We walked over to a little girl with blonde pigtails. "Hi, Alice!" I greeted her.

"Alice!" Matthew exclaimed, throwing his arms around his friend.

She giggled. "Hi, Matthew."

"How are you, Alice? Excited for Thanksgiving?" I asked.

"Yeah!" she cheered. "Mommy's making a BIG turkey!" She opened her arms wide for emphasis. "And I'm gonna help her make mash potaties!"

I laughed at her childish mistakes. "I love mashed potatoes! I bet your mom is glad to have your help."

Alice smiled proudly. I ran my hand through one of her white-blonde pigtails. "See ya later, chica."

"Bye!" She gave me a hug and picked up a Barbie doll. Then she ran over to her friend Olivia and asked if she wanted to play.

I couldn't help but smile. These children were my weakness.

- - -

When I got home from work, I saw that my mom was already hard at work in the kitchen. "Hey, Mom, how can I help?" I asked.

"Oh, hey, Skylinn. Can you slice up the lemons and oranges?"

"Sure." I got a bowl of lemons out of the fridge and placed them on the cutting board.

My family's tradition is to cook the day before Thanksgiving, bake the day of, then have a big Thanksgiving dinner with the Cox's.

My mom was hard at work sprinkling seasonings on the turkey. The fruit would be put in a cooler with the meat, to give it flavor before it was time to cook.

"Are you gonna come Black Friday shopping this year?" I asked my mom.

"I don't think so. I'd rather sleep in. You and Jonny can go this time."

I always went Black Friday shopping with Jonny, but usually our moms would come along.

"Are you sure? Mrs. Cox will probably miss you."

"Oh, I don't think she's going either. She has to work," Mom answered.

"What! That's stupid."

"I know. I wish she could go. But you two will be fine on your own."

"I guess."

It wasn't that I'd mind hanging out with just Jonny. But I'd miss that once-a-year shopping spree with both our moms. It was always so fun, but we only did it on Black Friday. Time for a new tradition, I guess.

"Are you getting Denver a gift this year?" Mom asked, breaking me from my thoughts.

"Um, I don't know. I mean, I want to, but I don't know if it'd get to him."

"I'm sure it would. Have you heard from him at all?"

"Not much. He's probably busy, with boot camp and all."

"Yeah. I wish he could be here with you for the holidays."

"Me too, Mom. Believe me."