This is our second Story Quilt. These will wind up being published with all contributors being acknowledged and receiving copies of the final compilation. All you have to do is read what came before and then add your sentence or sentences in the next box and press submit.

As always the Farmstead gets the story going:

It was the first day of the year and a bunch of the kids on Leestock Street were scrambling with excitement. Every New Year’s Day it was tradition in this tiny neighborhood for the kids to pitch tents and camp out in the backyards of the two houses at the end of the cul-de-sac. Nine-year-old Skipper’s big brother, Joseph, helped some of the second and third-graders set up their campsites. A couple of the fathers pitched in as well, bringing out old gear they had used earlier in their own lives: tarps, canteens, pup tents, fire starters, sleeping pads, and so forth. “All of these got me up and down the Appalachian Trail,” said Cal’s dad, bragging about how he used to run bears off from the camp in the middle of the night.

New Year’s Day Night Sleep Out was a tradition that the mothers enjoyed too. Skipper’s mom would pop big plastic bags full of popcorn, Cal’s mom cobbled together the ingredients for S’mores, and Sophie’s mom made sure the coolers were full of water and juices.

Since the campout took place mostly in Sophie and her neighbor Trudy’s backyards, Sophie’s mom would be the one who would watch from the family room out onto the backyard all night long. She’d also be there in the wee hours to open the sliding glass door when, afraid to live like true outdoorsfolk, the kids would have to come in to use the bathroom.

What nobody knew as this year’s New Year’s Day Night Sleep Out began was that this New Year’s Day Night Sleep Out would be the one folks around here would talk about for years.

It all began quite normal, routine almost…

[Continue the story below… HAVE FUN! THANKS FOR CONNECTING WITH US AND THE OTHERS!]

Technorati tag= stories,  quilts