A Surprise for Mom and Dad

Our story begins in an ordinary house off the shore of California.

“Alright kids the cabs here which means that its time for me and your father to leave,” Mrs.Snarklewits explained.

“Now you two need to behave and listen to Grandpa Gregory,” finished Mr.Snarklewits.

Mr. and Mrs. Snarklewits were going to Hawaii for a second honeymoon to celebrate their ten year anniversary. Meanwhile the twins, Sabrina and Carol, would stay home and hang out with their Grandpa Gregory.

While their parents were away on vacation Sabrina and Carol wanted to do something really special for them and even though the twins were only eight they had big intentions. With the help of their grandfather Sabrina and Carol wanted to paint Mr. and Mrs.Snarklewits’ room so that it always reminded them of joyous memories. But which memories should they include?

“Grandpa, what memories are mom and dad really fond of?” asked Carol.

Now why would you ask a question like that honey buns?” questioned Grandpa Gregory.

“We were going to paint mommy and daddy’s room so that they could visualize their memories,” answered Sabrina.

“Are you sure that it’s okay with your parents?” replied Grandpa.

“Yeah, mom and dad wanted to redo their bedroom and they said that we could paint it for them,” Sabrina and Carol replied in unison.

Okay, then have I got a story for you, be prepared to take notes!” exclaimed Grandpa.

“This is the story of your parents wedding/honeymoon! It all started when your mom had been asked to represent her company in a debate to be held in New York. It was there that your parents met,” Grandpa started the story.

“Let me guess,” Sabrina contemplated, “mom and dad were going against each other and dad couldn’t resist mom’s good looks.’

“That’s right peaches but do you want to hear this story or not?” Grandpa asked.

Carol just sat there and giggled.

“Now as I was saying before I was interrupted, the debate ended rather quickly, your father took one look at your mom and his jaw almost fell off. Without permission from his boss your dad dropped all charges against your mother’s company and was fired from his job. Once your mom found out what happened with your dad they both fell in love with each other. They scheduled to get married on the fourth of July at the Federal Hall National Memorial,” continued Grandpa.

“What was their wedding like grandpa?” Carol wondered.

“It was marvelous, like a dream come true. With your mom in her hammy down wedding dress and your father in his customized tux that his mom made for him they looked like a king and queen,” Grandpa explains, “Once your mom and dad had their extraordinary wedding they wanted to have an even better honeymoon, so to top the wedding they left on a month long road trip honeymoon. Their first stop was Vermont.”

Why did you stop grandpa?” the girls asked.

“Because it’s your bedtime silverbells,” he answered.

All through the night Sabrina and Carol dreamed of what their parents honeymoon and what might have happened. Sabrina imagined them visiting museums and discovering new scientific evidence. Carol imagined her mom and dad walking through clubhouses playing hide and go seek.

In the morning their adventure continued.

“Grandpa can we continue the story?” Sabrina practically begged.

“After you eat breakfast and finish your chores,” proclaimed Grandpa Gregory.

Sabrina and Carol completed their chores so fast that you would have thought that they were witches using magic.

“Okay now where was I when we left off yesterday? I remember, your parents were leaving for their first stop in Vermont. Now to make things really special your parents went to a top rated tourist attraction in each place. When in Vermont your parents went to the village of Shelburne, and yes I said village. Shelburne is a reconstructed village with all of its original buildings and services. After exploring the village in Vermont your parents head to a science center in New Hampshire,” Grandpa started the story again.

“Grandpa what did the village look like? Sabrina asked politely.

“It’s hard to describe, maybe we can find a picture later,” Grandpa Gregory answered.

A moment of silence fell upon the room.

“Anyway your parents continued their trip to New Hampshire and visited the Seacoast Science Centre, which is where the giant brochure came from; your parents went on a customized tour and explored the science museum. Soon they were on their way to Maine to try out snowmobiling, neither of them had done it before so they both continuously bumped/crashed into things,” Grandpa broke the silence, “Your parents rested for a night at the snowmobile resort and continued their trip in the morning. Your parents bought passports and crossed the border to Quebec,Canada. One in Quebec your parents (the Snarklewits) drove to Mount Royal Park and climbed 763 feet to the top, there they saw a magnificent view of Montrealand St. Lawrence,” Grandpa Gregory concluded the story.

“But Grandpa that can’t be the rest of the story, we don’t live in Canada!” the girls exclaimed.

“You’re right but we have other things to do too,” Grandpa answered the unasked question.

Sabrina and Carol cleaned the house from top to bottom both inside and out. Then they walked the dog, went shopping, and volunteered at the home for the elderly.

“Grandpa, let’s continue the story so I can finish the wall designs,” Sabrina suggested.

“Alright, after visiting Quebec your parents drove to Ontario and saw Niagara Falls, there the acquired the tee shirts they wear every fourth of July. Following Ontario your parents traveled across the border into the United States and went to Comerica Parkin Michigan. Not long after your parents were on their way to the Science Museum of Minnesota. Then they crossed the border back into Canada again to visit the Spirit Sands of Manitoba, which is where your parents got the glass of sand that you two aren’t aloud to touch.

Being followed by that your parents continued traveling until the hit the T-Rex Discovery Centre of Saskatchewan, while the were visiting your parents helped with a scientific dig even if they didn’t find anything,” the story telling continued by Grandpa.

“Maybe we should stop for now peaches, how about we go get paint and start planning,” Grandpa suggested.

“Grandpa we went shopping for equipment earlier, don’t you remember?” Carol questioned her grandfather curiously.

“We did? I guess we should finish the story then what do you think?” Grandpa Gregory pondered.

“Yeah!” the girls screamed.

“Your parents, the Snarklewits, drove on and crossed the border between Canada and the United States for the fourth but not last time. Once in Montana your parents continued their honeymoon by going by St. Regis and fishing. They didn’t stay there long, your dad was disappointed that he hadn’t caught anything in the first hour and faster than a speeding zebra your parents crossed the border to Canada one last time into Alberta. There your parents saw the Canadian Badlands where they have awkwardly amazing rocks that were formed by wind and water erosions,” Grandpa continued the never ending story, “For the last Canadian trip your parents stopped at the Royal British Columbia Museum in British Columbia. An assortment of natural history displays were out and the Thunderbird Park next door featured totem poles; there your mom just couldn’t resist buying a totem pole keychain.

For the last time during this trip your parents crossed the border into America. Now they were on their way to the Cascade Range in Washington to see a volcano, they didn’t think it was as exciting as the brochure said. Right away your parents were on their way to a ghost town in Oregon. The people who own the town say that millions of spirits refused to leave and now haunt the town, long story short your dad was scared out of his wits and your parents were on the road again. This time, to the San Diego Zoo in California. Your parents thought San Diego was a great place to raise their kids and that’s where a new adventure began. But that’s a story for a different time.”

“Great story grandpa, now we can spend the next two weeks painting!” Sabrina and Carol screamed with excitement.

Together Sabrina, Carol and their Grandpa Gregory finished painting the room for Mr. and Mrs. Snarklewits a day before the parents arrived home and to celebrate they all had pizza and soda.

The next day when the Snarklewits arrived home…

“Mom, dad come see what we painted your room like!” the twins cheered.

Mr. and Mrs. Snarklewits were astonished at the girls’ paintings.

“It’s beautiful girls! But how did you learn about all the places me and your dad went to?” Mrs. Snarklewits pondered.

“Grandpa told us,” Sabrina and Carol replied joyously.

“I read your diary,” Grandpa Gregory said in a hushed voice.

“WHAT!!!!” Mrs. Snarklewits screamed.

But of course that’s a story for another time.

THE END