I was seven when the French prisoners of war arrived at our house. It was 1944. Mummy told us the government had sent them because all our men were gone to war, and someone needed to keep the farms running. She said we were just borrowing the French men. When the war was over, we would give them back.
Time to bake! Put on an apron. Here are a big bowl and measuring cups and spoons.
John stood up and stepped away. There, in the snow, lay an angel. Three paces away, he stepped a small circle in the snow and made a star. John smiled. He'd done it. An angel for Mrs. Wright and a star for her little black dog, Queenie.
Tonight the moon shines like a polished pearl, round and fat. It glows bigger and brighter than I have ever seen.
Tonight is a special night.
Tonight I am allowed to stay up late. Soon there will be mooncakes to eat, sweet and chewy. They are round like the moon. They make a circle for me and Mama and Baba. They make a circle for my family.
Outside we light paper lanterns. I made one all by myself using my favorite colors. The lanterns and stars light up the sky. The moon makes everything shine like silver and water.
