Mrs. Eastsons sat in the car waiting for her four eldest children to return from the restaurant with their meals. It was Friday, and the group had stopped at the store to buy last-minute items for their road trip. On the way back home, one of the children had asked for a milkshake, while another craved chicken nuggets. Because the childreen had to adjust their plans for the weekend to fulfill their youngest daughter’s birthday wish, Mrs. Eastsons had given in, knowing how much these small treats could mean to her children. She couldn’t help but smile at their delight as she waited in the car for their return.
As she waited, the strawberry-blond-haired woman went over the weekend plans in her head again, ensuring everything was in order. They were leaving tonight after dinner. It was simply a three-hour drive from their location to the campsite, akin to the drive from Houston to Austin—busy but manageable. Mr. Eastsons, known to his readers as a dedicated had carefully mapped out the trip. They had decided to hit the road around 8:00 p.m., aiming to arrive at the campgrounds by 11:00 p.m. This timing was intentional, allowing their children to experience nightfall in the great outdoors, a magical moment filled with twinkling stars and the sounds of nature.
After arriving, they planned to set up their tents and enjoy the stars, just as they had envisioned. The allure of two nights for star viewing was breathtaking, especially for the child who often watched documentaries about constellations and planets. Friday night and Saturday night would be dedicated to this celestial adventure. And then, around 3:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, they intended to drive back home, allowing for some much-needed rest before attending the 1:00 p.m. church service at the local Black majority Baptist church. They appreciated that these services often ran later than those at the predominantly white Baptist churches in the area, giving them ample time to return refreshed.
Everything was planned meticulously to fit their schedule and ensure that each moment was filled with joy and connection as a family. At least she hoped so…..
As she thought things over, Mrs. Eastsons, or Sarah Middleview Eastsons, noted her children approaching the car. They looked not unhappy but definitely not happy either. Judging by his walk, the eldest son, James, was the most upset about the weekend plans changed. His pace was slower, and his shoulders slumped slightly, a clear indication that something was weighing heavily on his mind. Peter and Elizabeth both seemed to be okay with the plan change, thanks to them finding solutions to their problems. Peter bought up w the skype idea for his club meeting at the local university with his teacher and it was okayed, a proposal that his friend had suggested, which allowed him to still participate from their camp ground. Elizabeth, on the other hand, had adjusted her schedule for her leadership role during bingo nights, ensuring that she would not miss a beat in her responsibilities.
Mary Ann, however—Mrs. Eastsons was not sure about her. Unlike her siblings, she kept her thoughts and emotions to herself, often retreating into a world of her own. Her face was unreadable, and Mrs. Eastsons knew that Mary Ann often processed her feelings quietly, but it made her wonder what was going on in her mind. Was she upset about the weekend plan change too? Or was she simply too mature to let something like this upset her? In moments like this, Mrs. Eastsons wished her daughter would open up a little more.
Just then, the familiar ring of her cell phone pierced the air.
Ring
“Sara! Sara! Sara!”
Ring
“Sara! Sara! Sara!”
Ring
“Sara! Sara! Sara!”
The mother of the Eastsons children ignored her cell phone ringing three times. Deep down, she didn’t have to pick it up to know who it was. Based on the specific ringing and ringtone, she already knew it was her older sister from out of state—or rather, her older sister’s middle daughter who was driving over for the weekend to attend the concert her eldest son James was about to miss. Mrs. Eastsons had initially been okay with James attending, especially since Leah, her niece from her sister Rachel’s family, had planned to be there as well. Leah was currently in college, and Mrs. Eastsons had trusted her to care for her son at the concert.
However, the plans had changed abruptly, and Mrs. Eastsons could sense the disappointment radiating off of James. The concert, which was supposed to be a special bonding moment for him and his friends, was now a source of frustration. The older girl was currently calling because she wanted to use their house as her resting point during the weekend instead of going to a hotel. The thought of her niece staying over added another layer of complexity to the weekend’s situation. Would it complicate things further, or could it help down grade the spirits of her children, especially James? Mrs. Eastsons found herself pondering this as she glanced at her children, each lost in their thoughts, while her phone continued to ring in the background, mingling with the ambiance of shifting emotions swirling around them. Oh well she would worried about that later. Rght now her children was here and they were about to drive. She needed slience so the older woman lowed her cell phone volume as her children opened the hondo car doors and entered.
Pecanpieandchocolatemilk 
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