Niel's Family

This story is taken from an event that may (or may not) have actually happened exactly this way in the authors life. Niel is a twelve year old girl with three brothers and three sisters. They are a fun loving group of children who are rather mischievous at times. It all began when they were required to finish plowing and picking off the last of the years crop of peanuts. When their father sent them to the field for the oldest boy, Earl, to plow around the peanuts, and the rest of the children to pile them under the oak tree where they would all sit and pick them off the vines, they did a very good job. They worked fast, laughing and talking about all kinds of things. Their father came and helped, and when the lunch summons came they all raced to the house. Earl won, of course. After lunch they were given permission to move the peanuts to the back porch where they would be in the shade all afternoon. Father left for town to sell the peanuts already packaged, and mother went to the garden to gather vegetables leaving the children alone to finish their work. Everything went well for awhile. Then the work became very tedious, and they became restless. Soon they were fussing and complaining. Then they came up with a plan. Suddenly there were no more peanuts to pick off. What happened next will shock you, surprise you and finally, warm your heart.