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Show -10b- Peppermint Monday courses. Some of them even ate each other, even without the benefit of salt and pepper. The larger ones couldn't move too fast either. This somewhat limited food available, especially if a smaller, quicker reptile was around." I heard some snickers and a deep, rolling laugh. It was the bald man. He was actually laughing. My palms quit sweating and I relaxed a little. I talked a few minutes more about how the carnivorous ones tenderized their meat. I even went as far as describing what they liked for dessert. "Peppermint drops are their favorite sweets," I grinned at the audience. "They will do anything for a piece of peppermint candy." Mr. Sonders was beaming when I sat down. I beamed later when I saw my superior rating. One judge commented on my peppermint drop idea. "Clever," she had written. "How on earth did you think of it?" "Yes, where did you?" Ma asked that evening when she read my judging sheet. "I'd have never thought of peppermint candy." "I love peppermint. You don't. That's the reason I thought of it. My mouth was dry and I could've used one myself." Pa was proud too. He even said so, which for pa was unusual. He had a hard time complimenting people. I don't think I'd ever heard him compliment Jason. Of course Jason rarely did anything worth a pat on the back, but when he did do something special, pa never said so. Even when Jason had hit two home runs in one little league game, pa never told him he'd made him proud. Pa had been proud that day. He bragged around town for weeks, but he never said a word to Jason about it. I guess Jason was used to it by now, but it still bothered me. That night I took out my birthday present from Grandma Ruby and hung |