lucida: (it's like dandelion dust)
[personal profile] lucida
Nicky and Uncle Joe. ♥

“Where’s Nicky?” I asked, suddenly realizing he was gone.

“I don’t know,” said Adam, “but here’s his picture.” He picked up a drawing that had been left on the floor. “Look,” he said. “This one has Uncle Joe in it.”

Sure enough, Nicky’s picture included a blue-suited, spectacles-wearing figure. “That’s great,” I said. I made up my mind right away to tell Nicky he’d won the contest. But where was he? “I wonder where he went?” I said out loud. “Let’s look,” I added to Jessi. “You guys can stay here and draw some more if you want.” Jessi and I walked down the hall and checked the kitchen and the dining room. No Nicky. Then I heard giggles from the living room. I gestured to Jessi, and she followed me to the doorway. We peeked inside.

There was Nicky — sitting on Uncle Joe’s lap! Uncle Joe was holding a white handkerchief that was folded to look like a mouse. “Nice little mousie,” he said, stroking it. Then he made it run up his arm, just like a real mouse. Nicky laughed.

“Do it again, Uncle Joe!” he said.

Jessi and I looked at each other wide-eyed. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Then Uncle Joe glanced up and saw us. “Young Nick here reminded me about this old trick,” he said. “I’d forgotten all about it.”

Nick! He’d actually remembered somebody’s name!

I was speechless.
ext_709323: (bsc stamped: mallory)
[identity profile] lucida.livejournal.com
Pretty much all of chapter 11 kills me. It's probably one of my favorite chapters in the entire series. ♥

“I wish I were married and had an egg-baby,” said Margo.

“Me, too,” said Vanessa. She looked hopefully at Byron.

Byron sighed. “Okay. I’ll be your husband,” he said. “But only for tonight.”

“Who will be my husband?” asked Margo.

“Not me,” said Adam defiantly. “I am never, ever getting married.”

“Jordan?” said Margo.

“Oh, all right.”

Surprisingly, Nicky agreed to be Claire’s husband.

“Okay, let’s adopt babies!” cried Vanessa.

“Adopt them from where?” asked Mal, even though she thought she knew what the answer would be.

“From the refrigerator, of course.” Vanessa removed a partially empty carton of eggs from the bottom shelf of the fridge. She set it on the table and opened the lid carefully. “Aw, aren’t they sweet?” she said.

More Under Cut )

ozqueen: (BSC: bsc_squee)
[personal profile] ozqueen
Because it's almost Christmas, and I need BSC Christmas Canon to inspire new fic, so let's just read and squee through what is basically the entire first chapter:

A Very Pikey Christmas... )



ext_709323: (goofy bathing caps)
[identity profile] lucida.livejournal.com
The Newtons have a big yard, and the kids ran from one end to the other with Elvira.

When it was Johnny’s turn, Mathew grabbed a plastic tablecloth from the Newtons’ picnic table. He held it up and yelled, “Toro! Toro!”

I guess horned animals must share the same instincts, because Elvira charged like a bull. Laughing hysterically, Mathew pulled the tablecloth away. Of course, all the children wanted to try it. But when Claire tried, she couldn’t pull the tablecloth away in time. Elvira went storming into it, pulling Claire along with her. Kid and kid went tumbling in a sea of red and white plastic.

Soon the others jumped in. As they rolled around, shrieking and laughing, Elvira calmly walked out. She stood there with that little goat-smile and bleated.

We cracked up. It looked as if she were making fun of the kids.

After awhile Claire pulled a jump rope out of her pocket. “Can Elvira skip rope?” she asked Dawn.

Nicky slapped his head. “Not while she has a leash on, bubble-brain!”

“I’m not a bubble-brain, you silly-billy-goo-goo!” Claire retorted.

They went off to settle their argument, Elvira scampering after them.


NICKY AND CLAIRE. ♥ For some reason the image of them walking off, bickering and followed by a random goat, kills me.

[identity profile] jennigan.livejournal.com
After the toast, Dad carved the turkey and we each put in our requests.

"I'd like white meat, please," I said.

"I want half-dark and half-white," Nicky said. "And a drumstick."

Dad chuckled. "Why don't you start with the drumstick, and then we'll see about seconds."

Mom removed the lids from the bowls holding the potatoes and peas and onions, and steam filled the air. After a flurry of plate passing, and of requesting butter and the gravy boat, and more bread, the room suddenly fell almost silent. The only sound was the munching of ten very contented people.
ext_709323: (Default)
[identity profile] lucida.livejournal.com
There are so many amazing Pike family moments in this book, but here is one of my favorites...

The Pikes' version of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' )

I have always wondered who said what! Of course it's obvious that day 6 was Claire, and it's canon that day 12 was Nicky, but the others could really go either way. I'm guessing that "7 bologna-and-peanut-butter sandwiches" was supposed to be "salami-and-peanut-butter sandwiches" (since that comes up in several books), so that was probably Jordan. I think "four crawling nerds" could have been Mallory and "three stooges" was probably one of the triplets. Maybe "ten bags of Snickers" was Byron? As far as "some garbage in a bare tree".... maybe they were all arguing over who got to start the song, so Dee started the carol?

[identity profile] miss-slipslop.livejournal.com
This tiny but meaningful interaction between Nicky and his mom makes me squee. It's the little moments that make you realize that the Pikes really do look out for all their kids. :) 

    Back at the Pikes’ house, things were as hectic as before. The only difference was Mrs. Pike had come home.


   “There’s my Nicholas,” she smiled.



 She gave her son a quick kiss on the cheek and kneaded his slumping shoulders.