(possible the timing will change based on the bayou trip, but I think it will be fine). <#bill: What is the date? #> <#court: Bill, I just posted this one on this page, but all of the events are listed on the timeline, so the dates are all already there. #>


In the morning, during work in the garden, Jeanne can be seen rummaging around in the beds - and occasionally over in the adjacent cemetery, searching around.

After lunch, during lessons, Ms. Lizzie steps out for a few minutes, leaving the children to do their sums. Jeanne, eyes shining with her secret, takes a small hoop (about as wide around as a dinner plate) out from under a fold of her skirt. It is a pair of thin supple branches, lashed together with straw and decorated with a single bedraggled ribbon. She shows it around quickly, and then tucks it back under her skirt.

She issues a general invitation. "Come to the garden later and play La Grace with me!"

<#ann: Celeste will try to find time during the day to sneak out to the gardens for a quick game. She will also suggest they play on Sunday afternoon when they have some free time.#>

<#court: Jeanne nods, eyes twinkling. "Sunday, down by the river, then. After church. But... do come today, if you can!" #>

<#court: When people come out to the garden, she shows them how to play. She has collected a pile of sticks; traditionally a pair of people have two sticks each and catch/toss the ring back and forth. Jeanne adapts it to however many people show up at once, so there could be many children/sticks in play at the same time. This gets a bit cumbersome so (if there are many at once) she will suggest a tournament. If there are not enough for that today, then Sunday. #>

<#bill:Cole would play. #>

<#ann: Celeste enjoys the game. It takes her awhile to get used to how the sticks work, and she would prefer to spend time practicing before playing, but since supplies are limited she's willing to jump right in. She likes games of skill, so she enjoys the game even though she isn't very good at it and is solidly trounced by Jeanne in the tournament. Her hand-eye coordination is good, though, and she has excellent depth perception, so I think it doesn't take her long to get good at the game, and she'll happily practice or play with anyone who wants to do so over the next few years. I can see many delightful hours spent throwing the ring and bickering amicably about house rules and whether someone sent the ring spinning wildly on purpose to trick the other player or whether it was an accident, etc. etc.

Wikipedia says this was a game "for girls", though boys could and did play. This might be a good way to bond with Minnie a bit, since she might be more willing to play this game than some of the other activities we engage in. It was thought to make girls graceful, hence the name. #>

<#jonah: If it's a game being played, Ollie will have a go. He'll probably not want to dally too long if he has outstanding chores. On Sunday he'll play his little heart out. #>

<#court: After dinner that night, Louis asks everyone to wait a moment before leaving. Ollie is wiggling maniacally. Louis comes back with a small cake and a smile, and puts the cake in front of Jeanne. "Bonne anniversaire, chere," he says, as he puts it down. Jeanne's cheeks go red but she looks happy and cuts the cake up to share around with everyone. She looks at Ollie, Celeste and Cole. "Thank you for coming to play today. This birthday was much more happy than last year." #>

<#ann: Celeste jumps up to give her a hug. #>
<#bill: Cole clearly looks surprised, not having realized it was her birthday. "Happy Birthday!" #>
<#jonah: Ollie looks just as surprised as the rest of them. (Jonah doesn't figure that he knows much about his own birthday, or his sister's, but maybe I'm judging the age wrong.) He gives Jeanne a hug. #>
<#court: Jeanne gives Ollie a goodnatured swat for forgetting, but she does not seem surprised. #>

NeedsKelly
NeedsJonah

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