Marci Peschke - Cooking Queen

For the true cooking queen, KJH, and two little bakers Maxie and Gwen MP

My name is Kylie Jean Carter. I live in a big, sunny, yellow house on Peachtree Lane in Jacksonville, Texas, with Momma, Daddy, and my two brothers, T.J. and Ugly Brother.

T.J. is my older brother, and Ugly Brother is well hes really a dog. Dont you go telling him he is a dog. Okay? I mean it. He thinks he is a real true person.

He is a black-and-white bulldog. His front looks like his back, all smashed in. His face is all droopy like hes sad, but hes not.

His two front teeth stick out, and his tongue hangs down. (Now you know why his name is Ugly Brother.)

Everyone I love to the moon and back lives in Jacksonville. Nanny, Pa, Granny, Pappy, my aunts, my uncles, and my cousins all live here. Im extra lucky, because I can see all of them any time I want to!

My momma says Im pretty. She says I have eyes as blue as the summer sky and a smile as sweet as an angel. (Momma says pretty is as pretty does. That means being nice to the old folks, taking care of little animals, and respecting my momma and daddy.)

But Im pretty on the outside and on the inside. My hair is long, brown, and curly.

I wear it in a ponytail sometimes, but my absolute most favorite is when Momma pulls it back in a princess style on special days.

I just gave you a little hint about my big dream. Ever since I was a bitty baby I have wanted to be an honest-to-goodness beauty queen. I even know the wave. Its side to side, nice and slow, with a dazzling smile. I practice all the time, because everybody knows beauty queens need to have a perfect wave.

Im Kylie Jean, and Im going to be a beauty queen. Just you wait and see!

On Saturday morning when Ugly Brother and I wake up, its cold. Its finally sweatshirt weather! The air in my room is chilly. I snuggle under the covers. Sometimes it takes a long time for fall to come to Texas.

I look over at Ugly Brother. He is snuggled at the end of my bed. Do you know its almost Thanksgiving? I ask.

He barks, Ruff, ruff.

Two barks thats a yes! Then again, maybe hes just barking because he heard me say Thanksgiving. Ugly Brother loves turkey so much. Drumsticks are his favorite!

Dont get too excited. Its still three weeks away, I tell him.

Finally, I scoot out of bed. I pull on my jeans and sweatshirt. Ugly Brother barely moves.

Come on, lazy bones! I call. You cant stay in bed all day. Today were picking pecans so I can make my famous pecan pie for Sunday dinner.

Ugly Brother tucks his face between his paws, looking disappointed. But then the smell of bacon wafts up from the kitchen downstairs. It , and I quickly follow.

If we were racing to the breakfast table, Ugly Brother would win. By the time I get to the kitchen, hes standing next to my chair with a piece of bacon hanging out of his mouth. It looks just like a tongue.

Someone sure loves bacon! I say.

Momma turns to look at Ugly Brother, and we both laugh. Then she puts more bacon in the big black skillet. She makes eggs and toast too.

Daddy and T.J. come in, and we all eat breakfast together. Everyone talks about our Saturday plans.

* * *

Its a nice brisk fall day, so Momma and I decide to take Ugly Brother on a walk to Pecan Park to pick pecans after breakfast. Our route takes us past our neighbor Miss Clarabelles house. We wave as we pass.

Miss Clarabelle waves back from her rocking chair. Her porch is dotted with pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. She even has the big flat round pumpkins that look like Cinderellas carriage. People call them Cinderella pumpkins.

Isnt Miss Clarabelles porch pretty? I say. I just love her Cinderella pumpkins! They remind me of princesses, and princesses make me think about queens. You know how much I love queens!

Those Cinderella pumpkins are so short and squatty, says Momma. I like the traditional orange ones that didnt get cut for Halloween.

Momma has Ugly Brother on a leash so he wont run away. Momma and I each have a big brown paper sack with handles to hold the pecans we will gather.

We are enjoying the colorful leaves and the beautiful fall day. Its still early as we walk through town. On our way to the park, we see shop owners starting to switch their signs from closed to open.

When we pass the Harvest Food Pantry, I notice they have a giant sign in the window. It says Feed a Needy Family for the Holidays.

Look, Momma, I say. What does the sign mean, exactly?

We have so many good things to eat, Kylie Jean, says Momma. Some people are less fortunate, and they go hungry. We should fill a bag at the grocery store to donate to the food pantry.

I nod my head. For the rest of the walk, Im quiet. Im thinking that there has to be a way to help lots of hungry families. If I had a lot of money, Id buy a truck full of groceries for them.

When we get to the park, Momma says, Youre awful quiet, sugar. Are you ready to pick pecans?

Im thinking about something important, I tell her. Since were already at the park, Im going to pick pecans and think at the same time!

Momma and I decide to have a race to see who can get the most pecans. We spread out under the tall trees and begin to fill our bags. Im thinking I have an since Momma has to hold the doggie leash and pick up pecans. Plus Ugly Brother keeps trying to get into her bag and eat the pecans!

Momma and I both laugh at our silly doggie, because these nuts are still in the shell. This year theres a good pecan crop, so its easy to fill our bags. The nuts in my bag get closer and closer to the top.

Im done! Momma calls to me. My bag is filled to the brim.

Yay, Momma! I shout.

Momma walks over to me. She looks in my bag. Its almost full. Yay, Kylie Jean! she says.

Well, I think we have enough pecans, I say.

We sure do! replies Momma. Lets head back home, sugar.

Momma tugs on the doggie leash, and we set out for home. Ugly Brother is slow. I think hes tired! Momma and I pass the Harvest Food Pantry again. Im still working on a plan to get a truck full of food for those hungry folks.