Tea with a Special Guest

Mr. and Mrs. French have lived across the street from us for five years. They owned French's Toy Store in Concord up until a few years when they retired. We would see them outside daily working in their flowers gardens and puttering around their property. But no words exchanged until this summer when Mr. French would stop and comment on our garden. Then a few weeks ago he knocked on our door with toys for Alix and Chance. He had some fun Groovy Girls for Alix and Playmobils for Chance. We were so surprised with his generosity. He had been going through some stock in the attic at the store and found the toys and thought they would be perfect for Alix and Chance.


A few days later Mr. and Mrs. French knocked on our door again with some additional Playmobils and a gorgeous doll in a trunk for Alix with several outfits. At that time they also invited us over to use their inground pool when ever we would like. Paul and I were stunned and a bit confused at this outpouring of neighborliness.


They stopped by a few more times to remind us of their offer to use the pool. One afternoon while Alix was at camp Paul and Chance took them up on it. The French's came out and sat with Paul while they watched Chance swim.


Since that day we have seen them almost daily. Early on we each had a tour of their house which is delightfully filled with toys. And Mr. French is quite the Mickey Mouse collector with one room dedicated to Disney (wallpaper and all).


They seem quite taken with Alix and Chance and A&C feel the same about them. In between the rain we have been swimming over there most afternoons. And if we don't show up Mrs. French will give a call to see if we are coming.


Today Alix had a very special tea party for Mrs. French at our house. Alix served strawberry lemonade, graham crackers and M&Ms. Alix's doll, Molly, and her new doll from Mrs. French also joined them. It was so sweet to listen to their conversation.