1 Sunday 4 00 p m You have to use your imagination when you have a large thrifty family 1 We have one TV We have one computer And on this particular Sunday we had no power That meant no TV No computer No lights And the board games were all in the basement Our basement is creepy No one goes down there without lights Except for Dad He had to
check the breaker box 2 There’s nothing to do said my brother John Glenn Go outside and play said Mom She was happily sitting by a window and reading a book 3 It’s colder than Alaska during a snowstorm said my sister Emily Actually it wasn’t nearly that cold but Emily is no scientist There must be something you can all do said Dad coming up from the basement Use your imaginations Most parents want kids to use their imagination But the McCarthys have a lot of crazy ideas Dad was inviting trouble if you ask me What can seven kids do when they are stuck inside the house on a cold day with no power
Plenty apparently Edison was dragging his feet across the carpet When he reached Charlotte he touched her elbow OUCH she shouted Edison you shocked me Edison laughed Suddenly John Glenn and Benjamin were dragging their feet across the floor They held out their fingers and shocked each other trying for a bigger shock each time
Look at that said Dad The electricity may be out but the boys decided to make their own electricity They are moving electrons Now that’s using your imaginations 4 Anne and I slipped off our shoes We pushed back two purple chairs That gave us more room
