Pots and pans rattled, dishes and bowls clattered, refrigerator doors slammed, and utensils baton-waved in all directions. Grandpa had launched into his traditional and celebrated French Toast Extravaganza that began early each Thanksgiving Day morning. *** Thanksgiving is past. The grandchildren are back home in a distant city. Grandpa has a promise to keep.
Creating a Setting
"Where will the story take place?
'Where there are palm trees, of course.'
'What kind of palm trees? For example, there are coconut palms, and there are date palms, and there are also banana palms.'
'Grandpa,' impatiently, 'I want them all!'
That's one decision.
'Should I put the palm trees on a steeple on top of a tall skyscraper?'
'Just a minute now, Grandpa, who ever heard of palm trees growing on a steeple on top of a skyscraper? That would be silly. Forget it.'
'How about in the middle of a freeway?'