Chocolate Pie Therapy

Beth Leone Peabody

Format ISBN Price   Color (8.5x11) 9781434396846 $ 12.50

Rainey and Jay are back again!  They’ve each settled into new homes since Noah’s ark, and Jay has written a play.  Jay’s best friend, Rainey, is only too happy to offer her opinion.  But, Jay’s patience is running thin with Rainey.

 

Jay’s play takes place in the spirit of Thanksgiving with two groups of woodland creatures who’ve never been friends.  But, as Rock and Bubbles are about to find out, friends come in all shades and sizes.  When Rock’s badger church burns down, they are invited to attend Bubbles’ raccoon church until theirs is repaired.  Rock, being the rough, adventurous type, naturally clashes with Bubble’s clean and proper upbringing.  They muddle through classes together until they find themselves in a real “mess”.

 

In the end, it never matters what color, shape or cleanliness a creature is.  We were all created exactly the way we are supposed to be.  No one is greater than another!  Some of us just require a little nudge in the right direction to keep that perspective.  And, if chocolate pie is our best therapy, then so be it.

Beth Leone Peabody is a Christian home school mother of two, foster mom of two, and wife of 10 years.  She was born in Puerto Rico, baby sister to her only brother.  She lived in 12 different cities before she was 10, but spent her adolescence in Louisiana, where both her parents were raised.  Even now, Peabody lives near her parents, in West Texas.  She spends almost all of her time at home with her family, gardening and tending to barnyard animals, and at church with her beloved friends.

 

This particular story was commissioned as a thanksgiving play, for a local school performance.  Peabody then re-wrote Chocolate Pie Therapy as a story book.  Finding no artists available, Peabody was forced to produce her own illustrations for the first time.  Now, Peabody is awaiting publication of 20 more completed books, and the literary agent of her dreams.  The PEABODY Books range from history to fantasy, for toddlers and seniors alike.

Jay quietly waits for  Rainey to finish.  “Now, Jay, what about costumes?  I envision the pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving.   Since the raccoons are so proper, they really should play the part of the refined pilgrims.  The badgers are… well, shall we say, ‘one with the earth’.  They would make wonderful Indians.”

 

Jay flashes half a smile at Rainey and continues without commenting.  “This arguin’ went on for weeks.  But, Father Clean Jeans was a clever sort, well-spoken and well-received.  He devised a plan to stop the nonsense once and for all.  He announced to the raccoon families that there would be a special raccoon picnic.  Ironically, he told the badgers the exact same thing, only theirs was a badger picnic.”

 

Rainey puts down her tea cup again, “Oh, Jay, must he be so deceptive?  Couldn’t he simply have a chat with them?  It would be so much nicer, don’t you think?”

 

Frustrated, “But, Rainey, don’t ya see?  They’ve tried for weeks to get along with one another.   A mere talkin’ to ain’t gonna cut it.  And besides, it wouldn’t be much of a play without a bit o’ mischief.”

 

“Oh, I see,” Rainey says.  “…well, would you look at that.  Jay, I’ve been so wrapped up in your little play, I’ve simply neglected my tea.  Now, just look at it.  Why, there’s no steam whatsoever.  Would you mind at all if I asked for a warm cup, please?”  Rainey gently smiles as though she were simply saying “hello.”

 

Jay stares at Rainey, half expecting her to relieve him with oh, I’m only pulling your leg.  But, she doesn’t.

 

Without a word, Jay fills her tea cup with boiling hot Earl Grain.  Jay places the tea beside Rainey, with an ice cube on the side, just in case.  Jay watches Rainey for a long minute.  He waits patiently for her to say anything, absolutely anything, so as not to interrupt his story again.