Dinner Party Apple Tree House

# No matter if you're young or old,

# With good friends, you'll never be alone

# Shinin' light on our joyful world

# Ain't nothing going to beat that place we call home

# First days, new days

# Are the very best days

# New things to discover

# New people to meet

# Fun days, always, playing-with-your-friend days

# Life is for the living down at Apple Tree House. #

Good morn...

Wow! That's a lot of corn.

Are we going to eat all of it?

Ha-ha! No, silly!

I'm preparing these ears of corn for the dinner party,

don't you remember?

Oh, I love dinner parties. Can I wear fancy dress?

You can wear a fancy dress.

Wait, did you say "ears of corn"?

Ha-ha! Yes, I did.

You can never have too much corn.

We're the life and soul of the party.

Do you want to know what one corn said to the other?

What?

Do you come EAR often?

Ha-ha!

How many people are coming over?

Bella and her mum, Mali and his family.

Oh, and your dad's good friend, David.

He's also bringing his daughter, Molly.

-Do you remember them?

-Of course!

-Ah!

Morning, teamsters! How are you doing?

Morning. Where have you just come from?

I just popped into a Amir and Zainab's,

see how they were getting on.

Listen, I don't think they're going to be able

-to come to dinner tonight.

-Why not?

-Patience, it's Ramadan.

The adults won't eat until sundown.

Oh, yes, of course. How could we have forgotten?

What's Ramadan, Dad?

Ramadan is a time of year when lots of people take time to think about

others who aren't as fortunate as them by not eating during the day.

It's called fasting.

Not eating all day?

Yeah. It's about trying to understand what life might be like

for people who aren't as fortunate as others.

But what does that have to do with the sun?

Well, the fasting only takes place when the sun's up during the day.

Then maybe we could have dinner a bit later?

That's a good idea and the children can have their dinner earlier,

at the usual time.

But I want to eat at the table with the grown-ups.

Well, why don't you have your own dinner party just for the children?

You can be the host for your guests and I'll help you cook.

Yes, I love it! I have to start getting ready right away.

-Mali, which card are you going to choose?

-Hmm.

This one.

Yay!

-Nice one, Mali.

-Hey, Mali, guess what?

-Oh, who's winning?

-Me!

Forget about the cards, what can we do to help you?

Oh, yes. I'm having a dinner party,

but just for kids because some of the adults are fasting and won't be

eating until after sunset.

That sounds like fun.

Think about it.

A super-fancy dinner table, lit with pink and white fairy lights.

Pink?

All right, maybe not pink.

Red. Everyone will be dressed up all fancy.

Ooh!

We can tell funny jokes.

Oh, and we can have cool music playing, and maybe, after dinner,

everyone in Apple Tree House will come to dance with us and...

..we're going to have all sorts of fancy foods like sausages...

-Sam?

-And bacon...

Sam! I don't eat pork.

OK, then we'll have...

..chicken and potato...

Actually, I don't eat chicken.

What? Since when?

This week. My mum said I could try it out to see if I'm serious,

but I am serious.

Ah.

Fine. We'll have corn, cheese, bread, potatoes...

Oh, and a wonderful carrot cake with walnuts on top.

That sounds delicious, Sam.

But, remember, Bella's allergic to nuts.

Allergic to nuts?

Yes. Maybe we can have ice cream instead?

But carrot cake is my favourite.

Well, perhaps you can have both.

I guess I'll have to do a bit more thinking.

Sam...

Hey, Samster!

You're just in time.

I'm just clearing out the weeds.

So, have you decided what's going to be on the menu, then?

No, not yet. Everyone has something special that they like to eat

and I just can't decide on what to cook.

Well, you know, sharing a meal is one of the oldest and kindest ways

of showing friends and family how much you care for them.

It's not always what's on the table that matters, but who's around it,

as well. You know, years ago when I was a kid and we visited back home,

-we used to have a potluck.

-A what?

Why would you put a lock on a pot?

I said "potluck."

When I was your age, I had many friends in the village

and all the children would meet to play or pick fruit

from the tall tree-tops.

When it came time for dinner, we'd all bring something to the table

to create a feast and we would call it a potluck,

cos you never knew what you were going to get to eat.

You know, come to think of it,

those meals outside were always my favourite.

That's it, Dad! I'll suggest to everyone that we have a potluck.

That way everyone will have a chance to eat something that they enjoy.

And I'll organise so you can eat it outside.

Awesome!

Whee! Whee!

We're so looking forward to tonight.

-I'm glad you are able to come after all.

-Thank you. What's on the menu?

Lamb stew, rice, corn...

I love lamb and corn.

-Same here.

-Good.

OK, I figured it out.

-Figured what out?

-What we're going to have for dinner.

-Have you ever heard of a potluck?

-No.

What kind of food is that?

It's not a food, it's where everyone brings their own dish to dinner,

making one big feast.

-You mean I can bring whatever I want?

-Exactly.

That is a wonderful idea, Sam.

-What are you thinking of making?

-Um... I don't know.

We don't we take a trip to the market to get the ingredients?

We should get down to the market soon if we want dinner

-to be ready in time.

-Cool. Let's go.

# No matter if you're young old

# To share with friends is, oh, so sweet

# To gather food and make a meal

# Ain't nothing going to beat that joy that you feel

# First days, new days are the very best days

# New things to discover, new people to meet

# Don't stress, breathe deep

# Take it in your stride

# Life is for the taking,

# It will be all right

# First days, new days

# Are the very best days

# Let's cook some corn and bake some bread

# Let's mix it up like Kobi said

# And after food, we'll have some fun

# Ain't nothing going to beat that joy that we feel

# First days, new days

# Are the very best days

# New things to discover

# New people to meet

# Don't stress, breathe deep

# Take it in your stride

# Life is for the taking

# It will be all right. #

Wow, thanks, Dad!

Oh, do you really like it?

Yeah, it looks really fancy.

Good. Can you help me sort out these last few lights?

Yeah.

THUNDER ROLLS

-Is that your tummy rumbling?

-No, it's not.

Oh, no! It's thunder!

We can't have a dinner party in the rain.

Don't worry, Sam. We'll think of something.

How about we have it in your shed?

Great idea!

Come on, let's get started.

We need to hurry, David and Molly will be here soon.

# First days, new days are the very best days

# New things to discover

# New people to meet

# Don't stress, breathe deep

# Take it in our stride

# Life is for the taking

# It will be all right. #

Sam, don't be nervous.

The food looks fabu-licious.

Don't worry, I'm sure they'll be here soon.

Let's just eat and they can join when they come.

No, it's a dinner party.

Everyone should be at the table.

Do you think maybe they got the times wrong?

Patience, don't worry. David'll be here, I'm sure of it.

I can sit with the children, if you like.

-KNOCKING

-Anybody home?

-Ah! There you go, they've arrived.

-Hello, Molly.

Brilliant!

You made it!

Oh, I'm so sorry we're late.

How did you know we were having dinner in the shed?

You left a trail of tea lights from outside.

-Oh, on the way, I thought I'd better stop and bring these.

-Ah!

-Ha-ha.

-What are those?

Napkins. Only these type you don't throw away.

I remember when your dad used to have dinner parties -

always forgot the napkins.

You're right, we did forget the napkins.

Hmm!

My dad told me you were having a potluck, so I brought dessert.

It's nut-free.

Thanks, Molly.

Ooh, carrot cake! Thanks for bringing it in.

All right, everyone, let's eat.

Yeah!

-Thank you, everybody, for coming! ALL:

-Yeah!

-Ha-ha!

-Ha-ha!

That was a great dinner party, Sam.

-Er, I mean potluck.

-Thanks, Mali.

I couldn't have done it without your help, and your salmon.

Well, eating is one of my favourite things to do,

especially with my friends.

I think what matters is who sat at the table and I'm glad

you and Bella were there.

-Ha-ha!

-Ha-ha!

You're a good friend, Mali.

And you're a great friend, Sam.