With July 4th coming up, the Founding Fathers planned a signing party. Jefferson agreed to bring potato salad; Ben Franklin, watermelon and plates. Washington promised a basket of Martha's famous fried chicken. Cantankerous John Adams volunteered nothing. The others hoped he wouldn't come, but as the session closed, he snapped, "Lemonade. Someone else provide ice!" He spun on his heels and left.

"He'll ruin everything," moaned Franklin. "As is his penchant. How often has he skimped on sugar? Or forgotten to add it at all."

Now Ben," said Jefferson, "'tis true Adams is a spoiler, but he means well, and is easily distracted. If we fail to remind him, possibly he won't show, or will at least forget his revolting lemonade."

All agreed not to remind Adams of the big day.

On the 3rd, they gathered around the Declaration, praising its lovely penmanship, except for Adams, whose lips were puckered, for he alone was drinking lemonade. Jefferson graciously offered Adams the quill. "Here, John, you may sign first."

Franklin, nervous Adams would mess things up again, urged, "Sign it big, John."

Adams wrote, 'Big John.'

Washington shook his head and sighed. "Let's start over tomorrow.  Hancock can go first."

© 2007 Tay Berryhill. Original for CCF  (Berryhill grants CCF  first electronic rights for one month; CCF  may archive the material indefinitely and include it in an eBook anthology).