Oh for Pete's Sake!

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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#26
It's so doggone easy to have a pity party. Evie snuffed into her sleeve, then blowing her nose on a scrap of hankie; she scolded herself. Get a'hold of yourself, woman, she chastised sternly. Aint nothin gonna get done while you snivel over what cain't be helped. A pat to Hap's leg, and she gathered her all-togethers and went to see what could be made for supper.

Familiar with the layout of her darkened house, Evie made her way to the kitchen. "Hap's resting. He's gonna be OK, thanks to all of you for your help. I think papa Hap needs to stay close to the house from now on." 6 little heads nodded in agreement. It had been a super scary time for all of them.

Pete had started a fire and the warmth slowly heating the house and the beans. They would eat tonight; and there would be enough for tomorrow morning. Evie shrugged her shoulders in despair. Then there was only bits of the grains, and some cornmeal for the rest of forever. Once again, all were silent as they ate the meager meal. Jane fell asleep at the table, her head thumping forward as she went to sleep chewing. Pete was in a chair near the fire; his head thrown back and a occasional snore created giggles among the children.

Evie changed Jane into a night time diaper, and a contraption she had fashioned from the long sleeves of a tee shirt. The arms of the tee, became the leggings to hold the diaper snugly. The tee body fashioned into a pumpkin type top with a draw string at the waist. Strange looking, but effective. No one changed into their night clothes, it was simply too much effort. The crew bedded down, Evie covered them well with blankets, and they were out like a turned off light switch.

Evie collected every last bean, lentil, and grain of rice she could find. Put on to simmer in the gentle warmth of the insert, they would be breakfast.

Bending her creaking body to sit at the table, Evie relaxed, slipping into that state between awake and sleep, pondering what tomorrow might bring. An old lady's musings about the past. It was easy to remember Thanksgivings of yesteryear; with the plenty and abundance that hard work provided, set to the table. The family and friends crowding close together, so's they'd all fit around the battered and marked trestle table, heap'd to groaning with food. Evie had regrets about the snatches of food that she had wasted over the years.

If she had those bits of spoonsfull now, she would think herself rich indeed. It was hard to imagine how much longer the family might have had food, had she not been so lavish with a treasure that she should have been more frugal with. Sleep claimed her, putting to rest a most worrisome day.
 
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Deena in GA

Administrator
_______________
Thanks for the new chapter. You know, I have been having a very rough day and the mental stress threatened to shut me down, but I remembered Evie (even if she is fictional) and knew I needed to keep going, just like she would.
 
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223shootersc

Veteran Member
wish I could drop them a care package 10 lbs of rice, 5 lbs of beans, 5 lbs corn meal, 5 lbs flour, 5 lbs of sugar and a couple lbs fat back or bacon would go a long way for them about now; thanks for the new page
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#27

Sometime during the night Evie woke. She had a horrible backache from sleeping slumped over the table, and limped into the bedroom grumbling under her breath. Hap was sleeping fitfully. Restless tossing and turning, wadding the covers kind of sleep. Evie smoothed the sheets and blankets, tucked them up over his shoulders, and slipped into bed. With her presence, Hap calmed, and both fell asleep.

The next morning was chilly, dark with overcast clouds hanging low, spitting rain. Evie got up, feeling every one of her 65 years. Never again, she vowed, would she ever sleep anywhere but bed. This was too many aches and pains to put up with.

Pete was sitting near the fire, arms folded, a thunderous expression darkening his face. Evie said a calm "Good morning", but Pete merely grunted in return.

"Thanks for filling the woodbox." she offered. "We go through a lot of wood. Do you think Brett can split today, maybe after you get your gun?" Another no-comment man noise came from Pete. "Pete, we are between a rock and a hard spot here, in case you haven't noticed. We are out of food, your hurt, Hap's out of commission, and the children need more food than they are getting."

Evie checked the grain mix cooking for breakfast. Pursing her lips, she noted that there was so little food for so many hungry people. What to do, dear Lord, what to do.

Evie sat at the table, wishing mightly for a cup of coffee. A cup of tea, anything to warm her hands around. Instead she rubbed her forehead, trying to forestall the tension she felt building. Pete had better wake up and get with the business of providing something to eat. Either that, or buy, steal or beg some grub. She didn't understand the aura he was projecting. His attitude would have earned him a smack to correct his behaviour when he was younger.

Zander was the first one up. He came into the kitchen all warm and tousleheaded, willing to sit on Evie's lap for a bit, while he woke the rest of the way up. Evie folded her arms around the thin child, resting her chin on the top of his head. "Good morning Zander," she said softly. "Did you sleep well?" They had learned to ask Z. questions that he could answer with a yes or no shake of his head. On cue, the elfin faced boy nodded up and down. Slowly he leaned back into Evie's warmth, sitting very still.

Evie watched Pete out of the corner of her eye. He had a darker than ever look, staring at his mother and the thin waif. Benny walked into the room, coming to a quick halt. The anger Pete projected like a wall, preventing anyone from coming close. Benny shot Pete a look, looked over at Zander and Mizz Evie, and then slid his eyes back to Pete. A frown wrinkled his face for a instant, then he walked to the stove.

Reaching his hands toward the heat to warm them, Benny said "Did we remember to bring the fish in last night?"

"Fish, you caught fish?" Evie was excited. "Where did you leave them, I'll go get them." she pushed back from the table, hugging Zander to her.

"They are on a stringer with a branch holding them in the water. Right by the path," Benny said, gathering in Evie's excitement. "If you want, I can go get them. I can run fast," he added hopefully. "Right now," Benny headed for the door.

"Grab a sweater, it's raining," Evie called to his vanishing form. "I was a little to late there," she laughed, squeezing Zander as she set the youngster on his feet. Zander grinned, inching closer to the stove.

With the noise in the kitchen, all the kids were soon up. Evie portioned out the grains, and all the children except Benny ate breakfast. Not to many minutes later, Benny came dragging in the door. Soaking wet, he arrived empty handed. "The fish are gone," he whispered.
 
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Rabbit

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Oh man! The fish are gone and hope is dashed again. You're writing an excellent story. Thanks for another chapter, hoping for more soon. Thank you.
 
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wab54

Veteran Member
PacNorWest,
You write a great story. We all have trials in our lives but we just do the best we can. Thank You for writing this story while living with your own trials and tribulations. I and others appreciate your effort.


WAB
 
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RVM45

Senior Member
I'm a little confused. First Peter is planning on walking to town to get his daughter from the Brothel--and more or less acting Sane.....

Then he's sitting by the fire Brooding.

Unlike everyone else--I think he's lost in Factual Meditation, far too engrossed to hear anyone--about to have an Epiphany,and awaken a whole different person.

Point #1} If I'm that short of food, weevils don't get sifted out. Weevils are a little extra protein and fat.

Point #2} Obviously, if the old folks had any food or precious metals buried--they would long since dug them up. On the other hand--Three of four SKS Carbines, a few cheap Shotguns, and some Makorav Pistols.....

Neither of the old folks could effectively use them, and their cash value is modest, so little motive to dig them up for sale.....

Maybe the old man hid them, half forgot--what with his dementia--and never told even his wife--till something joggles his memory.....

I mean its your story, but I always say that I don't even want to go to an Apocalypse if I can't carry a Pistol or Two.....:spns:

But what you've written is great so far.

.....RVM45 :cool::shkr::cool:
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#28

Evie drew Benny close to the stove and dried him with the bottom of her apron. Benny's teeth were chattering, and he kinda blubbered about"papa Hap being mad at him for loosing the fish." Evie soothed the youngster and fed him the small bowl of cooked cereal melange. It had happened, and was, what it was.

Benny had finally stopped blaming himself; when Pete shook his head and came alive, bellowing about irresponsible kids, and how they shouldn't eat when they did such stupid acts as forgetting food that the whole family needed. In three seconds, Pete destroyed the trust Evie had tried so hard to establish with Benny. The Apperton kids closed rank and faded into the living room. Clora dashed in and picked up the bowl Benny hadn't finished, and was back out of the room in a flash.

Evie grabbed the cabbage stomper and turned around to face Pete. Shaking the old turned down baseball bat in his direction, she lit into her son. Giving him all the pent up frustration she felt, she dressed down her poor excuse of a child. "How dare you," she started off heatedly, jabbing the stomper in his face. "You do not have my permission to act like a jerk in this house." Evie paced up and down in front of Pete, hollering so loud she woke Hap.

Faint cries from the bedroom, "Evie, Evie, what's wrong Evie," Hap was a frightened child crying for reassurance. Evie stopped pacing when she heard Hap; and at the same time took a good look at Pete. It was clear from the look on her son's ragged face that she wasn't getting through.

At the same moment a car was heard pulling up outside. A couple of rapid toots, had Brett running for the window. "Dad, Dad! it's Mom and some guy in a big black car." Brett was dancing with joy. "Hey, Patty's there too."
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#29
The blood in Evie's veins turned to ice. Instantly she had such a feeling of dread and fear. A visit from the devil.

When she had been a child, the depression was still a major topic between her elders. Many stories were told, embellished, reworked, and some never spoken of again. The habits formed were not forgotton, when the economy eased some. As a youngster, she had sat on the floor in front of the warmth of the huge old Home Comfort range playing with her old rag doll. Actually, she had been listening to her parents and grandparents talk. The only thing that was free; they used to say, was talk.

Dancing with the devil, was a phrase she hadn't understood. But boy howdy, she understood it now.

Claude Van Haddon filled the doorway as he lounged casually against the door jamb. Owner of the Brew and Shoe, Claude was Evie's "devil". "Evie," he acknowledged with his silky deep voice. "I hear you folks are in a bad way. Perhaps," he paused for maximum effect, "You might be agreeable to do a little business."

Evie looked past his frame. Betty and Patty leaned against the car, talking quietly with Brett. A grimace crossed her mouth, as she steeled herself for Claude's proposition.

"A big box of groceries for the living room furniture in the Apperton house," he said. "I have need for a couch and chairs and lamps, in my business; " he added unnecessarly. A smirk lurking at his mouth. Both of them very aware of the nature of the business.

"Not my furniture," Evie hedged. "I've got to talk to the kids first."

"Don't be long," Claude smiled openly this time. "I have a business to run."

Evie walked in the living room. All the kids were there except Zander. He had gone to the bedroom to be with Hap. The child had patted the old man's arm, until he had calmed enough to go back to sleep. Zander stood in the doorway, watching his siblings and Hap. The older kids stood together, Clora holding Jane. Glaring at Evie, they had tears glistening in their eyes.

Evie indicated with her hand, the conversation she knew they had heard. "What do you want to do?" she questioned quietly.

"NO!" Benny gritted through his teeth. "We can't. Mom isn't here. We don't do anything without her."

"OK," Evie accepted their decision. "I'll tell him." Slowly she turned and walked away. The Apperton's watched her, surprised that she would let them make that large a choice. Clora shifted Jane on her hip. "She don't weigh nothin, Benny," she said slowly. "She and Zander need to eat. Mizz Evie ain't been eatin since those others got here," and slowly Benny agreeded with her observation.

"But," he hissed, "What's mom gonna say?" Clora bit her lip, chewing on her answer a bit. "Dad's been gone forever. I think he must be dead." There, she had said the stark truth they all had been thinking, but didn't want to say out loud. "Mom's been gone for two months. I don't think she's comin back either. It's just a thing to sit on, Benny," she said tiredly. "We cain't eat it."

Benny straightened his back and walked to the kitchen. Claude was almost back to his car, when Benny's childish voice said, "OK, you can have the furniture, but we want two boxes of food. That's good stuff, not cheap junk."

Claude hid a smile at the pint sized demand. Gutsy little boy, he thought.

"And if we gotta take her back," Benny jerked his thumb in Patty's direction, "we need another box. She's a hog!"

Claude hooted at the thought. Amused, he unlocked the trunk, and pulled out 3 large boxes of food. His car was his pride and joy. A 1970 Lincoln, the huge shiny black auto dripping in chrome was as long as a football field.

Patty squeeled in anger. Benny's comment sending her into instant fury. In white hot anger she pounded on the car's roof, while kicking at the rear tire. With effortless fluidity, Claude pivioted and backhanded Patty across the mouth. The girl tumbled back, terror widening her eyes, as her hand flew to her mouth.

"DON'T touch my car," he enunciated slowly. "Got it?" Claude left no doubt as to his meaning. Betty laughed out loud, amused at Patty's expression. "Better do as he says," she instructed Patty. "That musta hurt, so do be a good girl and step away from the car."

Evie's hand went to her forehead. Boy, she had a headache, again. Grabbing ahold of the door frame, she held on for dear life. Benny noticed her distress and went to stand close. Trembling, Evie gathered posession of herself and said to Claude, "Thank you." You damm devil you, she whispered under the breath. Benny heard, pulling in a quick draw of air at the language Evie used, he cut her a sharp look.

"Hang on," he whispered to her. "I'm gonna get the boxes. I don't want nothin to happen to them." Benny scurried around gathering the boxes and whisking them in the kitchen. Patty headed for the house, kicking at Benny as she walked by. Brett gave her a rough shove and she stumbled forward, colliding with Evie in the door. Down they both went. Evie's elbow connecting with Patty's mouth in the jumble that happened.
 
CGTech

CGTech

Has No Life - Lives on TB
"Evie's elbow connected with Patties mouth in the jumble...." !! LOL .. yep, it sure did... love it, keep up the great writing, very realistic scenario..
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#30
Patty scrambled up from the floor. Pushing her grandmotheraway from her, she cried and pouted. "Did you see what she did to me, why she deliberatly got in my way and caused me to fall. Then she hit me in the mouth, right where that jerk slapped me." Patty carried on, worthy of a princess fit of magestic porpotions.

Brett, Benny and Clora huddled over Evie. The old woman had a bruise forming on her forehead, and she was still knocked out. Anxiously, they whispered between themselves, wondering what they could do to help. Finally, it was Clora that said, "Get a small towel and get it wet. Lets put it on her face." It sounded like a good plan of action to the others.

Outside, Claude opened the car door. "Get in, if your going," he snapped at Betty. "I've got to get back before noon. Got friends coming by." He had kinda a sneering quirk to his lip, but his face was hidden as he folded himself into the drivers seat.

Betty needed no second invitation. She was in and had the car door shut before Claude could shut his.

Claude chuckled all the way back to the dance hall. Oh he loved getting Evie's goat. She had been his sunday school teacher, and had tried hard to change the course of his life direction. Betty asked what was so funny; but Claude just smiled. Amused at the way Evie had been forced to do business with him, he made it a point to check on her regularly. The old man had just about sold Claude the deed to the place, before Evie caught on to what was happening.

Those two old people had sold him everything they had of value, to raise the property tax money. Now to find out the wanna be party girl next to him had stolen the money in the first place, why that was rich. Claude was vindicative concerning Evie. That old harridan had refused to let Inga marry him. Now, well now she was an object of pity. An object he was going to bleed dry.

Pete had not made a sound; slumped in his chair, he slid under the table in a feverish coma. The kids barely spared him a glance. They were concerned about Evie. Kneeling around the oldster, they patted her hands, and shook her arms slightly to try and wake her.

Patty walked in from the living room. "I'm hungry. I want to see what's in those boxes."

Brett jumped up and said "No, no going through those until grandma can supervise."

"Buzz off," Patty snapped, pushing back at her brother. "I owe you one for pushing me in the first place."

The hollering woke Evie. She opened her eyes just in time to see Patty and Brett trading fist punches.
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
# 31
Fast and furious, brother and sister landed blows upon each other. Both had bloody noses and bruised, split lips. Patty felt she was winning, venting all the pent up emotion of the past few days on a deserving object of scorn. A younger brother that had done nothing but make her life miserable.

Brett intended to give Patty the whooping she had needed for years. Except; bigger, taller and sneakier Patty, was landing two hits to his one. Brett was so mad, his fists were flailing air. Patty punched him in the eye, and was drawing back to give him a 'what to for' in the other eye, when.....

The loud, stern, authoritive voice boomed,"That's enough. Stop fighting!"

So sudden and overwhelming, the command stopped all movement. With all the commotion, no one noticed the Sheriff's cruiser pull in the drive. The open door an invitation to step right in and get to the bottom of the grafracas, before any of those fool kids really got hurt.

Sheriff William Pendelton wasn't large, but he was no nonsense ready for trouble at all times. His presence normally had the effect he precisely intended it to have. Brett stopped abruptly, only to have Patty's pre loaded fist find the eye she was aiming for.
Brett's head snapped back, he faltered, and crumpled to the floor.

Patty stood the victoress. Hands on her hips, she took a good look at the voice. Abruptly snapping her mouth shut on the gloat that surfaced, she in an instant went into her 'Iv'e been hurt and done wrong' speech.

"What's going on, why is Miss Evie on the floor; and who are you two?" he growled, expecting answers to be forthcoming.

Patty, as the only child cunning enough to lie, laid on the hurt and abuse she had suffered with a trowel. Both Benny and Clora standing behind her, were shaking their head's in a negative way. A glare from Patty, had them inching out of arm's reach closer to the Sheriff.

"Everyone, QUIET" Sheriff Will roared. Domestic situtations always made him extra angry. People should get along.

On the floor, Evie tried unsuccessfully to get up. Noticing her plight, Will helped her to her feet. The senior was awkward getting all her arms and legs under control. As he helped Evie into a chair, Will noted how thin and unhealthy she looked; and how she didn't weight what she should.

Stepping back, Will could see the bulk of a man on the floor. The bandage on his leg seeping fresh blood. "What in the HELL, happened here?" he bit out fiercely.

That opened the floodgates of explaination. Each child tried to outshout the other with their'correct' version of what had transpired. Jane was crying in fright, Hap could be heard shouting from the bedroom; demanding to know what was going on. Evie closed her eyes and put her hands over her ears. She looked so absurb, like the 'see no evil, speak no evil' monkey; that all fell silent.

Never in her life, had there been as much confusion as the past three days. Evie shook her head to clear the cobwebs, to jell her thoughts into a reasonable bit of normalacy, and to try and make sense of it all.

"They are abusing me," Patty sobbed loudly; playing the hurt child to the hilt. "She," indicating Evie, " has hit me viciously with sticks and her hand. "Look at my bruises," the pre teen finished tragically. Looking at the sheriff with just the right amount of tears tracking across her face, Patty looked like a poster child for undeserved, brutal abuse.

"What's your name," Will wanted to know.

"Patty, Patty Hanson. That horrible woman is my grandmother," she sobbed a bit for effect. "My dad is hurt, and SHE won't get a doctor for him. SHE made my mother go away, and SHE won't give us anything to eat." Patty pressed her advantage on a listening ear.

Now Will had passed the vintage Lincoln on the way down the Hanson's driveway. It wasn't hard to tell the woman in the car wasn't under duress. No, no duress at all; Will reasoned.

Second, he had never known Evie to raise her hand to a child. And third, it was plain to see who wasn't eating, and who was a over fed, pudgy child.

"Come with me," he ordered. Out the back door and to the cruiser he led Patty. Before she realized what he intended, Patty was in the back seat of the patrol car, locked in.

Brett was staggering to his feet when Will reentered the kitchen. "Wow, what ya gonna do with Patty. None of what she said was true, ya know. Is she gonna go to jail?" he asked hopefully.

Will answered "Yeah, I need to have the store owner identify her, but she was caught stealing from the market. Had a bunch of candy bars and a soda in her pockets."

"Evie, who is that man"" Will pressed firmly. "What is wrong with him" the sheriff in him scrutinized Pete closely.

"That's Pete," Evie replied slowly, still trying to come to grips with the situtation. "He was shot in the leg, trying to get his family here.
I'm afraid, that he has infection and I have no way to treat it." she added. "No money to pay, either.

Sheriff Will looked at the proud woman, noted the 3 boxes of food on the counter, and the Apperton kids looking so thin and pinched faced. "What did he get you for this time," Will questioned gently, knowing Evie knew full well what he ment.

"The Apperton kid's front room furniture," Evie spoke barely above a whisper. Benny and Clora nodded up and down.

William Pendelton determined he would have a 'talk' with Claude, when he got back in town. What a rotten, lowdown, dirty trick the man was playing.

Patty was heard screaming from the patrol car, diverting attention once again to her. Will bent down and gathered up Pete under the arm's to move him from under the table.

"Hey," Benny interjected loudly, "That guy has a birthmark on his stomach, just like my Dad's."
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#32
The house got real quiet. Evie felt like she had been kicked in the stomach. The facts were there. She had bathed the Apperton kids many times, noticed the light brown birthmarks, and hadn't thought anything of it. She hadn't made the connection. There was no denying the lineage. Hap had the patch, as did his father and grandfather. He had passed it on to Peter; and Peter to Brett. Inga had such a faint mark, that it was hard to distinguish.

Brett lifted his shirt and looked at the patch on his belly. He looked at Benny, and Benny lifted his shirt. There was the same light brown comma shaped mark on his skin. "Patty's got one, way up high on her bo..." he stopped before he said the word.

Zander looked down the front of his shirt and slowly lifted the hem. There to the side of his belly button was the comma. Jane lifted her blouse over her head, not to be left out of the shirt lifting. The mark was there.

"Hey," Brett remarked with dawning recognition, "You guys are my brothers and sisters."

Sheriff William choked a little, as he fought to keep his laughter under control. Oh, the things a lawman gets into. Deep, dark family secrets spill over the bubbling pot of life.

One look at Evie, convinced him right quick that she hadn't known. He hoped she didn't get the vapors, or whatever such things upset females were prone to get. Pete moaned, and drew everyone's attention. It was easy to see the injured man was in bad shape.

"He's got to be treated Evie. He's a sick man. Now dont go gettin your hackles up," he cautioned, as Evie started to protest. "The county will see to this."

Fire flashed in the old ladies eyes, and she drew a breath to give that upstart William Pendelton a piece of her mind concerning charity and members of her family. She had babysat for that man when he was a baby, changed his diapers, and was a cat's whisker away from reminding him of that fact.

Pete chose at that time to pass out once again; taking the problem away from Evie and focusing it back where it belonged. 'OK," Evie gave her consent. "I need him to be alive when I get my hands on him," she vowed grimly. So many questions needed to be answered and Evie wanted a full explaination, and boy she wanted it factual and soon.


Will drug Pete out to the cruiser and dumped him in the passingers seat. Patty was howling in the back seat and Will hoped she would soon get a sore throat and shut up. Her crying and screaming was getting on his nerves.

Gunning the car, he left the dumbfounded family staring at his vanishing taillights.

Evie felt her way around the table to her chair. Sitting, she slumped heavily, her head in her hands. "Oh my," she said softly. "Oh my, all you precious children are our grandkids."

The children were nervously checking each other out, kinda stiff and unsure of themselves; after the big reveal changed their world in an instant.

"Evie, Evie, where are you. I need to use the bathroom." Hap hollered from the bedroom."Right away please."
 
D

Deena in GA

Administrator
_______________
Love this story! Thank you so much for the new posts! Pete better be glad he's out of the way of his mother right now, lol.
 
R

Rabbit

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Well that's a new twist. Hurry up and get Pete healed up so Evie can knock him up side the head but good.
 
P

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#33
Poor dear Hap. Bless his soul, Evie was ashamed for neglecting him. Shame on herself, she fumed. She knew today was not a good day for him, and here she was involved with everyone but her husband. There were days that Hap forgot where the bathroom was. He could take care of himself, with supervision, when he was having an off day; but she needed to hurry.

"Brett, Benny, we need wood. Clora, Sandra and Jane please look for dandelion greens. I'll be back in just a minute," Evie shot over her shoulder as she breezed toward the bedroom.

With Hap seated at the table, and all the kids occupied outside; Evie nervously checked the status of the stash hidden in the kitchen sink kickboard. She wanted to keep the ingredients for that small meal put away; but didn't trust that Patty's sharp eyes hadn't ferreted out the hiding place. That gal was sharp. Don't you underestimate her, Evie warned herself. Pheew; she must be getting old. Talking to herself, at herself, both silently and outloud. Heavens, she must be affected more than she thought.

Hap sat quietly while Evie rummaged through the boxes left by Claude. The items brought tears to her eyes. "That Claude, let me tell you what he did;" Evie spoke to Hap the way she always had. "He is the devil we dance with, but he did bring a fair amount of groceries per box. Why he is so intent of stripping the Apperton house, I just can't figure it out."

"I guess I can't call it the Apperton house," Evie was thinking aloud. "Maybe there was never an Apperton husband in the first place." On and on she prattled, including Hap in the everyday problems they were experiencing. As usual, during the bad days; Hap just nodded his head when it seemed Evie needed an agreement or confirmation to what she was talking about. It gave Evie a release; pretending she wasn't talking to the walls.

Benny and Brett brought armsful of wood to stack in the inside woodbox, and went to fill the porch box. "Grandma, there's no more cut wood. We split what little bit was there, but we need the logs measured and cut." Brett called her grandma so easily, and Evie could see Benny's tongue was tripping over it. Let it find it's way, she cautioned herself.

"Tomorrow," she promised the two. "I just can't do it this afternoon." Agreeable, the two boys headed out to see how the girls were doing gathering greens.

When Clora and Sandra brought the bowls of dandelion greens inside, Evie could see they had been crying. Both were sniffing and teary eyed. Neither responded when Evie queried as to what was wrong. Shaking their heads no, they moped around all through supper.

Busy, Evie didn't have the time to coax the problem, it would have to wait until bedtime.

There had been flour, sugar, dried milk, rice, beans and spaghetti noodles in one box. The second box had baking powder, baking soda, a tin of shortening, and much more. Evie retrieved the two cans of Betty's tuna. So happy with the bounty, boy would they eat good tonight. Big thick, fluffy pancakes topped with tuna gravy. As many as they could eat. Excited, Evie stoked the fire, put a pan of beans on to soak, and started mixing the dry ingredients for the pancakes.

The girls had found a modest amount of leaves. Cooking them, Evie spoke to Clora about where she had to go to find the bounty. They had been all over Hap and Evie's yard, been through their yard, and had gone across the fence to the third neighbors. Evie frowned and asked them to be very careful. Actually they should stay away from there, she cautioned. That particular house had belonged to the Rupp's, and they had a couple of agressive dogs.

"Tomorrow we'll go through the pasture on the creek side and go exploring, to see what we can find." she promised; hoping to bring a smile from the girls. It didn't work. But the boys were excited and looking forward to the fresh air adventure. Benny and Brett seemed to be getting along very well, both 10 years old, and full of vim and vigor.

Now why didn't I think about the fact they are both the same age, Evie asked herself; as she mixed, stirred, fried and thickened supper.

It was indeed a thankful blessing asked over supper that night. For the first time in a long, long while; everyone had enough to eat.

It was during the bucket baths, that Evie learned what the girls were having problems with.

"We don't have any marks," Clora whispered, as Sandra nodded in agreement. "We don't belong."

Oh heavens, Evie thought. So that's what the problem is.

"Well," Evie told them both in the privacy of her bedroom. "I know Sandra has one, because I have helped her wash. Now, it's up to you Clora, if you want me to check you without clothes on. But I'm pretty sure you have one also." Both girls looked so earnestly hopeful, that Evie smiled and chuckled at them.

"Here," she instructed the shy and bashful Clora. "Let me pull the corner of your shirt up, and Sandra can confirm what she sees."

"It's there," Sandra assured Clora. "It's really faint and hard to see, especially in this light. Now do me," she commanded. There in the small area between the front of the chest and the arm, was another faint brown comma mark.

"See," Evie hugged them both, "You belong to me. No getting around it."

"How did you know where to look?" Clora wanted to know." We looked all over when we were outside and didn't see anything."

"You girls have an Auntie Inga, and that's where her mark is located," Evie told them, as she helped them into nightgowns. "Look how much you have grown, why we need to re-arrange clothes soon."

"Who's Auntie Inga" Sandra wanted to know, yawning a huge yawn.

"Tomorrow," Evie answered softly. "Tell you all about her tomorrow." All the children were tucked in, snuggled in their blankets and almost as rapidly as a blink of an eye, asleep.

Evie settled Hap into bed; and went back to the kitchen. She needed to put the food away, and for sure, tomorrow they were going to have to get that irritating pile of Pete's stuff out of the kitchen. She had walked around it for the last time.

Evie had just passed the kitchen door, reached over and locked it, when something heavy pushed against the blessedly solid built door.
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#34
Evie jerked her right hand back from the knob quicker than if she had grabbed a white hot poker. There at the same moment, in the nearly dark room, something grabbed her left hand.

"Oh, my stars and garters," she whispered aloud. She was down right heart thumping, pants wetting scared.

What ever was at the door; was sniffing loudly, scratching and wuffing insistently.

Her left hand was being tugged at, just as persistently. "Grandma, Grandma, that's Inky." Zander had to speak twice, Evie was so frightened she didn't hear him at first.

"Inky, Inky?" she finally questioned. "What's a Inky?" Hand over her heart, Evie tried to calm down enough to make sense of what was happening.

Inky, hearing it's name whined loudly, scratched at the door more intently.

"Just a minute Zander," Evie felt her way along the counter to the top junk drawer. There should be a flashlight there, she remembered.
It's faint yellow beam illuminated dark eyes staring through the back door glass. Black fuzzy hair stood door handle level. Evie nearly dropped the flashlight again. "Oh my goodness," she panted in fright. "Is that a dog?"

Now little old ladies pick their battles carefully. A flashlight and an ever present cabbage stomper can be a powerful deterrent, but not against a possibly wild animal of that size.

"Inky," Zander repeated like he was the one talking to a two year old. "Doggy," he finally added.

If it wouldn't have been so difficult to get up from the floor, Evie would have collapsed right then and there. Heart racing, hands trembling, she tried licking her bone dry lips. "Oh my; oh my," she kept repeating, "a dog."

Zander went to the door, peering out, smiling, and with the swiftness of a four year old, let the monster in.

In the dark kitchen, backlit by the small window of the fireplace insert, the dog was bigger than huge.

Evie backed up until the counter stopped her progress. Inky the monster went straight to Zander, standing between the child and Evie. The dog turned unblinking, vetting the old woman, so obviously afraid of it.

Afraid,...AFRAID, Evie was petrifried. Now it really was time to sit down, before she fell down. Jello knees held up by thin willow whips that threatened to buckle at any second. Evie found a chair and collapsed gratefully. What a fright this was; pret near enough to stop an old woman's heart.

"Inky," Zander had to reach up to hug the dog around the neck, the animal was that enormous. Patting the dog on the head, he tugged it towards Evie. It must be a Newfoundland. But I thought they were a white dog, her rattled mind wandered aimlessly.

Inky came close, but preferred to stretch his nose to smell Evie. Inky gave Evie a good onceover sniff test. Finally, the dog lay down near her feet and closed his eyes. "Likes you," Zander approved, beaming with happiness.

"Thank God for that," Evie muttered, gaining her wits about her. "Zander, where did this dog come from, who's dog is it?"

"Mine," Zander said simply. "Mine."
 
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