"Hey, wake up! Come on. Wake up. Please George!"
"What's your problem, Ryan?"
"Wake up."
"I am awake. How come you took all them blankets last night, Ryan?"
"I did not."
"Did too, Ryan."
"Did not!"
"Watch your mouth. You'll wake up Mr. and Mrs. Archibald."
"Maybe they already woke up, George."
"Nah. Look, it's still dark out."
"You sure?"
"Grown-ups like to sleep in. How come you woke me up so early?"
"I'm real hungry, George."
"You're still hungry?"
"Yup."
"After pigging out on Kentucky Fried Chicken last night?"
"I'm still hungry."
"Well...what do you want me to do about it?"
"A cookie. I'd love to have a great big peanut butter cookie."
"Yah. I remember all them cookies Mrs. Archibald baked yesterday. Want some?"
"Yup."
"Let's go, if you're not a scaredy-cat. Quietly...I said quietly."
"Your feet ever cold last night, George."
"Waddaya expect? You tried to steal all the blankets."
"Did not."
"Did too, Ryan."
"Did not, George."
"Sssh! Not so loud. It's not my fault these folks are so poor. They can't even afford a bed for each of us."
"Can we get our cookies now George?"
"Yah. But we have to be real quiet."
"George, you already said that."
"Sshhh. If we wake them they might boot us out for taking the cookies, Ryan. Let's be quiet as mice, OK? I'm tired of having to move all the time."
"Yup."
"What did you say?"
"Yup."
"Only a couple each, alright Ryan?"
"Yup. Do you like peanut butter cookies too, George?"
"Sssh! Don't step on the cat, OK? Hey, only two each. And please don't knock the cookie can on the floor, OK?"
"Yup."
"Now let's skidaddle back to bed."
"Yup."
"Quick, before Mrs. Archibald comes. I think I hear her coming."
"Yup."
"Hey, give me some covers too, Ryan. Move over."
How come these cookies are so good, George?"
"I dunno. Why don't you eat them so I can get some sleep?"
"Do you think we're going to be adopted, George?"
"Nah. This is just a foster home. We have to go somewhere else to get adopted. Besides, who wants two big kids like us?"
"But, I really like Mrs. Archibald, George."
"Remember what happened last time we were bad? We got moved. I hope they don't get too mad about these cookies."
"They're only a few peanut butter cookies, George."
"Whatever. Get some sleep now. OK, Ryan?"
"Yup."
"Ryan, Is that all you can say, yup?"
"Nope."
"Well what can you expect from a seven year old kid, anyways?"
"Kid brother, George. Besides, you're only two years older than me. George?"
"What? Can't you see I'm tired?"
"George, I love you."
"Don't give me any of that mush, Ryan."
"You're all I got left, George."
"Get some sleep, OK? Please?"
"How come momma let the Children's Aid take us away George?"
"I dunno."
"Maybe she didn't want us. You think so, George?"
"Don't say that. It's not true. Mom just can't look after us right now."
"I got no friends. No family. Just you, George."
"Yah...yah. Ryan? I know Mom still loves us."
"George? You crying or something?"
"Quiet. I'm just thinking. Maybe if we be good, Mrs. Archibald might let us stay here. No more moving around. Maybe even get bunk beds. Sound Okay?"
"George?"
"Yah. It might work out. Then when mom feels better, maybe we can go home again."
"George?"
What now, Ryan?"
"Let's get some more cookies."
* * *
© Richard & Esther Provencher 1999
Richard and Esther Provencher invite you to view their novels written during a recovery from a stroke, which gob smacked her husband Richard in 1999.
Direct links to these novels from www.synergebooks.com are below.
FOOTPRINTS is about Joe who receives an anonymous letter stating he has a 14 year old son he was not aware of. Will this affect a recent marriage to a wonderful lady with two children who love him? His desire to find his missing son puts a strain on everyone. Unknown to Joe, an angry son is also looking for him.
http://www.synergebooks.com/ebook_footprints.html novel available now
SOMEONES SON is about Sheldon who has overcome much hurting these past three years. He has been the man of the house since his father moved out. Now dad is back and wants to spend time with him. What about Larry, his neighbor who has been like a father all this time? And mom wants to marry again? http://www.synergebooks.com/ebook_someonesson.html novel available soon
INTO THE FIRE is about Troy who has no real friends, only an imaginary one, JC. Without him, Troy might not be able to cope with living in the country, since dad took up drinking. Troy has to be the man of the house because a terrible accident killed mom three months ago. Then a mystery changes everything.
http://www.synergebooks.com/ebook_intothefire.html. novel available soon
Comments
Richard L. Prov... | February 12, 2008 - 13:57
My wife and I had the privilege of adopting our youngest son, when he was nine. He'll be 42 this summer. There are so many more children who could use loving parents, and we have friends who have done so. We like peanut butter cookies too. (R&E)
Sooz006 | February 12, 2008 - 19:03
Another beautiful little slice of life, even when they were trying to be good and their lives depended on it, they couldn't resist those cookies. I bet they ate the lot. I was a care kid too so know where these two boys are coming from.
Not sure I completely believe in the 'voices' of the kids. Sometimes they came across as a little wooden... but it doesn't matter because it's a gorgeous little story.