"Mamma!" Came a shout before the
crack of dawn. I hardly had the chance to open my eyes as Skyla plowed into me.
"Morning
Baby." I said as I looked to
see if she had managed to jump on Shanda in the process of half killing me. She
was still asleep. I moved over closer to her so that Skyla would lie down on
the other side of me, as so that I was in the middle. Once she had settled in,
I allowed myself to kiss her head as she closed her eyes, going back into a
sleep.
This had been something she's
done since she first came, here. That was almost a year ago. Boy my life had
sure changed in that time; I went from living alone out here, to having four
wonderful little girls. Thinking to the day that I found Skyla was the best day
I can remember. I had gone to town for my yearly farm supplies. I had gone
passed a home, I looked at the windows of the orphanage as I drove on.
Something caught my eye. I pulled Windy to a stop. Then looking through the
window, I saw what had caught my eye. The prettiest set of eyes I had ever
seen.
I got to thinking, I had plenty
of land a little one could run on, I also had that old loft, that could be
used. Sides I did get kind of lonely once in awhile.
"What do you think
girl?" The mare gave a snort, and I took that as a yes. After checking to
make sure I was sightful, I walked into GBAA
asking about how I might go about getting the little one I had seen
sitting in that window.
After talking to Ulisa I have
more than enough food for these children, a whole garden, and orchard full,
three cows, so there’s more than enough milk to go around, that loft has at
least four beds that can fit at least three sets of Quads could use at the same
time at a time, maybe more. Always being handy with my hands, I could always
make more, and there would still be plenty of room for as many children that
needed me. I would be glad to have them. I have more than enough money, I just
choose to live out here like this, there’s nothing better than the sounds of
nature, instead of the blaring of a television, we still have a radio, but no
phone, I don't need the bother of it. But I have a CB just in case, and I have
do have heat, but we also have a fire place, of course I have an oven and
stove, I just rather the fire instead. After the bit of paper work and other
what nots I had the pretty young one in my arms, and bringing her on the long
trip home, not to long after that, bout four months later, they brought Darlita
and Bliss to me, and just a few weeks ago they sent me a notice that there was
another young girl needing of a home, which I gladly took up I took an odd trip
into town to get her. That would be my Shanda. I looked to one child then the
other, before looking into the crib that was at my beds foot. Smiling I closed
my eyes back taking in the large feeling of love I've ever had.
The only ones out here had
been the critters until that fateful day these little ones came here. Nothing's
ever been the same again. I told them peoples.
My thoughts were interrupted
by the wail of the infant. I sighed as I moved my arms out from under the
girls. And headed to the tiny child.
"Come on Lovely," I
told her carrying her out of the room as so not to wake the other two.
"I bet,
Darlita just loves the idea that she has the whole place to herself up there
for the time being." I told the baby as I put a bit of crushed berries on
a spoon to feed her. The sight of Bliss's face made me laugh.
"I take it that those
ones were a bit tart." She did her best to give me what looked like a
glare, but then grinned before asking for more.
"Morning, Mama
Selena."
"Hey Sunshine, was your
sleep good?"
"Yes, but I have to ask,
where’s,"
"Sky?" The girl nodded. I smiled and pointed to the door of
my bedroom
"She and Shanda are
still in there sleeping." Darlita gave me a look then spoke,
"Are you sure you want
them both in there together? Might make Shanda as bad as
Sky." I placed the baby on the floor so that she could work out her
new skills for a bit before turning to her.
"No, I think it might do
both of them good. While Shanda's quiet and timid, she may be able to pick
something up from Sky that might be helpful to her. It’s also the same thing
with Sky, only the opposite. Besides Sky's not bad." I told her then told
her to go head and get herself ready for the day. I told her that I was going
to be heading to the woods for some good size logs for a new project.
"Got enough I think
Patches, Go ahead and start pulling them home, boy." I told the stallion.
I wasn't in my shop more than five minutes when I heard laugher. The strange
thing was it was over top of me. I looked up to see that Skyla had climbed to
the top of the rafters.
"Skyla get down from
there before you get yourself hurt." I told her.
"I don't want to. I like
it here." She told me as sweetly as she could. Knowing that this was a
test I sighed. "Sweetheart, you know that you’re doing something I don't
like, and that you'll get put back to bed. Please come down." I shook my
head. I'm not one for loosing my temper but this was pushing it. That little
girl sat there tight. I looked around to see what she could have climbed on.
Spotting the latter, and loft I sighed. I still wouldn't be able to get her she
was to far out. Knowing that she would have to come down sooner or later and
that the pile of hey was thick enough that she couldn't really get hurt. I went
back to working on the box I was working on. Once the sides had been nailed,
sanded, and all the things that should be done so that Bliss couldn't harm
herself was finished I told Sky I was going to the house.
"You think she likes
it?" I asked, "It'll let her play around with out getting under our
feet. While were out here." I told Dar. I looked over at Shanda who smile
and reached her hands out to me. I smiled back and placed her in my arms. Doing
her best she started laughing at me as we started playing around. She stopped
and pointed when she seen the Sky come out of the barn. I sighted,
"Well come on," I
told her holding out my hand to her. Once she came over to me I scooped her into
my arms as well, I looked over at my thirteen year old daughter,
"Darlita you come play
too." I told her.
"No, I don't think
so." She told me.
"Alright," After
setting the little ones down, I took off running as fast as I could. Them chasing me. How I loved moments like this. Being out of
breath and tired, I stopped running only to be knocked to the ground.
"Girls, be
careful!" Darlita snapped. I stood up.
"Don't you worry about
them, they're fine." I told her.
"Besides I'm here, I can take care of it." Seeing something in her
face I told the younger two to go play, and walked over to Darlita,
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Knowing that this was something she did in few times.
"You miss her, don't
you?" I asked pulling her to me. She shook her head.
"Why don't you tell me
what it is and maybe I can help you."
"No I can't I don't want
to."
"That’s fine, I won't
make you" I told her. "But can I ask you what triggered it. You were
doing fine this morning."
"You playing with the
girls, Mother use to play with me like that. She, and Daddy died a month after
Bliss's birth, cause of a fire she was trapped and they couldn't get her out.
The baby was in my room and there was a door right there, so we were able to
get out, but they weren't." The feeling I had went straight to my knees, I
pulled her closer to me. I told her to just sit with me for a bit, and just let
herself collect herself.
She continued on.
"I tried to make it for
me and Bliss by myself but it wasn't working, and I took us to the home, I was
planning on leaving her there for a better life, but they took me into with in
a few months we came here.
"I understand why they'd
do that, your still a child and should be one. You shouldn't worry about baby's
you should worry about other things like what kind of fun you want to have for
the day." Dar looked into my eyes,
"Really?"
"I mean it for now on
you have to do something fun, if only one thing, then that fine but makes it as
much as you want." "Stay here a moment." I told her. I headed to
gather the other children and put them down for a bit.
"Thanks, Sugarbear"
I told her as I sat down, "Now I know that there won't be any interruptions
for an hour at least. I moved to the end of the swing, and then allowed Darlita
to lay her head on my lap.
"Why don't you rest your
eyes as well. It'll help clear your mind." She
started to get up.
"No, honey you can stay
here." I told her helping her relax. "There’s no need for worries
now, I'm here and I won't leave you no matter what. Understand me?" The
girl nodded her head.
I must have fallen asleep as
well 'cause the next thing I know there was a tug at my shirt. I opened my eyes
and stared into Shanda's bright eyes.
"Well Hi Shanda," I
said going to pick her up, but she backed up for some reason.
"What is it?" I
asked. She tugged on Darlita. I looked to Darlita, who was still asleep, not
wanting to wake her; I looked at Shanda and told her to go play. Shanda stomped
her foot and shook her head then tugged on her again.
"No, you let her sleep,
you go play." I told her. Making a face she left.
After what must have been at
least ten or fifteen minutes, both me and Darlita got a surprise attack once
again by Skyla. She jumped Dar's back.
"Skyla!" I scolded, "You’re NOT to do that again. You
could have hurt her." Skyla wrinkled her nose the way she does every time
she hears something she doesn't like, and then went to play.
"You
alright?" I asked her as she
sat up.
"Yeah, But I think that
we should put something on her to let us know she's coming." I had to laugh
at the girl's thought.
"I think you might be
right." I said answering her; the both of us were cut off by the call of
the baby.
"I've got her."
Just as I had finished with
the infant, both Shanda and Darlita came running in,
"She's up there
again." Darlita told me. I sighed, Dar take Bliss I have to do
something." I told her then headed to my workshop, after making sure my
project was finished I headed inside with it and placed it in a good spot in
the living room. Then headed outside.
"Young Lady, you get
down right now!" I told her starting to feel myself getting a little
upset. Never seeing me like that before, she pulled her leg over to the side
and jumped down. Even with all that hey
there it scared me half to death, after I running over making sure she was fine
I picked her up and took her inside, scolding her the entryway.
"Sit here for a little
while, I'll tell you when. You get up I'll start over. Understand?" I told
her sitting her on the stool I had made. She looked at me, seeing the sad look
she turned back. Me I walked outside, and took the baby from Darlita,
"You can go do as you
wish." I told her,
"But don't you need
help?" I told her I didn't I had it under control.
"Skyla,
and Shanda would you like to help me with dinner?" I asked but got no
answer, I knew she was still mad at me; it had been about an hour at least
since I had let her up. But she still wasn't talking to me so I went about my
own business, thinking it would be best just to leave her alone. From her play
box, Bliss had let out the biggest squeal she could muster As soon as I looked
at her she gave me the biggest grin she could. I scooped her up and headed to
the rocker, picking up a toy that I had made for her.
"At least you'll talk to
me." I told her as I tickled her belly. She reached up at my glasses, as
that is her favorite goal, trying to get those.
"You can't have that,
silly." That little one's legs flung all over the place as I talked and
played around with her.
"You wanna go with me on
the next trip?" I asked the infant, as I somehow knew I would be going
soon it was getting to that time of year.
"You want down?" I
asked her as I placed her on the floor. To my surprise Bliss didn't start going
around the room on scooting, but this time she had found the courage, and strength
to pull herself on all fours, she looked so funny.
When she got herself up like that, she looked at me with the funniest
expression I had ever seen in my life, then without warning looked as if she
was going to be fussy.
"Bliss, are you
stuck?" I laughed and picked her up. "That was good though." The
little cub laughed as I talked to her more.
"Well, I think I've put
it off long enough, Little one, I think everyone’s going to be wanting
something to fill there bellies." I told her putting her back down. As
soon as I started rooting around in the pantry for things, you'd think she
thought that I have left the room that baby started her famous wail.
"What? I'm right
here." I told her. See. I walked in front of her setting the baskets on
the table.
"I think we'll make some
jams tomorrow. That should be interesting with all of you around. And that way
I'll be able to sell them when we go into town." I told the infant who
decided it was best to just worm crawl behind me instead of trying her fours
again.
"Now, if you’re going to
stay underfoot, I'm going to have put you back in your own little play area."
I spoke afraid of stepping on her.
"Mamma! Look what I found!" I turned to see Skyla as
dirty as she could get herself. There was mud and dirt from head to toe.
Nothing on that child had stayed clean. In her hand she was holding a little garter
snake. Even though I knew they were harmless, I still jumped. I don't like
those things, nevertheless, I the Mamma can I keep it question.
Not wanting to upset her.
"As
long as you keep it outside, and away from me. Got it. The first time I see
it anywhere besides outside, it goes." I agreed even though I knew this
was something I might regret. I opened up the cabinet and pulled out an old
canning jar, and helped her fix a special top. "Now take it outside before
I change my mind." As soon as she and her new found pet left I went about
getting dinner started.
I was sitting outside, the
others had just gone to bed, I closed my eyes just listing to the crickets. As
soon as I had time to take in the sound the door opened.
"Sorry Mama Selena, but
she's was crying and I can't get her to stop, I tried everything I know
of."
"Bliss what is it?"
I asked the infant as I took her, and the bottle that the teen held. Darlita, get me her blanket, and then go on
back to bed. I'll take care of it."
Taking the wrapped well bay,
I held her close, she still was fussing. I talked to her to the best I could,
as I started to offered the normally well welcomed item that’s when I noticed
the white thing, wasn't big, but enough that it was noticeable.
"I see little one,"
I carried her out to the shed where I keep extra freezers and pulled out pacifiers,
"I think we'll put some in the house, that way we don't have to come out
here to get them. We'll just let this one warm a bit. Then you can use it to
dull those old gums." Seeing that it wasn't too cold anymore I put it in
her mouth, at first she spit it out and gave me a funny look as if she was
saying, "That’s cold what was that?"
"It will help." I
told her giving it back. I headed back to the swing, and started rocking her in
it and sure enough she fell back to sleep. I thought, of a recipe I found, and
decided that I would also make that tomorrow.