Posted July 21, 2022
When Weedy told him there wasn't much in the treasure they'd found, he wondered if maybe there was another one, so they could search for it whenever they would go over to the pond together. He'd mentioned before they could go swimmin' there and fishin'! "Maybe we can search for another treasure!" He suggested, smiling at the thought of exploring. Weedy didn't make school sound bad at all...actually he kinda made it sound fun, but he won't saying that out loud! And then when he mentioned the teacher was nice, well that helped for sure. "Well a'right and you'll be there too!."
Josh started feeling sleepy from the long day of travel and now his belly full of yummy pie and cake. He yawned real big, wishin' he hadn't though, because he wanted to stay up as long as everyone else.
He felt real happy when Addy said "Don' worry none, if that teacher gives ya any saddle sores, me an' yer pa'll take care'a it!" The boys eyes got bright and he leaned towards her "You would?" he questioned.
Isiah reached over, laughing some and ruffling Josh's hair on top of his head. "That is unless you done something to deserve it!" He pointed out, smirking at bit as he ran his hand from Josh's head down his back, rubbing it some. "But I bet you'll be like your Pa and never see a day in your life that you do anything to deserve a whipping." He laughed some as he looked over at Addy.
Oh, the cleverness of me!
Posted July 22, 2022 / Adelaide Chappel
"Sure, we can look for treasure." Not that it was something that was just laying around, waiting to be found. Maybe Mr. Browne would know where to look? But Weedy did hate fibbing a little about what had been in the chest. Wyatt was still not sure what he wanted to do with the awesome statue that had been in there, and Weedy was hoping that they could agree to let Mr. Browne look at it. In the mean time, no sense getting everyone all excited about it.
"I don't imagine ya'd be gettin' in too much trouble in school, anyway," Addy commented with a grin, "since once ya got home, ya'd hafta face me an' Isiah!" It had been a good thing for her that there really hadn't been school back home, because she was certain that there would be a legacy of terror from any and all of the Chappel children!
"As fer never doin' somethin' bad in all his days," she added, standing and leaving some coins on the table, "my brother never did nothin' bad...leastways that he got caught at!" And that was the trick, wasn't it?
But she could see that her brother was tired, and it was well enough time to get home and figure out the sleeping arrangements.
"C'mon, now, time fer you young'n's ta get ta bed." She looked pointedly at Isiah.
Posted July 25, 2022
"Sounds like if you follow Weedy's lead you'll get along just fine in school." Isiah reassured Josh and then laughed at his sister's comment on never getting caught. The two of them together had been told on plenty of times by their older brothers and he'd been on the receiving end of his father's punishment more than he wished, but he wouldn't have traded the fun they'd had for anything.
When Addy suggested they head home and get the boys to bed he agreed standing up. Josh stood in his chair and lifted his hands to Isiah to carry him as he yawned. Isiah knew if he himself was tired that Josh must be exhausted. He scooped him up and carried him towards the door.
On the walk home, try as he may, Josh couldn't even keep his eyes open all the way to the house. His head finally rested down on Isiah's shoulder and he fell asleep. "He's been a real trooper on this entire trip." He said to Addy and Weedy. "Don't think he ever complained once." Which he felt was quite the feat for a 5 year old he believed. "Pretty sure I could lay him on the hard wood floor and he'd sleep all night." Isiah said jokingly with a laugh.
Oh, the cleverness of me!
Posted July 26, 2022 / Adelaide Chappel
"He's a Chappel," Addy chuckled as she opened the door and let them in. "Come mornin' he'll be ready ta go again, right as rain!"
"You can bring him in here, Uncle Isiah!" Running ahead, Weedy opened the door to his room, then hurried to turn down the bed. "It's all right if he has to sleep in his clothes tonight, I don't mind." He'd been real tired a time or two, and knew there was no harm now and then sleeping in your clothes.
"You'll take care'a him, won't ya?" Addy kissed Weedy on top of the head, then looked at her brother. "If he wakes up tanight, Weedy'll be right here, so he won't be afraid." It was scary to sleep in a new place for the first time, so having someone there that you knew helped a lot.
"Yes, ma'am! Don't you worry, Uncle Isiah!" Weedy smiled proudly, pleased to have someone to take care of, and a chance to show he could be grown-up.
Posted July 27, 2022
Isiah laughed and walked into the house with Addy's help on the door. "You got that right and he'll be up with the risin' sun!" Always an early riser, just like most kids his age. The suggestion for him to just sleep in his clothes was one Isiah wouldn't turn down. He was exhausted as well and didn't want to wake the boy and then have to get him back to sleep.
"I think we'll do just that." He walked into the room and laid Josh down in the bed, kissing his forehead and grabbing one end of the sheet and covering him. Standing he smiled down at Weedy, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Mighty kind of you Weedy to just share yer bed like that and take such good care of him too. Especially not knowin' we were comin'." He squeezed his shoulder some and getting a bit somber but not sad. "And he's been waking up missin' his momma, so if you need me you won't bother me at all, no matter tha time. I know he's in good hands though." He moved his hand back and glanced towards Josh to make sure he was still sleeping and he was. He stepped towards the door in case Addy wanted a minute with Weedy. "G'night."
Oh, the cleverness of me!
Posted July 29, 2022 / Adelaide Chappel
Addy gave Weedy a tight hug and a kiss on top of his head. "Yer gettin' so grown up, I'm real proud'a you." Heavens, but Weedy hadn't been much older than Josh when he'd first started loitering around the place, and he'd come such a long way since, despite the shaky background.
Stepping out of the room, she pulled the door most of the way shut, but left enough of a gap that they could hear the boys and vice-versa, and also that the light from the fire would keep the room from getting too dark.
As soon as they were a few steps from the room, she hugged her brother again. "I'm glad yer here, Isiah...not th' reason, but it's good yer here." Stepping away, she smiled. "Ya want some coffee?"
It would give them a chance to chat alone for a bit.
Oh, the cleverness of me!
Posted July 29, 2022 / Weedy
Weedy returned Addy's hug, then shrugged. He did like the praise, but it was a little embarrassing. "G'night." The boy then hugged Isiah and assures him, "Don't worry, we'll be fine."
He had no doubt he could take care of his cousin, and Addy and Isiah would be real close.
Once the adults had left, he moved quietly around the room, changing into his nightshirt, then getting out an extra shirt in case Josh woke up, he could sleep in something more comfortable. Then, moving ever so slowly, he took off Josh's shoes and stowed them under the bed, then knelt to say his prayers.
"Dear God, thank you for getting Uncle Isiah and Cousin Josh here safe, Miss Addy is so happy. Bless us all, and God, can you ask Mama to look out for Josh's Ma? I bet she's lonely and misses her family, so let her know they are all right. Amen."
Then he climbed into bed and closed his eyes with a smile. Maybe Miss Jemima could help Josh talk to his mom?
Posted August 1, 2022
Isiah stepped from the room with his sister and met her hug with his own, squeezing her tight, his eyes closing as he felt the warmth of her embrace. It felt so good to be back here with her after everything that had happened.
"I'm happy to be here too." He whispered as he nodded his head agreeing that the coffee sounded good. He followed her to the kitchen not sure where she would want to settle down to talk. He sat at the kitchen table, stooping forward to take off his shoes and then unbuttoning the first few buttons of his shirt. He left the shoes under the table for now.
"Never thought in a million years I'd come out west to find you." He laughed, remembering how sad he'd been when she left, but he didn't let it show, because he wasn't sure if he'd see her again. He never thought he would be the one coming to find her!
Retired Character - Do not use without permission.
Posted August 1, 2022
Josh wasn't sure how long he had been asleep but he woke up to hearing Weedy's prayer. He sat up a bit in the bed, his hands behind him supporting him as he squinted against the dark room. He could hear his Pa's voice and they were sleeping in the bed together just like they'd talked about earlier today. This was really neat to him, he liked having a permanent sleep over with his new found cousin!
He bit down some on his bottom lip. "Hey, Weedy?" Lots of times he woke up missing his Mama lately and he'd always go and get his Pa, but he was going to try and be brave and not leave the room.
Oh, the cleverness of me!
Posted August 2, 2022 / Adelaide Chappel
Addy kicked off her boots as well, then poured them coffee, set a mug in front of her brother, then settled across from him, leaning back in her chair.
"I hadn't much thought'a bein' out west until I got here." Grinning, Addy took a sip of the hot coffee. "Once I got out here, though..." She shook her head. "Don't know why anyone'd ever leave...plenty'a space, no one cares much how ya look or how ya talk." It suited her just fine, but she understood that there were those that wanted the comforts and conveniences of big cities, who wanted paved roads and constant noise and bustle, but that just wasn't her.
"Place kinda grows on ya. Been good ta me." Well, mostly. "Just wish it could'a been all'a ya. I'm sorry, Isiah, you an' Josh deserve better, an' I would'a liked ta know Daisy."