Amelia knocked on May's door receiving no answer, again.
“May! Get up!” she called through the closed door. Finally, she walked back downstairs to help Mary prepare breakfast.
“Those kids. They just don't want to get up today.” Amelia shook her head as she sliced an apple.
“They're probably just tired from all the excitement this past week.” Mary glanced over at Amelia while she stuck a pan of biscuits in the oven. “They'll be up in a flash as soon as they smell the food.”
“I hope so.” Amelia set the dish of apple slices aside and began to beat a bowl of raw eggs Mary had prepared. “I just don't want May to grow up thinking it's right to sleep in late. She has begun to make a habit of it lately.” she poured the mixture into a large skillet. The eggs sizzled as soon as they hit the pan and began to cook.
George was in the living room with Mr. Stevens, drinking coffee and conversing on the subject of Christmas.
“Mmm that food smells so inviting.” Mr. Stevens sniffed the air.
Mrs. Stevens was just coming down the stairs and entering the living room she asked, “Good morning. George, could you point me in the direction of the kitchen, I'd like to speak to Amelia.”
George set down his cup of coffee and smiled. “Sure. It's down the hall, through the dining room and the first door on the right.”
“Thank you.” she straightened her shawl and headed down the hall.
The dining room was a hexagonal shape, with a door in the back wall which led to the kitchen. Mrs. Stevens went through it and found Amelia and Mary in the bright kitchen, nearly finished making the food.
“Ah, there you are.” Mrs. Stevens sighed. “Amelia dear, I was wondering why you haven't repainted the upstairs hall. It desperately needs painting.”
“Mother, you know that George and I can't afford to do it just yet. His new job hasn't provided enough extra money to pay for the expenses it would require to do that.” Amelia scraped the last of the eggs out of the skillet, and started out the door with the breakfast tray. “It can wait to be painted again.”
Mary grabbed the apples and a salt and pepper shaker and followed her into the dining room.
Mrs. Stevens sighed, following close behind the two. “You know you can always ask your Father and I for anything you need. We are always willing to help you out in any way.”
“Thank you Mother, but George and I are doing just fine.” Amelia was beginning to get irritated with her Mother's carrying on.
“But Amelia, you just said that―”
“Mother!” Amelia slapped her fist down on the table. “Thank you very much! Now that is all!”
Mrs. Stevens stood there with wide eyes at her daughter's sudden outburst. “I don't know what has gotten into you, Amelia.” and with that she walked out of the room, leaving the two women standing there in silence.
“Breakfast is ready!” called Mary, and then returned to the kitchen to eat her breakfast.
Creeeaak. Andrew pushed the wooden trap-door open.
The passageway came to a dead end where a trap-door was in the low ceiling. That was where all the light was coming from, and Andrew cautiously pushed it open.
Instinctively, he put his arm over his face as a bunch of hay and dirt came showering in through the opening.
“Where are we?” May asked sniffing the air which held an odor that made her squeamish. “Smells like a barn.”
Andrew put his hands on either side if the opening and boosted himself up and through the hole into a large open room full of hay, wooden beams, and a huge doorway with broken doors hanging in it.
“It IS a barn.” he said as soon as he realized where they were. “This must be the barn in the field behind your house.” then he corrected himself. “er, our house.”
“Hey! I'm still down here! Help me up!” May called from inside the hole.
“Oh yeah. Sorry!” Andrew laughed and stuck out his arm to help her up.
May stood up and looked all around her. “Wow! I've never been in a real barn before.” she breathed.
“Come on, lets get back to the house.” Andrew hurried past her towards the broken-down doors.
He lifted the rusty latch, and leaned against the old door and pushed with all his might.
Creeeaaak. The door slowly began to move open. Suddenly it wasn't only opening, it was falling.
“Look out!” May yelled.
Andrew let go of the door and jumped back.
CRASH! The left door fell, and a cloud of dust rose when it hit the ground.
“Whoops.” Andrew grimaced and looked back at May.
She was giggling. “Andrew!”
“I guess it was about to fall off anyway. I just helped it.” he grabbed her hand. “Lets go now.”
HOO! HOO! Came a loud sound out of the loft.
They both screamed and dashed full speed out of the dusty barn.
“What was that sound?!” May called as they ran across the field toward the old mansion.
“I think it was a barn owl!” Andrew replied breathing hard.
“My heart's beating like a drumroll!” May gasped. “Lets stop for a second.” she slowed and bent over holding her throbbing side.
“Sorry. I just want to get back home.” Andrew gasped looking back in the direction of the old barn.
May looked up at him and said teasingly, “Nuh uh. You were scared.”
“I was not!”
“Were too!”
“Well,...maybe I was a little surprised, but―”
May stood up straight and put her hands on her hips. “Just admit it.”
“Alright, but you were too!” Andrew defended.
“I know.” she pulled on a tall blade of grass.
“You ready to move on?” asked Andrew.
“Yeah. Lets go.” May replied, and they walked on towards the old mansion.
No comments:
Post a Comment