For the second year running, when considering my prosepects for the New Year going back to school came up high on my list. So once again I’ve been perusing Graduate Programs across the US and UK. Lots of logistics to consider! We’ll see how things go. But something about this feels right. At least tonight. I’ll keep you all posted.
In keeping with my holiday mood here’s the next chapter of my YA story Middleson. Hope you like it–but not too much ’cause it ends here (at least for now!)
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Chapter 2
“I missed ice cream again last night, didn’t I?” Jago asked as his mother stepped through the front door, Oberon at her heels.
“Everyone missed ice cream last night,” she chuckled. “We were pretty tired.”
She checked the clock and began tidying the kitchen.
“You should see the level I got to. It was cool. For an old style game,” he added.
His mother nodded and sighed heavily.
“What’s wrong mom?”
She forced her cheerful features into a somber expression, “Don’t get your hopes up about that new video game system, Jago. Money’s tight this year.”
He shrugged. “I know. But it is Christmas—Santa. Elves. Tiny Tim and God Bless us, everyone. A kid’s got to have dreams, right?”
She smiled at him, but it was a strained smile that faded quickly, replaced by the worried expression she carried so often these days.
“Anyway,” Jago continued, “Now that you’re working at the fruitcake factory things should be a little better.”
“Mmm,” his mother responded.
“That’s why you’re doing it, right? To earn some Christmas money.”
His mother jammed some dirty plates into the dishwasher, then carefully kicked it shut as the sound of car doors slamming in the driveway caused them both to pause for a moment.
“That’s the Riches. Listen Jago, don’t let your brothers sleep much longer or they’ll never go to sleep tonight, ok?” She kissed his forehead, it made him feel better, even if he was getting too old for kisses from his mom. “Have a good time, be careful, and help Audra out with Eoin, you know what a handful he can be.”
Jago grimaced, “What about Cedric.”
“Cedric will help out too. But sometimes he gets a little, um…”
“Goofy?”
“I was going to say shy, especially around Audra.”
Jago rolled his eyes. “I don’t get it. She’s just a girl. And she’s so much older than Ced.”
“Someday, you’ll understand. Wait and see.”
Jago made a retching sound and shook his head as the front door swung open and a beaming boy entered. Jenkins Rich was about the same size as Jago. His dark hair, brown eyes and deeply tanned skin contrasted pleasingly with Jago’s bright blue eyes, fair complexion and golden blond hair. Their personalities were equally complementary and the two had been close friends since they’d first met. Behind Jenkins came his mother and older sister, each of whom shared his attractive features and general liveliness.
“We’re not to late, are we, Ivy?” Jenkins’ mother Freddy, asked.
Ivy shook her head. “Audra, dear, thank you so much for keeping an eye on this bunch. There’s food for lunch in the fridge. And some money on the counter for pizza tonight. It will probably be after nine before I get home, but don’t hesitate to call if you need anything. Cedric and Jago will both help as much as possible.”
“Jenkins and Buzz will too.” Freddy directed a stern look at Jenkins.
“Where is Buzz?” Jago asked.
“He has practice this morning, but he’ll get a ride here afterward,” Freddy explained. “Audra, don’t boss him too much, alright? He’s nearly as old as you are, and perfectly capable of looking after himself for the afternoon.”
“Fine mom. We’ve been over this a dozen times. I won’t boss Buzz around if he doesn’t act like a child. That seems fair.”
Freddy glanced at Ivy, “They really do very well together…most of the time.
Ivy laughed. “I think they’ll all have a great time. But now I really do have to get to work. Be good, have fun!”
Freddy waved goodbye and followed Ivy out, leaving the three youngsters alone.
“You won’t believe the strange things that are going on,” Jago said once the two women were gone.
“Yeah?” Jenkins asked distractedly as he pulled something out of his back pack. “Check this out,” he said interrupting Jago. “Tomorrow’s Audra’s 16th birthday so our uncle sent her a car.”
Jenkins held up a shiny black plastic truck in one hand, and a large remote control in the other.
“That’s cool,” Jago agreed, reaching for the vehicle and examining the chunky tires.
“So about this weird stuff that’s happening,” Audra prompted.
Jago gestured for them to follow him upstairs. Opening the door to the large room he shared with his brothers and pointing at the beds. “What do you see?”
“A mess?” replied Audra.
“Quilts?” suggested Jenkins. “What’s so strange about quilts.”
“How about Cedric and Eoin?”
The Jenkins siblings glanced at Jago as if they expected some trick.
“You can’t see them? Fast asleep in their beds?”
Audra arched an eyebrow, “Do you?”
Jago shook his head, “No…but my mother did. She’s convinced they’re snoozing away and have been all night long. But I haven’t seen either one of them since last night.”
Jenkins laughed, “That’s a good one. You had me going there for a minute. So where are they?” He stepped into the room, his eyes darting around for some perfect hiding place.
“I don’t know,” Jago admitted. “But I think the dog does.”
Thinking she’d figured out the game Audra smiled. “They’re outside. We should have known.” She turned and leaped down the stairs two at a time, calling for Oberon as she went.
Jenkins and Jago raced after her. By the time they’d grabbed their jackets and followed her outside, Audra was already charging across the field with Oberon.
“Find Eoin! Find Cedric!” she commanded playfully, as the shepherd ran and leapt around her.
“I meant you should just ask him where they went,” Jago explained, jogging up behind them. “He can tell you. He can talk.”
“Yeah right,” Audra rolled her eyes.
“He really can. I mean he probably won’t now that I’ve told you he can, that’s the way it always is in stories—something magical happens but no one else ever sees it, not till the end at least.”
Audra lay a comforting hand on Jago’s shoulder. “You really don’t know where your brothers are do you?”
Jago gave her a you’re-pretty-slow-on-the-uptake look.
“What happened, did you have a fight or something?”
“No, they just left. One minute we were all playing video games and the next they were gone.”
“Maybe they just wanted to do something else. I doubt it was personal.”
Jago scowled. “They could have at least told me what they were doing. I’m always the one who gets left out.”