Just Around the Bend by Diane Greenwood Muir

Author:Diane Greenwood Muir [Muir, Diane Greenwood]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nammynools Publications
Published: 2017-06-24T05:00:00+00:00

~~~

“Go, go, go, go, go,” Polly yelled as Noah finally took off on his own down the sidewalk in front of the Bell House.

Elijah pushed Henry’s hands away and rode after his brother, staying upright for the first time.

Polly grinned at her husband. “No competition, there.”

“I know,” he said with a laugh.

The front door of the small brown house across the street opened and little Rose Bright came outside.

“Hi Noah,” she called.

He stopped pedaling, put his feet on the ground, and turned at the sound of her voice. “Hi, Rose!”

Her mother, Mona, came to the doorway to see what was happening outside. She waved at Polly and Henry and then went back in, only to emerge a few minutes later with a bicycle. She walked down the steps with it, handed it off to Rose, then walked across the street.

“I thought we’d give them a little time to figure out how to ride before letting Rose come out. Is this okay?”

“This is wonderful,” Polly said. “How are you?”

Mona nodded and smiled. “I’m doing good.” She crossed her arms in front of her and watched her daughter ride toward the two boys. “You need to be careful with those bikes. Kids around here like to take them. That’s why I keep Rose’s inside. Somebody stole her bike from our garage. She was so broken-hearted.”

“That’s awful. Who would do that?”

Mona shrugged. “Could be anybody.”

The front door of the house directly across from them opened and three more kids came outside. They picked up bikes that had been abandoned on the front lawn and rode into the street, whooping and hollering.

“Tell me their names,” Polly said. “Which is which?”

“The oldest boy is Jeremy,” Mona said. “Keep an eye on him. He likes to get his brother and sister in trouble. All he has to do is suggest something and before they know it, they’re in trouble and he’s far, far away. He tried it a couple of times with Rose, but I was on to him. The girl is Julia and the youngest boy is Aiden.”

Polly nodded. “Thanks. I’ll try to remember. I’m terrible at names.”

Henry started across the street and she realized he was going to speak with the three kids’ father, who was walking out of their garage.

“Finally getting your boys on bikes,” the man said, putting his hand out.

Henry took it. “Cal, I don’t believe you’ve formally met my wife. Come on over.”

Cal walked back toward Polly and put his hand out to shake hers. “Nice to meet you, ma’am. Hello Mona. How are you?”

“Fine, thank you.” Mona stepped back out of the way. “How’s Chris?”

“Mean and nasty,” he quipped. “Too hot, too cold, too fat, too hungry, too much this, too much that. She ain’t a happy woman.”

Polly had seen his very pregnant wife going in and out of the house. The woman looked miserable.

“When’s she due?” Polly asked.

The doc says she has another three weeks, but if this baby doesn’t come soon, I’m not going to take responsibility for what that woman does.

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