Patchwork Family by Bonnie Tharp

Author:Bonnie Tharp
Language: ara, eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BelleBooks, Inc.
Published: 2014-03-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

ANNABELLE ENJOYED the new summer routine. Every morning while she walked with Tillie, Tad took Turbo out to do his business. Megan and Peggy took care of the animals’ food and water. After breakfast, they all pitched in to clean one room each day, with laundry on Monday and Friday. Afternoons were free time to read, watch television, shop, rest or go to the neighborhood pool. The older kids walked Turbo before dinner so he’d take a nap and let them eat in peace, at least in theory.

Megan was counting the days until her cast came off and she could join them on their walks, with Ms. Pickles in tow, of course.

The little girl was more than ready for July second, cast removal day and a Friday. Her leg was hot and itchy and smelled rotten if your nose got too close. The dog loved it, snuffling at it every chance he got and tickling her with his whiskers. The whole family planned on a ceremony with balloons and ice cream after the procedure. Megan couldn’t sit still in the doctor’s office until the saw came out. Then she and Annabelle barely breathed.

The doctor removed the grayish purple cast with care and palpated her leg. “There you go, Megan. As good as new.”

“It’s all skinny and white!” Megan started crying, scraping her nails up and down the offending limb. “It’s ugly and it itches.”

He took out a cotton ball and soaked it with disinfectant, gently wiping her leg. “You’ll have it tanned and stronger in no time. Do you like to swim?”

“No.” She carefully stood up, then staggered. Annabelle reached out to grab her, but the doctor was quicker. “It feels like it won’t hold me anymore.”

“It’ll hold you. It’s healed just fine. Start walking a little bit at a time and I promise by the end of the summer it’ll be like new.” He patted her shoulder with a smile.

She sniffed and hobbled out of the room. “The scar looks kinda cool where they went in to fix it.”

Tad and Peggy sat waiting in the lobby.

“Think of the stories you can tell.” Tad grinned at her. “You were shark bit, or you jumped out of an airplane without a parachute or . . .”

“Tad!” Annabelle couldn’t believe her ears.

Megan giggled. “I like reading stories better than making them up, remember? But you may have given me some ideas to think about, in case I take up writing.”

“Looks like you won’t be running any races for a while.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, her chin jutted out. “No, but I’ll be just fine by the end of summer. Doc said so.”

“That’s for sure.” Peggy tucked her arm under her little sister’s and mimicked her stance. “Back off, Tadpole.”

“Hey.” He raised his hands in surrender. “I know when I’m out-numbered.” Annabelle grinned. Nothing more needed to be said.

On Saturday, summer hit full force and the temperatures climbed into the high nineties. The July 4th holiday weekend had arrived, and they planned to watch the fireworks by the river.

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