Adoring Addie by Leslie Gould

Author:Leslie Gould [Gould, Leslie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: FIC042000, FIC053000, FIC042040, (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
ISBN: 9781441261380
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2013-04-01T13:00:00+00:00

We decided to meet at Onkel Bob’s the next afternoon at two o’clock. At one fifty, Joe-Joe still hadn’t settled down for his nap and was sitting on the couch, making monster noises inspired by a library book I now regretted checking out for him. Mutter had fallen asleep upstairs, and Aenti Nell was dozing in her chair in the sewing room, sending soft snores into the kitchen.

Deciding it was too late for Joe-Joe to nap now anyway, I motioned for him to follow me. With a smile on his face, he did. We tiptoed through the kitchen, but by the time we reached the back door he started to whine that he was tired. I put my hand over his mouth and pulled him outside and down the steps.

“Why didn’t you take a nap, then?”

He rubbed his eyes. “I wasn’t tired.”

I scanned the barnyard for Billy but couldn’t see him. Daed, Timothy, and Danny were repairing the south fence today, and I imagined Billy had tagged along.

I couldn’t leave him unattended at the house. Even if I woke Aenti Nell to watch him, it wouldn’t be long until he woke Mutter. Then she would wonder where I went.

“You’re going over to Onkel Bob’s with me.”

Joe-Joe smiled. He liked Cate.

“Come on.” This way I could honestly say Joe-Joe and I went on a walk. Or to pick blackberries along the creek.

“Wait a minute,” I said. “I’ll be right back.”

I hurried into the house and grabbed an empty ice cream bucket from the counter. We used them for all sorts of things—compost, slop, and berry picking mainly.

I handed Joe-Joe the bucket, and he swung it around as we walked. I kept a look out for Billy as we rounded the willow tree and then started down the trail, instantly feeling the drop in temperature as we neared the creek.

Joe-Joe, barefoot, splashed into the water. I wore my flip-flops and crossed on the stones—until Joe-Joe slipped and fell, plopping onto his side.

“Hop up,” I said.

He turned up toward me with startled eyes, the bucket handle still in his hand. By now his pants and most of his shirt were soaked. I wadded my skirt, holding it above my knees with one hand, stepped into the water, and pulled Joe-Joe up with my other hand. Together, we waded across the creek. When we got to the other side, he scampered up the trail, digging his toes into the mud.

He’d definitely be staying outside when we reached Onkel Bob’s.

He left my sight for a moment at the crest of the trail. A moment later a screech from him made me increase my stride. When I reached the top, I found Joe-Joe sitting in the middle of the trail next to a rock, holding his foot, his bloody big toe pointed upward, the bucket off to the side.

“Did you stub it?”

“Jah.”

“Well, come on.” Stubbed toes were a part of every Amish childhood.

His eyes filled with tears. “It hurts.”

I grabbed the bucket and pulled him to his feet; he hobbled along for a few steps, obviously in pain.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.