TALK OF POEMS AND PRAYERS AND PROMISES
"Constance Ashton. Put that chicken down right now!" Platon Lilly Ashton shook her head in disgust as she scolded her daughter.
Three year old Connie was chasing her cousins Rachael and Sophie round the courtyard with a squealing hen in her hands. The Wenton twins were screaming as they ran towards the barn with a giggling Connie hot on their heels.
Lilly stood with her hands on her hips. "I will not tell you again, Constance," she yelled. "If you do not put that chicken down you will not have any of Grandpi's birthday cake!"
The whole family were gathered at Lilly and Ben's cottage to celebrate Lilly's father's 60th birthday. It was a beautiful early summer's day and Lilly and her sister Cara had planned a picnic lunch followed by an afternoon of party games for him to enjoy.
Sergi Tanger, being guest of honour and the birthday boy, was sitting at the head of the picnic table carving a joint of ham while the women of the family were laying the table. "Leave her be, Lilly," he smiled at his youngest grandchild's antics. "She is merely having fun."
Lilly sighed as she placed a jug of freshly squeeze orange juice on the middle of the table. "I don't think Sophie and Rachael are having fun, pa."
"They're just fine," Cara interjected as she arrived at the table with a bowl of salad. "A few minutes ago my girls were chasing Connie with the same chicken," she chuckled.
"Honestly – girls are so much trouble. Connie is more of a handful than Finn ever was," Lilly tutted, placing a folded napkin in a glass. "Finn is an angel compared to that little lady."
"Talking of Finn," Sergi frowned as he scanned the courtyard. "Where is my grandson?"
"His papi has gone to chase him out of his room," Lilly sighed again. "That boy spends too much time with his nose in books these days. It is unhealthy."
"You are a fine one to talk, Lilly Ashton," Hanah Tanger snorted and held a plate out for husband to place the carved ham on. "When you were nine years old all you did was read too."
"Yes, well," Lilly shrugged as she continued to lay the table. "The books I read were of great importance, not the frivolous ones that Finn reads, ma."
"There speaks the woman who named our son after Huckleberry Finn." Ben Aston appeared at his wife's side and gave her a peak on the cheek.
"Benjamin!" Lilly bristled, pulling away. "I thought you were fetching Finn?"
Ben placed a basket of bread on the table and then held his hands up. "I'm going, I'm going," he grinned.
"Tell him that lunch will be ready in two minutes and he needs to wash up before he comes down. Actually, you had best take the girls with you. Their hands need to be scrubbed thoroughly as they have been playing with a chicken!"
"I'll see to the girls," Niall Wenton, Cara's husband quickly interjected when the rest of the family started to giggle at Lilly's statement. He knew by the set of his sister in law's jaw that she was not amused and figured that he should round up his daughters and niece before she exploded!
Ah, the joys of a Tanger family gathering on Mandana!
Xxx
Ben smiled to himself as he went in search of his son with the sounds of his family's revelry following him up the stairs. It was days like this that reminded him why he'd given up his life on Earth for the love of Lilly Tanger.
The last fifteen years had been full of wonderful highs and heartbreaking lows but, thanks to the constant love and support of Lilly and her family, they had been the most amazing years of his life, fulfilling not only personally but professionally as well.
Ben had brought his expertise and knowledge from his years as a medic at Stargate Command with him to his new planet, and thanks also to Lilly's training as a Platon on Mandana, the couple had developed an infrastructure of medical care for the whole population of Tanger province.
The hospital in the main town of Gowton was now a centre of excellence and training for the next generation of platon's and helena's, which Ben, Lilly and Cara, as the senior midwife, over saw. Lives were being saved and newborns were being brought into the world strong and healthy.
The biggest joy in Ben's life was his family though. Finn had arrived nine years ago followed by Constance six years later. The children were completely different in personality, whereas Finn was quiet and studious, Connie was gregarious and carefree but their personalities complemented each other's perfectly and they were very close, something that their parents were thankful for.
Ben and his brother Conner had not been close growing up. After their parents were tragically killed when the brothers were teenagers, Conner had left America for England and the boys all but lost touch. It took Conner's premature death three years ago to bring them back together and Ben would always treasure the last few months of his brother's life which he spent here on Mandana. Ben had showed Conner his new world, thanks to the authorities in Washington who had approved of Conner knowing the secret of the Stargate before he died. The young airman had passed away peacefully with his brother at his side knowing the biggest secret in Earth's history.
Ben missed Conner every day, as did Finn who grew close to his uncle while he stayed with them. Infact it was Conner who introduced Finn to the Enid Blyton books he loved so much and Ben had a hunch that his boy had lost himself in another adventure.
He sighed and knocked on Finn's bedroom door. "Come on, Finny. Your ma has lunch on the table." He poked his head round the door, expecting to find his son engrossed in a book but was surprised to find him lay on the bed, fast asleep with the book he had obviously been reading resting open on his chest. He crossed to his side, picked up the book, folded down the page and placed it on the bedside table.
Ben then sat at his son's side and tapped his cheek. "Finny – wakey, wakey," he urged gently. "Lunch is ready."
Finn swatted away his hand, smacked his lips and then turned onto his side, his hand reaching for his quilt as he turned.
"Oh, no you don't," Ben tugged the quilt down even further. "You need to get up my boy or lunch will be spoiled."
"Go 'way," Finn mumbled. "Tired."
"No can do, buddy. Ma is getting cross," Ben persevered until Finn sighed and turned back on to his back.
"What time is it?" He yawned and stretched.
"It's lunch time." Ben frowned and placed his hand on Finn's forehead. "Are you feeling alright, Finny?" He asked, concerned that his son seemed so sleepy.
"I'm fine pa," Finn sighed and pushed upright. "The suns were shinning and I couldn't help but close my eyes," he shrugged, knuckling his eyes.
"Are you sure?" Ben asked, noting how tired Finn still looked.
"I'm sure," Finn grinned and then as if to prove his point he leapt out of bed. "Did you say lunch was ready? I'm starving!"
"Yup," Ben nodded, feeling happier that perhaps his son wasn't sickening for anything after all. "You need to wash up first – orders from your ma."
"Yes sir," Finn saluted cheekily and then sprinted out of the room.
Ben pushed up off the bed, straightened the covers, tucked Barney, Finns trusty tatty bear in and then followed his son.
The next few hours were going to be fun!
xxx
Ben frowned as he watched Finn sit on his Grandpi's lap and start sucking his thumb. He was growing increasingly concerned that his son seemed tired again, infact the girls had run rings round him which had been surprising as Finn was normally the one leading the way.
After enjoying a very pleasant afternoon of fun and games, the family were now gathered round the table waiting for Lilly to produce the birthday cake that all the grandchildren had helped to decorate, and when Ben noticed that Hanah was staring at Finn too, he reached over the table and grabbed her hand.
"I think he's been reading well into the night," he offered by way of explanation as they watched Finn's eyes being to droop as he snuggled into Sergi's embrace.
"Is he feeling alright?" Hanah shook her head, sighed and turned to face Ben, "he does not look well."
"He's fine," Ben gave her hand a squeeze. "He has alot going on at school and, like I said, he is so engrossed in his books that I think he is up late reading them."
"It's not like him so be so tired."
"I know," Ben sighed. "We will make sure he gets some early nights."
"Make sure you do." Hanah patted his hand and then turned at the sound of Lilly chanting 'Happy Birthday' as she carried in an enormous birthday cake with Connie, Rachael and Sophie following her with plates and napkins.
The cake was placed in front of Sergi who nudged Finn who came awake with a start. "Time to blow my candle's out, everyone." He shepherded his grandchildren around the cake and everyone started to sing the birthday song that Ben had taught them and Finn joined in with gusto, lessoning his Grandmother and fathers concern over his condition – slightly.
Xxx
"I've just been into Finn and taken his book off him," Lilly sighed as she sat on the bed and started to undress.
"Was he reading again?" Ben echoed his wife's sigh, reaching over to dim the bedside lamp slightly. "We are going to have to sanction his books Lil. He's spending too much time reading and is so tired."
"Well, that's not going to be easy," Lilly pulled on her nightgown and reached for her hairbrush. "He was not happy that I extinguished his lamp and snapped at him," she sighed, pulling the brush through her curls.
Ben shook his head as he settled down in bed. "He could barely keep his eyes open today. He's got so much going on with school and a few early nights won't hurt him."
"I agree." Lilly tied her hair up with a rag, dimmed her lamp and lay down. "Ma gave me a lecture before she left about how tired he seemed."
"I know," Ben nodded and turned on his side to face Lilly. "I must admit I was concerned that he was unwell but after seeing him demolish two pieces of Birthday cake I'm happy that he is just plain exhausted and needs to catch up on some sleep."
"Connie too," Lilly yawned. "She fought me all the way when I tried to settle her."
"She's just over excited," Ben grinned.
Lilly rolled her eyes. "She certainly was a handful today," she grouched. "Sophie and Rachael are so well behaved and calm, why can she not be like them?"
"Because, she's Constance," Ben chuckled "and is very much like her Mami," he reached up and nipped Lilly's nose. "I wouldn't want her any other way."
"She is exhausting," Lilly yawned again. "No wonder Finn is so tired. He spends so much time running after her."
"I know," Ben continued to laugh "but he loves her so I'm sure he doesn't mind."
"I think we all need some early nights to deal with young Constance," Lilly couldn't help but yawn one more time and Ben leant over and kissed her forehead.
"I think you're right," he agreed. "So get some sleep. I'll see to Connie if she wakes."
"Uh huh," Lilly mumbled sleepily and then turned over.
Ben reached and covered his wife with the quilt and then settled down to sleep himself.
It had been a long tiring day for everyone.
Xxx
"Where is your other shoe, Connie?" Lilly lifted a cushion off the sofa and checked under it.
Connie had been unusually quiet as she played with her toys and Lilly had been so engrossed in preparing supper that they had lost track of the time and were now running late to collect Finn from school.
Lilly span round the room looking for the missing shoe and sighed in relief when she spotted it in Connie's toy chest. "Ah, there it is." She crossed and picked it up. "Did you put it there young lady?" She asked her eyes narrowed accusingly.
"No, mami," Connie shrugged innocently.
"Oh, okay," Lilly conceded with a small smile.
"Muffin bear did," Connie grinned, jumping her cuddly bear up and down on her lap.
Lilly hung her head, took a few deep breaths to calm herself before plastering a smile on her face again. "Come on, Connie boo," she plucked her daughter up and plonked her on the sofa. "Let's get this shoe on." She knelt on the floor and pushed the shoe onto Connie's foot. "Finny is going to be wondering where we are."
After tying Connie's laces, she picked her up again and started to make for the door, pausing when Connie wriggled and tried to reach for her bear.
"I've got her." Lilly grabbed the bear and tucked it under her other arm. "We have to hurry, Connie boo," she tightened her grip on her daughter and then hurried out of the house.
She hated running late.
Xxx
"Ah, Platon Ashton." Harriet Memtre, Finn's tutor hurried over. "I'm glad I caught you."
Lilly had made good time to the school and had arrived just as the bell sounded for the end of the day. She had then waited for Finn to make an appearance and he had slouched out a good five minutes after everyone else, dragging his backpack behind him.
Lilly had just lifted Connie in the cart to join her brother when Harriet called her name.
"Hello, Miss Memtre," Lilly smiled in greeting. "Is everything alright?" She asked when she noticed the look of concern on the young tutors face.
"Actually," Harriet pulled her to one side slightly. "I must admit I am slightly worried about young Finn," she stated, keeping her voice low.
"Oh?" Lilly frowned.
"Yes, he seems to be out of sorts. It's not like him."
Lilly glanced at Finn who was curled up in a corner, his eyes at half-mast. "I think he's just tired," she sighed. "He loves to read so much that I am not sure he is getting enough sleep. My husband and I have taken his books off him at bedtime but I'm not convinced that he doesn't creep out of bed to seek them out again."
Harriet pulled her away a little further. "I think that it is more than that. We had to wake him a few times after he fell asleep and today is not the first day he has been very sleepy. He has been very tired for several weeks now. We did voice our concerns to your husband and he informed us of the same thing as you have but, if anything Finn has been progressively getting worse."
Lilly looked at Finn again and realised that he was now fast asleep. "I see what you mean," she sighed.
"May I suggest that he stays away from school for the rest of the week so he can catch up on sleep," Harriet advised. "We have a very busy time coming up and he will need to be well rested to cope with the work."
"I think that that is a very good idea," Lilly agreed with a sad smile.
Harriet patted Lilly's arm. "Take care of him; he is a very special young boy."
"I will. Thank you for your concern." Lilly nodded and watched Harriet as she hurried back to the schoolhouse.
She then climbed aboard the cart, told Connie to sit down when she started to jump up and down and picked up her reigns. Before she clicked Clancy on she looked at Finn again.
Why hadn't she noticed his pale complexion and the dark rings under his eyes before?
"On Clancy," she sighed, snapping the reigns.
It was time to check her son out.