Scott:
Lillian had been with them for a few weeks now. Scott had to admit that even though he had been happy that someone was coming to help, at first he had been a
little fearful to. What if she tried to take their mother's place, what if she wouldn't let him help in taking care of the younger ones any more, what if she took his place
in their hearts? Silly notions, really, but all too real for a boy of just eleven. Lillian had thankfully quelled the first two that first week she began full time, without
really knowing she had. Scott thought back to that morning. --Scott had come down to breakfast that morning to find Lillian in the kitchen making breakfast for them
before school. Alan and Gordon both were sitting at the table giggling. As he had moved further into the kitchen he had been shocked to see a small photo of their mother
sitting on the table. Lillian had turned and noticing his look had smiled gently. "Sorry Scott, if it bothers you we can move it. Gordon wanted to share breakfast with
her so I put the picture there for him. Would you like me to remove it?"
Scott had shaken his head and stared for a few more minutes at the photo before moving to his own place at the table. He looked up at Lillian's voice. "Good morning John
how did you sleep? Have you seen Virgil this morning yet? If the picture bothers you we can move it."
John looked at the picture longingly for a moment before answering. "Good morning Lillian, I slept well thank you and yes Virgil will be down in a minute. Ummm
no please don't move the picture I like it there."
They all turned at the sound of someone tearing down the stairs. Virgil came flying into the kitchen and slid to a stop eyes wide and staring at the picture. Lillian went over
and crouched down in front of him. "Good morning Virgil, please don't run down the stairs you could fall and hurt yourself. Now the reason the picture is there
is because Gordon wanted to share breakfast with her. If it bothers you we can move it. Now would you like me to move it, please tell me exactly what
you're thinking?"
Lillian had cupped his face in her hand and he looked at her with big green eyes. "I think I…I want it there but if I change my mind is that okay?"
His voice trembled on the last and she smiled before hugging him gently, "Of course sweetheart every one handles things differently we'll just go slowly okay."
He smiled at her before moving to his place. She move about and after serving each of them their breakfast placed the older boy's lunch bags beside them. She had turned to
put the dirty dishes into the dishwasher when Gordon had tried to steal some of Virgil's sausage off his plate without him seeing. Scott frowned at the redhead. "Gordon,
leave Virgil's food alone and eat your own or ask for more if you want some."
Lillian had turned frowning causing Scott to tense waiting for the reprimand he had been astonished when she had stepped up and laid a hand on Gordon's shoulder.
"Gordon, listen to your brother you know that is not polite. Apologize to Virgil and finish up so we won't be late for school. Scott I believe your father said
you have football practice this afternoon after school. And John he said that you have some work to do on a science project for the upcoming science fair.
Would it be alright Scott if I brought Alan and Gordon out to watch you practice and when John gets through he can join us? If he likes he can wait there
until I go and collect Virgil from piano practice with Alan and Gordon. Then I'll come back and we'll wait for you to finish before all heading home."
Scott had only nodded and then looked back down at his plate thinking of what she had just said and what it meant. John had spoken then offering to keep Gordon so she
could speak to Virgil's teacher. Lillian smiled. "Thank You John if Gordon will promise to behave
and it's alright with Scott I might do just that. Now everybody finish up we have to leave in ten minutes."
Scott had pondered on the events of that morning all the way to school. She obviously did not want to replace their mother or she wouldn't have allowed the picture at the
table, and she didn't seem angry that he had reprimanded Gordon but just the opposite had reaffirmed his authority so to speak. She had even cared enough to ask how he
felt about them all watching him practice. Scott although he felt a little more at ease was still fearful of the last notion. What if she did replace him, he could understand why
it would happen she seemed really cool. His heart ached at the thought of his younger brothers looking to someone else for comfort before him. He had taken up a large role
in their lives the past year with mom gone. And they had filled a huge void in his. Shaking his head he had gone into school and tried to focus in his work.
Later that same day he had looked up from his stretching to see Lillian pushing Alan's stroller and guiding Gordon by the hand moving over to the shaded bleachers at the
far end of the field. They had all waved happily at Scott when they saw him. He had waved slightly and then returned his focus to practice. He had been slightly surprised to
see her there. He understood all those times his dad had not been able to come and watch him because of work or dealing with the sprouts. Twenty minutes later he caught
sight of John running up with a paper in his hand. John had breathlessly handed her the paper and Lillian after reading it had nodded and hugged John slightly. Both of them
were smiling. Scott had felt a moment of jealousy and pain shoot through him. He turned away from the scene and threw himself into the practice with a vengeance.
Looking up a while later he saw that Lillian and Alan had left and that John and Gordon were playing with a ball Gordon had brought with him. Turning back to the practice
again he didn't notice them again until the end. Lillian had returned with Alan and Virgil. All of them were crowded around Virgil patting him on the back and smiling. Again
that feeling of hurt returned. After being dismissed he made his way over to them trying to hide how he felt. He had been shocked when before making it to the bleachers
both John and Virgil had run up to him nearly tackling him. John had waved a piece of paper in front of his face excitedly. "Look Scott, I almost couldn't wait to tell you.
Mr. Thomas said that a professor from Yale was coming to judge the science fair and he thinks the man will be impressed by my project. Isn't that the
coolest?"
Virgil not one to be left out had held up his piano book. "Scott, Scott, Mr. Bleckley chose me to play the first song in the recital this month. Please come, you'll
come won't you. It won't mean anything if you're not there."
Scott had looked up to see Lillian waiting patiently on the bleachers with Alan and Gordon. She had not attempted to push in on this moment, leaving it for just them to
share. Scott smiled. "John that is the coolest I can't wait until time for the science fair to get here. And Virgil of course I'll be there just like I'll go to the
science fair for John. I wouldn't miss any of it for the world." They had all moved back to where the others were waiting and all of them had slowly made their way
back home. Scott felt the last hold of his fears give way and he relished the feeling of contentment that came with it.