Israel turned toward his sister and said, "Do you think we can head back now?"
Jemima hesitated. "I don't know. Ma, seemed like she had more than a little fight in her."
Israel smiled. "I'm glad I'm not Pa."
Jemima nodded. "I kind of feel a little sorry for him, but he did just get home. I wish he didn't have to leave."
"We were gonna go fishin'." Israel sighed. "C'mon, let's go see if the coast is clear."
They walked to the cabin together, and stood on the porch listening.
"It's quiet." Israel whispered. They opened the door. She had her back to them and they could see their Pa had already left. Israel felt sad, and sighing he said, "Pa's gone? I wanted to say good-bye one more time."
His mother turned and looked at him with a sad smile, "Oh, Israel. I'm sorry. He was in a hurry." She spoke quickly and then grabbing the bucket said, "I better get some water." She rushed past him and out the cabin door.
"Israel!" Jemima said. "Why did you have to say that?"
"What?" He asked confused.
"She's crying." Jemima said. "Now, you stop talking like that. She doesn't need you making her sad. You behave."
Israel was horrified. He didn't mean to make her cry. "Should I tell her sorry?" He asked worried.
"Oh, Lord no! That will only make things worse."
"Well, what am I supposed to do?"
"I know! Why don't you make a mess or try to smuggle in a raccoon or something." Jemima brightened at the thought of Israel dragging a live raccoon into the cabin.
"But that will make her mad!" Israel protested.
"Mad is easier for Ma than sad." Jemima said.
"Mima!" Israel felt genuinely perplexed. He walked out of the cabin in search of Hannibal, his pet goose. Finding him he gathered him in his arms and said, "I don't understand women-folk one bit." Hannibal honked.
He spent most of the day outside, away from the cabin. Late in the afternoon he was sitting on a log near the side of the cabin debating whether or not to go back in when he saw a shadow cross over him. He looked up.
"Are you hiding from me?" His Ma asked.
"No," He answered, "Not exactly."
"Hmmm." She said. "I made some cookies." She held one in her hand. He took it from her and she sat down next to him.
"Now, why are you not exactly hiding from me?" She asked. He should have known the cookie was a trap.
"I just don't want to say the wrong thing." He said.
"The wrong thing? What do you mean?" She asked.
"Mima says, I shouldn't say anything about Pa." He said munching on the cookie. "She says it will make you sad. And she says I should do something that makes you mad."
"She did?" Rebecca eyed her small son. "Why did she say you should do that?"
"She said mad is easier for you than sad, but that doesn't make any sense. I didn't know what to do, so I just came out here. Hannibal doesn't mind what I do."
Rebecca pulled Israel over close to her. "You can talk to me about your Pa, all you want. Mima's just trying to take care of me. But that isn't her job and it's not yours either. I'm fine. I just miss him when he's gone, but so do you, and so does Mima."
"I didn't mean to make you cry." Israel said quietly. "I was just sad that I didn't get to see him one more time before he left."
"Oh, that's alright." She smiled at him. "You didn't really make me cry anyway. I was already crying before you came in the door. I was just trying to hide it."
"Why?" Israel asked.
"I don't know. I guess 'cause I'm your Ma, and I didn't want you worrying about your Pa."
"I don't worry about Pa. There's no one alive that can lick 'em. And besides you always say that God watches over us all, so there's no need for worry." Israel said.
Rebecca nodded. "Well, are you going to come inside now? Mima's quiet as a rabbit and I could use a little noise to cheer me up."
"Can Hannibal come too?" Israel asked.
Rebecca sighed, "I guess so." They stood up and walked together toward the cabin, Israel holding onto her hand.