Thoughts
...
Chapter 7
Misao POV
Oh. My. Gosh.
Aoshi kissed me.
Oh. My Gosh.
Not to save my reputation from batty old women.
Oh. My. Gosh.
He knows me, I mean, we're friends now, and he kissed me.
Oh. My. Gosh!
On the lips!
Maybe he wants to be more than friends now!
OH. MY. GOSH!
I stopped breathing for a few moments, then let out a loud squeal. If I could, I would have been dancing around in my car, but, seeing as that is a bit difficult to do, I opted to just wiggle in my seat.
Super sexy man likes me!
My little celebration was interrupted when my cellphone starting ringing. I stopped hopping in my seat and looked at the caller I.D.
Uh Oh. It's Jiya! I'm late!
Without even bothering to answer it, (knowing full well he was just going to give me grief) I started my car and made my way to the orphanage.
...
"Auntie Misao! You came!"
"I missed you!"
"How come you didn't come sooner?"
"You are late."
The children's hugs and welcoming comments were interrupted by my Jiya, who stood at the door, arms folded across his chest, giving me the eye.
"I'm sorry, Jiya. It took longer than expected."
"Did Kaoru try to help again?" he asked, looking a little scared.
I laughed. "No, no, Jiya. Her cousin did though."
His face blanched in terror. "Don't tell me. She's much worse, isn't she? Why would you allow someone like that to help you with one of the most important feasts for our family? What did we ever do to you?" He was in full out panic mode, rambling on and on. I let him suffer a little more, (he needed it) and then I calmed him down. Mainly because the kids were looking worried that they were going to die of food poisoning or that the turkey would suddenly burst into flames again. Last year's fiasco will forever be engraved in there minds.
"Calm down, Jiya! He's actually a great cook. It's amazing that someone with his talents is related to Kaoru-san."
"He?"
"Yes, Kaoru's cousin is a he. Now, who is going to help me bring this wonderful meal inside and eat it?" At my last statement, the kids cheered and lined up to help bring the food into the house.
...
After our feast, I read 'Heckedy Peg' to the little ones, changing my voice according to the characters. I thought the story was fitting, considering the children were turned into food after being deceived by the witch. The kids got a little scared because of that, but when the mother came to rescue them, they were in awe of her.
"'Let me in!' The mother called. 'I want my children back!'
'You can't come in,' said Heckedy Peg. 'Your feet are dirty!'
'Then I'll cut them off!'" I read.
The children gasped.
"She's really going to do that to get her kids back!"
"Wow! She's amazing!"
"I want a mom like that!"
"Settle down, now. Just listen.
The mother then went away as if to do so, but instead, the mother hid her legs behind her and crawled back to the witch's door."
"That's a great idea!"
"She's so smart!"
"Alright, alright. Let's continue on, okay?" The kids nodded.
"'Let me in!' the mother called. 'I want my children back!' When Heckedy Peg looked down, she thought the mother had no feet, so she let her in.
The witch pointed to the table. 'Here are your children,' she said. 'If you can't guess them right the first time, I'll eat them for my supper.'
How would she ever guess which food was which child?
In despair, the mother looked in her basket. Here are the things my children wanted, she thought, and now they will never have them.
'Hurry!' said the witch. 'I'm hungry.'
The mother looked at the table.
'Speak up!' said the witch. 'My supper grows cold.'"
"What is she going to do, Auntie Misao?"
"Will the children be okay?" All the kids had worried looks.
"What do you think she's going to do?" I asked them.
Keisuke jumped up and said, "Maybe she'll give the witch the food her kids wanted and the witch will change the kids back as a thank you!"
I laughed at that. "Maybe, let's see what she does:
Suddenly, the mother knew what to do. Taking the things from her basket, she said, 'I know my children by what they want.'
'Bread wants butter. That's Monday.
Pie wants knife. That's Tuesday.
Milk wants pitcher. That's Wednesday.
Porridge wants honey. That's Thursday.
Fish wants salt. That's Friday.
Cheese wants crackers. That's Saturday.
And roast rib wants egg pudding. That's Sunday.'
Quick as a wink, the children turned back into themselves. They hugged and kissed their mother than hugged and kissed each other.
Jumping on her feet, the mother cried, 'I've got my children back, Heckedy Peg. Now You'll be sorry you ever took them!'
She chased the witch around the hut, out of the woods, across the field, through the town and onto the bridge. And Heckedy Peg jumped off the bridge and was never seen again.
The end."
"Why wasn't she seen again? Did she die?" asked Sakura.
"Of course she did, dummy! Didn't you know that all witches melt when they get wet?" said Ichiro.
"Now, now, we don't know that for sure. All we know is that she never bothered anyone ever again," I said, placating the two. "Oh goodness! Look at the time! You kids need to be getting to bed. Go brush your teeth."
All the kids groaned at that. The older ones then helped the little ones get ready for bed. I went to find Jiya. He was sitting in his office looking over some papers.
"What's all that?" I guess my question startled him, because he bolted upright and began to shuffle the papers into one of the drawers.
"it's nothing, my pretty Misao. Just some old papers that I found."
"Uh huh. I'm not buying it, but I'll let it slide for today." He seemed relieved at that.
"I take it your leaving then?"
"Yeah. It's getting late. I have some things that need to be taken care of this week-end, so I probably won't see you until next Friday."
He nodded. "That sounds good. I'll let the children know to expect you then."
Jiya looked so worn down. I couldn't help but want to comfort him somehow. "You know, I don't just come here for them."
He looked up. "No?"
I went and gave him a hug. "Nope. I just use them as an excuse to check up on you. I didn't want you to think that I was some kind of worrying mother hen."
He hugged me back and laughed. "It's nice to know you care for your crazy old grandfather."
I didn't miss the emphasis he put on the word 'old'.
I hugged him tighter.
...
A/N Heckedy Peg is an actual children's book that I loved when I was little. It's based off of an old 16th century game, or something like that.
