Deer Frankie
Disclosure and Acknowledgement:
I am using JE's wonderful characters for fun, not profit.
Thank you to Maggie, my wonderful content and copy editor.
Chapter 10
Morning After Stephanie and Ranger Stayed at the Bed and Breakfast.
Bisa stood in front of the door of the guest room that Frankie was using and gently knocked on it. There was no answer. She knocked again, a bit louder this time, and called, "Frankie." Still, no answer. Bisa turned the doorknob, opened the door and walked into the room. Frankie was asleep, in a cloud of covers and pillows, bookended by Lila and Pugsley. Frankie snuggled Belfry and his blanket. They looked cozy and serene.
Bisa smiled at her youngest great grandchild. Frankie's long, thick dark lashes fluttered softly. He hugged Belfry closer to him. Frankie looked like Carlito at the same age, except for the blue eyes, his mother's blue eyes. What did Julie sometimes call him . . . Frankie Blue Eyes? Yes, like Sinatra. She thought that he was so dear, so sweet, so temperamental. Just like his father.
Bisa was happy that her prescription of fresh air, play and chores was helping with Frankie's separation anxiety. Every night since Frankie came to visit, he was so tired out by the day's activities, that he fell asleep while watching a movie or sitting on the back porch gazing at the sky and slept through the night.
She was also pleased that her other prescription for helping Frankie was working too. She felt strongly, and Stephanie and Ranger agreed, that Ranger needed to be more actively involved in Frankie's life. Bisa was glad that Ranger agreed to be Frankie's primary caregiver during their visit and to give Stephanie a much-needed rest.
Bisa decided to let Frankie's internal clock wake him. She walked out of the room and closed the door.
oOoOoOo
Two Days Before Stephanie and Ranger Stayed at the Bed and Breakfast.
Lightening cracked the morning sky into large chunks. Thunder rolled by like an avalanche. Nature's noises woke Frankie from his sleep. He nudged his sleeping companions, Lila and Pugsley, but they were still asleep, and could not and would not be budged from their spots. Frankie was stuck between the cat and puppy, sealed under the covers by their leaden bodies. He tossed Belfry and his blanket to the floor. Then he wiggled and tugged and pulled. When there was enough slack between the covers and the mattress, Frankie got out from under the covers and scooted down the bed to the floor.
It was cool and Frankie shivered. He walked to the window, which was partially open. The sheer panels that dressed the window danced with the in-coming breeze. Frankie caught one of the panels when it reached out to him and pushed it aside so that he could look out. The air was crisp and rain sheeted down from the sky. Frankie frowned. No playing baseball or going to the playground today.
Frankie opened the door to his bedroom and went out to the hallway. He looked around. He wasn't sure where everything was in the dim light. He called out. "Mommy. Daddy. I'm up."
A few moments later, his dad bounded up the stairs. "Hey Big Guy. Ready for breakfast?" Frankie nodded and his father led him downstairs to start another day at Bisa's.
After breakfast, Frankie dressed for the day and did his morning chores. He watched Sesame Street. Then under Irv's supervision and with his dad's help, he counted stuff and spelled the names of other stuff. By mid-morning, he was bored. He couldn't go out in the yard to play because it was still pouring. He could play on the porches, but it was damp and chilly outside and there were no other kids to play with.
oOoOoOo
Bisa saw the youngest of her brood go from room to room and fidget. When he made yet another pass through the kitchen, she called from the adjoining laundry room where she was busy folding towels, "Frankie, do you want to play with the Wii?"
Frankie stopped mid stride. "Huh? What's a Wii, Bisa?"
"It's a-. Don't you have a Wii at home?"
"No."
Bisa shook her head. "Carlito," she called out. "Come here"
Ranger, who was on the porch doing push-ups, said, "Be there in a few." He finished a set of ten and went into the kitchen.
"Explain to me why this child doesn't have a Wii?"
Stephanie and Irv wandered into the kitchen from the nearby dining area. They enjoyed the theater of Bisa interacting with Ranger.
"I-, I mean we-"
Stephanie rolled her eyes. "Don't pull me in on this one, Batman; you're on your own."
"I don't believe in video games for children."
"Carlito, come here." Bisa motioned for Ranger to come near to her.
"No. I'm fine where I am." Frankie looked his dad. Did he really say no to Bisa? Uh oh, Daddy was in trouble.
"Come here. Now." Ranger walked across the kitchen to his abuela and she slapped his head. Irv, Stephanie and Frankie sniggered in the background. "A Wii isn't a just a video game. It's way to get him to move around and tire him out." Bisa shook her head in disgust. "Irv set up the Wii and show my boys and Stephanie how to play. Now everyone out of my kitchen."
Bisa heard Frankie's squeals of delight as he bowled, canoed and played tennis. She heard Stephanie and Irv cheer every time Frankie scored, which was often. A few times, Frankie dragged her into the living room to watch him play. He was doing well, and playing with the Wii was capturing his attention and using his energy.
After an hour or so, when it was time for lunch, Frankie came into the kitchen. His face shone with a large smile and a thin coat of sweat. "Bisa, I'm hungry."
"You are?"
Frankie nodded and outstretched his arms. "I'm this hungry."
"Hmm. That's a lot of hungry."
"Yep."
"What do you want for lunch?"
Frankie canted his head and put his forefinger in front of his mouth. He thought for a few seconds. "Amen noodles. I want Amen noodles, Bisa."
"Hmm." Bisa mimicked Frankie by canting her head and put her forefinger in front of her mouth. "Amen noodles?"
"Yeah Bisa, you know, Amen noodles."
"Carlito," called Bisa, "what are Amen noodles?"
Ranger came into the kitchen. He put his hands on his son's shoulders. "Amen noodles. That's what Frankie calls Ramen noodles."
"Oh. I don't have Amen noodles."
Frankie frowned. "Phooey."
"How about tomato soup?"
"Got oysters?" asked Frankie.
Bisa and Ranger exchanged glances. Bisa wasn't sure that she understood Frankie's food choices. Ranger said, "Oyster crackers."
Bisa nodded. "Don't have oysters. But how about a grilled cheese sandwich?" Frankie nodded. "And how about you make the grilled cheese sandwich?"
"Oh boy. Can I? Can I Daddy? Pull-ease?"
Ranger whispered to Bisa, "I'm not sure."
"Don't worry, I have a sandwich grill. All he has to do is lower the top and push a button." Bisa whispered back.
Ranger said, "Sure." With that, Bisa and Frankie made lunch, tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, for the family.
oOoOoOo
The family sat in living room passing the afternoon together. Frankie was coloring and the rest of the family was reading.
"Bisa, can I have a cookie?"
"Bisa, may I have a cookie, please?" Bisa replied.
"Bisa may I have a cookie, please?" Frankie parroted.
"No."
"No. Why? I was good." The adults exchanged glances and grinned at each other. Frankie was always good when he wanted cookies.
"We don't have any cookies."
"No cookies? No cookies! Phooey."
We need to bake some." said Bisa with a wink. Baking cookies was an excellent way to pass the time on a rainy day.
"Okay. I know how to bake cookies."
"You do?" asked Bisa. She looked at Ranger and Stephanie. Stephanie nodded and Ranger shrugged.
"Uh huh." Frankie nodded then walked from living room to the kitchen and stood in front of the refrigerator/freezer and waited.
"Frankie, what are you doing?" Bisa called to him as she made her way to the kitchen.
"Waitin' for you to get the cookie dough from the freezer."
"No dear boy. We have to make the cookie dough."
"Oh my God!" exclaimed Frankie.
Stephanie and Ranger rushed into the kitchen to see what happened to their boy.
Frankie looked at them and said, "Bisa makes real cookies. Just like Gramma."
oOoOoOo
Frankie seemed to be reconciling with his anxiety over losing his mommy while he was in the country. He didn't seem to need Stephanie to be nearby all the time and he was sleeping through the night. Stephanie and Ranger decided that they would take Bisa's offer to stay at the bed and breakfast the next night. At dinner, the family explained to Frankie that his mom and dad were going to a sleep over and that he would stay with Bisa and Biso. At first, Frankie was hesitant, but Biso and Bisa promised him treats and he acquiesced.
That night, after a long day of playing Wii, cooking, baking and dealing with the idea that his parents were going away to a sleep over, Frankie fell asleep, while watching a Yankees' game with Biso Irv and Ranger. Ranger carried his boy to his bed and tucked him in with his sleeping crew: Lila, Pugsley, Belfry and his blanket.
All was good with Frankie. Well, all was good in Frankie's world, until the next evening, when his dad led his mom to the car to take her to the bed and breakfast for their sleep over.