Confusion
The search of playground and school premises had not provided them with any clues. The boy was definitely missing….
Neither his parents, nor his brother were much help. The parents were slowly becoming desperate whereas their other son grew quiet. Very quiet. Abbie tried talking to him, but his lips were sealed.
When she eventually gave up—back to consoling the parents—Ichabod pried a little. He shifted some of the kids toys around, pretending to play with them himself. The toy soldiers made very funny alliances and the young boy's eyes bulged at this strange grown-up. In the end, he couldn't keep silent anymore…
"You're doing it all wrong!"
"Oh?" Ichabod's eyebrows rose… "I thought they were supposed to be friends.." He held up the blue and grey coat soldiers who had been talking to each other about attacking from the left.
"No!" Hadn't this man had history in school?
"They're not supposed to be friends…. They're enemies…" He sighed dramatically. "You don't know anything…"
"I usually slept during history, that's true…" Ichabod conceded. "I wanted to fight battles of my own you know, not listen to my teacher reciting old ones…"
"You slept during class?!"
"You should never do so…" Ichabod warned, "you've seen what comes of it…" A wink accompanied his stern voice.
"Do you think Timmy is sleeping now?" young Bob asked.
"It is getting late…. Perhaps he did fall asleep…" Ichabod replied.
"It's all my fault…" His little voice said. "I said he couldn't play with them…" The boy's shoulders began to shake and Ichabod awkwardly pat him on the back.
"Do you remember what…? What was the last thing he said?" he pried.
"I'll get my own…." Bob hiccupped.
Ichabod wondered… It could be worth a shot…
"Why don't you come on a trip with me…" he suggested. "I've got an idea…"
While Abbie kept the parents attention, Ichabod and Bob slipped away. It would be cruel to get their hopes up, Ichabod felt. It was only a long shot, after all….
The walk to the mall was long and tiresome. Ichabod got some strange glances whilst walking with the boy. Bob didn't notice it. He described the toy store in vivid detail to his newfound friend.
Ichabod prayed to God this little plan would work. The boy's final remarks had suggested his intentions, however, children said so many things and they didn't always make sense either… He sighed.
"We're nearly there…. Will you buy me something?" Bob's hopeful eyes were more than he could bear.
"We'll see…" he replied. "It's hardly our first priority…"
The mall was not his favorite place. Everything was so expensive! And who needed ten clothing stores and five shoe stores anyway? Two pairs were more than sufficient for any man, surely?
"We need to take the esca… exa …. something…" Bob said, "The store's on the second floor…"
Ichabod had no intention of using that contraption… "We should look for the elevator instead…" he said, but Bob took his hand and dragged him along.
"It's fun!"
Before he knew it, Ichabod was standing on a moving staircase. He held on for dear life… Whoever had thought of such nonsense? There was nothing wrong with using one's feet to climb was there?
Bob laughed when Ichabod closed his eyes in a second of despair…. Fortunately, the ordeal was soon over.
The toy store was quite large. Ichabod hardly knew where to look—so many toys!—but Bob proved to be a helpful guide. He dragged him along, past skateboards, roller-skates, Barbie dolls and talking bears, to the military section. It looked like a proper armory…
Toy guns in all shapes and sizes. A mini canon, with balls. Bows and arrows too…
A little boy stood gazing up at the toy soldiers. His coat pockets were already loaded with them, one boot sticking out as the zipper couldn't close all the way….
"Timmy!" his brother said, shocked. "Were you going to steal them?"
"Shush…." Timmy put this finger over his mouth… "Don't tell them…"
"Your parents are very worried, young man…"
Timmy's lip began to tremble… "I just wanted to play with the soldiers…" he said.
"Let's return these to the owner, shall we?" Ichabod knelt down and began to take the soldiers out of his pockets. Timmy started crying.
When all the soldiers stood on the shelves again, Ichabod took out his coin purse. It contained just enough to buy two soldiers.
"I'll tell you what…" he started, "I will need your most solemn promise… Timothy, do you swear never to take another's property again?" Timmy looked at his brother for an explanation…
"Not stealing, he means…" Bob clarified.
He nodded. He wouldn't… Never again.
"And you, Robert, will you promise to share your toys whenever your brother wants to play with them?"
"I will," he replied. "I promise."
Ichabod smiled. "Very well… In that case… Both of you can pick a soldier to take home. To remember this day by and your promise…"
Their eyes lit up as they began to discuss which ones were the best. Ichabod smiled. Time to contact Abbie…
Abbie shook her head as they left the boy's house. The parents were so relieved and grateful to have both their boys home again that they demanded they'd take the blueberry pie that Ichabod had been eyeing. It had a little marzipan rose on top, which could house a small candle.
"And you rewarded them!" she said, rolling her eyes. "Increasing their toy collection no less…"
"It came with a lesson," Ichabod defended his decision. "They will never forget it…"
"Sounds more like you're Santa Claus to me…" Abbie responded. "Christmas season is over, you know…"
"I know…" he whispered. His mind immediately returned to New Year's Eve… Abbie's sudden tight mouth indicated she thought the same.
Ichabod scraped his throat. The following question was a little volatile, he knew, but he persisted regardless. "Would you consider? I realize it's late…. But… this pie won't eat itself…" he offered.
"It's evening…. It's hardly time for…"
"Please… ?" Abbie couldn't say no… Not to him.
About half an hour later, quite a large bit of the pie had found its way inside them. It was really good.
"You could have the rest for breakfast," Abbie said, as the put the leftovers on a plate for the fridge.
"And lunch too, I reckon…" Ichabod laughed.
"Time for me to go then…" Abbie put on her coat, but lingered at the door. "I'll see you in the morning, Crane…"
"Wait…" he ventured closer. "Abigail…"
"What?" her reply a little snappish.
"You've got some jam…" His long finger touched her lips, wiping away the blueberry jam in the corner… Abbie longed to bite his finger, but the moment passed, as his finger slipped away.
"There… that looks better…" he said.
She grimaced. "Thanks…"
"You're most welcome…."