"So what are you thinking to get for Crane?" Daniel asked.

"The bookstore first," I said, and after digging around for awhile i found two books

I thought Crane would like. I went to show Daniel.

"See? North and South, and Love and War, by the same author. They're about the same

family back in the Civil War. Crane likes history. What do you think?"

"Good choice."

"Now what?" Daniel asked, as we came out of the bookstore.

"I'd like to get something else, but I don't know what for sure." We started walking again.

"Daniel, how much do computers cost?"

"It depends. Anywhere from several hundred to thousands."

"Oh," I said, disappointed.

"Why?"

"Crane wants a computer."

"Well, I've got fifty bucks I'll throw in, if you can cover the rest."

"Ha, ha. I'll never have that much money."

"You never know. You might sometime."

"Can we look at computers? Just for fun?"

Daniel shrugged. "Whatever. You're the leader on this walk."

We found a computer store, and discovered that Daniel had been right on target with

his estimation of prices.

"Wow," I said, as we started walking again.

"He'll love the books," Daniel said.

"I know. I just-well I wanted to get him something special."

I gave Daniel a sideways look. "I could probably think better if I had an ice cream cone."

"You really do have your appetite back, don't you?" he said.

I finished off my cone in record time, and as we were passing an office supply store I

had an idea.

I went in and found what I was looking for, an extremely heavy wooden desk set to hold

pens and pencils. When the salesman came over to talk to me, I told him I was thinking

about buying it.

"It's for my brother, to keep on his desk," I said.

"We can attach an engraved plate on it, if you'd like."

"That would be great!" I said, excited. I asked about the cost and I was

fifteen dollars short. I sighed, disappointed.

"I'll float you a loan," Daniel said.

I shot him a grateful look, and watched while they engraved Crane's name on a brass

rectangle and attached it to the wood. They offered to wrap it for no extra charge.

"That all?" Daniel asked, as we walked out of the store.

"I guess so, since I'm out of money." I giggled. "And now I owe a loan shark fifteen dollars."

"Yeah, and I've heard he's a real mean dude. You better pay up quick."

"Seriously, what can I do to pay you back?"

"Don't worry about it."

"No, Daniel, I want to do this myself. If I don't pay you back, it wouldn't be right."

"You're really growing up, you know that?" he said, smiling at me.

"So, what can I do?"

"You can wash my truck to start with. I'll think of something else later."

"Okay. I'll do it tomorrow."

When we pulled into the driveway, it was starting to get dusk.

"Are you going out on your date now?" I asked him.

"Yeah."

I hopped out and went around to the driver's side window. "Thanks for taking me. And for

the pizza, and everything."

"You're welcome. I'll see you later."

When I went inside, Adam and Hannah were on the couch, and Adam was laying with

his head in her lap.

"Hello, sweetie," Hannah said.

"Hi."

"Did you eat?"

"Yeah. Daniel took me for pizza." I looked around the quiet living room. "Where is

everybody?"

"They all deserted us for the bright lights of town."

"Crane, too?"

"He said he'd be home early."

"Ok."

"Sit down here with us for awhile," Hannah invited.

I curled up in the recliner opposite them, after leaning over to grab a handful

of Adam's popcorn from the bowl that was resting on his stomach.

"Yes, certainly you may have some of my popcorn," Adam said drily. "I'm happy

to share, especially since you asked so nicely."

I giggled. "Sorry. May I have some of your popcorn, PLEASE?"

"I'll take it under consideration."

"So what's in your package?" Hannah asked, pointing.

"A present for Crane."

"That's nice, sweetie," Hannah said, in a pleased voice.

"Well, he did so much for me lately, taking care of me and all. I gave him

a pretty hard time. I just wanted to do something for him."

"That's good," she said. "It'll mean a lot to him."

Adam didn't say anything, but he smiled at me, and I knew he approved, too.

We talked some more, and then they started watching the news. I was getting

tired, and the news didn't interest me much, so I decided to head upstairs.

"Will you tell Crane to come to my room when he gets home?"

"Sure," Hannah said.

I leaned over to hug Hannah. "Night," I said.

"Goodnight, sweetie."

I blew a kiss at Adam, and then quickly snatched another handful of popcorn,

making a quick beeline to the stairs.

"You better run!" he threatened.

"Goodnight, Adam, I love you!" I said, in a singsong voice, leaning over the bannister.

"Yeah, yeah. You're lucky I'm too tired to get up."

I laughed, and went upstairs, putting Crane's present on my bed. I wrote inside the

cover of both books, and shoved them back into the sack. I took a shower, and came out,

bundling my wet hair up on top of my head.

I was sitting on my bed reading when Crane showed up, leaning against my open

doorway. "Hey."

"Hi. What did you do tonight?"

"Just went to town with Brian for awhile. How about you?"

"I went with Daniel to eat pizza."

"Did you want to talk to me about something?"

"Yeah. Kind of. Come here," I motioned him over to the bed.

"Sit down," I ordered.

"Yes, ma'm," he said, and sat down.

"Close your eyes."

"Why do I have to close my eyes?" he asked, smiling.

"Please, Crane."

"Okay, okay," he said, and closed his eyes.

I pulled the sack with the books out from behind me and laid it in his lap.

"Okay," I said, and Crane looked at it. "What's this?"

"Open it, and see."

Crane took the books out, and looked them over. "This is great," he exclaimed.

"I thought since it's history you'd like them."

"Definitely, I do. I've been wanting to get to the library to borrow 'North and South'."

"Now you can read it, and not have to worry about returning it."

"That's right," he said, opening the cover and reading,

'Crane, happy reading,

Love, Harlie, 1986'

Crane smiled at me. "This is sweet of you, peanut. Thank you."

I pulled the wrapped package from behind me and handed it to him.

"Another present?" he said, looking at me questioningly. "It's not my birthday, is it?"

" It's a 'just because' present. You took such good care of me all week, and put

up with me. I wanted to do something for you."

"You don't have to give me a present for that, Harlie," he said, looking serious.

"I know. I wanted to."

Crane was still looking at me, and I pushed his arm. "Open it, silly," I said.

"This one's heavy," he said, and tore the paper off.

When he opened it, he sat for a minute, not saying anything, and he ran his

fingers over his engraved name, 'Crane Michael McFadden'.

"It's beautiful," he said. "Incredible."

"Do you like it?"

"No." He looked at me. "I love it."

I smiled at him. "A computer was out of my price range."

"I'd rather have this than a computer," he said, with certainty. He leaned over

and gave me a one armed hard hug. "You are one terrific kid, you know that?"

I shrugged. "I wanted to give you something special, that would show you how much

I appreciate you. That I think you're a great big brother. And, how much I love you."

Crane didn't say anything for a minute. He sighed. "You're gonna make

me bust out crying here in a minute."

"I won't tell anybody if you do."

Crane kissed the top of my head, and then pulled back, putting a hand on one

side of my face. "I love it, darlin'. And every time I look at it, I'll think of you, and how

special you are to me. And I count it as a privilege of my life to be your big

brother."

I smiled, and Crane smiled, and I said, "Good thing nobody else is up here to hear us

talking like this. They'd make fun of us."

"Yeah," he agreed. "It's getting pretty sugary in here, alright."

All of a sudden I remembered something. Crane noticed my change of

demeanor because he said, "What's wrong?"

"My report. On Theodore Roosevelt."

"What about it?"

"It's downstairs."

"Okay. I'll look at it."

"I was working on it when I went with Daniel. It's not done."

"How much does it lack?"

"I think I was at about 2500 words."

"Hmm. So about 500 more to go, huh?"

"Yeah." I sighed. "Guess I better get busy."

"We'll let it go tonight," he said, and I looked at him in surprise.

"You mean it?"

"Tonight only, okay?"

"Thanks."

"Get under the covers," he told me, and when I had, he pulled the blankets up

around me. "And, just for the record, it's not because you just gave me the best present

ever. Has nothing to do with it."

I giggled. "Okay."

At the doorway, Crane snapped off the light, and turned back when I said,

"Crane?"

"What?"

"You're going to be a great dad someday."

"Why? Because I let you off your punishment?"

"No. Because you're fair. And you're kind. And because you really care. Your kids

will be lucky."

"Thank you. Now, go to sleep, so I can go down and put this gorgeous gift

in a prominent place on the desk."

I smiled in the darkness. "Make sure it's the MOST prominent."

"Oh, I will," he joked back. "Night, peanut."

"Good night."

7

I laid there for awhile, thinking, and listening as everybody got ready for bed.

.

I could hear Brian's deep voice, and Ford's laugh, and Guthrie and Evan coming up the stairs, talking. I called out goodnight to them, and Evan answered, "Night, Har."

Guthrie stuck his head in. "Hey, hyena."

"Hey, elephant ears."

"After church tomorrow, you want to go with me and Evan?"

"Where to?"

"Up to the Castles. Evan's looking at one of their horses."

"Sure."

"Okay. See you in the morning."

"Okay. Sleep good, Guth."

"You too."

I heard Brian go past later, and I heard him swearing softly when he stubbed his foot.

I knew Ford had let Gus in to sleep inside, because I could tell by the click click

of Gus's toenails on the wooden floors, and Ford telling him to be quiet.

Finally, I heard Adam and Hannah coming up the stairs and down the hall,

talking softly. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but the sound of their

murmured voices made me feel secure.

I said a quick prayer before I went to sleep, thanking God for all of them, for keeping me from

serious harm in the accident, and I added a request for God to be with the family of

Mitch Clark, who'd felt such despair that he'd taken his own life.

I whispered Amen, and let myself settle in for the night, along with the house

and the people in it.

7

This concludes this particular adventure of Harlie McFadden. Thanks to everybody

who has reviewed and followed this story. Harlie has more adventures and more growing

up to do, so be ready!