Two Nephews, One Niece, One Uncle, A Best Friend and KK

Daisy knew that KK had come home and decided to stay in her room. She and KK got along for the most part but at times she still seem to still be nervous around her. Daisy figured that KK would eventually calm down enough and talk to Uncle Jesse. Her being close by and in earshot would make KK keep quite and I'm sure that was the last thing Uncle Jesse wanted. She felt that KK needed to somehow express her emotions although it wasn't easy for her to do.

Uncle Jesse didn't exactly know what to do in order to comfort her. At least she was safe in his arms and he didn't have to worry about her never coming home. He thought about that once in a while but she hadn't done it yet. All he could do was rub her back and rock her as the tears shook her tiny body.

A few minutes later Uncle Jesse recognized that KK had cried herself to sleep. He had thought about waking her up to talk about what would happen tomorrow but then again he had also realize that she had not gotten much sleep over the last two days and thought it was best just to let her rest.

"Oh little one," he commented to himself, "What am I going to do with you? I feel terrible about bringing in Coy and Vance, especially since you don't know them and don't trust any stranger but what else can I do?" Uncle Jesse asked to no one as he gently danced around the room with KK in his arms.

A few moments later Uncle Jesse knocked on Daisy's door.

"Hold on one moment," Daisy said and got up to open the door.

"She's sound asleep," Uncle Jesse said about KK. He then walked over to her hammock while Daisy removed the blanket that was there.

"There," Daisy said as she put the blanket over KK after Uncle Jesse laid her down. Uncle Jesse gave KK a kiss on the forehead, wished her sweet dreams and gently made the hammock sway.

"Can I talk to you out in the living room for a few moments, Daisy?"

"Sure," she said and they went out to the living room, shutting the door behind them so they wouldn't disturb KK.

"Coy and Vance should be here around 10 in the morning."

"What's the plan for her?" inquiring about KK.

"Pray that everything goes okay. What I am hoping is that she can at least be introduced to them, but that probably won't happen. She'll at least try and then when she feels they're invading her space she'll run for the nearest tree and watch them from a distance. It's gonna take her time to feel them out. I just hope they can understand that."

"I'm sure that they will. They're gonna have to with KK. KK marches to own beat."

"Oh that reminds me. The end of this month K has a choir concert. Please make sure you attend because she needs all the support she can get. Sometimes I wonder if she's makes a sound or just mouths the words."

"Not a problem. I'm sure she sings. She's got talent Uncle Jesse and she loves to sing."

"I know Daisy, but her one true love is the drums. That was the smartest ideal that Bo had. He recognized that she was always tapping her feet or playing air drums. She's never had smiled when the three of them opened their birthday presents."

"That all changed last year."

"No one had ever seen a bigger smile on that kid's face when she opened the first part of an entire drum set."

"How did you afford it?"

"With a little help from you, Luke, Bo, Cooter and Boss."

"Boss?"

"It was reward money from some crazy scheme of his. I actually told him thank you and when he asked what I told him that he was about to make a kid's dream come true."

"If he only knew it was for a Duke," Daisy said giggling.

"Daisy, she's gonna rely on you, especially when I'm out in the field with the boys. I know you don't think she likes you too much but she does. The problem between the two of you is that she's likes hanging with the boys. She's just a tomboy that doesn't care about how she looks or what doll she should be playing with. She rather get muddy and roughhouse with the boys."

"Yeah, I know. She and I have different likes and dislikes. But still I wonder sometimes. It's not like you can read her very well. She has hiding her feelings down to a science."

"It's been a long day today and tomorrow it will feel even longer so I'm going to bed."

"So am I. I'll see ya in the morning."

Daisy closed the door to the bedroom that she and KK shared. The only light in the room was from the stars and the full moon's light that had crept into the room. The only thing that Daisy could do was stand over her and observe her. She couldn't keep her eyes off of her and Daisy didn't know why.

After watching KK sleep peacefully, Daisy looked out the window and realized that it was a full moon. Daisy also remembered that KK and Luke would sneak out of the house in the middle of the night and just watch the night sky.

Because she was curious, Daisy asked Luke one day why in the world would they sneak out at 3:00 a.m., in the middle of the night.

"It just seems to calm her. Actually, we do it more than you think. For K, it's a time that she doesn't have to worry about being about anyone but herself. It's a stress reliever for her."

Daisy thought, to herself, that this would be a perfect night to have one of those outings. But of course that was impossible. Suddenly the events of the entire day seem to hit Daisy and she allowed the tears to come out but didn't make a sound. She too wanted Luke to live but how much pain could one person take? "Oh, kiddo," she said in whisper, "I hope he lives too. What would we do without him?"

Daisy grabbed a tissue, dab her eyes and walked over to her bed and fell asleep.

Uncle Jesse had a restless night sleep and finally gave up sleeping at around 6:30 a.m. He got dressed in his typical fare and walked to the kitchen to make some coffee.

"Three and half hours to go," he said to no one. He was also surprised that KK wasn't up yet as well. It never cease to amaze him that KK always woke up at 6:30 in the morning. It was some type of internal alarm that she had. Before he had time to finish his thought out came KK from her room.

"I thought for sure that you would sleep in," he said to KK.

Not quite awake yet she said, "Unh?" as she walked towards the kitchen.

Once she reached the kitchen table she sat down in her usual spot. "Hungry, kiddo?" Uncle Jesse asked knowing that she was always hungry when she first woke up in the morning.

"Do I have to like these cousins of mine?"

"K, why wouldn't you like them?"

KK shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I feel like they're taking over. Trying to be something they're not."

"K," Uncle Jesse said walking towards her and crouching down to her height, "Why do you believe that they'll take over?"

"I don't know. I just can't take this. Everything is changing and I feel like I can't keep up with it. All I want to do is run away from all of this," KK said.

KK had started to make her fingers into tight fists and then release them and also became figidity in her seat. Uncle Jesse could see that she was under a lot of stress. "K, listen to me," Uncle Jesse said as he grabbed her hands and rub his thumbs on the top of them, "I'm not expecting you to like them in the beginning. I know sweetheart that you're not going to care for them in the beginning but I am hoping in time that you will. I know that you have this feeling that they're trying to replace Bo and Luke, but they're not going to."

"I feel that if I get to know them that Luke will get mad?"

"Why?"

"Because Luke is my buddy. I feel that if I tell them anything it would be betraying Luke."

"KK, by talking to them you're not betraying your friendship."

"I know that, but I miss that constant big brother in my life. Someone to go to when I need help on something whether it's math or a problem at school. I don't want to talk to anyone else about it."

"KK – I think Luke would understand if you talked to me or Daisy or Matt or Steve."

"Yes, that's logical in your world, but I can't get myself to do it. I can't stand change."

"I know you can't and I understand that what's going to happen will probably make you run and hide for a while. All I ask is two things. One is to be home before dark and two is keep your grades up. There's only a few weeks left until school is over with."

Uncle Jesse let go of KK's hands and got back up. KK followed him by standing up on the chair.

"K?" Uncle Jesse tried to ask but she jumped into his arms before he had a chance to say more. All she wanted at that moment was to be held and rocked knowing that there was some sanity in her world.

"Sweetheart, whenever you need me, you just come and get me. We'll get you through this and you'll help everyone else get through this too."

"I love you."

"I love you too, KK."

Uncle Jesse decided that breakfast wasn't that important at the moment and carried KK through the house until she fell back asleep and then laid her on the couch.

It was almost 10:00 and Uncle Jesse and Daisy waited by the back door of the farm house to welcome Coy and Vance. KK was there as well but held on to Uncle Jesse for dear life.

"Whenever you feel like bolting, go. Just remember to be home by the time it gets dark, or call me."

"Okay."

Suddenly they could see a beat up blue car coming down the road and KK couldn't take it anymore. She climbed the nearest tree she could find on the property so she wouldn't be spotted by Coy or Vance. She had never met these guys before and wanted to be able to judge them on her own terms.

Before Coy and Vance were in earshot, "Is she okay up there?" Daisy asked.

"As long as she can hide and they can't see her, then she is. I can't see her and I know what tree she went up," Uncle Jesse responded back

Coy stopped the vehicle and both he and Vance got out and everyone hugged one another.

"I wish this visit was under better terms, Uncle Jesse," Coy said.

"Same here cuz, how are the boys doing?"

Uncle Jesse had a suspicion that KK did not want to hear this over again and decided to encourage everyone to go inside so he could explain Bo's and Luke's conditions.

As soon as they were all in, Uncle Jesse could hear KK jump down from the tree and run. He then sent a silent prayer up for KK, praying that she remains safe and some point have the courage to meet her cousins.

Once Uncle Jesse walked in the kitchen, Daisy asked if KK was okay and he quietly told her that he would talk to her later about that.

"So, Uncle Jesse what has happened so far?" Vance asked while everyone sat around the kitchen table and Daisy prepared coffee.

"Well, let me explain the situation about KK. She's very sensitive child and she doesn't talk to anyone she doesn't know. I don't what will happen while you guys are here. I'm sure that Coy told you Vance, but KK doesn't know anything about her family life prior to living here. She has asked and I don't have the heart to tell her that she really should be dead because it was her father that killed her mother, etc, etc. She does know that Aaron and Karen are her triplet sisters. I don't know if they know the truth, but knowing Ms. Zang she probably told them the truth. I requested her to tell the girls not to tell KK until she asks about it."

"Why? Wouldn't it be better to tell her the truth?" Coy asked.

"Normally I would have agreed with you but when KK came down here it was a circus for the first few years. She was only down here a month and she had to have ankle surgery, a cast on her leg for three months, and then have the surgery redone because somehow she broke the bone again. On top of all that we all learned what she was allergic to and also taught her how to talk although that's an on going process for her. She has autism and it makes it difficult for her to express her feelings and to also control herself when she's very upset. She's learning on how to, but with everything that's going on with the boys she just can't help it."

"So, how do you treat her?" Vance asked a little unsure about KK.

"Vance, Coy, don't get me wrong, I love KK. She's just a handful to take care of and without Luke it's ten times more difficult. KK is a very intelligent kid, she's surpassing kids in her class in math and science and is less then a year behind in reading and writing, which is a miracle in itself. She's also a grade ahead along with Aaron and Karen. That's because there weren't any other five year olds so they just decided to start them at Grade 1. What I'm trying to spit out is let KK come to you. Don't go to her. She has to feel you out to see if you're okay. It's a defense mechanism that she has. She doesn't know who you are right now, so bare with her."

"How are Bo and Luke doing?" Coy asked.

"That's another who bag of worms. Bo should be fine. They have him in a medicated coma to allow time for his neck and spine to heal. It was bruised in the crash and they didn't want him to move because it could cause further damage, so they induced him in a coma. Luke on the other hand is very touchy. He may not make it. Even if he does, we don't know what type of shape he'll be in when he awakes. KK and Luke are extremely close and she's not taking the news very well. Boys, give K some time and hopefully she'll come to realized that you're not so bad after all."

There was a knock at the door. It was Matt.

"Oh, hi Matt," Uncle Jesse said.

"Hello sir," Matt spoke through the screen front door. "I was wondering if you knew were KK was?

"Matt, I would like to introduce you to Coy and Vance," Uncle Jesse said as he held the door open for Matt to come in.

Coy and Vance walked from the kitchen into the living room where Matt was.

"Matt, this is Coy and this is Vance," Uncle Jesse said as he pointed out who each person was.

"Nice to meet you," Matt said as they shook his hand.

"She took off already this morning and I don't know where she went to."

"So she did come home."

"Yes, just like I said."

"Okay then, I'll just go and look for her. Steve's looking for her to explain the report that we all have to do. Well, nice to meet y'all and I speak to later Mr. Duke," Matt said as he walked back towards the door.

"Okay, Matt. Tell Steve I will call him later," Uncle Jesse said as Matt left.

Once Matt left Uncle Jesse turned around to the boys who wondered what was going on. "That was Matt," Uncle Jesse explained. "That's KK's best friend and Steve is her teacher. There trying there best to keep KK as happy as possible during this time. They're only a few people that KK will talk to about how she feels."

"I think we have are own handful with KK and we haven't seen her yet," Coy said.

"Well, boys are you ready to go to work?" Uncle Jesse said.

Soon the boys were out in the farm doing the chores that Bo and Luke should have been doing. At least that what KK felt, watching them from afar. Uncle Jesse figured that she hadn't gone too far and while the boys were busy with their chores wandered over to the tree that he believed she ran up.

"Hey you up there!" He spoke to KK. "You can't hide on me. Matt was over looking for you. He said that Steve wanted to talk to you. Why don't you go over there? At least you would be out of the hot sun."

"Hey,"

"Yes, KK"

"Can I come home for dinner?"

"Since when do you have to ask? This is your home too"

"Do I have to sit by them?"

"No, not now but eventually K, you have to talk to them."

"I know, but I'm scared of them."

"Why are you scared of them? They're family."

"Because I don't know who they are and how they will treat me?"

"K, they're family. They won't and better not do anything to hurt you. You've got to trust me on this.

"I do, but still I'm nervous."

"Why don't you go over to Steve's house? Matt came over earlier looking for you for him. He said that Steve wanted to talk to you. Go over there and stay there in case I have to call you. Okay?"

"Okay."

"I'll make sure that Coy and Vance are focusing on their chores while you sneak into the barn, grab your scooter,1 and go over to Steve's."

KK did what she was instructed and made her way over to Steve's house.

End of Part 10

1 KK's scooter, like most of her friends', are mopeds. I figure it was the easiest way to travel from one spot to another for a kid.