xxx
On the last day of Summer, Jack and Jill were awoken by a loud and clear knocking on the front door. Jack rolled over and examined the watch on his bedside table briefly - it read 6.10, which meant that he should be getting up, and that it would be about two hours until Jill could possibly be coaxed into even moving. Which almost certainly meant that it was up to him to answer the door.
"Just a second!" he yelled, pulling on a shirt and a pair of work pants. He raced over to the front door, shivering slightly with cold as he pulled it open.
"Hey, I - oh, Jack..."
"What do you want, Kai?" the farmer growled.
"Look, all I wanted to say is that I'm leaving at ten o'clock this morning. I wanted to say goodbye to Jill before I left."
"Yeah, well, that's too bad - she'll probably still be asleep by ten, knowing her."
"W-what's going on," Jill muttered, appearing by Jack's side wearing a bathrobe and stifling a yawn, her hair sticking out in all kinds of unnatural directions. "Oh, hey Kai. What's up?"
"You, surprisingly," Jack said in astonishment. "Usually it takes either a nuclear explosion or a cup of freezing water down the neck to get you to move before eight."
"That comment might have gotten a laugh out of me, had you not decided to actually try the second option last Monday," she scolded, glaring pointedly so that her brother hung his head and walked away from the door. "Sorry Kai," she exhaled, "What were you trying to say?"
"Uh - just that, um, it's the last day of Summer... so I'll be leaving on the ferry at about ten."
"Oh..."
"So... I guess I'll see you next year?"
"Listen, I'm going to the clinic to see Gray in about two hours and I'll come straight to the beach to say goodbye, afterwards. Right now... I just need to sleep. Like, a lot."
"All right," Kai said with one of his trademark winks. "See ya then!"
"Yeah, yeah," the blonde yawned as she closed the door behind her. She sleepily raised an eyebrow at the smirk on her brother's face. "What?"
"Nothing. It's just funny to watch you slowly waking up. No, actually, I do have a question."
"Please leave all questions that require thinking until after midday," she instructed as she climbed back into bed. Jack walked over and sat at the end of it.
"What is there between you and Gray?"
"About a mile," she answered in a disinterested tone.
"Don't be an idiot. Are you two dating?"
"... I can't think of a smart-alec reply to that."
"Just answer me!"
"I can't," Jill told him truthfully.
"Why not?"
A long pause followed, before Jill sat up slightly, furrowing her brow. "Well... because I'm not exactly sure. We haven't really discussed it."
"You spent two days alone in the clinic with him, let alone the time you spent together in the mine -"
"This may shock you, but when you're in the middle of a dangerous mine collapse, dating isn't really the first thing on your mind. You're kind of focussed on, you know, not dying."
"Shut up," Jack called as he walked into the kitchen. "I'll let you get some sleep - but I want to know what's going on, and I want to know soon."
xxx
"Good morning," a certain blonde chirped, ten times more awake and happier than she'd been two hours previous. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine. You're giving me a headache, though," Gray replied with a smirk. Jill shot him an affectionate smile and settled herself in a plastic chair near his hospital bed.
"I can't wait until you get out of here," she said. Gray coughed.
"You're telling me. This place is depressing after awhile. It's so... white."
"..." Jill blinked. "Anyway, I have some real news. Kai's leaving today."
"Damn," the blacksmith frowned. "The best day of the year and I'm spending it in hospital."
"Don't be so mean," Jill laughed. "Kai's not that bad."
"Not that bad? If you really want me to refresh your memory -"
"Okay, okay. But that whole incident was my fault too, don't forget."
"I won't."
Sighing and shaking her head in amusement mixed with exasperation, the farmer walked over to the window and peered outside curiously. "Nice view."
"Yup."
Jill suddenly turned around, staring at Gray intently until he started to feel incredibly uncomfortable.
"You gonna tell me why you're looking at me like that?"
"Um... I - I was just wondering..." she trailed off quietly.
"You were just wondering...?" he prompted impatiently.
Jill giggled, walking over to sit on the end of the hospital bed, then looked at her hands determinedly. "Okay. This hasn't happened as of yet, by the way. Lets imagine that I was... talking to... say, Manna, okay? And - and we know that anything I tell her is going to be widely circulated, and there won't be anybody that doesn't know by the end of the day, and... well... let's say she was to ask about 'us'. Are we...?"
"Are we what?" Gray asked, a blank look on his face.
"Um... well, you know, uh... are we 'together'? A couple?"
"Oh!" the blacksmith said, catching on. A blush spread across his face as he glanced sideways. "I - I don't know, um, are we?"
"Well... that's kind of why I wanted to ask you what you thought."
"Right, right. Uh... do, uh, you? Want to be...?"
Jill bit her lip and took her time before replying. "Yeah. I do, actually." Gray started to chuckle, and she glanced at him in disappointment and mortification. "You don't have to laugh at me, I just thought -"
"Jill."
"Yeah?"
"Don't jump to conclusions."
"What do you mean? I don't jump to conclusions."
"You think I'm laughing at you -"
"Which you are -"
"- When really, I'm... happy."
The blonde blushed, then paused thoughtfully. "So you mean, you... we're a couple?"
"If you want to be."
Her face broke into a full smile, and she threw her arms around the blacksmith's neck enthusiastically. "Yes-yes-yes-yes-yes-yes!"
"Goddess," Gray teased, ruffling her hair. "What've I gotten myself into? I don't think I have the energy to keep up with you, or the patience to put up with you."
"You've managed all right up until now," she said with a casual fling of her hand. Then she became much more serious. "Gray, I... I like you a lot, you know?"
"I'd certainly hope so."
"I mean, you're a great guy. Goddess knows you can do better than me. But I think I'm cursed when it comes to relationships. Knowing me, I'll have screwed this one up before long."
"Well, that's a fabulous attitude to have."
"I know, I know. I'm just warning you that if you want to get out of this while you still can -"
"I have never met anyone more cynical in my whole life," Gray groaned, smacking his head with his hand. "Jill?"
"What?" Jill asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Shut up."
"Gray..."
"I love you. Now, think about that before you ask me once more whether I want to get out of it, or something equally stupid."
Jill gave him a silent half-smile, her eyes suspiciously bright as she surveyed him. "But why?"
"I'd classify that as something equally stupid," Gray smirked. Without another word, the blonde leaned over and kissed him. By the time she pulled away, her eyes were glassy with tears. "Jill? What's wrong?"
"I don't deserve you." He started to protest, but she covered his mouth with her hand. "I don't. Please don't try to argue. I just... need to understand... how you could fall for someone like me. I need you to explain -" she paused, unable to talk in a steady voice any longer.
He tilted his head and wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb as he cupped her face. "I don't know why. I just do."
Jill half-giggled, half-sobbed. She then turned to her left and caught a glimpse of the clock hanging on the wall. "Oh... hey, I'm so sorry, I have to go do something important... but I'll come back in about an hour, unless you're sick of me and don't want me to. Get better!" she kissed him lightly and ran out of the room hurriedly.
Gray smiled sadly to himself. He loved her, he did... but there was something pressing on his mind. It was stupid, he knew, but it was a persistent thought that just would not go away. It was the fact that - though Jill kissed him and smiled at him, and implied it whenever she was around him - it seemed like she just couldn't bring herself to actually say - even once - that she loved him back.
xxx
When Jack had entered the inn early that morning, he was expecting to hear the regular sounds of clinking dishes and glasses, Doug chatting to any breakfast-ers, maybe the rustling of papers or ringing of the telephone. One of the last things he'd expected to hear was a loud, out-of-tune whistling noise, followed by a string of curses coming from Ann's room. Ignoring the feeling that approaching the sound could be potentially very harmful to his well-being, curiosity drove him forward until he was knocking timidly on the door.
"Dammit Dad, I told you I've got it under control! I - OH FOR GODDESS'S SAKE, YOU STUPID PIECE OF -"
"Can I come in?" Jack called hesitantly, not exactly sure whether he really wanted to go in at all. There was a brief pause, before the red-head yanked the door open so hard, it nearly came off its hinges.
"Hey Jack. What's up?"
"Oh, nothing. I was just in the neighbourhood and heard you trying to painfully murder some kind of whistle, so I thought I'd stop by."
"It's not a whistle," Ann groaned as she gestured violently towards her dressing table. "It's a damn -"
"Flute?" Jack asked, picking up the instrument. "Ann, if you don't mind me asking, why the hell do you have a flute? You always struck me as the rebel on the drums or electric guitar."
"I don't want your sarcasm today," she warned. "I have three days to learn my solo piece before the music festival, and I need to practice."
"By the sounds of what I heard, I suppose that for you, bashing the flute senselessly classifies as practice?" Clearly not amused, Ann narrowed her eyes threateningly. Jack sighed. "Hey, hey... why don't you show me this piece you have to learn and tell me about this 'music festival' or whatever?"
"It's exactly what it sounds like," she called as she threw a piece of paper at him. "There's the piece... anyway, the girls in the town basically get up and perform a little concert along with a thirty second solo - and I always end up leaving it to the last minute and making a complete fool out of myself! It's okay when we're playing in the group because Elli's also playing the flute and Jill's playing the ocarina which sounds just like a flute - and they both sound just like me, so can cover if I make a mistake - but when it comes to playing by myself..." she trailed off and shuddered.
"This looks easy enough," Jack muttered as he rested one hand underneath his chin. "Here, give me the flute."
"You can't play the flute," Ann scoffed disbelievingly.
"I can play most instruments. I majored in music at university."
"Well la-di-da," the waitress said as she threw her hands up in exasperation. "Go on then, try."
With a smirk, Jack lifted the flute up and in the next instant, beautiful music filled the room. He played the piece two times through before Ann snatched the flute and music away from him.
"How was that?" he asked teasingly, sitting back as if he knew damn well that she was impressed. Ann rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. You're a boy who plays the flute. That's so not cool."
"I make it cool," Jack retorted with a grin and a flick of his head. Taking pity on the annoyed red-head, he moved over to sit beside her and lifted the music again. "Here, I can teach you if you want."
"I don't need you to teach me," she insisted, lifting the instrument to her lips and succeeding in nearly deafening the both of them with the peculiar noise she made.
"Uncanny. That's exactly what Jill's old cat Mittens would have sounded like if we'd ever put him in a blender," Jack moaned as he touched his ears lightly. Ann hit him and buried her head in her hands, half-laughing and half-crying.
"Okay," she admitted. "Maybe I need a little help."
xxx
Jill clutched her jacket around her tighter as she stood on the dock. The pre-Autumn chill was beginning to set in, the wind was blowing hard, and she'd much rather be sitting warm at home or at the inn rather than standing on a dock at the beach where the breeze whipped her summer dress up around her ears every two seconds.
She squinted to watch as a figure wearing a purple bandanna stepped out of the Snack Shack with several bags, locking the door behind him and giving a lopsided grin as he approached Jill.
"Thanks for coming to say goodbye," he muttered, looking as if he wanted to hug her but didn't quite dare. "No-one else did."
"What about Popuri?" Jill asked, confused.
"Ah... Rick. He wouldn't let her come down."
"Oh."
"Yeah..." there was an awkward pause for about ten seconds. "Look, Jill -"
The blonde held up one hand. "If you're gonna say what I think you are, don't bother."
"I don't know what you're expecting, but I need to say this. You have to know that I did like you, all right? A lot. I wasn't just messing around with you for the sake of it -"
"Kai -"
"Just let me finish, Jill! I want to know... if you really liked me, too. If you do still."
Her face whitened and she shook her head in disbelief. "Look, can we just let all that stuff go, please?"
"I'm not sure I want to let it go just yet," he said as he stepped closer, his eyes pleading with her. "Admit it, there was something real there."
"Kai, we were idiots!"
"Maybe we weren't. Maybe we were just acting on... I don't know, real feelings."
"Goddess, could you just listen to yourself for a second?"
"Please. Just think, for a few seconds, without getting all scary and defensive. Did you - do you - have feelings for me?"
Jill's heart and head started to race as she stared at the earnest traveller. He was a player, he couldn't be trusted. He wasn't Gray. But... he was certainly charming, and there was something that was damn tempting about the way he'd asked her. Could she possibly...?
"Well?" Kai asked hopefully.
Jill bit her lip hard, before looking him straight in the eye. "I... really, really like Gray. I'm not going to let you - or myself - ruin that again." His face fell in disappointment, and the blonde felt a slight twinge of guilt. "I'm sorry, Kai. It's not going to happen."
A deep wail behind them and a shadow cast over them signified that the ferry was pulling in, and Kai turned to stare at it pull right into port before turning back to Jill sadly.
"Well... I guess this is it," he replied. "You - you know, I'm not coming back next year. I want to settle down somewhere."
Jill's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean - not coming back?"
"Someday," he exhaled as the ship's captain yelled for him to hurry up, "But not next Summer. Not for a few years."
"For Heaven's sake, Kai," she scolded, covering her mouth with one hand and blinking to clear sudden tears from her eyes. "Without... without any warning? Have you even told Popuri?"
"No. Just you. Will you wait a week or so before you tell anyone?"
"Last warning or we're leaving without you!" The elderly captain yelled impatiently. "Hurry up, lovebirds!"
Kai turned back to Jill once more, a little desperately this time. "One kiss. A kiss for our friendship."
The farmer hesitated for a brief second before stepping forward and giving the traveller a quick peck on the lips. "I will miss you. I wish you'd given me a little warning."
He shrugged, picking up his bags and stepping onto the ship, only turning around when the bridge between the pier and the boat was pulled up.
"Goodbye," he called, waving and giving the cocky smile he was famous for. "Next time I see you, I'll be a good boy. I promise!"
"Bye," she choked in reply, laughing and crying at the same time. "Bye..." she watched for twenty minutes as the ship took her friend away, then wiping her eyes once more, she walked towards the stairs.
Her boyfriend was waiting for her.
xxx
The morning of the Music Festival dawned, sunny for the first time that Autumn. Jill awoke at 5am as she usually did on festival days, remembering with a start that she had to play a solo piece in the concert that evening.
That was how it came about that, instead of Jack waking up to the incessant beeping of an alarm clock, he awoke to the sound of Jill trying to play a complicated tune on an ocarina that hadn't been used for just under a year.
Trying to cover his ears and get dressed at the same time (a near impossible task for even the most multi-talented) he listened in mild amusement as the sound became less Ann-like and more like a decent tune. Running a hand through his hair he walked into the kitchen to see Jill sitting on a the bench, trying her hardest to work out a note with her eyes squinted shut.
"Why don't you check the music?" Jack asked, confused. Jill glared at him.
"I'm trying to play by ear. We can't all be as talented as you, Beethoven."
"It's meant to be a C sharp," he replied after a moments listening. "You're playing a regular C. If you -"
"Stop! I can do it myself!" the blonde insisted. "I played it just fine last year. Give me twenty minutes and I'll have it perfect."
"If you just let me -"
"Ah!"
"But I taught Ann -"
"Liar," Jill retorted. "Music... isn't one of her strong points. It's like me and singing." She paused to shudder for a second. "It just doesn't happen, and it can't be taught. However, I can play the ocarina and I can play it by myself. Scram!"
"Fine. The carrots need watering anyway. They appreciate me," Jack said sulkily, heading outside and taking care to slam the door behind him. He spent several hours watering, but stopped when he felt someone's presence behind him.
"Hey, Jack," Rick called with a half-smile. "How are you?"
"Hi Rick... Rick! Rick!" Jack replied as he suddenly registered. "My Goddess, I completely forgot about you - and Karen - what's happening? Have you called it off?"
"No, we haven't," he replied steadily. "She really wants to get married - all of a sudden she's decided she's getting too old or something - and I... I don't mind, either."
"How old is she?"
"Twenty-two on Fall 15th," Rick said. "She's, um... decided to get married then. On her birthday."
"That's... that's very soon, isn't it? Less than two weeks -"
"She says we'll manage somehow. She thinks it'll be romantic to get married on her birthday and - well, I guess it's one less anniversary for me to remember," he joked weakly, looking awfully tired. "She's getting her dress made in the city - that'll cost a lot - and she wants to live at the Poultry Farm, if we extend the house. She's at Gotz's place now, asking if he'd be able to do it before the 15th."
Was it just him, Jack thought, or was Rick using the word 'she' a ridiculously large amount? By the sounds of it, Rick wasn't being given a say in anything to do with the wedding at all. But, knowing it wasn't his place to intrude, he smiled.
"Wow, congratulations. Jill's inside if you want to - oh gosh - I... don't think Jill even knows. Did I tell her? I must have - but - no - you know what, I don't think she knows you're even getting married, so - well, I guess you've got the pleasure of surprising her. She'll be thrilled."
"Oh," he sighed, looking disappointed. "Thrilled, huh?"
"What are you -" Jack began in confusion, but Rick was already knocking on the front door.
"Come in!" Jill called impatiently, examining the ocarina in frustration. "Why won't it play the damn - hey, Rick! Nice to see you!" she pushed the instrument to the side and jumped down off the bench. "How are you doing? Tea? Coffee? Have a seat."
"Water, thanks," he said nervously as he took a seat at the small dining table. "I have some... uh, good news, I guess."
"Really?" Jill asked, pouring two glasses of icy water. "Hold on just one second - here." She handed him one and sat down opposite him, taking a sip of water. "So. What's your good news, then?"
"I'm getting married in two weeks."
Jill choked and dropped her glass, letting it smash on the ground. Rick scurried around to pick up the broken pieces, but Jill held out a hand, stopping him.
"You're what?" she asked in disbelief. "To who?"
"Uh - K-Karen," he whispered, frowning slightly, "Who else would it be?"
"Um... um, right. When did you propose? Or... when did she propose?"
"It's complicated," he stuttered. "I don't know that anyone actually proposed - Karen kind of - implied that she'd like to get married, and... things happened from there."
"This is unbelievable!" Jill exclaimed. "I mean, I'm happy for you if you're happy - but I thought you - you know..."
Rick cleared his throat again. "I'm reasonably happy - I don't think I deserve Karen, and I should be extremely grateful that I have her. I think that it's best for everyone... this way." An awkward pause followed and Rick stood up suddenly. "I should go - Karen wants to talk about sending out invitations. You and Jack will come, won't you?"
"Of - of course, but don't go just yet -"
"I really have to. Bye Jill."
"Alright - bye..." she watched him leave hurriedly, her forehead slightly creased. That was downright weird. She hadn't had a clue that Rick and Karen were together again, and she wasn't even sure that Rick was over her - well, obviously he must be, if he was willing to marry Karen. But if they were happy, good for them!
Jack's thoughts were similar, but with one crucial difference. He, being naturally more observant to people's emotions than Jill was, could tell that Rick wasn't as happy about getting married as he made out to be. It could be because it was such a big step, or because he didn't love Karen maybe as much as he possibly could - but...
"Jack!" Jill called, her voice sounding irritated. Jack dashed into the house and raised an eyebrow when he took note of Jill playing the ocarina reasonably well.
"What, Jill? I was busy."
"What time is it?"
"The clock is right there," Jack said through gritted teeth.
Jill rolled her eyes. "I know that, I just thought it could be fun to inconvenience you. What do you think about Rick and Karen, huh?"
"I wish him luck," Jack sighed. "It's nine o'clock. Why don't you go visit one of the girls and see if they want to practice?"
"Ooh, good idea!" Jill exclaimed. "I'll ask Popuri to come up to the inn with me, so Ann can join in. You come too! Please?"
"I don't think -"
"Pleeeeeeaseeeeee..."
"Jill, I -"
"...?"
"Fine."
Jill kissed her brother on the cheek happily, then grabbed his wrist and pulled him out the door, managing to put on a pair of shoes simultaneously.
"You're going to break my arm!" he yelled, trailing behind her. Jill snorted.
"I should be so lucky."
After a long gossip session, in which Jack had sat there extremely bored and Ann, Popuri and Jill had chatted about the upcoming wedding for hours with their instrument cases not even opened, it suddenly came to their attentions that it was indeed 5.30 and that they had only half an hour before the Music Festival opened.
Jill had dragged Jack home frantically, brutally questioning why on earth he hadn't brought the time to her attention, gotten dressed, fixed her hair and her brother's hair, then bolted straight back out of the house, arriving at the church in record time yet still managing to be late.
So now they were standing in the main area of the church. Jill was stretching her legs and arms for goodness-knows what reason, as if she was going to run a marathon or perform a gymnastics routine. Ann nervously twisted and untwisted her long ponytail, unable to think of anything more productive to do. Elli was in one corner practicing her flute, Mary was at the organ in the other corner, and Popuri and Karen were busy comparing notes on wedding dresses or something of the like.
Jack walked over to Rick and Cliff, smirking at Jill's idiotic stretching and Ann's... Ann-ness.
"Gray couldn't come?" he asked curiously, noticing that Doctor Tim wasn't in the church either.
"Nope," Cliff said, shaking his head sadly. "His leg's causing him a lot of pain - Ann and I went to see him early this morning and he told us to wish all the girls luck and give Jill his love. But, uh," he blushed, "I - I can't do that, um..."
"I doubt he meant it literally," Jack teased. "So, Rick. What did Gotz say?"
"He said he'll have it done by the fifteenth easily," he replied in an almost sulky voice. "Of course, I have to pay for it entirely - and I don't want Mom exposed to all the sawdust and noise, either, and -"
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Carter said in his calm, quiet voice. "These six ladies have been working hard all year practicing this piece they are about to perform to you, I'm sure." At these words Jill coughed quietly and Ann tugged at her collar uncomfortably. "I won't keep you waiting any longer - please turn your entire attention onto the young ladies as they perform for you."
Mary played a soft introduction and all the girls on instruments joined in, as well as Karen beginning to sing in a sweet voice. Jack's jaw nearly hit the ground - it sounded cliched, but she had to have one of the best voices he'd ever heard in his life! He turned to Rick to show his admiration, but the bespectacled young man didn't even appear to be watching his fiancee as he stared blankly towards the front of the room, deep in thought.
The girls played together for a couple of minutes, then Elli began to play by herself, correctly but mechanically as if it was all she could do to not make a mistake. As soon as she stopped it was Jill's turn, but she unfortunately started on a peculiar, squeaky note that caused most of the audience to cover their ears sharply. Jill tried to recover but the harder she tried, the more she stuffed up and the more she collapsed into giggling fits. By the time her solo was meant to finish, the hall was in complete silence except for Jill's giggles, Jack's snickers and Ann's hysterical, helpless laughter.
The red-head was in absolute stitches, rolling around the floor and clutching her sides in agony. She was meant to be playing her solo, hence the silence, but at the moment it was all she could do to keep breathing. Karen and Mary looked annoyed as Popuri succumbed to giggles too, and Elli began shaking with mirth. The congregation were pressing their hands to their mouths, wanting to laugh but trying to be polite.
"La la, la la la..." Karen sang as Mary accompanied her on the organ. Together the two continued almost to the end, before one of Ann's explosive giggles set Karen off.
"You idiot, Ann!" Karen choked through her laughter, hitting the waitress in mixed annoyance and amusement.
Throughout the commotion Mary continued to play as if nothing was happening, a look of total composure on her face as she struck the final chord. The hysterical townsfolk roared and rose to their feet in a standing ovation, clutching each-other as tears of laughter rolled down the faces of most.
"Jolly good show!" Mayor Thomas told Jill, pumping her hand enthusiastically. "I enjoyed it thoroughly. Thoroughly, I say! Well done! Most entertaining..."
"You're an idiot," Jack told his sister as he sidled up to her. "Idiot. If I were any of the other girls, you would be so dying right now."
"They loved it," Jill retorted with a big smile. "It pays off to not practice! Everyone enjoyed that much more than the stuffy concert we usually put on."
"I'm gonna kill you!" Ann yelled, pouncing on Jill playfully from behind. "I'd practiced for a whole day, then you go and make me laugh so I can't play at all!"
"ANN!" Karen's voice echoed as the brunette made her way towards Ann, a deep scowl on her face. "You made me laugh! I embarrassed myself!"
"Her fault!" Ann screamed, ducking behind Jill and pointing to her at the same time.
"Technically, you were laughing as well," Mary pointed out quietly. No-one had seen her join the group. "It's not completely Jill's fault. Besides, I found it... sort of funny."
"Hats off to you," Jack told Mary. "For having the self-control to finish the tune while being distracted by these idiots."
"Hey, that's not fair!" Jill protested. "It didn't matter for Mary if she was laughing because you don't play the organ with your mouth. But you just try playing the ocarina or flute without it!"
"You stuffed up first, Jill." Ann teased, Mary joining in. They gently jeered at the blonde for a few minutes, before she snapped her arms across her chest and stormed off in a huff.
It was about five minutes before she returned with little May in tow, their normally innocent faces contorted into identically evil smiles.
"Jack?" May said shyly, tugging on the farmer's sleeve.
"Hi, May! What's up?" Jack asked with a wide grin.
"You're a spunk."
"... I'm a what?" he asked in horror as Ann, Jill and Mary started cracking up beside him. "May, do... do you know what that means?"
The little girl shot a glance at Jill, who winked and nodded. "Well... I'm not exactly sure, but I heard Ann and Mary saying that you were one." The blonde doubled over in hysterics and Jack started to chuckle, shooting a smirk at the two girls who had abruptly stopped laughing.
Mary was simply opening and closing her mouth in disbelief, while Ann went bright red in mortification mixed with anger.
"We didn't say that! We never said that!" Mary insisted, stuttering the words out.
"May, sweetheart," Ann said through gritted teeth, "Are you sure it wasn't a different Ann and Mary you heard saying that?"
"Quit making excuses, ladies," Jack said with a wink. Ann raised a fist and Mary shot one of the evil glares that she seemed to reserve just for him. He whimpered, then ran to hide behind Jill who was still laughing uncontrollably.
"Priceless, May. That was brilliant!" she complimented the dark-haired little girl, finding it hard to speak through her chuckling. Mary raised both eyebrows and Ann lowered both eyebrows.
"You put her up to saying that?" Ann asked in a warning voice. Jill nodded gleefully and the red-head cracked her knuckles. "Right."
"Would you two grow up?" Jack called in amusement as Ann chased Jill frantically around the church. "You're so disrespectful!"
"In a church, of all places," Mary laughed with a sidewards glance at Jack. "How shocking."
"Yeah, I know," Jack said as he stuck his foot out and tripped Jill up deliberately. "It's shocking all right. So immature."
It seemed that just about everything was going right for the siblings at that moment. But both were familiar with the notion of 'calm before the storm', and while their lives seemed to be nearly perfect, they knew it couldn't last. They just didn't expect everything to come crashing down quite so soon.
xxx
