Chapter 27

Time for a Talk

It was a rainy chilly day yet again in Hope Valley. The kids were all doing reading hour. It had been a week since Earl had first come to school. Two days ago,he had also run into the words after school before anyone could see where he was going, and he had only come to school a couple days this week. Today she was going to have a talk with him before he could run off into the woods for the day.

"Earl, can I please see you up her at my desk for a minute? She dismissed the kids and waited until they were alone. He nodded and came to the front very slowly and took a seat. The children have told me that instead of playing with them at lunch,recess or after school,you will run into the woods and you don't come back. Would you like to tell me where you have been going when you go into the woods and disappear?" Elizabeth tried to get him to be honest with her,but he just sat there,standing his ground, with a defiant look on his face.

"I go home,where else would I go? He was getting a litte smart with her and she didn't like was just trying to help him.

"You like alone in the woods? And I woud appreciate you not being disrespectful to me please. Now...will you please explain to me why your home is in the woods?" She had calmed down some. She wasn't going to tolerate being disrespected like that from any of her students.

"I live with my grandma,who lives in the woods in a cabin that my grandfather built for her when they were never goes anywhere since he died,that's why she never came in to fill out the paperwork that you need signed. She takes care of me and I take care of has been since I was 5 years old and that's when my parents died in the fire."

"I see, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss and that it's been hard on you. I wish you would have told me all of this instead of just running off and not telling anyone where you've been nodded and apoligized. I'm going to give you the papers to take home so that your grandmother can sign them there and not have to come here. Make sure you bring them back to me though."He nodded once again in agreement.

She then gave him the papers that needed signed and she said that he could go. She walked him out and watched him as he ran off into the woods as he did everyday. Elizabeth gathered up all her stuff,put on her jacket and headed out the door. She also had her umbrella,the downpour had stopped but it was still drizzling outside. She needed some butter and milk so she stopped at the merchantile. She was on her way home when she saw Jack talking to Mrs. Graves and made eye contact and he waved. She went on her way..

"Elizabeth wait! Jack ran to catch up with her. May I walk with you?"

"Sure,I'm heading home if you want to walk with me."He nodded and took her groceries from her. Just then it was like the skies just opened up and it started to downpour. They started to run and found that they were laughing. They finally came to her house,ran up the stairs to escape the chilly rain. They looked at each other and burst into a fit of laughter again.

"Do you want to come in for a minute and I'll get you a towel so that you can dry off,and I'll make us some hot chocolate. I have fresh whipped cream:) Molly showed me how to make it really good." Elizabeth said as she unlocked the door.

They went in and Elizabeth got him a towel to dry himself off with,while she made the hot chocolate. They actually decided to take their hot chocolate outside to sit on the porch while they watched the rain. They took a seat on the swing and Elizabeth had brought a blanket for herself.

"So,how is Earl the new kid,doing in school?" Jack asked but Elizabeth just shook her head in disappointment.

"He only came to school 2 days this week. He told me that he lives in the woods with his grandmother. She never leaves the cabin,but takes good care of him he told me. She seemed to stare off into nowhere when she talked about him.

"I'm not aware of any cabin in the woods,but that doesn't mean that there isn't one. I can check it out if you want me to." Jack offered

"Thank you so very much for all your help Jack." Elizabeth said

All of a sudden, they saw Lee rushing up.

"Elizabeth,have you seen Jack? Oh there you are. We need you in town,the merchantile was robbed again,and this time,Ned is hurt."