Growing pt.11
Brian and Junior laid on the floor next to the fireplace sleeping. Kate and Adam watched them and smiled.
"They are worn out," Kate whispered.
"But they had a lot of fun today." Adam sighed.
"Yes, they did."
An hour later, Brian woke up and saw Cece wagging her tail. Brian grabbed her tail and Cece started to play with him. Brian giggled and Cece growled playfully. Kate walked in and sighed when Brian pushed Junior to the side. Junior woke up and started crying. Kate picked him up and hushed him.
"Go back to sleep, Junior," Kate whispered. Junior did as he was told. Kate sat down in the rocking chair and rocked Junior to sleep. Brian and Cece played in the center of the room and Kate watched them.
Half an hour later, Junior yawned and buried his head in Kate's neck. His left hand played with Kate's necklace and the other one remained wrapped around Kate's neck. Kate smiled and kissed Junior's head.
"Sleepy?" Kate wondered. Junior nodded and Kate felt him yawn again. "Do you want your snack?" Junior shook his head and Kate sighed. Kate looked down at Brian who was still playing. "Brian, do you want a snack?" Brian cooed and stood up. Kate smiled and got up. She carried Junior and Brian walked behind her. They walked into the kitchen and Kate pulled out a snack for Brian. She put Junior down in a chair and then put Brian in his high chair. Kate put a snack and a cup of milk in front of Junior and Brian. Brian ate his snack and drank his milk happily while Junior just pouted in his seat. Kate sighed and picked Junior up. "You just want mommy, don't you?"
"Uh-huh," Junior mumbled.
"Try to eat your snack, ok?"
"Not hungry."
"Drink your milk then."
"I just want water."
"Are you feeling ok?"
Junior nodded and Kate grabbed a cup and filled it with water. She gave it to Junior who drank most of it. Kate put her hand on Junior's forehead and sighed.
"You're a little warm," Kate said. "Does anything hurt?"
"No," Junior answered.
"Are you sure?"
Junior nodded and Kate sighed. Adam walked in and saw Brian in his high chair. Brian cooed and Adam chuckled. He kissed Brian's cheek and then walked over to Kate and Junior. He saw how worried Kate was and he took Junior from her arms.
"What's wrong?" Adam asked.
"He's a little warm and he won't eat," Kate answered.
"He feels as though he just woke up."
"He did, but usually he'll still eat."
Adam felt Junior's forehead and sighed.
"He does feel a little warm. Maybe he's just congested from playing outside." Adam suggested.
"I hope that's all it is," Kate answered.
Supper time came and Junior didn't eat which concerned his parents. All Junior wanted to do was sleep.
"Just one bite, honey," Kate said. Junior shook his head and slouched in his seat. Kate ran her fingers through Junior's hair and noticed how sweaty he was. "Honey, are you in pain?"
"Head hurts," Junior mumbled.
"Does it hurt anywhere else?" Adam asked.
"My chest and throat."
"When did this start?"
"I don't know."
Adam walked over and picked Junior up. Adam took Junior upstairs to bed and took care of him. He rubbed Junior's back down with some salve and looked at Junior who was very quiet.
"How does that feel?" Adam wondered.
"Ok," Junior mumbled.
"Does your chest still hurt?"
"Yeah."
Kate walked in with some tea and a bowl of steaming hot water.
"Drink this, Junior. It'll help." Adam said. Junior did as he was told and when he was done, he went to sleep.
"How long do you think he's been feeling this way?" Kate wondered.
"Well, I don't think he'd go outside unless he was feeling just fine. I think this came over him quickly."
"He looks so sick already."
"He had a coughing fit while I put the salve on him. He said it felt better after that."
"What do we do?"
"We'll watch him throughout the night and if he's the same or worse, we should take him to the doctor's office."
In the middle of the night, Junior woke up and started coughing. His chest hurt a lot more than it had earlier and he felt worse. He saw Adam sitting in the rocking chair and Junior got up and walked over. Adam heard him and opened his eyes.
"Junior, you need to stay in bed," Adam whispered.
"I feel worse, daddy. I have to go potty." Junior answered.
"Ok."
Adam helped Junior to the bathroom and when Junior was done, Adam tucked him back into bed. Junior had another coughing fit and it hurt more than he could express. He started crying and he curled up in a ball. Adam picked Junior up and hugged him close. Junior started crying and he felt very sick. He moved away from his father and pointed at the bucket. Adam picked it up and Junior rested his head on Adam's chest and held the bucket close.
Morning came quickly and Kate walked in and saw Adam rocking Junior to sleep.
"How is he?" Kate wondered.
"He's much worse. I think it's pneumonia." Adam sighed.
"I'll call the doctor."
They called the doctor and they took Junior to the hospital. Dr. Wolf examined Junior and sighed.
"It's pneumonia. I think being out in the cold brought it on quicker, but he must have had some of these symptoms beforehand. We'll keep him here till his lungs clear up. The last thing he needs is to be getting worse. If he's lucky, he'll be home before Christmas." Dr. Wolf explained.
Junior was admitted to the hospital and they started treatments. Junior didn't like being in the hospital and he hated those brief moments when he was alone. His first night was rough. Kate had stayed with Junior and was praying over him.
"Hurts." Junior croaked.
"I know, honey," Kate whispered. "Drink some water."
Junior did as he was told and tried to sleep but he couldn't.
"I'm scared," Junior mumbled.
"I know, honey. You'll be home soon, but you have to rest." Kate replied.
"Stay with me."
"I will."
"DOn't leave me alone. It's too scary."
"I know, honey. I know."
Junior eventually fell asleep and Kate prayed long and hard.
Morning came and Adam walked in and saw that Kate was looking out the window watching the rain.
"How is he?" Adam asked.
"No change," Kate answered.
"Mom's here to take you home. Brian really misses you."
"I know. Adam, he woke up last night and was so scared of being alone even for a moment."
"I won't leave him. Dad will be by later. He wants to come to cheer Junior up."
"Ok.
Kate kissed Junior's forehead and Junior moaned and opened his eyes.
"I'm gonna go home and take care of your brother. Your daddy is here and he'll take care of you. Ok?" Kate explained.
"Ok." Junior croaked.
"Good."
Kate went home and Adam watched over Junior.
A few hours passed and Junior spent most of that time coughing and crying.
"I wanna go home." Junior cried.
"I know, cowboy. I know. You'll be home soon enough." Adam hushed.
Junior cried and huffed weakly and Adam ran his fingers through Junior's hair.
That afternoon, James walked in and saw Junior and Adam sleeping. He sat down and watched them. Dr. Wolf walked in and checked on Junior.
"How is he, doc?" James wondered.
"He's showing signs of improvement." Dr. Wolf answered. "His fever is lower and his lungs sound a little clearer."
"Good."
"It certainly is."
Junior opened his eyes and looked up at Adam who was sleeping beside him. Junior hugged Adam and tapped his cheek. Adam opened his eyes and smiled down at Junior.
"Hi, cowboy," Adam whispered.
"He's showing signs of improvement. His fever is lower and his lungs are a little clearer." Dr. Wolf said.
"That's good."
"Thirsty." Junior croaked.
Adam helped Junior drink some water and Junior curled up against Adam and shivered. Adam kept his son warm and happy.
"Better?" Adam wondered as he pulled Junior closer. Junior nodded and then started coughing. "It's ok, Junior. Coughing will help your body get better."
Junior nodded and tried to rest.
AT the house, Brian was playing in the living room. He had quickly become bored without his big brother and was struggling to entertain himself. Kate could hear him huff and fuss and she walked over and picked him up.
"Your big brother will be home soon enough, Brian. Soon, you'll be driving him up a wall and enjoying every moment of it." Kate said.
Brian cooed and played with Kate's necklace. Kate kissed Brian's forehead and smiled.
A week went by and Junior had good days and bad days. His fever had finally broken and all that remained was a stubborn cough. He was well enough to go home and he was happy.
"Junior, let me put your coat on," Kate said.
"I got it," Junior answered.
"You sure?"
Junior hummed in response and Kate allowed Junior to put his coat on.
"Good boy," Kate said. "Your grandparents and Brian are home waiting for you. Let's go."
"Ok," Junior replied.
They went home and saw everyone inside waiting. Junior was happier than he had been in several days. He was finally home and he didn't have to worry about noises that constantly upset him.
After supper, James walked in with a box wrapped and ready for Christmas.
"I guess I should wait till Christmas, but I don't want to wait a year for you to put this up," Jonathan said.
Kate and Adam unwrapped the box and then opened it. They saw houses, buildings, people, and trees. Kate gasped and smiled.
"Oh, papa. A Christmas Village. It's beautiful." Kate gasped.
"I knew you'd like it." Jonathan chuckled.
Junior pulled out a house and smiled.
"Can we put it up now?" Junior wondered.
"Sure," Kate answered.
They walked over to the long narrow bench behind the couch and started setting up the Christmas Village. Everyone helped and soon, it was finished. Kate hugged her boys and Adam hugged them.
"I'm so thankful for the family that I have," Kate said.
"So am I." Adam replied.
Soon, it was Christmas eve. Adam had finished reading to the boys and he sighed.
"It's time for the two of you to go to bed or else Santa won't come," Adam said. Junior rolled his eyes and his shoulders slumped.
"There's no Santa." Junior huffed. Adam and Kate chuckled.
"But you still need to go to bed."
"Ok."
Kate and Adam put the boys to bed and watched them fall asleep.
The next day, Junior woke up and saw that it was just after dawn. He smiled and ran downstairs and into his parents' room. He jumped on the bed and shook his father.
"It's morning," Junior whispered.
"It is?" Adam wondered. He opened his eyes and saw that Junior was right. Adam sighed and pulled Junior close and tried to go back to sleep. Junior giggled and tickled his father who tickled him back. "Just a few more minutes, cowboy. God created rest for a very good reason."
"Ok."
A few minutes later, Adam finally gave in and got up. Junior crawled over to Kate and hugged her and kissed her. Kate opened her eyes and groaned. She saw Junior and she smiled.
"Is it morning?" Kate wondered. Junior nodded and Kate smiled. "Good. Let's go wake up your brother."
Soon, everyone was up. Kate and Adam had hidden Junior and Brian's stockings and the boys searched high and low for them. Brian found his under the coffee table and Junior found his behind a pillow. Junior pulled out two candy canes and a stuffed animal wolf.
"Wolf." Junior gasped. He hugged it close and smiled. Then he pulled out a dollar bill and an orange and an apple. "Thanks, mommy and daddy."
Brian pulled out the same thing and he was content throwing the orange and apple around. Junior peeled his orange and started eating it.
"Are you gonna eat your candy canes?" Kate asked.
"No. I'll wait," Junior answered.
"Ok. Well, you can have your brother's as well."
"Ok."
Adam grabbed the orange from Brian but Brian kept a tight grip on it. Adam chuckled and Brian cooed.
"Someone will not let go of his orange." Adam chuckled.
There was a knock at the door and Jonathan and Elizabeth walked in.
"I see we're just in time." Jonathan sighed happily. He sat down next to Junior and picked Junior up. "Let me see what you got there." Junior held up what he had gotten and Jonathan nodded. "Oranges, apples, and more. You know, you can eat the skin of an orange. It doesn't taste great, but it's good for you."
"Papa, don't get him started on that. You almost traumatized me when I was his age." Kate warned.
"You have your mother's tastebuds. This young man does not. He has my tastebuds."
Junior ate the peel of an orange and Jonathan ate a piece. Junior made a face but finished his piece.
"How was it?" Jonathan wondered.
"Ok," Junior replied.
"Good."
Brian and Adam were still fighting over the orange and eventually, Adam gave up. Instead, he grabbed the apple and bit into it. He handed it to Brian who started eating it.
TBC
SO just to clarify about the mysterious other house. If you watch A House Divided, you see Guthrie sitting against a tree and Adam walking into a shed or a build of some sort. To me, it seemed a little too big and sturdy to be just a shed or a stable or anything else, but too small to be a barn. It does however look like the right size to be an old small house. I may be wrong, but... it just got me thinking about the history of that building. Just my opinion.