46 Reapers Stop Over
Not long after noon Mabel was in the back yard reviewing first grade level US history with Tommy and she heard the door bell ring. Tommy looked off to the side. She sat up straighter, alert. Why?
Tommy got up from his seat and looked toward the house. He said, "Who is it?" After a pause he turned toward her and said, "Ahh. Let's go meet them."
She asked, "Tommy. Let's go meet whom?"
He stopped and looked at her. He wanted to say something. He looked off to the side again. Ray no doubt. "We have visitors. They will probably be staying for tonight."
That couldn't be. Daisy wouldn't allow that. And where would they sleep? Tommy went inside and she followed. Good thing about the ghost, pretend or no, is she didn't have to worry about where he was or hold the door. The two of the them walked through the kitchen and into the dining room. There were four people there talking to Mason. Daisy came down the stairs. One of the four she had met. It was the Rube Sofer from the Waffle Haus, another of Tommy's uncles. Tommy ran up to him and got his greeting hug.
Rube smiled at her. "How the studies coming along? Is Tommy studying hard?"
"He's a natural student, Mr. Sofer."
"Mabel. Please. Just call me Rube." He turned to the three people he brought in. They were talking with Mason. "Excuse me." The three turned to face Rube. "This is Tommy. Whom I'm sure you've heard about. And this young lady is Mabel Ferguson, his cousin, and home school instructor." He touched the side of his nose. He did that a lot around her. So did Mason and Daisy.
A man stepped forward, in his later forties maybe, and offered his hand. "Glad to meet you, Mabel. I'm Steve." She shook it.
A woman, maybe late thirties or early forties, offered her hand. "Hi. I'm Gerty." She shook that one too.
The third was a young man late teens, mixed race leaning toward White. "Sam." She shook his too and stood back.
Rube introduced Daisy and she invited them to sit down. The room was running out of easy sitting places. "Tommy why don't we go back out and continue?" They moved to sit.
Tommy looked like he wanted to stay and talk, but Daisy gave him a signal and he took her by the hand and they were heading toward the kitchen and out, when the front door opened again. George, or Millie, stepped through. Tommy tore himself away and ran toward his Aunt George. Mabel noticed that upon George's arrival they stood up again. Very polite. Tommy returned and together they left.