Chapter 5:
Spot entered Andy's room first. He was sulking on a chair in the corner of his room. Spot smiled wryly to himself. 'Well, no need to tell him to go to the corner- he puts himself there himself,' he thought.
Spot walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. "Come here, Andy." he said. Andy slowly stood and walked over to him. "Yes, sir?"
"Do you know why you're in trouble?"
Andy nodded slowly. "Cause I was fighting with Ann."
"Right. And we don't fight in this house."
"But... You and Miss Rae fight all the time..."
"That's different Andy."
"How come?"
Spot closed his eyes and sighed. How was he supposed to explain this? Andy stared at him expectantly, like five-year-olds tend to do. "Because Andy, Miss Rae and I argue. You and Ann were fighting."
He scuffed his foot on the floor, pouting.
Spot reached out and tilted the boy's head, so that Andy was looking at him. "Just because Miss Rae and I fight, doesn't mean that you and your sister can."
He sighed heavily. "Yes sir."
"Good."
"Can I go play now, Mr. Spot?"
Spot stood. "Go ahead."
He watched Andy scuttle from the room and then went to have a similar talk with Ann.
"Come here." he said, sitting on the edge of her bed, once in her room.
Ann sniffled and went over to him.
"Why did I send you up here?"
Ann sniffed. "'Cause me and Andy were fighting..."
"No more fighting, alright?" Spot asked. She nodded. He scooped her up into his arms. "Come on, let's go back downstairs."
She nodded. "Okay."
"Let's go see if Miss Rae decided to wake up."
Ann grinned brightly. "'kay."
He set her on the floor once they were downstairs and went to check on Rae.
Ann wriggled to be let down and crept over to the couch to take peek at Rae.
"What's wrong with Miss Rae?" she asked, looking up at Spot.
"She's just a little sick" was his reply, though he himself didn't really know.
"But we'll make her all better, right?"
He smiled and ruffled her hair. Cute kid. "Of course we will."
She looked at Rae again, and then looked back up at him. "I'm hungry."
"All right, go get your brother. I'm sure you both want some lunch," he said. She nodded and skipped from the room. Spot took one last look at Rae and noticed that she had woken back up. "Well, good afternoon. Hungry?"
She nodded. "A little."
Spot headed for the kitchen, paused, and asked, "What do you want?"
"Just some good hot soup. But... Spot?"
He glanced back. "Yeah?"
"Can I come sit in there while you fix it?"
He moved to deny her request, but the look she gave him made him sigh and agree. Walking over to her, he helped her stand up, draped her comforter around her shoulders and led her into the kitchen. "I don't want you revealing my soup secrets to anyone, got it?" he teased.
She giggled. "I won't."
* * *
The next day Spot walked into the parlor to find Ann snuggled up on the couch next to Rae, a book held between them. "What are you two up to?" he asked, leaning against the doorframe.
Ann looked up at him and grinned. "Miss Rae's teachin' me to read."
Rae looked a little frazzled, as any teacher might, but the bright smile on Ann's face told Spot that she felt it was worth it.
Spot took a closer look at the book. Ann pulled the book from Rae's hands and jumped to the ground, running over to him. "Can I show you Mr. Spot? Please?"
He smiled at her enthusiasm. "Sure kiddo."
She grinned up at him and then turned to the book. "On-once up-upon a ti-time, in a land fa-fa-far away,"
He nodded encouragingly.
Ann handed the book to him. "I'm going to go tell Andy." she said, skipping from the room.
Spot looked at the book cover and then at Rae. "Beauty and the Beast?" He laughed when she shrugged. "So you can read it over again, hmm?"
"Yes. It was really good. Besides, I didn't have any other books handy when she asked me."
A moment later Ann and Andy ran back into the room. "I wanna read!" Andy exclaimed.
Spot sat down on the couch next to Rae and pulled the two children up to join them.
Rae opened the book and flattened it across her lap and began to teach them both, with occasional input from Spot.
* * *
Spot walked into the kitchen a few days later to see Rae sitting on a stool reading something.
"New book?" he asked, peering over her shoulder to read a couple lines.
"Yes." she said, with a nod.
"It's time for dinner, just about."
"Alright." she said, continuing to read. He pulled the book off the counter and closed it. "Hey! I was reading that Spot!"
"You can finish it later."
She gave him a look. "What do you mean?"
He handed her a wooden spoon. "Today my dear, you're gonna learn to cook."
She took the spoon. "But I don't want to." she protested.
"But of course you do. Come on, do you want to end up burning down houses for the rest of your life?"
She sighed in defeat. "Fine!"
Spot gave her a grin. "It'll be fun."
"For you maybe." she muttered.
He chuckled, taking out some supplies. "We'll go simple."
She nodded. "So what are we making, Oh Great One?"
"Biscuits. And we will try to make it so it is not like hardtack," he added, grinning impishly at her.
He began dumping things in a bowl and finally stepped back. "Knead that for me." he said, turning to the sink.
"Huh?"
He turned back around and took her hands, sticking them in the bowl. "Eww!" she said, when her hands hit the cold mess.
"What is that?" she asked.
"Milk, Flour, and a few other things." he said. He stood behind her and reached around her, sticking his own hands in the dough. "Like this." he said, pulling the dough from the outside of the bowl and pushing it toward the middle.
Rae made a face and mimicked his actions. "It feels like lumpy mud."
He laughed. "You'll get used to it." he whispered in her ear.
"Is everything else like this?"
"Not all of it."
She smirked and then started to laugh.
"What's so funny?" he asked tweaking her nose, and leaving a bit of dough on her nose.
"I don't know!"
Now it was his turn to laugh.
"What?" Then, crossing her eyes somewhat in order to glance at her nose, she saw a bit of dough there and swatted at him with a doughy hand.
He grabbed her wrist. "Wipe those hands off, before you hit me."
She arched a brow. "Like you wiped your hands when you pinched my nose?" She smirked.
"Ah ha, but I'm the teacher here." he smirked.
She scrunched her nose, twisted her arms, and managed to smear some of the dough onto his arms anyway. He grabbed her before she could get away and twisted her around so that her back was against his chest. He grabbed a handful of the dough and held it near her face.
"Don't you dare!" For some reason, she felt the urge to giggle.
"What? Do this?" He asked, smearing the dough on her face, with a laugh.
Rae yelped in surprise. Spot doubled over laughing and leaning against the counter, so hysterical he could barely stand.
"Are you laughing at me?" she demanded, turning to glare at him.
"No... no... 'course not," he sputtered, red faced, and laughing harder.
She heaved a sigh before she leaned over and kissed him.
That shut Spot up. He stared at her in surprise. "W-w-wh-what w-w-was t-th-that for?" he stuttered, blinking in surprise.
Rae stared at him, just as stunned. "I um... I don't know..." They stared at each other for a few minutes before Rae turned to the sink and began to wash the dough from her face. Her mind was racing. What had just happened? WHY did it happen? Wasn't there 'Sippi back home? Yes, 'Sippi, back in Brooklyn... Brooklyn...' She sighed. She knew now what she must do.
* * *
The next morning, Spot stirred and awakened to the scent of something very delicious being cooked up. 'Breakfast?' he wondered. 'But who?' Rising to his feet, he padded out of his room, down the stairs, and into the kitchen.
Rae was standing at the stove with her back turned to the door, the frilly apron tied around her waist.
"Well I declare. Rae Kelly, are you cooking?!"
She turned and gave him a half-smile. "Yep. I figured you'd like a morning off. It's just about ready."
He sniffed the air. "Well, it smells delicious. I guess I did some pretty good teaching yesterday, hmm?"
"I guess so." she whispered, turning back to the stove. "Will you set the table for me?"
"I guess I could do that." He went to pull some plates from the cupboard when he noticed a carpetbag on the floor. "What's that?"
Rae turned her head to see what he was asking about. "Oh, that's mine." she whispered, removing the skillet from the stove.
He paused for a moment. "What... what's it doing out here for?"
She took off the apron and placed it on the counter. "I'm leaving, Spot."
"What? Why?"
"It's time for me to return to Brooklyn."
She moved to get around him, but he stepped in her way. "Why?"
"You don't need me anymore."
"Why do you think that?"
"You've gotten over your bitterness, Spot."
Spot gave her a strange look. "That's the only reason you came with me?"
"I came with you because you are my best friend and I couldn't stand the thought of you doing something to cause yourself further harm."
"Well why can't you stay?"
"Sippi should be back in Brooklyn by now. I'm going to back to be with him." she admitted, turning away from him.
"Oh..." Spot nodded. "I see."
"Spot, please understand..."
"I do. I do..."
"You don't," she said, her voice wavering.
"Don't tell me what I understand Rae."
She turned to face him, her eyes filling with tears. "If you understood, then you'd be happy for me. This is what I want."
"I am happy for you Rae. I'm glad you get to go back." Then he turned and walked out of the kitchen.
She took a deep breath, and swiped at her eyes. She followed him out into the hallway and placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned and looked at her. She stood on her toes and kissed his scarred cheek. "Goodbye Spot." she whispered, before turning and running into the kitchen, grabbing her carpetbag and leaving, never once looking back.
Spot stood there. Never in a million years would he have guessed that she actually intended to leave him... right then! He was immobile. His best friend... was gone!
* * *
That day had been a difficult one. After finding out that Rae had left the twins had both thrown fits and had been ornery and cranky all day long. And Spot was short on patience to begin with. He about lost it a few times. At the moment, Ann and Andy were in separate rooms, and Spot was relishing the calm quiet.
He sat in the parlor brooding when he happened to glance up at the clock. Bedtime for the twins. Rising to his feet, he made the dreaded trudge upstairs. He was not looking forward to this. If their behavior today had been any forewarning, it would prove to be almost war getting them to bed.
"Bedtime!" he called. He was met with silence. "Ann! Andy! It's bedtime!" he yelled again Again, silence. He peeked into the room Ann was in. And she was fast asleep on the floor. Entering the room, he picked her up and placed her in the bed. Now to check on Andy.
Andy sat in the same chair that he had sat in after being punished days earlier, glaring daggers at the floor.
Spot stood in the doorway and folded his arms over his chest. "Time for bed Andy."
"I don't want to go to bed!"
"I don't care whether you want to or not. It's time for bed."
"NO!" Andy yelled.
Giving the boy a look, he thrust his finger towards the bed. "You. There. Now."
"NO! NO! NO!"
"Don't make me carry you over there," he threatened.
"I'M NOT GOING TO BED!"
Walking over to him, Spot grabbed him by the waist and carried him in the manner of a football, kicking and screaming, and dumped him in bed. Andy jumped from the bed and glared up at Spot.
With a frustrated sigh, Spot grabbed Andy's arm, gave him a firm swat on the butt and said, "Go back to bed."
Andy stared up at Spot in shock, but finally turned and silently crawled back into the bed. Spot tucked the covers around him and sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry I had to do that Andy."
Andy whimpered and rolled onto his side.
"Goodnight Andy." Spot whispered, turning to head back downstairs.
"Night Mr. Spot," Andy echoed after a moment.
Spot wandered back down the stairs and back into the parlor. He dropped onto the couch and threw his arm over his eyes. He really hoped it wasn't going to be like this everyday. Those kids... He sighed. Why couldn't Rae have stayed? ' 'Cause she loves 'Sippi,' he told himself with a frown. 'And why shouldn't she?'
* * *
Rae stood on the street outside the Brooklyn LH staring at the building. She had been gone for nearly a month, what had everyone thought of her disappearance? Would they welcome her back?
The first to dash out of the lodging house was Jessica. She barreled into Rae. "I knew it! I knew it was you! They didn't believe me but I was right!"
Rae dropped her carpetbag and wrapped her arms around the little girl, shocked speechless.
"Where were you? Why were you gone so long? Why didn't you tell anyone?" She barraged her with questions, leading her into the house.
"I had some things I need to do Jecca." Rae said, looking around the room and into the faces of her friends.
Hades strolled up and gave her a once over.
"Hades..." Rae said, glancing at her friend.
"Rae..."
"I'm sorry for just disappearing like that."
"You should be. We were worried sick!" She embraced Rae tightly. "First Spot, then you! We thought some gang was picking us off!"
Rae returned the hug. "I came back as soon as I could."
"Well where were you?!"
Rae shook her head. "I can't tell you."
Hades folded her arms over her chest and pouted somewhat. "And why not?"
"Hades, please just trust me. I'll tell you when I can."
She harrumphed and then turned sideways a bit. "'Sip's back."
Rae looked around the room and didn't see him there. "Where is he?"
Hades jerked her thumb behind her. Mississippi was standing somewhat behind her. "Rae? You're back!"
She nodded, unable to speak as she gazed into his deep blue eyes.
He pulled her into a tight hug. "When I got back, I heard you were gone... Where'd you go?"
"I had some things to take care of." she said, smiling up at him.
"Where?" he asked.
She thought for a moment and laughed. "Ya know, I'm not really sure where it was."
He looked at her for a moment and then smiled. "Well, I'm just glad you're back." Sippi waited until she greeted all of her friends before he leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Let's go for a walk." She looked up at him and nodded. They left the building and silently made their way to the docks. Once they were on the docks he turned her to face him. "Rae, before I left I told you that when I returned that I would ask you to be my girl. I'm asking you now."
She blinked in surprise. She had forgotten all about it. She remained silent for a long time.
"Well?" 'Sippi asked, somewhat nervous now. "If this was a wrong time..."
"No, Sippi, it was the right time, it...I just....it took me by surprise."
'Sippi looked a little less glum and a little more hopeful. "Well? Would you... be my girl?"
She looked up at him and nodded. "Yes, Mississippi Wayne. I will be your girl."