AFTER CHURCH

"Dad, can Danny and I go flying now?" Rafe asked.

"It sure don't look like Danny wants to do any flying right now." His father replied, pointing out

Danny chasing Grace around the yard, both laughing.

Danny managed to catch up with Grace and tackled her to the ground, torturing her by tickling

her.

"NO! Danny, stop! Please! I can't....breathe! STOP!" Gracie laughed.

Finally Danny gave up his torture.

"Gracie, when did you get so beautiful?" Danny asked shyly as he played with a curl in her hair.

"I don't know...When did you start looking at me like a girl and not 'your kid sister'?" Grace

blushed.

"I don't know when, but I can't seem to stop looking at you." Danny said lifting her chin so she

was looking into his eyes. Then, he suprised the both of them and kissed her lips lightly.

Suddenly, the two were pulled apart and Rafe was on top of Danny, beating him senseless.

"RAFE! Stop that! Daddy help!" Grace yelled. First she tried to pry Rafe off herself, but he

wouldn't budge. Thomas McCawley was out of the house like it was on fire and gently, but

forcefully, he pulled Rafe off of Danny.

"Now what seems to be the problem here, son?" Tom asked Rafe.

"That 'WALKER boy' was kissing MY BABY SISTER!" Rafe yelled and tried to get loose

from his father's grip to rip Danny's head off.

"You really think that Gracie is a baby, Rafe?" asked Tom, shaking Rafe slightly.

"No, but-"

"Well, I do believe that I am her father and that I think that her datin' Danny is mighty fine, don't

you?" When Rafe didn't respond he sighed and continued. "Well, compared to any other boy

thats come 'round, Danny ain't bad at all. Your sister is growin' up, son, and we have to respect

her choices. Leave them be."

"But dad!" Rafe started.

"I don't think I've made myself clear..." Tom got so close to Rafe's face that their noses were

almost touching and said "Leave. Them. Be." and then he walked inside, Rafe behind him.

"Oh, Danny, are you alright?" Gracie rushed to his side. He was bleeding from nose and lip, but

managed a small smile.

"I'll be alright, but I don't know how Rafe and I are." Danny sighed loudly and stood up with

Gracie's help.

"c'mon inside and I'll clean you up, okay?" Gracie said, knowing that Rafe wouldn't be talking to

either of them the next day and, possibly, many days.