A/N: Hey I'm back with more chapters. My Muse has returned after a long
vacation and you get to have three new chapters. Hey if any words seem to
be missing please leave it spelled out in the review. I now am uploading
chapters on a computer that has some child safety thing on it. It isn't as
if I'm using bad words it's just they don't allow words such as pervert or
witch to be viewed on the web...who knew. Anyway I hope you enjoy the next
few chapters the fun begins now.
Pip flashed a smile to Spot as she slipped into the house. The thuds from the loft told her that the other boys were doing their best to be out by dinner. "Penny I want my key back." Spot said as he entered the house glaring at Pip in a menacing manner.
"Not until I'm satisfied that all seven of you are moved out." Pip said glaring right back.
"What would satisfy you?" Spot asked suddenly.
"You in jail." A voice from behind Pip said coldly.
"Now Calyx we can't send him to jail yet." Pip said soothingly, "But we can make sure that the seven of them are very uncomfortable. Hazel," Pip called out.
"Yeah?" Hazel stuck her head out. "Oh Pip you wouldn't believe their kitchen. I swear I saw some of the food in the pantry move."
"That would be the mice." Spot interjected.
"Mice?" Hazel squeaked.
"Yeah we set traps and that sort of thing, but the little bugg...I mean guys are just too smart. They spring the traps and then take the bait." Spot explained with a shrug, "Well I better get packing." He was up the stairs like a shot leaving the three girls gapping after him.
"The first thing I do tomorrow is get us some cats. A few good mousers, I hate mice." Pip said fervently as she looked around the room.
"The mice aren't the only think in the kitchen. It is a total loss. I think just taking a spade and shoveling it all out would be the best course of action." Calyx suggested.
"No then we would have to buy all new dishes and pots and pans. Too expensive." Pip said practically. "Well let's get to work." They entered the kitchen and each took an area to begin cleaning.
"I'm surprise this house hasn't fallen down around their ears." Hazel said motioning to a crack in the wall. "Look at this, I knew I was feeling a breeze."
"Okay then maybe we should start a list." Pip went out to the front and grabbed a pencil and notebook from her bag. As she entered the kitchen she was scribbling on the page. "Okay we need some patching supplies and a cat. What else."
"Right now I would say some cleaning supplies, I can't even find the wash tub." Calyx commented.
"Either of you know how to make soap?" Hazel asked.
"I know the basics but it takes a long time. Add soap to the list." Calyx admitted.
"What about food?" Pip asked glancing at the cupboards.
"Well I found some cornmeal and a possible jar of beans." Hazel offered.
As Kid Blink entered the room he added, "We have some salt pork in the cellar."
"And how do we get to the cellar?" Pip asked.
"The door under the stairs leads down." Blink responded, his eyes darting everywhere as if he was afraid to meet the girls' eyes.
Pip nodded, "Okay thanks." Blink gave a half smile before he was out the back door. "So I guess that food is on our list, unless the guys have been hiding vast amounts of food in this cellar. Why don't I go find out what is all down there while you two keep working up here?"
Hazel and Calyx exchanged shrugs. "That's fine, I think I saw some matches and a candle in this cupboard." Hazel said opening a door. "Here, hopefully these will make it easier to see."
"Thanks" Pip said as she lit the candle and slowly went down the rickety stairs to the damp cool cellar. The chill was an unexpected change from the almost constant heat above and Pip felt goose bumps climb her arms. There hanging from the ceiling was the salt pork that Blink had mentioned. Pip sighed as she walked around it trying to figure out how she was going to get it down. Her candlelight caught the glare of some jars on a high shelf. Pip was able to just barely reach the first jar. She looked it over, but was unable to identify what was even in the jar in the shifting light.
A rustle from the corner caused her to jump. Pip slowly turned holding the light as far in front of her as possible. The light caught something and Pip screamed loudly. Above her the house shook from the pounding of feet on the stairs, a bit of dust got into her eyes, which caused them to water.
"Pip are you okay?" Hazel asked concerned from the bottom of the stairs.
Pip shook her head, trying to get the dust out. "What's wrong girlie?" Skittery.
"A s-s-snake." Pip said pointing to the corner.
Jack took the candle from her hand and walked to the corner to validate her claim. He snorted suddenly and held up a limp rope. "This look like a snake to anyone else?" He asked snidely.
Pip looked sheepishly over to the stairs where all of the rest of the occupants of the house were standing. "I guess the light was playing a trick on me." She suddenly had an idea, "But since you all are down here already could one of you get down the pork and take up these jars?" She asked sweetly.
The boys grumbled as came into the cellar, Mush and Race got the pork down, while the other boys took the jars. As they went up the stairs Spot couldn't help commenting, "You know the next time you think you see a snake, make sure there is one before you start screaming. You almost caused me to have a heart attack."
"Like you would really care if I had gotten bitten." Pip responded sharply.
"No probably not, but the other girls would have and then we never would have eaten." Spot responded cheekily.
Pip rolled her eyes at his back and counted to ten slowly in Italian as she climbed the stairs.
"Did you really think you saw a snake?" Calyx asked as Pip entered into the kitchen.
"Yes I heard something in the corner, and when I turned the light caught something's eyes." Pip said shivering as she took rag and began wiping the dust off the jars.
"Maybe it was a mouse." Hazel said as she began looking at the jars that Pip was cleaning. "Well I hope these boys like corn, because I think all of these are corn."
"Spot doesn't" Pip commented as she reached for a clean pot.
Calyx shrugged as she began cutting up meat. "Too bad."
Pip and Hazel laughed at her expression. The dishes were now manageable as the girls started a beef and vegetable stew. As the pot simmered Pip found some bread, which she cut up and toasted. Hazel kept at the dishes until they were all clean.
By sundown the kitchen was clean and a meal was ready. The girls had fried some of the pork and had put that out for the guys, hoping that the stew would be ready for lunch or dinner tomorrow. The girls ate first, wanting to have as much time as possible to settle into their new rooms.
"Why don't you two go unpack, I'll handle the guys tonight." Pip suggested as the girls cleaned up their dishes.
"Are you sure?" Hazel asked.
"It won't be a problem" Pip said with a shrug, "I grew up with five brothers including Spot. What are two more? You guys go get settled, these guys will be out of our hair soon and then we get some sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be one long day of cleaning."
"I think we'll be cleaning longer than one day." Calyx said as she went to the door. "But if you want to clean up after those seven well I'm not going to stop you."
Pip smiled at that and shooed both girls up the stairs before getting a spoon and pot. She banged her improvised dinner bell outside the door and the clanging brought the guys out of the barn. Pip stood at the door baring their entrance, pointing to the water pump. "None of you is getting any dinner till you're clean." She said sternly.
"But it'll be cold." A voice whined.
"And your dinner is getting cold with you out here whining about it." Pip replied with no sympathy.
The guys grumbled half-heartedly as they went to wash up. "You know Conlon, if you had told up your sister would be coming I think I'd been against this whole idea." Jack mumbled after he washed up.
"If I had know she was like this I would never have sent the letter." Spot replied as they entered the house.
On the whole the guys were silent as they ate. No one really wanted to talk to Pip and their conversation was limited because she was there. As they left they were polite enough to thank Pip for the meal but that was the extent of their contact. Even Spot only gave Pip a quick kiss on the cheek as thanks as he slipped out of the house.
But the lack of conversation didn't bother Pip a bit; she quickly washed the dishes that were dirtied before gathering her things from the entryway, bolting the door and blowing out the lanterns. She kept one candle lit as she found her way to a free bed. She didn't even bother to turn down the covers or change before she climbed into bed and was fast asleep.
Pip flashed a smile to Spot as she slipped into the house. The thuds from the loft told her that the other boys were doing their best to be out by dinner. "Penny I want my key back." Spot said as he entered the house glaring at Pip in a menacing manner.
"Not until I'm satisfied that all seven of you are moved out." Pip said glaring right back.
"What would satisfy you?" Spot asked suddenly.
"You in jail." A voice from behind Pip said coldly.
"Now Calyx we can't send him to jail yet." Pip said soothingly, "But we can make sure that the seven of them are very uncomfortable. Hazel," Pip called out.
"Yeah?" Hazel stuck her head out. "Oh Pip you wouldn't believe their kitchen. I swear I saw some of the food in the pantry move."
"That would be the mice." Spot interjected.
"Mice?" Hazel squeaked.
"Yeah we set traps and that sort of thing, but the little bugg...I mean guys are just too smart. They spring the traps and then take the bait." Spot explained with a shrug, "Well I better get packing." He was up the stairs like a shot leaving the three girls gapping after him.
"The first thing I do tomorrow is get us some cats. A few good mousers, I hate mice." Pip said fervently as she looked around the room.
"The mice aren't the only think in the kitchen. It is a total loss. I think just taking a spade and shoveling it all out would be the best course of action." Calyx suggested.
"No then we would have to buy all new dishes and pots and pans. Too expensive." Pip said practically. "Well let's get to work." They entered the kitchen and each took an area to begin cleaning.
"I'm surprise this house hasn't fallen down around their ears." Hazel said motioning to a crack in the wall. "Look at this, I knew I was feeling a breeze."
"Okay then maybe we should start a list." Pip went out to the front and grabbed a pencil and notebook from her bag. As she entered the kitchen she was scribbling on the page. "Okay we need some patching supplies and a cat. What else."
"Right now I would say some cleaning supplies, I can't even find the wash tub." Calyx commented.
"Either of you know how to make soap?" Hazel asked.
"I know the basics but it takes a long time. Add soap to the list." Calyx admitted.
"What about food?" Pip asked glancing at the cupboards.
"Well I found some cornmeal and a possible jar of beans." Hazel offered.
As Kid Blink entered the room he added, "We have some salt pork in the cellar."
"And how do we get to the cellar?" Pip asked.
"The door under the stairs leads down." Blink responded, his eyes darting everywhere as if he was afraid to meet the girls' eyes.
Pip nodded, "Okay thanks." Blink gave a half smile before he was out the back door. "So I guess that food is on our list, unless the guys have been hiding vast amounts of food in this cellar. Why don't I go find out what is all down there while you two keep working up here?"
Hazel and Calyx exchanged shrugs. "That's fine, I think I saw some matches and a candle in this cupboard." Hazel said opening a door. "Here, hopefully these will make it easier to see."
"Thanks" Pip said as she lit the candle and slowly went down the rickety stairs to the damp cool cellar. The chill was an unexpected change from the almost constant heat above and Pip felt goose bumps climb her arms. There hanging from the ceiling was the salt pork that Blink had mentioned. Pip sighed as she walked around it trying to figure out how she was going to get it down. Her candlelight caught the glare of some jars on a high shelf. Pip was able to just barely reach the first jar. She looked it over, but was unable to identify what was even in the jar in the shifting light.
A rustle from the corner caused her to jump. Pip slowly turned holding the light as far in front of her as possible. The light caught something and Pip screamed loudly. Above her the house shook from the pounding of feet on the stairs, a bit of dust got into her eyes, which caused them to water.
"Pip are you okay?" Hazel asked concerned from the bottom of the stairs.
Pip shook her head, trying to get the dust out. "What's wrong girlie?" Skittery.
"A s-s-snake." Pip said pointing to the corner.
Jack took the candle from her hand and walked to the corner to validate her claim. He snorted suddenly and held up a limp rope. "This look like a snake to anyone else?" He asked snidely.
Pip looked sheepishly over to the stairs where all of the rest of the occupants of the house were standing. "I guess the light was playing a trick on me." She suddenly had an idea, "But since you all are down here already could one of you get down the pork and take up these jars?" She asked sweetly.
The boys grumbled as came into the cellar, Mush and Race got the pork down, while the other boys took the jars. As they went up the stairs Spot couldn't help commenting, "You know the next time you think you see a snake, make sure there is one before you start screaming. You almost caused me to have a heart attack."
"Like you would really care if I had gotten bitten." Pip responded sharply.
"No probably not, but the other girls would have and then we never would have eaten." Spot responded cheekily.
Pip rolled her eyes at his back and counted to ten slowly in Italian as she climbed the stairs.
"Did you really think you saw a snake?" Calyx asked as Pip entered into the kitchen.
"Yes I heard something in the corner, and when I turned the light caught something's eyes." Pip said shivering as she took rag and began wiping the dust off the jars.
"Maybe it was a mouse." Hazel said as she began looking at the jars that Pip was cleaning. "Well I hope these boys like corn, because I think all of these are corn."
"Spot doesn't" Pip commented as she reached for a clean pot.
Calyx shrugged as she began cutting up meat. "Too bad."
Pip and Hazel laughed at her expression. The dishes were now manageable as the girls started a beef and vegetable stew. As the pot simmered Pip found some bread, which she cut up and toasted. Hazel kept at the dishes until they were all clean.
By sundown the kitchen was clean and a meal was ready. The girls had fried some of the pork and had put that out for the guys, hoping that the stew would be ready for lunch or dinner tomorrow. The girls ate first, wanting to have as much time as possible to settle into their new rooms.
"Why don't you two go unpack, I'll handle the guys tonight." Pip suggested as the girls cleaned up their dishes.
"Are you sure?" Hazel asked.
"It won't be a problem" Pip said with a shrug, "I grew up with five brothers including Spot. What are two more? You guys go get settled, these guys will be out of our hair soon and then we get some sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be one long day of cleaning."
"I think we'll be cleaning longer than one day." Calyx said as she went to the door. "But if you want to clean up after those seven well I'm not going to stop you."
Pip smiled at that and shooed both girls up the stairs before getting a spoon and pot. She banged her improvised dinner bell outside the door and the clanging brought the guys out of the barn. Pip stood at the door baring their entrance, pointing to the water pump. "None of you is getting any dinner till you're clean." She said sternly.
"But it'll be cold." A voice whined.
"And your dinner is getting cold with you out here whining about it." Pip replied with no sympathy.
The guys grumbled half-heartedly as they went to wash up. "You know Conlon, if you had told up your sister would be coming I think I'd been against this whole idea." Jack mumbled after he washed up.
"If I had know she was like this I would never have sent the letter." Spot replied as they entered the house.
On the whole the guys were silent as they ate. No one really wanted to talk to Pip and their conversation was limited because she was there. As they left they were polite enough to thank Pip for the meal but that was the extent of their contact. Even Spot only gave Pip a quick kiss on the cheek as thanks as he slipped out of the house.
But the lack of conversation didn't bother Pip a bit; she quickly washed the dishes that were dirtied before gathering her things from the entryway, bolting the door and blowing out the lanterns. She kept one candle lit as she found her way to a free bed. She didn't even bother to turn down the covers or change before she climbed into bed and was fast asleep.
