LEARNING TO COPE

As expected the baby bundle of joy was not, as both August and Adela suspected, such a bundle of joy after all. Two years later, fifteen year-old Adela felt more like the nanny then a girl who should be out at dances and giggling with friends while looking at the young men laboring in the village. Instead she was kept inside watching a rather vulgar two-year old that seemed to have everything it could possibly want at that age. His mother claimed she was feeling too ill or too tired and that Adela should be grateful to have such a learning experience.

The young woman, on the other hand, would much rather have been outside and as far away from the cottage as possible.

The tiny golden haired angel had grown into a very beautiful, sophisticated young woman with an angelic heart. Her chubby face had smoothed and taken on a beauty that was strikingly resembled and was often compared toher own late mother's.

None of this sat too well with her father's wife who was ever increasingly jealous of her stepdaughter's looks and her stepson's success in his employment. Hearing the village's praises of them both was irritating when no one spoke of her own baby. He was the most beautiful baby that had ever been born! Why did they not see that? There were many beautiful girls in town and other bakeries that could rival even August's handiwork…but not so many beautiful babies!

"My dear. We have to talk…" Glancing up from where she was bent over a letter to her mother, the woman looked up at her husband. Great. They had been having financial trouble lately; she really didn't want to hear this right now. She had to tell her mother all about thesilk outfit she had just gotten tailored for her little baby boy.

"Not now, dear husband. I need to finish this letter then feed the baby." She continued to write her letter.

"No. Now. Adela can watch the child for a little while longer." Pulling up a chair the man sat down next to his wife. A hand was laid lightly on her wrist and her thick fingers dropped the ink pen. "We don't have any money left, my dear. It's all gone."

"Nonsense. I had a large dowry and what with your job…there is no possible way all that money is gone." Having never been without before, the woman was in complete denial at the vary idea that they may be penniless.

"I sold the last of my late wife's gowns and jewelry today to buy what we needed for supper. There is nothing left. My pay is not enough to support us…" The man's voice was oddly calm and collected. He had spent the past few weeks anxiously trying to stretch what little they had left a little while longer. It had all been his fault after all. He should have watched the money with a closer eye, limited what his wife spent, and caught this problem sooner. He'd spent too many nights contemplating and beating him self up over the issue.

The Alligator Woman purposefully avoided his gaze, looking everywhere but at him and trying to act calm despite her now racing heart and very un-calm feelings. No more newjewelry to show off in town or frilly, cute clothing for her son. Some how that didn't seem fair at all. His two little monsters had grown up with everything they ever wanted and now her precious baby would be left in rags? "Well, I-I'll just ask mama and papa for money. I'm sure they will help you and me and the baby until we can back on our feet. They have enough money…"

The man's heart may have lightened and his hopes soared, but he hadn't missed her wording. "But what about August and Adela?" The man wasn't stupid. He saw the way his wife looked at his son and daughter. He could only imagine what horrific myths she'd have told her parents. Would they be willing to help his entire family? Or just his wife and the baby?

The woman did everything she could not to cringe in disgust at the very idea of her parent's money going to benefit her stepson and stepdaughter. How could she get out of this one? Too bad there was not a way to lose the two step-children that wouldn't incriminate her.

Forcing a smile, she shrugged stiffly. "They are…family…I can ask mama and papa in this letter. Now, please, my dear husband, can you leave me in peace so I can finish this and then feed our baby boy?" If she thought hiding that cringe was difficult it was nothing compared to admitting the kids were family with a straight face. But it ended up being worth it when she glanced up in time to catch his smile of approval. That just showed how gullible the man was.

"Of course." Standing he gave her wrist a pat. Moving to stand behind her, he leaned down and placed a kiss on the top of her dark tresses. "I love you."

"And I love you. Now go and play with your baby boy." Listening to his retreating footfalls, the woman once again picked up her pen.

What could she say? That both her child and husband's rotten kids needed help? That wouldn't do considering all the bad things she had said about them, but what was she going to do? Her pitiful husband did not make enough and his son was still repaying debts he owed from borrowing various things on his travels between the village and neighboring ones. There was little chance her parents would pay for August and Adela.

Sighing, she took a few more moments to contemplate her decision. It took a long while, but she finally forced the pen to write that the entire family needed help. And that included August and Adela. She was also quick to include her dislike of helping her husband's children and had little choice in the matter. With any luck they would simply refuse to help her stepchildren.

Signing her signature, she slapped a stamp to the envelope, vaguely wondering how long it would take to arrive at her parents. Could they last until then?

Fortunately they didn't have to wait long for a reply. The Alligator Lady had given August a good amount of some money she had kept hidden away to pay someone to deliver the letter quickly because of it's importance. And within the next week she had her parent's letter clasped within her hands holding letter and more than enough money to feed the family for a few weeks.

The woman was now perched upon the bed she shared with her husband with the letter in her trembling hands. She didn't want to look at it. What if they were annoyed at her for having to pay for the two irritable children as well? What if they commanded her to go back home with their child and leave her husband and his children alone? As much as she hated his son and daughter, she did love him. He hadn't ever taken advantage of her and her money; actually he had never even touched her money besides to buy food with. It was just those wretched children.

The man had left to go buy essentials in the village for the hungry family and medicine for the baby who had caught a frightening chill. He hadn't even taken a second glance at the letter, simply leaving it to his wife to glance through.

"The baby will not stop crying…" Adela's soft voice from the doorway startled the woman and she quickly turned her head towards the young woman. The little brat was so beautiful…and her brother so handsome. How could two almost orphans look so attractive? It was nauseating.

"What did you do? Drop him? Was that the noise I heard? Give him warm water and for heaven sakes go hold him! You will never make a good mother! You won't even console the child!" A glare was in her dark eyes directed at the young woman. Adela did not say another word, just simply nodded and left. The tired look her eyes and the shadows told it all. Despite what the woman said, the younger had been holding the child all day and comforting him while his mother moped about the house and fretted about the letter. The Alligator Lady appeared well rested while the stepdaughter looked as if she was going to fall asleep at any instant.

The so-called 'learning experience' had turned into a full time job. One would have thought the mother was the young Adela rather than the older woman. It was a rare sight to catch the woman doing anything other than playing with the child. Adela was the one who fed it, changed it, and bathed it. So who was really the good mother?

But Adela never said anything. It was easier to accept the begrudging and there was nowhere else for her to go, so who was she to complain? August had yet to fulfill his promise of helping them escape and she could never leave her papa anyway. The small smile and 'thank you' at the end of the day from him was enough for her to continue her caring of her baby brother.

Back inside the bedroom the woman was finally peeling open the letter. And with slight hesitancy she finally began to read it's contents.

Shock was registered onto her face as she continued to read the astounding letter. They wanted her to bring Adela and August to their home. They wanted to meet their step-grandchildren. Mama and papa wanted to meet them? Bewildered the woman reread the letter but it only confirmed the qualms. Why in heavens name would they want to be acquainted with the two brats and not her own child? Suddenly irritated at the idea, she reread the letter for the third time desperate for an answer as to why they wanted to meet her stepson and stepdaughter. And that's when she caught it.

The woman had only saw the meaning the words, she hadn't look at the actual words. They said they only wanted the two children and her to visit. Nothing about her son or husband. Why would they do that? It didn't make sense. Not when they had agreed in letters that the antics over his two kids made them horrendous. And that would mean she would have to travel alone. That was dangerous.

Unbearably confused now, the woman laid back on the bed and tried thinking over reasons for the sudden invitation. None of it made sense. Why would they send an invitation for her stepson and stepdaughter and not for her baby boy or husband? What would compel them to act so irrationally?