DSCWin, thanks for the help

THE QUAILS (Takes place after A Lion In Our Family)

It had been a few weeks since the Waltons had to say goodbye to a friend they had fallen in love with. Teddy was a young Lion that had warmed his way into the family's life. The family felt the loss hard as they drove away from the zoo, but as for the two younger, Jim Bob and Elizabeth, it was the hardest thing they had to do.

John and Olivia knew it was hard on their children to see Teddy leave, but they also knew what was best for their children. They gave each of their children a list of chores to hopefully allow them to move on from the animal that deserved a lot of attention. Though it was a slow process that took weeks to do, all the children fell into routine and the parents were happy to see them slowly move on. Though it seemed to help move the idea of constantly needing to see the Lion, thw thought of Teddy never vanished from any of the family. But the Waltons continued to life and grow without the beloved creature at their side.

It had been a week after John and Olivia took the children to see Teddy, after being good, the family was shocked at the storm that blew in causing the family to retreat inside their home. The family watched as the storm caused havoc on the property as the rain blew down limps and knocked away a few shutters from the house. The family feared the entire house would collapse around them but were overjoyed when the weather changed for the better.

The next day, as the weather was still holding up and seeing it was still faring, allowed the Waltons to work on cleaning up the place. The older children, Ben, Jason and John Boy worked on fixing the fence near the back of the house and taking a few of the fallen shutters and nailing back with the help of John and Grandpa Zeb. Olivia and the girls worked on cleaning up the laundry that had been forgotten in the storm and worked on cleaning up the mud and small minor damages from the rain.

Jim Bob watched his older brothers working on the house and his father and grandfather working beside them. He looked behind him and looked at the girls working. He felt stuck with the chores. Seeing his father coming inside he rushed to his side.

"Daddy, can I help with something?" Jim Bob asked not wanting to be stuck indoors with all the girls.

"Yeah, you can go start clearing some of the branches that fell near the gardens." John said seeing that his youngest son was indeed able to help out. "If there's a branch that's too big leave it and I'll have someone to help me."

"Sure thing, Daddy!" Jim Bob said with a smile.

"Be careful and not play in the mud, Jim Bob." Olivia called out and Jim Bob nodded quietly happy to be helping.

Jumping to the job that his father had given him, Jim Bob started to clean up the branches his small arms could carry. He noticed a small divet off the side of the road that was perfect for the branches to be tossed into. As he worked on cleaning up the branches he stopped when he heard a soft sound coming from a small mound of fallen bushes. He slowly turned and walked to the bush and peered inside careful to stay away in case it was a dangerous animal. As he reached the area he carefully pried some of the bush away and felt his heart beat inside his chest. A small nest lay damaged inside.

Five small birds chirped and cried. Looking closely Jim Bob saw they were baby quails. He looked over his shoulder trying to see any signs of the parents. But he knew the five small birds wouldn't live long without a safe place to live. He quickly stood up as the remaining branches were too big for him to move himself. He knew the tiny babies wouldn't survive long without help, he only hoped that the parents wouldn't abandon them if he were to help them.

He knew his mother didn't allow any wilder animals since Teddy but he knew the five young quails wouldn't survive. Quickly running to the barn, he found a pail and stuffed a few handful of straw into the bottom. He quickly rushed back to the bush and was happy to hear the soft chirping coming from the bush. He carefully reached in and gently sent the babies inside the pail. He had just finished when he heard his mother's voice calling him. He quickly rushed back to the barn and placed the pail away from any kind of danger but kept it warm enough for the young ones to stay warm.

While he was there, Erin walked inside to grab something for Grandma Esther and spotted Jim Bob near the corral setting a small towel over a pail. As she watched him with curiosity. "Jim Bob what are you doing?" She said startling the young boy.

"Sh!" Jim Bob snapped standing defensively at the corral as he was afraid one of his parents will come inside. "You need to be quiet, Erin. But come and see what I found." He motioned the young girl towards the corral.

Erin looked confused as Jim Bob grabbed hold of the towel and carefully lifted it off the pail. "What did you find Jim Bob?" She asked scared her brother found something less cute and scalier. But when her brother pulled back the towel her eyes widening with surprise.

"Baby Quails." He said with a smile. "I found them under a bush while I was tossing branches." His tiny face fell as the five inside the pail cuddled close together and were fast asleep as he carefully placed the towel over them. "I think they might be orphans...you think Momma and Daddy will us keep them?"

Erin shrugged as they carefully left the pail back inside the barn as they slowly made it to the entrance. "I think they wouldn't mind as it's not a lion." Erin said with a shrug. "But let's ask them after dinner."

"Alright." Jim Bob said with a lowered shoulder. He had already grown attached the small fluffy babies inside the pail already.

_/_

As usual the family gathered inside the house and around the table for dinner. As the plates were slowly handed out the conversation started up with that days' work and soft praises from their father who was proud at everyone's help that day. The only one that wasn't talking was Jim Bob.

Elizabeth Jim Bob's little sister looked at her brother with curious eyes. "Jim Bob," she asked gently touching his arm. "Are you sad?"

"Sad?" Jim Bob asked taken by surprise at how Elizabeth's voice broke through is train of thought and quieted everyone's talking. "Me? No I'm not sad...why do you ask?"

"Then why aren't you talking, son." John asked before taking another bite of his dinner.

The family watched as Jim Bob's ears slowly began to turn pink before he looked up at them. "Momma, Daddy...I found something and I'm wondering if I can keep them."

"Them?" Olivia gently pressed looking down at her youngest son. "What's them, Jim Bob?"

"An animal." Jim Bob said afraid to even had told his mother the truth.

"What did you find this time," Ben started his face splitting into a smile as he began to tease. "A Bear?"

Jim Bob glared at his older brother but Olivia shook her head.

"That's enough, Ben." Olivia scolded before a fight could begin. "James Robert," Jim Bob flinched as he was given his full name. "I know you're upset that Teddy's gone. But I have told you, and everyone, that we can't have any more wild animals in this house."

"Well, they're not dangerous creatures." Jim Bob said. "May I show you them to you?"

"Well, why don't you." Grandpa Zeb said smiling at his youngest grandson. He glanced at his wife who let out a grumble in annoyance.

Jim Bob ignored his grandmother before running out of the house and into the barn to pick up the tiny pail. A few minutes later Jim Bob returned he pail and grabbed hold of pail. Olivia and John watched as Jim Bob carefully grabbed hold of the towel and lifted it off the top. The two adults close craned their neck and the soft chirping sound of the baby Quails, who were chirping after being woken up once again, filled the room.

"So can we keep them?" Jim Bob asked seeing his mother fight to keep a smile off her face.

"Well, it's no lion." Olivia joked making everyone start to laugh before looking up at her son. "Alright. I'll let you keep them. But they will be your responsibility."

"Thanks Momma." Jim Bob smiled as everyone gathered around to look inside the pail at the new additions to the family.

END