Back home

Settling themselves comfortably in their seat, the colossal suitcase bumping around next to Laurie on the floor of the bus, Jo asked "So, how has it been? Absolute freedom? College must be such fun, apart from all the mugging, and you must be reveling in it all."

Laurie sighed. "I'd rather be home. It's easier to take all that you face when you know there's family and a Jo to back you up."

Jo scoffed.

"It is!" said Laurie defensively. "It is."

"Well, if I were you, I'd do all I could to make my family proud, in spite of the fact that they are far away and aren't there to come to my aid when I need them." Jo meddled with the button on his cuff. "I wish I could go to college too."

"I wish I could go to college with you." Jo was silent for a while.

Laurie, a little stunned, not at the statement – it was not the first time she'd said that – but the feeling with which she quietly said it. Surely she didn't mean it…didn't mean it that way? He was starting to feel something infinitely precious in the hand that was fiddling with his own.

Before Laurie could say anything, Jo, her voice purposefully made merry to mask any other emotion to dangerous to be discovered at the present, said "What happened to your light traveling bag? You never bring such bulky things. This one's a monstrosity."

Laurie smiled on the inside. Jo did feel something for him, only she was unaware. He would make her aware of it. Later.

Laurie coughed apologetically as the baggage gave an extra big bounce as the bus went over a bump on the road. "That, my dear fellow, is because it holds more things than clothes and a toothbrush. Surely I wouldn't come all this way to see you and not bring anything for you? And your mother?"

Jo snorted. "The brilliant nutmeg grater you bought John the last time you came was an absolute disaster, you dolt. It literally fell to pieces the first time they tried it. Meg is too sentimental to throw away such a gift, especially as it was silver, and kept the pieces carefully away. Where on earth do you buy such things?"

"Here and there. Whenever something nice pops up," was his absent reply.

"What have you got this time then?"

Laurie gave her a wicked grin. "I won't show you, else you spill to Meg."

A small scuffle took place as Jo tried to hammer open the suitcase to find the treasures.

Presently, Laurie took something from his inner coat pocket. He popped it on Jo's head and she shrieked as she pulled it off. "This is one of the presents."

"Laurie! What a waste of money! Don't say this is my birthday gift! It's hideous," exclaimed Jo, overcome with laughter as she flung the orange cap back at him.

"It matches my own. See? Now when your mother sees us, she'll have something to say to you too about the new trend," said Laurie, pulling out his own orange hat which had been earlier been stuffed down his pocket by a disdainful Jo.

"Looking ugly is your choice, but don't drag me in to it too. We look absurd," remarked Jo as they both wore the garish headgear and looked at each other, before bursting in to a fresh fit of giggles.

The bus stopped and they got out in a tumble. They started the five minute walk home to the Marches.

"Good gracious, there's Florence," muttered Jo, whipping off her hat and crumpling it in her hand. "I hope she didn't see me; she'd tell her mother. Aunt Caroll never keeps her big mouth shut and she's bound to leak to Aunt March."

Her companion gave her a reproving smack. "Are you making fun of my cap?"

"Not at all, Teddy. It's your taste I'm making fun of."

"If I didn't have any taste, I wouldn't be seen walking next to you."

Jo tried to figure that out for a moment. "Teddy, you sly creature, is that a compliment?"

Laurie shrugged. "You can take it anyway you prefer."

A sudden downpour quenched all conversation, and Jo silently thanked Beth for making her bring the green umbrella. Laurie convulsed with laughter as Jo neatly extinguished him by popping open the umbrella. They got underneath it, and as she was trying to prevent herself from getting drenched, had to walk closer to Laurie, who suddenly put his arm around her.

Jo gave a stifled cough. This was new. They'd usually just run home in the rain or she'd take off with the umbrella, leaving Laurie behind stomping through puddles. But this was fine. She rather liked this arrangement.

They trudged through the rain in comfortable silence and soon turned in to the March's bountiful garden. The place was abounding with sunflowers, for Jo had taken it in to her head to dry the seeds and feed them to Beth's bird. She'd not expected them to grow quite so fast.

They ran through the front door, in a last eager burst of energy to be out of the rain and unfortunately got stuck as the umbrella was too big to go through the door.

Laughter and a little struggle with the green wet thing ensued in which Jo neatly fell down on her rear end in to the rain.

Amy came running, after hearing the ruckus.

"Laurie, you're home!" Amy flew at him in a hug, her ribbons flying.

"You silly goose," came Jo from the bottom of the path outside "get Laurie in out of the wet."

Amy hurriedly did so, after Laurie gave a hand and with difficulty, pulled the sopping Jo up.

Marmee descended upon them with a benign smile and she welcomed Laurie with a hot drink, which he took at once, shivering with the cold.

Jo came right up beside him, and when Laurie had his fill, took the mug neatly from his grip and downed the rest.

"Well, I've still the rest of the cooking to do. Jo wanted to help, but I wouldn't let her near the kitchen. Laurie, keep her out of the way will you?" A gentle smile took away any implied sting of an insult to her daughter and she disappeared back in to the kitchen where Hannah was baking bread.

"I'll have to put my bags next door first. Can't leave them lying about like this," said Laurie. "Where's your father? I found something for him he'd love to have."

Amy picked up a sketch book to resume a half completed pencil drawing. "He's gone to pay a visit to some old friend of his from the army. He won't be back till six. Laurie, what do you think of my Athena?"

Jo hung the orange cap on the top of the hat stand, as Laurie tried to figure out a nicely polite and flattering remark, yet truthful reply as Amy waved a stout looking lady with bow and arrow in his face.

"Um…it looks…unlike anything I've ever seen. Finish it up with colours and I'll give you my full opinion."

Jo came to view the sketch. "What he means is your goddess is a little on the chubby side. Make her slimmer. The rain has stopped."

Amy looked at her own drawing with a critical eye, taking to heart what advice was given. She disappeared to repair Athena.

Laurie opened the door. "I'd better be off. Let's go for a walk before dinner time, shall we?"

Jo nodded. "We'll go down to the forest," she suggested, helping him pick up the suitcase "at around five?"

"I'll come pick you up."

Jo looked at him curiously. Why was Teddy being so serious now? She knew it, he was having some trouble of sorts. And she would make him tell.

"And Jo?" He paused at the door.

She looked at him inquisitively. "Yes?"

He gave her a light kiss on the cheek, unlike anything he'd ever given her before, full of sincerity and meaning.

"I'm glad to be home."

oh pleease review. It does matter to an aspiring writer even if just one review shows up. The feeling's pretty hopeless when one gets no support.