Chapter 2
Courage had just awoke, as he glanced out of the window. Walking to the door, he saw me working in my garden. Courage came outside, seeing me working. "Oh, hello dear". I said, gently. "It is good to see you, you're awake now, eh?". "That's lovely". I smiled a kind smile. "I guess I am". Courage said. "Well, I'm just looking at my rhubarbs, they haven't gotten too tall, yet they've gotten pretty big over the last year". I said, gently. "I might see if there's some way to use fertilizer on the plants, since they're way larger than they were previously". "This might help with their size".
"Oh, I see there's some ripe ones". "Well, I'll be". "Would you like to help me pick them?". I asked, kindly. "Sure, why not?". Courage said. "Rhubarbs are good".
"I think they'll be plentiful for any recipe, big or small". I said, kindly. "Here, let's fill a bag with some, and we'll wash them, so I can make rhubarb pie for us, later". "That sounds lovely, doesn't it?".
"It sounds quite nice". Courage admitted, as he filled a bag. We stuffed the bag, then bringing it in so the rhubarbs could be washed, and sanitized. "Here we are, now". "We'll just wash these, and I'll cut them, to make my pie later on". I said, kindly. "Rhubarb pie is good". Courage said. "It is a mentioned item". I said, gently. "We have a lot of it, if you wish to see it".
Courage and I washed the rhubarbs, as we placed them in a separate bin. Courage was waiting for his pie, and had the look in his eyes for pie, and breaded chicken. "There we are, all nice and prepared". I said, kindly. "Now, when we make our pie, what is the first ingredient we need to prepare for it?".
"Flour, and sugar". Courage said. "or…I guess that would be two ingredients". "I don't know".
"Very good!". I said, happily as I clapped my hands. "Yes, you are correct, it would be flour and sugar". "Flour and sugar give us the base ingredients for our pies, and cakes". "First, we have to pour 2 cups of flour".
Courage nodded, as he got out the mixing bowl. "Before we take the flour, we must measure it". "How many do we need now, my Courage?". I asked, gently. "2 cups". Courage replied. "That's it, now will you measure our flour for us?". I asked, kindly. "Ok". Courage said. Courage measured 2 cups of flour, pouring the two cups into the mixing bowl. Courage then cracked the eggs into the mixing bowl, mixing the flour and the eggs. "There you are, my Courage". I said, gently. "Wonderful job, darling". "What must we do next?". I prompted him, kindly.
"We should mix until the dough is made". Courage said. "Yes, very good". I said, gently. "Mix until proper". "How long should we do this?".
"For 2 minutes". Courage answered, correctly. "Yes, that is right again". I agreed, gently. Courage nodded, as we set to mixing the dough in a finite manner. Courage mixed, and poured, as the eggbeater hummed to life. We both laughed, as Courage attempted to protect himself from being splattered with the eggbeater. As the dough sat, thick, and creamy in the mixing bowl, we poured some into a pie pan, flattening the hardened dough so it could be the crust. Using the juice, and sauce made from the rhubarbs, we layered each thick piece of rhubarb inside so it could be used for the pie. "There we are". "A piece of pie, for each of us". "Now, what should we do?". I prompted, gently. "We should preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and cook the pie". Courage replied, as he knew the answer, offhand. "Yes, exactly". I said, gently. "Well now, you know quite a bit, my Courage". "The pie does need to bake for a bit, but only for a little while". "One last question for you; for how long does the pie need to bake?". I asked, gently. "For 10 minutes". Courage said. "Yes, and with that in mind; you pass our test". I said, gently while Courage and I giggled in our spot. "You are a smart lass". "You know very well". I said, gently. I nuzzled Courage gently, kissing him on his nose. "Let's put her in the oven for some time". I encouraged, gently. Courage nodded, as he helped me put the pie in the oven. It was already preheated to 350 degrees.
While Courage sat, watching the crust rise, and the dough come to fruition in the oven, we both smiled, knowing we were in a good trusting position. "There it is, it is coming". "Look at that, lad". "You made it, by yourself, with my supervision, some in between". I said, kindly. "I felt I did well". Courage said. "You did, lad". I said, gently. "You did so well, I'm so proud of you, honey".
"Thank you". Courage said. Courage watched the dough rise, as he stared down at the pie. "Well, there's our dessert". "We produced excellently". I mentioned, kindly. "Well now, would you like to help me prepare the breaded chicken?". I asked, gently. "Also, here's some chocolate Oat Milk for being such a great help to me, today".
I poured Courage a glass of Oat Milk with some chocolate powder poured in. "you did so well, Courage". "I'm so proud of you, darling". I said, gently. "Thank you". Courage said. I kissed my Courage on the forehead, gently. My Courage was someone with much love, and wisdom. "Now, let's pour the flour into a mixing bowl, and crack some eggs into it". 'That, and pour some bread crumbs into the flour". "That will give us bread for the chicken". I said, kindly. Courage agreed, as we made some of our bread crumbs for the chicken. "There we are; easily made and distributed". "How lucky are we?". I said, gently. Courage and I giggled again. We mixed, poured, spread, and laid out the chicken evenly. "so…I guess….do you miss dad….or Eustace?". Courage asked, as he glanced up at me. "Well, I miss him here and again, sometimes". "He is someone I've always trusted, and I know he was a big part of our lives….I would say I miss him". "His misanthropic manners made us enjoy him even more". I said, gently. "But I have been thinking about something for a while now…and I might be wrong to think it…perhaps would it be alright if I tried dating again?". "It has been a while since Eustace has passed, and I have been a bit lonely". "I wouldn't be opposed to falling in love again, even if it was only a fling". "I'd like to have a friend of mine I could spend time with". I passed this onto Courage, with apprehension towards what he would think. "Would he hate me for it?". "Would he be alright with it?".
"I think it is ok". Courage said. "It will be nice, I guess, to have someone to go out with".
"Yes, but what about our friendship?". "I wouldn't want to be neglecting you". I said, gently. "You are the most important aspect to me". "I would never prioritize anyone over you". "My Courage".
"It's ok". Courage said. "I want you to be happy….and we'll still be friends too,...mom".
"Well, I suppose opening my heart to someone wouldn't hurt". "Even if I wasn't actively looking". I said, gently. "Being in love is the sweetest thing". "I've been married 72 years". "Being in love again, wouldn't hurt us any". "Even if we went out for some time, had lunch, and came home".
I smiled a gentle smile. "Well, no one can replace my Eustace". "He was someone I loved, dearly". "I loved his smile, his laugh, and his wisdom". "I wouldn't want anyone else". "But if someone were to come along, I wouldn't be opposed to him". I said, gently. I smiled a gentle smile to Courage. Courage nodded, as he waited for the pie to be cooked. "You're my favorite, my Courage". "You have been, and always will be". I said, with soft gentleness. Courage nodded, as he watched the pie come from the oven. Using my oven mitts, I took the pie out, setting it down on the counter.
"There we are". I said, gently. "All done, and ready for us".
Courage nodded, as he watched the Rhubarb pie come from the oven. Nice, crisp, and baked to perfection as the smoke rose from the pie itself. "This is a lovely pie". I said, gently. "It has the sides baked the way it should be". "Nothing overzealous, or haughty about it". "It is perfect the way it is".
"You are a wonderful pastry chef". I said, gently. "Thank you". Courage said. "This is going to be delicious". "We'll save it until after our dinner". I said, gently. "Ok, then". Courage said. I smiled a gentle smile, wrapping the pie in plastic foil. Courage sat, looking at the pie with a watchful eye. "Wait for a while". I said, gently. "It will be all for us". Courage and I laughed. As Courage looked at the pie, I knew his stomach was growling. But even so, the chicken had to be baked.
Putting the chicken in where the pie used to be, we waited for the chicken to bake at its full capacity. I took out some rice and reheated it in our microwave. "Well, that's certainly lovely". "The rice is ready, I think if we set the table, we could eat right now". I said, gently. By this time, Courage and I already had lunch, and the sun in the sky was beginning to sink. "I don't think anyone will be joining us". "We're the only ones enjoying our supper". I smiled a gentle smile, petting Courage's head. "That's nice". Courage said. Courage set about, putting down plates, and some forks, as well as knives. It was a nice dinner arrangement. "Well, I'm happy we have what we have". "Nothing is easier than a luxurious evening of pie, and breaded chicken". I said, gently. "That, and I made some Chili lime rice with ginger Kiji for some flavor". "Want some on your rice, dear?". Courage nodded, holding up his plate. I smiled a kind smile, serving some rice with the alleged Kiji. Courage sat down with his rice and chicken, as some Kiji was put over the chicken as well. "Yes, that is good, isn't it?". I said, gently. "It kind of is". Courage said, as we set to eating. Courage did very well, swallowing and eating his chicken. "I'm so proud of you, my Courage". "It seems you've picked up quite a bit from being beside me". I said, kindly. "I guess I did". Courage said. "I've picked up something".
"It is good that we made our meal". "A well-balanced meal is important to everyday aspects". I said, gently. "But I haven't made a well-balanced meal in so long". "It has been some time since I have". "I've just been busy with the knitting and the crocheting".
"I used to like to play with the yarn at the end". Courage said. "Something of that sort". I said, kindly. "You used to like to sleep at my feet all of the time as well, and play in the blankets". "You have grown since then". "I'm impressed".
"Mmm, well then". I said, gently in a mumbling, dreamy state. "What is it?". Courage asked. "Oh, nothing…I just remember when you were so small, you and I first met". "You would drink milk from the baby bottle I had, when I believed I was having children". I said, gently. "But in any aspect, I used to hold you in my arms, feed you milk, and you would look up at me, happy to be in my arms, happy to receive affection".
"It was the affection you missed out on in the span of time you were abandoned after mama and papa died". I said, gently. "What do you mean, I missed out on?". Courage asked. "Well, when you were young, your birth parents died so early, that you didn't receive the early stimulation you needed to thrive and grow". "You missed out on the hugging, kissing, holding, and licking you needed as a baby". "As a puppy". I said, kindly. "But you developed normally, because you received it later on". "Even if you may have gone astray on some things".
"You couldn't lift your head, you couldn't bark, your paws were wet and moist, you were small, a tiny, youngling". "You had trouble giving, and receiving affection as well". "You had some troubles with recognizing your caregivers, recognizing instructions, and who was speaking to you". "You came to recognize my voice, right away". "I would speak to you, and you would lift your head, or come when called". "You were a bit frightened in the beginning, you would hide in my pocket, or hide somewhere in the couch cushions, but you got used to everything, and would come out when you had the chance". I said, gently. "I would give you a bath, and you loved Lavender scents so much, that you would stay in the bath long enough to get more of the lavender". "You were so strong, for someone so small, and tiny at that age". "But I loved you, either way". "I knew one day, you would change the world, and be someone with so much to accomplish". "You were my inspiration to be braver, and be someone that stood up to their fears". "You were my Courage".
I smiled a gentle smile, reaching over to pet my Courage on the fuzzy head. "I always love you, my Courage". I said, kindly. "You're someone I admire the most, no matter what".
"Thank you". Courage said. Courage ate his Chicken right away, as well as his rice. "Why did my parents die….what happened to them?". Courage asked. I could see in his eyes he was curious. Yet, he was carrying a sadness within him. I knew I owed it to him to give him the truth.
"Well, your parents were originally discouraged from having puppies, and escaped from the vet before they could become neutered". I explained, softly and gently. "Eventually he found them….and….put them down". "He killed them". "The Cruel Veterinarian did that". I was sure to be soft, gentle, and kind with Courage, as he was already under a deal of sadness. Courage nodded, as he turned away for a quick second, glancing away from his meal. I could tell the sadness was imminent. "...Courage". I said, in a soft, kind, feminine voice. Courage glanced up at me, with sadness in his eyes. "Is everything alright?". I asked, gently. "...kind of". Courage said, as he sniffled. "I guess". "I'm ok….I just….I always thought that my parents were sent to the moon in a rocket". "I don't know…I just…it's a lot….I guess".
"I know I shouldn't be upset….because you've told me this story before…and I've never been upset by it". Courage continued. "But I'm sad now because….because I didn't do enough to save my parents". "I don't know".
"Well, you were still so young, you didn't know what your parents needed at that moment". I said, kindly. "You oftentimes, looked for comfort, and didn't find it". "Parents always give children the comfort they need to succeed". "It is how children work and thrive, they need comfort, balance, and love in order to thrive best". "Children need what they need in order to have a happy childhood". "The happier they are, the more well-off they'll be". "You and I were happy, and we kept our best, our best, despite what happened, with all of the abnormalities". "You and I hold a special bond because of what happened". "Our bond is stronger than ever, and because of your story, our bond will continue to be strong". "Our love means everything to me".
"You are my everything, my Courage, and you will always be". "Show me the darkest parts of your heart, which you have, we'll find a way to the light". "It's as I always say; some people bring you a million blessings, some people teach you a million lessons, you, are my lifetime". I said, gently. Courage nodded, as he finished the final scrape of his rice on the plate. "So are you". He said. "We may have rescued you, but in many ways, you rescued us". I assured, gently. "You're someone with so much intellect and strength".
"Thank you". Courage said. Courage drank his chocolate Oat Milk. there was a moment of silence for a bit. Before I spoke again. "I'm sure it must've been sad at the beginning….knowing your birth parents were gone….not seeing them again". I said, kindly. "I guess". Courage said. "I don't remember my birth parents that much". "I don't know".
"Well, it is sad, seeing them go away". "It's sad when anyone's birth mother passes away, or is killed". "It's sad knowing this, even when the mother has nurtured, and cared for her child". "It's always sad in essence". I said, gently. "But when a child is nurtured, and cared for at the time they should develop, it makes it a bit easier". "It's always the easiest when the child has a family". I said, gently. "Family is what makes the child happiest, and most developed".
"I guess". Courage said. "I would say I have a good family". "It is kind of nice".
"We have been good, despite our differences". I said, gently. "Some might say, perfect". "Who knows?". I ate some of the Rhubarb pie. Courage looked pensive out of the window again. Perchance he was looking for something. Whatever he was looking for, he seemed deep in thought about it.
"Let's have some pie". "Perchance that will help us feel better in the long run". I said, gently. Courage nodded, as we washed the dinner dishes in the sink, cleaning them with a towel, as the small dishes were used for dessert. "There we are, a piece for you, and a piece for me". I said, gently. "That's nice". Courage replied. We both ate our pie, talking amongst ourselves. "It was a blessing to have you". "We almost thought we would never raise anything the way things have been". I said, gently. "Eustace and I couldn't have children, and we were barren for the longest time, looking for the smallest thing to raise, even if it was a cactus plant, until we found you". I smiled a kind smile. "That's nice". Courage replied. "I guess it's nice you found something". "I was pretty easy…I guess".
"You were easy for the most part". "But I could never have biological children of my own". I said, gently. "It was something my body was never capable of". "But I eventually did what I could, and raised you as my own". "You are someone I genuinely love".
"Thank you". Courage replied. "I love you, too". "Thank you for giving me a home".
"Of course, darling". "I'm happy to have given you everything you needed". With my gentle smile, I gladly talked with Courage long into the hours. A tired Courage found himself falling asleep on my lap once again. "It seems it is time to go upstairs". "Too much energy today, it seems". I said, gently. Courage nodded, tiredly, as he drank his Oat Milk. With drinking his Oat Milk, his eyes were off to the side. His wide eyes, wrought with quality that made him humanistic, a trier, if one would. I smiled a gentle smile, petting Courage as he drank his milk. Only carrying him upstairs when it was time to go up. When it was time to go up, we both made the trek. Setting a sleeping Courage down on the bed, I went back downstairs, waiting for my new…friend…alright then, he is actually a new lover of mine, but as I greeted him, we were friendly, yet secretive in our talks. He was someone I had known for a long time.