Upstairs

Ethan and Dakota were working upstairs. Each of the five rooms had new floors and planks for the walls. The doors and windows had also been changed. All that remained was to build the furniture.

"Dakota? If you're okay, I'd like Joseph to help build the furniture the rest of the week, he's just thinking about building, he's a really good carpenter! You'll be surprised!"

"Of course Ethan, send him to me. We'll draw some plans and I'll see what he can do."

"Thanks Dakota! He's only ten years old, but don't underestimate him."

"I won't, I saw the furniture in your cabin, it's expert work! You have to think about how to divide the five rooms, it will help to know about the furniture."

"Okay, I'll talk to Amelia about it."

While putting the children to bed, Ethan had asked Joseph if he wanted to help Dakota with the furniture. Joseph had jumped for joy!

Then finally alone, Ethan told Amelia about the rooms.

"How do you want to divide them Amelia? Even if she's not the oldest,I would like Claire to have her own room, she took care of her siblings all her life! Even now, she takes on more responsibility than she should! I would like her to just take care of herself and be a peaceful and fulfilled young girl, she can change as she pleases, without hiding! "

"I agree Ethan, you don't have to convince me!, five bedrooms is a lot! Take a pencil and paper, please". Ethan did so.

"Draw five big circles, it will be easier to visualize."

"You are right! I know why I married you now!" The man teased.

Amelia laughed!

"Room 1: Claire, that's it! Room, 2? The big-kids? Adam and Joseph?" Amelia asked.

"Yes good idea! Do you want to separate the twins or not?" Ethan asked.

"I don't know, they were never separated before! What do you think?"

"Honestly, in my mind,to make Jason thrive on his own without him constantly obeying Jessie, I think that would be better."

"Okay, So Room 3, Jason, Ben and George?" Clarified Amelia. "So Room 4 for Jessie and Tess?"

"Yeah, I don't know how Tess will react without Claire." Ethan informed her

"It's a bit the same problem as the twins. Tess will get used to it, she will have Jessie who is older, Jessie is a tornado of stupidity, but she will take good care of Tess. Who knows, that may make her responsible and assauge her, if that reassures you. Let's put Claire's room and the little girls next door. If Tess needs Claire, she can go and see her easily! What do you think?"

"I love you Amelia! That's perfect! I'll put up a curtain so that I can separate the two sides of the little girls' room, so if she wants, Jessie will also have a "single" room. She can change and read even if Tess is asleep.

"Good idea Ethan! I know why I married you too!" She teased in turn.

Ethan laughed back.

"There is room number five left, for now let's make a guest room but we can make a change as the kids grow up. Maybe whenever our family grows as well!" Ethan said.

Amelia had a huge smile!

"Yes, with the second floor having sloping ceilings, we could make two or three more rooms, probably for the older ones, later." replied Amélia.

Joseph was really happy to help on the forbidden floor! He had very good ideas and was really good at carpentry for his age! Dakota, although warned was surprised! In each room everyone had their own desk and a matching sculpted chair, Joseph even had the The idea of making a smaller one for Tess. Each room now also had its chest of drawers for the linens. Joseph had also carved hooks for the jackets, various shelves for the toys of the little ones or the personal effects of the older ones.

"Well done, son! You did a remarkable job!" Ethan praised.

"Thank you! This was fun Pa!""

"We are now going to dismantle the beds downstairs and reassemble them in the different rooms. Joseph you are the only child to know the distribution of the rooms, I ask you not to say anything, no need to create conflicts or anger. I will make the anouncement on the chambers when the time comes!"

"Yes Pa! But I think you have distributed the rooms very well!"

"Thank you, Joseph!"

"Pa?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks for letting me help! I love you so much!" Joseph threw himself into his father's arms! " I don't just do stupid things!"

"I love you too Joseph! And don't worry, I know you don't just do stupid things! You are a great little boy! You have a lot of talent in carpentry, but you are only ten years old! Nonsense is normal, and spankings too!" Ethan teased!

Within a week the bedrooms were all finished. The children had slept right on the hanging mattresses on the two days of the bed transfer.

Ethan didn't know if it was the kids or Amelia who was most excited about the end of the upstairs work!

In the evening in front of the fireplace, Ethan had gathered all the kids together to brief them on the Chambers Act and what he and Amelia had decided.

"At the end of the corridor on the right, will be your room Claire. You are growing up and becoming a beautiful young girl. We want you to be able to be alone and independent." Ethan told his oldest daughter.

"Right next to it, the middle door on the right, will be the bedroom of the little girls Jessie and Tess. Tess, you are going to be on the bed with the barrier. Just to keep you from rolling off on to the floor. I put up a curtain to divide the room in half, so Jessie you can read even if Tess is sleeping. Tess you are separated from Claire but she will be right next door if you need her." Ethan explains watching Tess frown.

"The last door on the right will be the bedroom of the three little boys. Jason and Ben will be on the bunk bed. Jason, you will be on the top because you're the tallest. George you will be on the single bed, so you'll be right next to Ben. Just like Tess with Claire, you twins, are apart, but right next door if you need each door at the back to the left will be the room for the big boys, Adam and Joseph. You will choose your beds between yourselves. The first door on the left will be a guest room for now!" Ethan explains before deciding to let the kids say their thoughts.

"I would like to hear your reactions to this arrangement. Be sure you are respectful. Now, any questions?" Ethan said. He smiled when hands went up.

"You are not at school!" He teased! But it was a good move for the kids to hear himself speak as an authority.

"So let's play, I am the teacher!" Ethan said.

"Yes Ben? "

"Papa, does a spare bedroom mean that if a friend of ours comes over to sleep at the house he's not going to be in our bedroom?"

Ethan and Amelia smiled.

"Good question, Ben! A spare bedroom will be more for passing adult friends, but why not allow you to sleep exceptionally well in this bedroom alone with your friend?"

"They may not like it, though."

"We'll see if a friend likes it, when the time comes, alright?"

At the boy's nod, he says "Yes Tess? He already knew what she was going to say.

"If I'm scared in the night, can I go see Claire?"

"Yes Tess, especially at the beginning, you are free to go see her as much as you need, you will not be punished. Then we will reduce slowly if necessary."

"I'll be there Tess! You can come see me too!" Jessie said so spontaneously Ethan almost cried!"

"Come here Jessie" Ethan ordered quietly. "Thank you! It's very kind to say it! I'm very proud of you!" Ethan hugged her and Amelia did also.

" Thank you... Pa!" The word was still hesitant, but it was said.

Pa? Ethan was thrilled!

"Pa?"

"Yes Jason?" Ethan's heart was beating so fast, the two of them had said "Pa!"

"Can I also go see Jessie whenever I want? Even in the night, won't I be punished for entering the girls' room?"

"Yes Jason, the same rules as Tess apply to you. I will be very indulgent at the beginning, however only at night, where they sleep you can go freely. During the day you will knock to make sure they are not changing clothes."

"Yessir!"

"Pa?"

"Yes Adam?" Definitely, it was the bouquet!

"Why is it Claire who has a room on her own when I'm the eldest? Is it because she's your real daughter?" Adam asked, a slight challenge in his voice.

"I don't like the tone of your voice son! You're going to change it immediately if you don't want to spend your first night in your room on your stomach!"

"Yes sir! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to say it like that."

"Apology accepted! You are all my real children Adam! No differences!" And that's because she's a young girl, she's starting to train to be a young woman, she's going to need some privacy, and because I'm raising you, my son, to be a gentleman! "

"Yes Pa!, i just wanted to know. I like being with Joseph!, He can build me lots of stuff! Are you mad at me?"

"No Adam, I'm not mad!" Ethan reassured him.

"Pa?"

"Yes George?"

"Can we come to your room whenever we want if we need you or Mama?"

"Yes George, you can always come and see us if need be, all of you! But you KNOCK FIRST and you WAIT to get permission to enter! Even if it seems long to you. BE CAREFUL children! If you come in without asking, it will be a spanking on my knees immediately! Everyone understood correctly? Tess? "

"Yes sir!" They all said.

"Yes Joseph?"

"Why don't you do a water closet and wash room? I read that it was done a lot, some had it in St. Louis! it was practical! No need to go to the barn to wash yourself or to the outside toilet!"

All the children laughed!

"Can you imagine doing your business inside Joseph? You're crazy! Why would you say that crazy idea?" Said Adam!

"Enough Adam!" Ethan said softly but firmly.

"Yes Pa."

"Everyone has the right to express themselves without being teased! Joseph, your mind runs on forever! Eh my son!? I will think about it".

Ethan thought it would actually be a wonderful wedding present for Amelia! Maybe a new room next to their bedroom? Why not? , Joseph was a genius in his field. What would he become as a grown man? He would do amazing things!

"Well now everyone time to be in your new bedrooms! You have a moment to make yourself comfortable in your rooms and tidy up your things that are on your beds as you like, before bedtime. Remember that the second attic story is still prohibited! We'll come upstairs to give you a goodnight kiss and hug in a few minutes."

"Ethan, we finally have the room for us tonight!"

"Yes sweetheart! We will be able to SLEEP QUIETLY!" The man teased.

Amelia laughed!

"Don't count on it! Now you'll NEVER SLEEP AGAIN!" She teased too.

He burst out laughing!

"I will love you until you are exhausted my love!" Ethan said.

"I can not wait!" Amelia replied.

"I know!"