Biddie, Pilar, and Candy were at Biddie's home canning and putting up stores for the fall. They had made several flavors of jam as well as vegetables and other foods that could be stored through winter. Biddie not only had an excellent kitchen for creating provisions and she also had a special room for making her 'medicine.'
"Candy, can you put those jars over by the window, I need room for more bottles for the 'cough syrup'" Biddie asked as Candy was placing some jars on the table. She went to the counter and then took the jars off the counter and placed them on the window sill.
"Biddie, did you say you had 6 jars?" asked Candy.
"MMM…" Biddie said as she brought the pan with the syrup to the counter. Pilar had just stepped into the kitchen when she noticed two small hands reaching the window sill. She tapped Biddie on her shoulder, Candy saw also and smiled. When Biddie realized what was happening. She slipped out of the kitchen leaving Candy and Pilar by themselves and then she came back in with two small children. Shellie and Nancy. They both stood with raspberry jam on their hands and around their mouths. Both girls were around 8 years old, and both knew better than to sneak a jar of jam.
"Nancy, what have you been doing?" Said Biddie.
"Well, Shellie and I decided we wanted to try some jam so we thought we could try the ones in the window sill."
"I heard the jar lid popped and mom said that means it is ready!" Shellie interjected. Pilar did not say anything, They would have a conversation later with dad about this. Biddie said to Nancy:
"Well, since you wanted the Jam so much, I suppose that will be your supper tonight. But I think since we are almost done with this batch, you and Shellie can help us tomorrow start with the vegetables to be stored!" Biddie looked at Pilar and Pilar nodded okay. That was only fair. Candy had gone out the door and saw one more child sitting on the steps. It was her son, Jonathan. She looked at him. He was now 7 years old with a mischievous streak about him. She could not figure out where it came from. Jeremy hinted that it was a Bolt trait. Candy wasn't sure, she had done some things herself when she was young. She helped him stand up and they went inside.
"Well, what have we here?" Asked Biddie. Who looked at Jonathan and wanted to know an answer. Which he proudly gave:
"Well, Shellie and Nan both were looking like they were having a good time, so I joined in!" he said with a very happy, sticky, purple grin on his face! It was all Candy could do to keep a straight face as well as Biddie and Pilar, who both secretly smiled.
"Well, if you don't mind Candy," Biddie said, " I think he can help out tomorrow just like the girls!" When he heard this, he was very adamant about not working with girls.
"I am not a girl! I don't want to work with girls! Girls are yukky!" he said as he tried to run past Candy and Pilar and Pilar and ran right into his father.
"Hey, What's going on here?"
"Mommy wants me to help the girls with the canning!" Jonathan said: and then said: "I'm a boy! Boys don't do girl's work!" Jeremy smiled and looked at Candy. She whispered in Jeremy's ear what his son had done.
"Jonny, let's take a walk !" Jeremy said putting his hand out to his son who quickly took it, then turned to Shellie and Nancy and stuck his tongue out at them. Jeremy saw that too and mouthed Candy, not to worry. So, the ladies finished up the canning and preserving for the day. Shellie and Nancy helped to clean up. Candy and Pilar said goodbye, Shellie and Pilar left and so did Candy.
Candy walked along the lake for a while and then came around to their house. She and Jeremy had a beautiful yellow house, it had a nice wide porch to sit on and she had flowers planted all-round the side and front of the house. There was a rocking chair in front of the window and a porch swing off to the side. She and Jeremy would sit and talk in the evenings. That was their special time. She went to the house and inside to get things ready for supper. She was unusually tired these days and seemed to forget things. She was going to see the doctor tomorrow before they started canning the vegetables. Biddie and Pilar would get the kids started and she would come by when she was finished with the doctor.
"Now, you know what you have to say to your mother?" Jeremy asked his son who nodded and then took the flowers in to give his mother.
"Mommy, I have some flowers for you!" Candy turned around and bent down and said:
"Oh, thank you Jonathan, but what are these for?" She asked him. He looked up at his father and then said:
"I am sorry for getting into the jam and I am sorry for saying girls are yukky and, and, are you really a girl mommy?" he asked in all sincerity. Candy smiled and looked at him and said:
"Yes, yes I am!" She said and gave him a hug.
"There is one more thing you need to tell your mother, we discussed it do you remember?" Jeremy asked. Jonathan nodded yes.
"Mommy, I will be glad to help the ladies tomorrow. Is Shellie and Nancy really ladies?" He asked as he looked at Candy who was putting the flowers in a nice vase. She bent down and said:
"Yes, sweetheart, just like mommy is a lady Shellie and Nancy are ladies as well!" He looked at her and decided to go upstairs to clean up. Candy and Jeremy were left alone then for a few minutes. He went over to give her a hug and a kiss. She looked at him and smiled.
"Whatever did you say to your son Jeremy Bolt?" Candy said and Jeremy said:
"Well, that is between a father and a son, but he now understands that sometimes men have to do women's work and women have to do men's work when it is need." He pushed her chin up and then kissed her gently. She held onto him for a little more time until the water was boiling over on the stove.