Chapter 157 – Afternoon Games
Jacobs went back to sit down with the rest.
"Abigail." Jacobs said. "Please sit and relax after the food is put away. The cadets will work. You have done plenty."
"That sounds good." Abigail said. "I just want to make sure that the food is put away. Cody, why don't you go get the checkerboard and a couple of other games from the closet. I think that sounds like a great way to spend the afternoon."
"I have a checkerboard at the jail." Jack said.
"I will go get it." Dee said. "I know where it is."
Dee quickly got up and left. Cody also ran upstairs.
"Why do you have a checkerboard at the jail?" Wynn asked.
"Because several of the boys like to hang out and talk." Jack said. "It is easier if we play checkers. I ordered a set to keep there."
"That is nice of you." Elizabeth said. "You have been so good to the boys who lost their fathers."
"I understand what they are feeling." Jack said. "They can talk to me and not have to worry about upsetting their mothers by saying something."
"Good for you." Wynn said.
Cody came back with not only the checkerboard, but he also had Reversi, Parcheesi, Life and Sternhalma (*). Wynn looked at him and smiled. It didn't take Dee long and he was back with the other checkerboard. When he saw the other games that Cody had he smiled.
"So how are we going to do this?" Jack asked.
"I think that we will have a checker tournament." Wynn said. "Beth dear, can you get some paper?"
Elizabeth got up to grab some paper and a pencil.
"We can have two games of checkers going at a time." Wynn said. "The others can play other games. So who wants to be a part of the checkers tournament?"
"Me, me." Cody said.
"I figured that." Wynn said with a smile.
"That sounds like fun." Frank said. "Count me in."
"Can I play?" Becky asked.
"Of course." Wynn said. "Jack or Jacobs?"
"Count me in." Jack said.
"Me too." Jacobs said.
"I think I will play as well." Elizabeth said.
"What about you Abigail?" Wynn asked.
"I think I will watch and play some other games." Abigail said. "Checkers was never my strong suit. Also I think you have an even number as it is."
"If you play." Elizabeth Rose said. "I will play and we will still have an even number of names."
"Okay." Abigail said.
"So let's draw to see who will be playing in the first round." Wynn said.
Elizabeth held out ten folded slips of paper.
"Cody drew first." Elizabeth said. "Open it to make sure that you don't have your name."
Cody drew and smiled.
"I have Mrs Thornton." Cody said.
Elizabeth looked through the slips and pulled Cody's name. She then held out the remaining ones to Becky. She drew Frank. So Elizabeth took Becky's name out and held out the slips to Jack. He drew Dee. Elizabeth smiled as she knew that was going to be a fun one to watch. Elizabeth held out the remaining slips for Jacobs. He drew Wynn. The last pair was Abigail and Elizabeth Rose.
"That looks like a great line up." Wynn said. "After the first round, we will draw names again."
"Sounds good." Jack said.
As the group set up the two checker boards, Ann and Marsha helped Patty finish up putting everything away and then they excused themselves.
"Mother and I are going to be going." Ann said. "Adrik will be back soon. He had asked to spend the day with the Wiese's. I agreed when he explained that he was cousins to those two little boys."
"I didn't know that." Wynn said.
"It is okay." Ann said. "Adrik is adjusting well, but the two little boys are five and three. They don't understand. It is easier when Adrik is around."
"Well that was good of you." Abigail said. "Please let us know if there is anything that you all need."
"Will you be back for supper?" Elizabeth Rose asked.
"No." Ann said. "We took enough leftovers for us tonight (holding up her basket). I want Adrik to go to bed early with school tomorrow."
"I understand." Abigail said. "We probably won't be late either."
"I will be over about six thirty in the morning." Ann said. "Mom can get Adrik going."
"Sounds good." Abigail said. "Have a good night."
Ann and Marsha left to head to their apartment. The rest of the group sat to start playing games. Patty was supervising in the kitchen, but she didn't mind. The first two checker games were Cody and Elizabeth and Abigail and Elizabeth Rose. The guys set up Sternhalma. The conversations were kept light and there was playful banter between many of them that could be heard. Elizabeth didn't let Cody win, but she also didn't play like she used to with Dee or Sophie. Elizabeth Rose barely beat Abigail. The guys were locked in a tight game of Sternhalma. It looked like Dee was in the lead, but it was hard to tell. As the guys were playing, Patty came out to make sure they had all the dishes other than the cups that were in use.
"Everything okay?" Abigail asked.
"Yes." Patty said. "I just wanted to make sure we had all the dishes other than the cups that are in use."
"Okay." Abigail said. "Can you make another pot of coffee before you sit down?"
"Patty." Elizabeth said. "If it isn't too much work, can you make some water for tea?"
"I can do both." Patty said. "No problem. The boys are finishing up the dishes, then I am going to have them sweep the floor and bring in wood."
"Thank you." Jacobs said without looking up from the game.
Patty brought out fresh coffee and let Elizabeth know the water was on for tea. She looked at the boys and shook her head. Like her brothers, no one was giving an inch and they were locked in a fierce battle. Jack ended up narrowly winning and he was grinning from ear to ear. The second round of checkers was Becky and Frank and Jacobs and Wynn. Jack and Dee grabbed Reversi and set that up for them. Cody crawled up in Wynn's lap and watched him play.
As they were playing, Patty came out with the three cadets.
"Wynn." Patty said. "I know that you are playing, but we are done."
"Let's take a five minute break." Wynn said.
"Okay." Jacobs said.
Wynn and Jacobs both stood up and went over to Patty.
"Was there something that you wanted to say?" Wynn asked.
"Yes." Patty said. "I don't think that these three have learned their lesson."
"I suppose you have an idea on how to remedy that." Jacobs said.
"I actually do." Patty said. "With Elizabeth and I helping in the classroom and Charlotte gone or helping as well, I have a feeling that Ann and Clara are going to have their hands full over here. I also know that Clara wants to try and spend more time at the dress shop as she has a number of orders that she needs to do."
"Abigail." Wynn said. "Can you come over here for a moment please?"
Abigail joined the group over by the kitchen.
"This is your cafe." Wynn said. "So I want you in on this conversation. There is a lot that we still need to do over at the office. How are you set for help this week?"
"I will have Ann all day." Abigail said. "I will have Clara in the mornings and Mary Graves for a few hours over lunch. Ann will leave when I come."
"Then I have a suggestion." Patty said. "I suggest that you have these three, to do dishes, especially after the breakfast and lunch rush. If there is a busy supper they can come over as well. I will be over after school and I am sure that Elizabeth will join us to help as well."
"I think that is a great idea." Jacobs said. "They can do dishes, clear tables, haul wood and water."
"I won't turn down the help if that is what you want them to do." Abigail said. "Especially this week as we all try to get back into some kind of routine and get through everything that needs to get done."
"Then it is done." Wynn said. "If you need help, these three will be here to help. You may only have two at a time sometimes, but it will be okay."
"Thank you." Abigail said.
"You ladies can go sit down." Wynn said. "We will join you in a bit."
Wynn waited until both Patty and Abigail had walked away, then he turned to the three cadets in front of him.
"You will help here." Wynn said. "You will also pull a guard shift. You will also be required to run with the rest in the morning. If I hear one more word of complaint you will not be allowed to eat in the cafe and will be eating rations until you are back in Regina. Don't forget that I told you that your ability to graduate is dependent on your ability to do your job here."
"Yes, Sir." Cadet Edwards said.
"I want a list of who is going to be at the house on guard." Jacobs said. "And who is going to be at the schoolhouse. I want two people overnight at the house. I want two people at the schoolhouse at all times. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Sir." Edwards said. "I will work a schedule with Morin and the others."
"Good then I expect a copy of that when I come over later." Jacobs said. "For now you are dismissed as I am here and we are all staying in the cafe. If that changes, I will let you know."
"Yes, Sir." Edwards said.
"Good." Jacobs said. "Then you are to be in your tents or at the jail. I would suggest that you don't cross Bill. He can be even grouchier than I am."
"Yes, Sir." Edwards said.
"Good." Wynn said. "Supper at seven if you can behave. Dismissed."
After salutes were exchanged the three cadets left.
* Citations
Reversi was invented in England in 1883.
Parcheesi was invented in 1874 by American game makers Selchow and Righter. It was based on the game Pachisi from India.
Life – originally called Checkered Game of Life was invented in 1860 by Milton Bradley
Sternhalma was invented in Germany in 1892, more commonly known these days as Chinese checkers
