Birdsong and Sunrise

Jack held Abigail’s hand and walked up the path, hopping from paver stone to cool grass to make room for a large group that came barreling toward them.

“Hey, watch it!” Jack yelled as one of the group swung their bag, barely missing Abigail.

“You watch it!” The assailant removed his mask and Jack recognized him as one of the kids from the other side of the lake. The school bus would circle the lake, picking up students before heading into town to drop them at school. Jack didn’t know much about the boy standing in front of him, glowering. But, he had heard things, and he wasn’t interested in finding out if they were true.

Jack’s heart raced as he squeezed Abigail’s hand tightly and turned back up the path.

“Come on, Abigail, let’s get your candy.” He had been entrusted with her care for the night, and he felt protective of her in the way he thought it must be for a kid to have a younger sister. And, he wanted to show Abel that he could take care of business. He had been taking care of mom and grandpa all on his own for as long as he could remember.

Jack didn’t care so much about trick or treating, but he sprung into action, volunteering to walk with Abigail when he overheard Mom and Abel speaking lowly at the kitchen table the night before, about some last minute meetings with lawyers and canceled Halloween plans. He listened quietly and then popped his head in, around the door frame.

“I’ll take her.”

Abel had lifted an eyebrow in question, “You would do that? You don’t mind?”

“Nah, I was just going to stay home and try to watch Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin anyway. Kids at school said it would be on Channel 9.” Jack looked at his feet, moving a dust bunny back and forth in front of him.

“Won’t you miss it if you go?” Abel had asked him calmly.

“Well, I could see about trying to record it,” Jack had paused, “Mom, do we have a tape I could use?”

Lucy had been watching the exchange between Abel and Jack quietly, “Sure, Jacky. Really, though, you don’t want to try to meet up with friends? What about the boy you mentioned from science club at school?”

“No,” Jack had insisted, “I really do want to take Abigail. We could even hop on the Preston’s hay ride up the road to get to and from town so you don’t have to worry about us walking far.” He paused, calculating.

“I heard you saying you have to meet with someone, anyway,” He lifted his head, meeting his mother’s eyes first, and then Abel’s. “Will you be very long this time?”

“Oh, no, sweetheart.” Lucy replied, “It shouldn’t be too long. Just some paperwork and adult chit chat. We should be back by 8 o’clock. Abel’s going to come with me this time.”