Читать книгу Dangerous Hilarity: The Great Adventures of the Jackson Twins, Their Family and the Dogs in Their Lives, A Novel for Teens and Young Adults and All Those Who are Young at Heart - Sioux Dallas - Страница 11

Chapter Four

Herb sat up in bed with a start. He was awakened by Galena’s cold nose stuck against his face. What was that noise? Irene grumbled sleepily but did not open her eyes. Herb got up quietly, put on robe and slippers, and tiptoed down the hall. “Brrr. It’s a chilly spring,” he whispered to Galena padding beside him. He crept down the stairs trying not to trip over Galena. Passing through the front hall, he took a baseball bat out of the closet in case he needed to defend himself.

Galena was jumping at the dining room window. Was someone trying to break in? Herb couldn’t see anything threatening, so he eased out the back door and walked quietly around the house to outside the dining room. Still nothing. There must have been something for Galena to be disturbed.

He whirled with his heart beating double time when Galena began to jump and bark against a gigantic oak tree beside the house. Looking up in the branches, Herb was startled to see a figure moving around.

“Come down right now. I have a gun. I don’t want to shoot you,” Herb bellowed angry and a little frightened.

“Aw, Dad. Who could you shoot with a baseball bat? Besides, you don’t own a gun. You don’t approve of having guns in a home.”

“Tom! Is that you, Tom? What are you doing up in that tree. Come down this instant.” Tom was laughing until he could hardly climb down.

“March yourself into the house, young man.” Inside, Tom and Herb were met by the rest of the family.

“What were you doing outside, Tom? Irene was puzzled.

“Dorf brain. It’s five thirty-five,” Tim grumbled. “It’s even too early for the chickens.” Anna knelt hugging Galena and waited sleepily for Tom’s explanation.

Tom was grinning until he got a good look at his dad’s expression in the light; then his face fell and he instantly grew serious. “Well, I woke up a little after five and knew it was time for Jason to deliver the papers. He’s one of my best friends, and the other day he suggested that if I ever wanted to talk about our move that he was available to listen. There was something I wanted to discuss with him.

“What was it?” Tim demanded.

“Jason suggested that if Tim and I didn’t want to go to Alaska, that maybe we could stay here with friends.”

“Right on. Great idea,” Tim yelled.

“Wrong. Bad idea,” Irene said firmly. “Do you mean you would be willing to stay behind and let the rest of us go off with Galena and not see us for three years?” Irene was astonished and hurt.

“Taking two thirteen year old boys, willful boys at that, and being responsible for them for that length of time is a responsibility that few people would want to try.” Herb was angry. “We’ve always made important decisions as a family. I’m disappointed, no, I’m hurt, that you would be willing to break up the family and talk to someone outside the family about it.”

“Tom, I’m not happy about leaving Virginia either, but -- break up our family. Ah, no. We have good parents that have always listened to us and considered our feelings and have furnished everything that is good for us. Sometimes give us things just for fun. Oh, how could you?” Anna spluttered and choked up.

“Well -- I admit I didn’t think it through. I just had a thought and flew with it. I didn’t even tell Tim. No, I don’t want to break up our family, but none of us really want to move and go to that place.”

“Thomas Harrison Jackson, I’m sorry you feel as you do. It is my work and maybe I got too excited and didn’t consider family.” Herb spoke softly with bowed head.

“Stop it.” Irene ordered. “You are supporting us and you have a right to enjoy your work and want something better for yourself. We’re proud of you and are grateful for the good life you’ve provided for us.” She turned to glare at Tom.

Tom had cringed in hearing his full name knowing how angry and hurt his dad would be to call him by the full name.

Irene stood in front of Tom. “Why would you go out the window and down the tree? It’s so dangerous. Why wouldn’t you walk quietly down the stairs and out the front door?” she asked angrily.

“He does that a lot,” Tim piped up. “I told you he’s a dorf brain.

“It’s better than being a mushy pea brain.” Tom hit Tim on the shoulder which Tim quickly returned.

“That’s enough from both of you.” Herb was more angry after hearing the full story and knowing that Tom had made a habit of climbing out the window and down the tree. He glared at Tom. “You disturbed all of us for something that could have been dangerous and certainly could have waited until tomorrow. Suppose you had fallen and broken your back making a cripple of yourself for life. Or you might even have had an injury and caused brain damage.”

“You gotta have a brain to damage it,” Tim chortled.

“Both of you. Go to your room -- now. You can come down for breakfast at the usual time, then you’ll return to your room until your dad and I decide what we’ll do about this.” Irene was frustrated.

“Aw, Mom. That’s not fair. I didn’t do anything,” Tim protested.

“You contributed to the general confusion. Go.” Irene glared at them.

The twins stomped up the stairs and slammed the door to their room. Tom threw himself on his back on his bed and hugged a pillow to his chest. Tim backed against the wall and slid to the floor, wrapping his arms around his drawn-up knees and slightly rocking himself.

Tom pounded the pillow with his fist. “I’m so gosh darned mad. Why should I be punished for having my own opinion? I have rights, too.”

Tim looked up with misty eyes. “I’m angry, too. You have to admit that you’re the one that did the stupid things that caused our parents to worry and be upset. What you did was so dangerous. I didn’t do anything and I’m getting punished the same as you. No that isn’t fair.”

“Forgive me for being such a devil in this family when you’re such an angel,” Tom spat sarcastically sitting up.

“Shut up, Tom. I’m not calling you names. You are so obnoxious sometimes,” Tim answered with hurt in his voice.

“Well, Mr. Goody-Goody. You just haven’t happened to get caught. You’ve done bad thing, too, Tim.”

“I’m not a goody-goody. Yes, I’ve done things I shouldn’t, and maybe mom and dad didn’t happen to catch me, but I’ve never gotten up in the dark, woke the whole family, and did something so stupid and dangerous.”

“Okay. Okay. I’m sorry, Tim. I have no business being mad at you. I’m the one who’s guilty and I’ll have to take my punishment like a man.” Tom rolled on his back looking thoughtfully at the ceiling. “What do you think they’ll do to me?”

“That’s hard to say. The fact that they’re taking time to discuss it proves that your punishment will be a dilly. If I could ever learn to keep my mouth shut, I wouldn’t be in trouble, too.”

“Thanks a lot. Just what I needed -- encouragement.”

Tim stood and went to brush his teeth again, then crawled into his bed. Tom laughed. “Why did you brush your teeth again?” Tim shrugged his shoulders and turned out the light. All that could be heard was the click of Galena’s nails as she patrolled the house protecting her family.

Tim came bouncing down for breakfast as Tom walked in subdued and anxious. Neither boy mentioned the previous activity. They sat quietly sliding glances at each other and the rest of the family. Galena sensed the tension and walked around the table whining and pushing her nose against each one.

After a nearly silent breakfast, Herb pushed his chair back and sipped his coffee staring at Tom and making him uneasy. Finally he spoke. “Tom, your mother and I have reached a decision. I don’t want any arguing or whining. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir,” Tom answered softly.

Tim was sorry for his twin and tried to lighten the air. “Hey, Dad. Did we tell you how much we enjoyed the day in D.C.? We really do appreciate you taking the time to come all the way back and give us such a neat surprise. You spent a lot of money and we appreciate it.”

“Tim, you may be excused. Go straight to your room and don’t try to stand in the hall and listen. Anna, you may be excused, also.” Herb spoke quietly.

Anna looked as if she would like to say something, but she went with an arm around Tim. In the hall Anna shook Tim’s shoulder. “When are you going to learn that flattery doesn’t get you everything?” She looked sympathetically at Tim.

Tom wriggled in his chair and looked anxiously from Irene to Herb. Galena put her head on Tom’s lap as if she, too, sympathized with him.

Herb sat a few minutes looking down in his cup. He slowly raised his head and looked at Tom. “Son, you know how much I love you -- we love you. What you did was not only dangerous but unnecessary. And you disturbed the family’s rest. How would you have felt if a neighbor happened to look out to see a figure in our tree, jumped to the conclusion that someone was breaking in and called the police? They certainly would not have thought it was funny. You must learn to analyze situations, think before you act and accept responsibility for your actions.” He drew a long, slow breath.

“Responsible parents give their children guidance while allowing them to grow and learn through personal experiences. Sometimes an experience is not a wise choice. I hope you learn from it, to think before you act, and to consider the feelings of others.”

“Yes, sir. I sure have. May I be excused?”

“Not yet, dear,” Irene said. “We haven’t discussed what you are to do.” She patted Tom’s back and reached to hug Galena who pushed her head between Irene and Tom.

“Now then,” Herb continued, “you will go to Sunday School and church tomorrow as usual. But you’ll spend the afternoon in your room while Tim goes skating and eating out with your friends. You need to think about what you’ve done and be able, later today, to tell me what you’ve learned from this.”

As Tom got up, Irene took his hand, “Don’t forget to change the sheets on your bed and bring all dirty clothes to the laundry room. That includes towels and wash cloths as well as linens and clothes. Remind Tim to do the same. Here’s the furniture polish and a rag. While you’re doing the polishing, Tim can run the vacuum in your room. Anna will vacuum the hall after she has finished her room. I could use some help in the rose garden for a little while after you boys finish. Dad’s going to be cleaning out the basement and packing some things he wants.”

Tom hung his head and nodded. He drug out of the room and slapped up the stairs. He stumbled to his bed and fell across it. “Parents. Who need ‘em?” he muttered.

“Gosh. Was it that bad?” Tim asked in a soft, sympathetic voice.

Tom thought a minute them rolled to his side, propping an elbow on his thigh and cupping his face in his hand. “Truthfully? No, not that bad, and I shouldn’t feel badly toward our parents. I did bring this on myself and they do love us or they wouldn’t get upset and worry so much. But I’m still mad at the whole situation.” He sighed and rolled on his back with his hands clasped behind his head.

“Well for gosh sakes, if you don’t tell me quick what they said, I’ll --I’ll”

“All right. Keep your britches on. It truly isn’t all that bad except you have to promise me one thing.”

“Sure. What?”

Tom told Tim what his punishment would be. “Promise me you’ll not breathe a word of this to the guys. I would just die if they knew how stupid I’ve been.”

“I promise. I won’t talk about it. But what’ll I tell them when you don’t go with us tomorrow?”

“I don’t know. Tell them I got sick and had to stay in bed.”

“You want me to deliberately lie?”

“Nah. I won’t ask you to lie.”

“I know. I’ll stay home tomorrow, too,” Tim said gleefully.

“Uh uh. Mom and dad won’t let you,” Tom said sadly. “Unless you can convince them you’re really sick.”

“Now you want me to lie to our parents.”

“Shoot,” Tom said with disgust, “I guess you’ll have to tell the truth. It’ll come out anyway. Stuff always does.”

I won’t tell everything. I’ll just tell them about you climbing out the window. I won’t tell what time it was. Don’t worry. I won’t tell them anything that’ll make them tease you.”

“Thanks, Tim. You’re the best brother in the world. I guess we’d better get busy cleaning our room. We have to do the usual Saturday things. Go get the clean sheets while I take the dirty ones off our beds. Dad’s cleaning out the basement and packing. Oooooh!” He fell back on the bed.

“What’s wrong? Do you hurt?” Tim asked worriedly.

“Alaska,” Tom spat out bitterly. “Every time I think of it, I get sick to my stomach.”

“I know. Me, too. When our friends talk about it I think it might not be so bad after all. Then I’m alone thinking and I ---” Tim looked with sympathy at a mirror image of himself. Light brown hair, bright green eyes, lightly tanned face with a few freckles across the nose, a cleft in the chin and full lips that were now turned down. Both boys were tall for their age. At five feet eight inches and well muscled bodies from loads of athletic activities, they could have passed for a couple of years older.

Both boys sank down on their beds with elbows on knees and chin in hands. With a sigh they finally got up to do what they did every Saturday.