“How long has it been since we last heard from the doctor?”

“About forty-five minutes,” Brad answered. “And about ten minutes since you last asked. Can I get you some coffee or something? You’re going to wear yourself out. When do you think Dina will be here?”

“No, I don’t want coffee, but thank you,”Steve said.  “Dina should be here any minute. I have no idea what to do with her.”

Helen was seated in a chair that was facing the door the doctor would be coming through. “I don’t know what to say to her, either Steve, but I think it’s important to follow Katie’s lead. If she forgives Dina, then we should, too.”

“We can’t put that much pressure on an eight year old. Just think about it,” Brad said. “She’s just a little girl who now knows her mamma is alive and well. In the midst of her incredible pain, she wanted her mother.”

Steve couldn’t help but feel hurt by Brad’s words, but he knew he was right. Children have a huge capacity for love. Just because his daughter loved and was close to him, didn’t mean there wasn’t room in her heart for Dina.

“Here comes Dina now,” Helen said. “I can see her checking in at the nurse’s station. I haven’t seen my daughter for seven years, and now, she’s about to walk through those doors.”

Dina walked directly to where Steve was standing. “Have you heard anything at all, yet?”

“No…nothing, and it’s driving us all crazy. Dina this is Brad Humboldt and of course you know your mother.”

**********************************************

Back at the ranch, Jamie and Arf decided to hurry back inside. A storm was brewing and it wasn’t looking good. The temperature had dropped and the wind was blowing hard.

“I don’t know what to do, Arf,” Jamie was not knowledgeable about how to prepare a ranch for a spring storm. She looked to Miss Bessie who’s eyes were as big as saucers.

“Don’t look at me,” Miss Bessie said. “I can take care of chickens and a milk cow, but horses? Can’t you just see me chasing a herd of horses into the corral. I bet they buck or something and get all riled up when it storms. Especially if there’s loud thunder. They probably even jump fences.”

***I kind of wondered what Miss B was talking about, but I decided someone should take action. I begged to be let out and Jamie opened the door. I ran toward the paddock. I was hoping to find Mark, the hired hand. The horses were still out in the pasture, and I couldn’t see Mark anywhere. I managed to get the gate to the corral open before I ran out into the pasture to try to get as many horses penned up as I could. The sky was so dark it would be hard for a human to see. I couldn’t see that well either, but I used my other senses to find where I needed to go.

I ran as hard as I could first behind the horses on one side and then switched to the back and the other side. I was worried they would trample me so I tried to stay a safe distance behind. Was I a cow dog? I knew I was doing the right thing.

I had about half of the horses through the gate when I saw Mark’s truck coming down the road. He was just in time because I could feel pelting hail on my head and back. The horses could too, and they went wild. I ran to the gate to make sure the horses that were in there didn’t turn around and come back out. Mark drove his truck to herd some more in. We never did get them all.

Mark yelled at me to get into the truck. I was happy to.

“You’re an amazing dog, Arf,” Mark said. “How did you know what to do?”

By the time we got back to the house, Miss Bessie had made enough food to feed an army and I got two big bones. The good kind.

“I’ve only been on the farm one day,” Jamie said. “I’ve already messed up. I was too afraid to drive over there and take care of the chickens and the cow and calf. Will they be okay, Mark?”

“Don’t worry, Jamie,” Mark said. “I could tell the weather was about to turn so I drove over there and took care of them. I miscalculated too. I barely got back in time to help Arf.”

Miss Bessie picked up the phone to call the hospital. She couldn’t wait another minute to hear if there was any news on Katie.

“I can’t get through,” she said. “The lines must be down.”

 

In the last chapter of Arf’s story, Katie and Arf were back at the ranch. Katie woke up the first morning with a terrible stomach ache. Her crying woke Arf. The training they had learned at the research hospital kicked in and without even thinking about it, Arf was able to transfer Katie from her bed to her wheelchair. Katie also remembered exactly what she was supposed to do. 

Arf pushed Katie’s wheelchair to the kitchen where they found Katie’s Grandma Helen. Katie was crying and doubled over with pain.

“Oh my goodness, honey.” Grandma Helen rushed to Katie and desperately tried to figure out what was wrong with her little granddaughter. “Tell me where you’re hurting.”

“My stomach hurts so bad I can’t even breathe. My chest hurts, too. I’m scared Grandma. What is wrong with me? Am I going to die?”

“No honey, you’re not going to die. Arf…go get Steve. He’s headed for the paddock to find Brad. I’m going to get the thermometer and take your temperature Katie. You feel feverish.”

***I was so worried. What could be wrong with Katie? She was crying so hard. Must find Steve…Must find Steve. There he is! I started barking and ran back in the direction of the house, but Steve didn’t follow me. Oh, no! He thinks I’m playing with him. I ran back to him again and barked. Then I ran toward the house again. This time he got it and came running behind me.

When we got back to the kitchen, Katie was moaning and her eyes were closed. Grandma Helen Was holding a wet cloth to her head.

“Steve! Something is terribly wrong. She is burning up and her breathing is shallow. She was complaining about her stomach hurting. Hurry and call Doctor Simpson. I was afraid to leave Katie’s side to do it. I feared she would fall out of her chair.

Steve ran to the phone and with clumsy fingers, dialed the number and was able to get through to Doctor Simpson’s office. Once he explained Katie’s symptoms, the doctor said to get her to the hospital and he would meet them there.

***Brad was back before they left, so he drove Katie, Grandma Helen, and Steve to the hospital. Miss Bessie and I stayed behind. We didn’t want to, but we had to. Miss Bessie called Jamie.

By the time they got to the hospital, Katie was bordering on delusional, and she was going in and out of consciousness.

“Mommy are you here? I need you Mommy. I’m so sick. I need you, Mommy!”

While it broke Steve’s heart to hear his daughter call out for the mother who left her seven years before, it also infuriated him. This was all so unfair to Katie.

In the midst of his anger, he remembered what Doctor Philips had said to Dina and him. He said they should put the past behind them for the sake of their daughter. Steve looked at Helen who was standing beside him. Katie was on the examining table in the emergency room and a nurse was getting her temperature and blood pressure.

“Helen, I need to make a quick phone call. Tell Dr. Simpson I’ll only by a minute.”

Dina answered the phone on the second ring. When he told her about Katie, she said she would take the next bus which would get her to a stop near the hospital in a little less than two hours. Dina didn’t own a car.

The doctor was there by the time Steve got back to the emergency room. “We’re taking her to surgery,” the doctor said. “This child’s appendix has burst. I just hope peritonitis hasn’t set in.”

********************

Jamie went right to the ranch to wait with Miss Bessie and Arf. Poor Katie…She had been through so much, and for the first time, she had hope…hope that after spending her whole young life in a wheelchair, she might be able to walk.

***Miss Bessie started dragging out pots and pans and flour and sugar and eggs and everything she could find in the refrigerator. Too bad for me, she didn’t drag out any bones.  I like bones when I get nervous and I was really nervous. What if Katie doesn’t come back? I can’t even think about that. Jamie was nervous, too. I could tell.

“Let’s go outside Arf. I’ll throw the frisbee to you. Miss Bessie, will you holler at us when Steve calls? We’ll be right out front.”

While waiting for the bus, Dina walked across the way and found herself in an empty church. She walked up to the front, knelt down, and prayed for her daughter. “I won’t pray for forgiveness,” she whispered. “I will pray for Katie to heal. Please, God, heal her body and her soul.”

Today is Mother’s Day. I’m as ready as can be.

I have a crocheted mask that goes everywhere with me.

You can see me coming. The color is bright green.

Those who see it say it’s like none they’ve ever seen.

I tell them it was made by a very special friend. (THANK YOU ANITA AND VICKIE)

They want to know if she would crochet one for them.

I wore my mask all day. I had lots of things to do.

I found there are some mask pluses. I’ll spell them out for you.

I went by the grocery store that gives a senior discount

The clerk thought I was younger and charged a higher amount.

Everywhere I went people made the same mistake.

They thought me ten years younger which was something I could take.

I went to get a hair cut. The last thing I had to do.

I prepared to prove my age because they give discounts, too.

The stylist wouldn’t be convinced I was a senior citizen

It soon dawned on me…she couldn’t see my double chin.

I finally caught on to what had been taking place.

You see, no one could see the south side of my face.

The north side has fewer lines. The south side tells the truth.

The south side has deep rivers. The north, the fountain of youth.

But when I have my mask on and look into the mirror,

I realize you can’t tell when I’m smiling ear to ear.

I won’t worry about what goes south. I’ll leave that for the birds.

I’ll wear my mask tomorrow and hope all hear my muffled words.

These beautiful flowers are a Mother’s Day gift from my son.

I want to wish every woman who has nurtured a child a very happy and blessed day of celebration tomorrow…And don’t forget to wear your mask!

Steve knew his daughter and he sensed she’d had enough for one day. He never should have brought Dina with him to see Katie at the hospital. It was too soon. Katie wasn’t ready to deal with her mother coming back into her life. It wasn’t even that Dina was back in Katie’s life. She had left when her daughter was a small baby and Katie had no memory of her.

Steve suggested they leave Katie with Sam while they returned to the counselor’s office for further direction. The counselor said he had been afraid Katie might react as she did and advised them to give her some time. He suggested Steve return with Arf the next day..

Dina wanted to meet Katie’s doctors before they left, so they went to Dr. Philip’s office.

“Doctor Jones and I agree that Katie has been given all the tools she needs to learn to walk. There is nothing more we can do for her here,” he said. “There is no doubt Arf is willing and more than able to do his part. Now it’s up to Katie and the two of you. If I may offer some advise…I hope you leave the past alone for now and work together for your daughter’s sake.”

Steve and Dina said a quick goodbye to Katie before leaving. “It will just be Arf and me, tomorrow,” Steve said. “Your mother will come and see you after you’re all settled in at the ranch.”

Once again, Katie burst into tears. “Do you promise, Daddy? Do you promise she will come?”

This time Dina resisted rushing to Katie’s side. “I would love to spend time with you, honey, but only if that’s what you want. Just let your daddy know when you’re ready.”

The next morning Steve and Arf went by themselves to pick Katie up. Steve had never seen Arf so excited.

“The next few weeks are going to be critical, Arf. If Katie doesn’t show improvement soon, it’s possible she may never learn to walk.”

***I wonder if Katie has pulled herself up to her feet again. Has she shown anyone else she can stand up or just me? I can’t wait to see her. It seems like it’s been forever. I sure hope I remember all of the signals and commands I learned from Sam. I hope I remember how to dance and exercise Katie’s arms and legs.

Katie and Arf were excited all the way back to the ranch. Katie babbled about Brad, Jamie, Miss B. and Grandma Helen, but she never mentioned her mother.

“You will be busy catching up with everyone tonight, honey, but tomorrow, we are going to establish a schedule for you and Arf to work together.”

***That night. I got to sleep in Katie’s room. Right before she turned out the light, Katie said, “I’ve always known my mommy loves me. She comes to me every night and tells me while I’m asleep. She says she loves Daddy, too.”

***The next morning when Katie woke up, she had a really bad tummy ache. “Help me Arf,” she said. “I hurt so bad.”

I remembered how to help her get out of her bed and into her wheelchair. She remembered, too. I pushed her to the kitchen where Grandma Helen was.

It felt really, really good to help my Katie again.

*************************

Jamie, Brad, and Mark, the hired hand, had worked all day getting the furniture from the attic and the remainder of Jamie’s belongings moved to the farm. It had been a while since anyone had been inside the house, and it was rather dusty, but Jamie couldn’t help but feel excited about having her own farm.

Brad was surprised that he felt a twinge of disappointment. Between taking care of the farm and her job at the veterinary clinic, Jamie would be extremely busy. Too busy to help him find his brother, Tom.

Brad rode back to the ranch with Jamie and Mark followed with his truck. “You’re awfully quiet, Brad. You must have your mind on your brother.”

“I can’t believe I didn’t have the sense to check up on Tom while he was living with my aunt and uncle. I assumed they didn’t know he was the one who started the fire.”

“I got the impression from reading the letters that Tom is the one who told them the truth. It also sounded like that was when they began mistreating him,” Jamie said.

“Of course. When they thought I was the one responsible, they treated me as if they hated me. They felt obligated to offer me a home, but it was really Tom they wanted.”

“Your mother and aunt were sisters. Am I right?” Jamie was doing her best to follow the timeline of the events that occurred before and after the fire.

“Yes, but they weren’t very close.”

“Forgive me for saying this, Brad, but it doesn’t sound like anyone in your family was very close. Did you spend time with your grandparents while they were living in the ranch house you now own?”

“Remember, my family didn’t live here. Neither did my Aunt and Uncle. I can only remember coming to see my grandparents a couple of times, but I never forgot the house. They never owned much land. I was barely sixteen when my parents and sister were killed in the fire. After that, I didn’t have a home and I didn’t have a family. All I had was a dream. A dream to own a horse ranch. It was much later that I discovered the ranch house was going to ruins and I was able to get ownership of it.”

“You’re an interesting man, Brad Holcome. I intend to help you find your brother as well as your aunt and uncle. They have some explaining to do.”

There was very little conversation between Dina and Steve on the drive to the research hospital. They didn’t know where to begin, so they didn’t. Steve only went as far as to explained the situation with Katie.

“She and Arf have come a long way together and she trusts him, but there is still something holding her back.”

“And you think it has something to do with my leaving. She was just a baby,” Dina said as she stared out the window of Steve’s truck. “I thought it would be better for my daughter not to remember me at all than to remember watching me die.”

“Listen, Dina…I’m not at all sure this is the right way to go about introducing the two of you but there really is no way of knowing how she’ll react in any scenario. We’re going to have to proceed with caution.”

“Of course, Steve, I don’t want to hurt Katie more than I already have.”

***Well, everyone went off and left me behind. Steve went to see Katie and Brad and Jamie took a bunch of stuff to the farm. I shouldn’t say everyone left. Miss Bessie and Grandma Helen are still here, but they’re just being weird. Yesterday, they were painting pictures of root vegetables. Who wants to sit around and look at a turnip or a potato all day.

Oh well, guess I’ll mosey into the kitchen. Maybe one of them will feed me. I’m hungry!

In the kitchen…Miss Bessie was talking to Grandma Helen…

“I don’t know about you, Helen, but I really miss little Katie and I feel sorry for poor Arf. He and Katie were doing so well together. It must seem to him like they are being kept apart while “others” are taking over.”

“I see what you mean,” Helen responded. “I’m more nervous than a cat in a room full of rockers. It worries me that Steve is taking my daughter to see Katie. Who knows how that will all play out. In the scheme of things, I mean.”

“Shh…here comes Arf, poor fella. Let’s do something fun with him, today,” Miss B said. “I know…Let’s paint his picture.”

After visiting with Katie’s counselor, Steve and Dina walked out to the courtyard where they were told she would be. They found her sitting in her wheelchair near a flower garden. Sam, her physical therapist was there, too. They appeared to be in a deep conversation.

“Katie, sweetheart, I brought someone to see you.”

Katie turned to look, and suddenly burst into tears. “You’re my mommy aren’t you?” Where is Arf, Daddy. I need to see Arf!”

Neither Steve nor Dina knew quite what to say, but Sam did.

“It’s okay, Katie. You’re mommy needs to tell you some things that everyone who loves you thinks you need to hear. Arf has not abandoned you. He knows how much you need him.”

“But what if I can’t walk? What if Arf can’t teach me? Will you leave again, Mommy?”

Dina and Steve both rushed to the side of their precious little girl.

“Sweet, sweet, Katie,” Dina said softly as she brushed a wayward hair from Katie’s face. “I never meant to hurt you. I was very sick and I was told I couldn’t get better. I was afraid it would be too much for your daddy to have to take care of both of us. I realize how wrong I was.”

Katie wasn’t hearing what her mother was saying. “Please Daddy,” she begged. “Go get Arf. I really need him. I really, really need Arf.”

One hundred years ago today someone special did arrive.

They thought she’d be the last child born as she was number five.

Her father called her Babe, then another joined the mix.

Six years later came a big surprise… baby number six.

She went to country school where all the kids sat side by side.

Let’s just say that when she moved not one classmate cried.

Moving on with this story you’ll agree won’t be a crime.

To cover all one hundred years would take all of your  time.

Though her personality can never be adequately defined,

This woman whom I’m speaking of was truly one of a kind.

From bold and beautiful to successful entrepreneur.

She was courageous and confident and not at all demure.

Mischievous, sometimes cantankerous, horse race enthusiast,

She was the hootiest. 

Her two offspring and her husband, Gus, still miss her every day,

And we’re remembering her on this… her one hundredth Birthday.

Brad took the packet of letters Jamie had given him and walked out to the bunkhouse. It was near the paddock that was used to exercise his prized horses. He knew he could be alone there. Mark would be delivering the two horses Brad had sold to the new owner.

Brad had always loved horses. Even when he was a kid he had dreamed of owning a horse ranch. It had taken a lot of hard work, but he had succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. It was only recently he had begun to realize how lonely his life had become. How lonely it had always been.

***Steve didn’t have room in his truck to take both me, and the nice lady we saw at the park, to see Katie. He said even though Katie would be really disappointed, he doubted very much this would be a day Katie and I would work together. I decided to follow Brad. I wanted to spend some time with him anyway.  He doesn’t mind if I go with him to the paddock as long as I don’t bark. Some of the horses are scared of frisbees, so I don’t take my frisbees out there, either. I just hang out with Brad and swim in the river.

Brad went inside the bunkhouse and sat in the old wooden rocker by the fireplace.

“Mark must have had a fire last night,” he said to himself. “The embers are still smoldering.” He looked up to see Arf come through the door.

“Hello, Arf. I thought you would be off with Steve today. I have to say, I’m happy to see you. I have to do something right now that I’m not sure I want to do. It will be nice to have a friend close by.”

***I laid down beside Brad’s chair. I couldn’t tell if he was happy or sad, but I was happy I was with my friend. The one who helps me take care of everybody.

“I think I have a pretty good idea that these letters were written by my Aunt and Uncle and sent to my grandparents. My aunt and uncle are the ones who took my little brother, Tom, after the fire. I refused to go with them. Why would I want to live with someone who hated me.”

It was two hours later when Brad and Arf walked back to the ranch house. Brad felt like every drop of blood had been drained from his body. All he wanted to do was shower and change before going on a long ride.

“Brad! Hey Brad!” Jamie was standing in front of her Jeep and was clearly trying to get Brad’s attention.

***She had a frisbee!

“Hi Jamie. Are you finally going to start moving your things over to the farm?”

“Yes…is your offer to help still open? I can’t fit much into this Jeep, and it sure would help if we could take those pieces from the attic in your truck.

“No problem. Mark will be back soon and we’ll get him to help us. Now if you’ll excuse me, I want to shower before lunch.”

“I see you have the letters from the attic I gave to you yesterday. Did you read them?” Jamie knew it was none of her business, but she really wanted to know.

***Boy, this is as awkward as it was yesterday when Steve and I saw that pretty lady in the park. I’m glad I’m a dog. We’re never awkward.

“Yes,” Brad said. “And it’s going to take me a little while to digest what I read. It wasn’t exactly what I expected. You read them, Jamie. Was there anything that surprised you?”

“Only that you wanted everyone to believe that you had started the fire that killed your parents and twin sister. I guess you felt you needed to protect your little brother. The problem was… he knew the truth.”

“And now we don’t know where he is,” Jamie could see the pain in Brad’s eyes as he spoke. “The lie I convinced him to tell, hurt him more than the truth ever would have. I need to find my aunt and uncle. I had no idea they would treat Tom like they did.”

Later, Jamie went to the kitchen to get lunch and wait for Mark to get back. Miss Bessie and Grandma Helen were both sitting at the table and there didn’t appear to be any lunch prepared.

“What are you two beautiful ladies doing, and where is Alice?”

“We’re painting pictures,” Miss Bessie said. “We’re looking for productive things to do.”

“Didn’t you insist on taking over Alice’s cooking duties today, Miss B?” Helen tried to hide the smug look on her face.”

“Oh for goodness sake. I plum forgot. How does tuna fish sound?”

***Miss B, you know I hate tuna…

Jamie decided to retrieve the letters from the attic and give them to Brad. It wasn’t her place to discuss what she had learned from reading them with anyone else. For all she knew, Brad may already know about the contents and had decided to leave the past behind him. On the other hand, if he hadn’t read them, he might want to.

Miss Bessie was already in the kitchen when Brad came down for breakfast.

“Where is Jamie?” Brad asked. “Did she take a load of things over to the farm already?”

“No, Brad. I don’t believe so. I think she went back up to the attic. She said she wouldn’t be long.”

“Well, she must be finding what she needs. She’s spent a lot of time up there.”

“I made some scrambled eggs and bacon. I’ll put some toast in and you can have a nice breakfast.”

“Sounds good. Where is Alice this morning?”

“I told her to take the day off,” Miss B said rather sheepishly. “I hope you don’t mind, Brad. I really had to do some convincing to get her to let me do the cooking, today. I need more to do. Have you ever thought about raising chickens and selling eggs? Maybe Jamie won’t want those chickens of mine, and we can bring them here. What do you think?”

“I think that’s between you and Jamie. Just let me know what you decide.”

Brad was finishing his breakfast when Jamie walked into the kitchen. She was carrying the list of items she hoped to take to the farm, and the letters.

“Hi Brad, Just the person I wanted to see. Here is the list of things I would like to borrow from the attic. I also have these letters to give to you. Arf found them and brought them to me when we were up there the other day. I must apologize. I should tell you I read them. At first, I had no idea they were written by one of your family members. If you haven’t already seen and read them, you might want to.”

Brad took the packet and laid it aside. “I haven’t looked through anything up there,” he said. “I was only up in the attic once to see how much room there was to store things and I could see it was already pretty full.”

Brad handed the list back to Jamie.

“Don’t think of it as borrowing these things. I’m sure I will never need them. They are yours to keep. Now, can Steve and I help you move? I think he plans to go back to the Research Hospital tomorrow.”

“Steve left with Arf early this morning,” Miss B said. “He didn’t say where they were going.”

***Steve and I are in his truck. I’m not sure where we’re going, but it’s really good to get away. Even dogs need to get away sometimes. I wonder how far away is. I’m glad I remembered to bring a frisbee.

Steve had done some research and found there were six hospice facilities within a hundred miles of the house he and Dina were living in when she left. He didn’t have any idea where she might be until he read her letter to her sister, Steph.

“What do you think I should say to Dina when we find her, Arf? I need to convince her to talk to Katie.”

***Katie…did he say Katie? Is that where we’re going? Are we going to see Katie? I’m supposed to teach her how to walk, or at least help her. I sure do miss her. I think of her as my main human.

They were able to stop by three of the six hospice facilities that day. None of them would give him any information about their employees. They said he could leave a note addressed to Dina asking her to call him and they would make sure she got it if indeed she worked there. He gave her both the ranch phone number and the number of the direct line to Dr. Philip’s office at the research hospital.

“I have little hope that she’ll call, Arf. If she had ever wanted to, she would have already tried to contact us. We have to leave for the hospital tomorrow, so we won’t have a chance to check with the other three facilities until we get back.

As they were leaving the third facility, Steve had an idea.

“I see you have one of your frisbees. Poor guy…you must feel neglected. Let’s see if this town has a little park and we’ll take a break before we drive home.”

***When I hear frisbee, I know that usually means someone is going to throw one to me. Lets go, lets go, lets go!

They had been at the park about an hour when Steve looked at his watch.

“We better take off, Arf. We’ve got a two hour drive home, and a long drive tomorrow.”

“Will you be going to the Research Hospital?”

Steve turned to see who was there, but he already knew.

“Hello Dina. They must have given you my note. How did you find us at the park?”

“I walk through this park every day on my way home.”

Steve could see the note in her hand. She was trembling…

“Can we sit down for a bit?” She asked. “I’ve had a long day, and I’m feeling kind of shaky.”

***I felt sorry for the lady. She looked like she was really sad. Say something, Steve. See how sad she looks? Wait! Steve looks sad, too. I have to remember not to lick their faces or their hands…don’t lick, don’t lick, don’t lick. Instead, I went to sit by the lady and she bent down to pet me. I hope Katie and I can show her how we train together.

“There’s a bench right under that tree,” Dina said. “We can sit there. Do you have the time?”

Steve wanted to say, time? You want to know if I have time? But he didn’t.

“Sure Dina, I have time. This is about our daughter, not us. She needs you, Dina. It’s a long story, but there is a good chance Katie can learn to walk if she has the right motivation. Her doctors and I feel she doesn’t think she deserves to get out of that wheelchair.”

“Walk? She might be able to walk? I don’t understand…and why would she think she doesn’t deserve to?”

“It’s entirely possible she believes you left us because you didn’t want to care for a little girl who would never walk.”

Dina didn’t look away. She looked directly into Steve’s eyes when she said, “I want to go with you tomorrow. That is if you’ll have me.”

Note to readers: I write these pretty quickly and don’t spend much time editing. I catch everything when I read it the next day. I will try to do better.

Jamie put the letters in a drawer of an old dresser near the spot where she found the framed picture and took the picture with her. She had already made a list of things she wanted to show Brad before moving them to the farm.

The farm…she still couldn’t believe that with Brad’s convincing, Miss Bessie had agreed to sell it to her.

Jamie’s thoughts went back to the letters Arf had found and the photograph in the beautiful frame. It occurred to her how little they had known about Brad before he had so graciously invited them all to come and live in this beautiful ranch house.

Miss Bessie was in the kitchen making cookies. Arf, hoping she would drop a sugary morsel, was sitting near her.

“I’m sure glad Alice doesn’t mind sharing her kitchen with me, Arf. I must be able to help out if I’m going to continue to live here.”

***If she thinks she’s going to get an argument from me, she’s barking up the wrong tree. Miss Bessie and Alice were both better cooks than Jamie, but then they had a lot more experience. These young pups think all they have to do is open up a can of dog food.

Steve walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee. We had just gotten back from seeing Steve’s old house. He had been really quiet as we made our way back home. Humans are confusing.

“How was your ride, Steve?” Miss Bessie asked as she handed him a couple of fresh cookies to have with his coffee.

“The ride? Oh, yes…the ride. Arf and I found ourselves at the little house my wife, Dina, and I bought and fixed up before Katie was born. We met the new owners.”

Miss Bessie wiped her hands on her apron and sat down at the table across from Steve.

“That must have been quite a surprise for you,” she said.

“You have no idea.” Steve told Miss B about his meeting with Dina’s sister, Steph, and the letter she had given him.

“So in a day’s time, you discovered your wife left you and Katie because she thought she was going to die and didn’t want to burden you. You also discovered that six or seven years ago she went into remission, but knew there was a strong possibility the illness would return.”

“Then today, I discovered a woman had visited our old home earlier this week. It sounds like she must be about Dina’s age. If it was her, that means she is still alive.”

“Is there a way you can find her?” Bessie jumped up to get a pan of cookies from the oven. “Or do you want to?”

“I have to try, Miss Bessie…for Katie’s sake.”

“Have to try what? Brad asked as he walked into the kitchen and helped himself to a glass of milk and a cookie.

Steve proceeded to bring Brad up to date on all he had learned that day.

In the middle of the explanation, Jamie walked in. The framed picture was under her arm. She had decided to wait for the right time to ask about it, but she couldn’t wait for that.

“Look what I found in the attic,” she said as she laid the picture on the table. Isn’t this you, Brad and who are the other two kids with you?”

Brad held the frame and stared at it for a minute. “Where did you find this? In the attic?”

“Yes. Arf also found a packet of letters. I didn’t bring them with me.”

Jamie decided Brad didn’t hear her say anything about the letters. He was too engrossed in the picture.

“The dark haired girl on my left is my twin sister, Barbie. She died with my parents in the fire. We were sixteen when it happened. The other boy is my younger brother, Tom. He was twelve at the time. He escaped the fire and my Aunt and uncle took him to live with them.”

“Where is Tom now?” Miss Bessie asked.

“I don’t know.” Brad answered. “Please excuse me. I need to get some chores done before it gets too dark.”

“I’ll come with you.” Steve was right behind Brad. “Are you coming, Arf, or do you want to stay with the women”

***I was going to stay with Miss B and Jamie in case someone dropped a cookie, but when Steve put it like that, I decided I had better go with the guys. I sure hope I get to go be with Katie next week. This place is wearing me out.

“Miss Bessie, do you know where Grandma Helen is?”

“Yes, Jamie. I believe she took a book out to the garden.”

Jamie had read something in the letters Arf found in the attic and she was curious to know if Miss Helen recalled anything that might fill in some of the blanks.

“Grandma Helen….what a pretty day to enjoy the beauty of Alice’s garden. Do you mind if I join you for a few minutes?”

“Of course not, dear. Are you getting ready to move to the farm? We will miss you around here.”

“I hope we’ll all visit each other often. Helen, you and your husband owned or own the General Store in town, right?”

“I’ve pretty much turned the business over to Steph. It doesn’t make a huge profit, and since I’ve been living with Steve and Katie, my small savings is enough for me to get by on. Why do you ask?”

“I hope you won’t think ill of me when I tell you I read some letters Arf found in the attic. I would really like your advice concerning whether or not I should show them to Brad. If he doesn’t already know of their contents, I think maybe he would want to.”

“Well dear, I’m afraid I can’t give you my opinion if I don’t know what is in the letters.”

“You must be about the same age as Brad’s parents who died in the fire. I don’t suppose you knew his grandparents who lived in this house at one time.”

“We were acquainted only because they occasionally shopped at the store. Brad’s parents and their family didn’t live around here. I haven’t said anything around Brad, but of course everyone knew that their grandson was responsible for the tragic fire.”

“I’ll tell you this much, Helen. According to what I read, what you heard might not be true”

I woke up early Friday morning knowing what I had to do. 

I was released from isolation. I could go where I wanted to.

While I planned the day ahead, there is something I’ll confess.

I was free to go somewhere and it caused me some distress.

Maybe I should go shopping and buy myself some bigger clothes.

I haven’t felt hungry in weeks. I ate before hunger arose.

It was my intent to drop a few, but it was to no avail.

I tried so hard, I really thought that somehow I could never fail.

I tried eating cabbage soup…(for me cabbage has no appeal.)

It wasn’t bad with ham and cornbread. A little honey sealed the deal. 

I found a promising thirty day diet. I finished all the meals in ten.

I didn’t know what to do next, so I ate them twice again.

Then I tried drinking SlimFast. I had a can four times a day.

I drank it with my cabbage soup. I really couldn’t wait to weigh. 

This morning I stepped on the scales. It has never told me lies.

WHAT???

Now I’m back in isolation. Still craving a good burger and fries.