29 of 131

Write now Article Tools

Page 3 of 5

situation at hand. As George turned to confront his little adversary, he lowered his tone and slowed his words, "Zeke, I am your friend." "Oh yeah?" Zeke snapped back, "says who? And how do you know my name?" "Your mother is like part of my family." George replied. "Your father use to work for me at the paper here in Sheridan." Zeke dropped his head and George continued: "he's a good man your father, and a hard worker." Zeke remained uncomfortably quiet. He'd let the board drop to the floor, and he kind of slumped down to his knees by the baby, and began lovingly stroking her hair. "Papa's dead." Zeke painfully said, never moving his head or eyes from the baby. It was as if he were looking deeply into the eyes of innocence, and by his heart-felt love, sending comforting messages to her. It was clear that Zeke loved his sister very much. Trying to direct the mood another way, George asked, "what's her name Zeke?" "Zalena Shaney Colby." And without so much as taking a breath, Zeke continued to supply George with all kinds of information concerning his baby sister: "she's five months old, and she was born in California," George just smiled and let Zeke continue, "I like having baby sister; she's a good baby, except when we had to take her to get a shot; Zeke was kind of laughing when he said, "she cried and cried; it's 'cause she's a girl - that's what Papa..." His tone changed as soon as he had said 'Papa', and his voice drifted off. After a pause that seemed to last forever, Zeke, quiet shaken, spoke: "Papa was shot with a gun; I saw it. They hurt Mama too. They scared Zalena and made her cry, and they beat me up." By this time tears were streaming down his small cheeks, and although George was fighting them back, a few tears of his own escaped his eye. "Zeke," George said softly; George knew he had to gain control somehow, no matter how he felt. "How long has your Mommy been sick like she is now?" Zeke shrugged his shoulders and turned away, but George had caught a glimpse of the pain and fear in Zeke's eyes, and decided to stop the questions for now.

George was quiet overwhelmed at this point. He decided, however, that the best thing right now would be to get them to his house so they could have a hot meal, warm bath, clean clothes, and a place to rest. "Zeke, do you think that you can get your mother in my truck? She needs to rest. My house isn't too far, and my wife Maggie will be able to help take care of her and the baby. Your mom and Maggie have always

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Novel excerpts: Mystery?
We want to hear your view. Write now!