Some Family Business

 

            It was the third full day after homecoming. Life was normalizing. Leely was figuring out how to keep house in the Alder Tree House, with a wood burning stove, and using river water in a bucket just like Ramona did. She didn’t miss the servants in Mak’s palace. The privacy and agency here were precious to her.
            She thought she was going to need a few more things, like a broom, and a second bucket for more water.
            Koba was a happy baby. He didn’t cry. Well, hardly at all. He was starting to hold his head up and look around himself, seeming to take joy in all he saw.
            Twigg and Ralph had gone out early to hunt. If they didn’t have any luck, they would go fishing. As usual, they would need to pick up firewood too. Ralph wore his big leather backpack for the wood.
            As they walked out into the morning, Ralph said, “Well, how did the visit with Enid and Arthur go?”
            “It was good, but confusing too,” said Twigg. A few B’s had found him and were tagging along before their day’s work began.
            “They didn’t know when we were coming, but they were very happy to see us. Enid handled it better than Arthur did. I’d never met him before, you see?” said Twigg. “He pretty much just stared and didn’t say much. He wasn’t there when we got married, remember?”
            “Nope, Arthur was asleep I think,” said Ralph. “Were they surprised at Koba?”
            “No… That was very strange. They weren’t shocked at all. It seemed to me that they weren’t seeing the same thing I see when I look at my son. To me, he is all Forest child. He’s hairy, like normal.
            “But Enid kept saying how beautiful he was, how he had such nice smooth skin. To her, he looked like a human child I guess, which he is, but she didn’t see that he was like me. She said Koba favored Leely, who favored her dad.  That’s interesting because Leely’s father is rumored to be a half breed. Enid just never would admit it, Leely said.
            “Arthur just sat there, looking from me to Koba and back. Maybe he saw the truth better than Leely’s mom did. He didn’t argue with her. When Enid brought Koba to Arthur to hold, he warmed up. He seemed to get it through his head that a grandson is a grandson. So be it!”
            “Good. Sensible man,” said Ralph. He was scanning the area, as hunters do, but he knew that if they kept up the chat they were going to end up fishing.
            “We had lunch with them. It was a cheesy sticky thing. Macaroni and cheese, it was good. Never had that before. And salad. It was very good and plain after all the stuff Mak’s cooks made up there. You can’t even imagine, Dad!
            “Koba started to get a little tired, so I said we better take him home and put him to bed in his basket. Enid gathered up a couple of bags of kitchen supplies. Canned stuff, butter, cheese, salt and pepper, and on and on.  She said to please come back if we need anything because her grandson will have everything he needs, if she can help it! She held him for a little while and kissed him, kissed Leely and then she hugged me! Arthur shook my hand; the first time I ever did that! Then we took the bags and the boy and walked home and put him to bed. Leely stashed all the things her mother gave her in that cupboard Ooog made.
            “So, it was a good visit, but a mystery too,” said Twigg.
            “Yes. I think Koba may be a mystery in himself,” said Ralph. They walked on silently for a bit.
            The B’s left them, now that the dew was off of everything and they could work the flowers. As the B’s buzzed off to go to work, Maeve found Ralph and Twigg and made herself at home on Ralph’s shoulder.
            “Guess what I saw from up in the sky, Boss?” said she.
            “I can’t guess, Birdy! You see much too far from up there,” laughed Ralph.
            “I saw a tender young buck deer just up the way ahead of you,” Maeve announced. “By the way, it’s good to see you again Twigg! I’m glad you’re home with Leely and Koba. This is a good thing!” And she made a few raven chuckles of approval.
            Twigg grinned at her and Ralph said, “We had best go meet this tender fellow, hadn’t we? Lead the way, Birdy.”
            Maeve flew off to the point the way, and Ralph and Twigg followed. Father and son wouldn’t need to go fishing after all, in spite of the conversation.

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