s34 Days that Follow

"You need to lighten up, Wade!" said Greg Bilker.

"Bilker, you need to get-- Come to think on it, it's You that needs to lighten up!" Lonnie Smith glared at his team mate.

"He just thinks he's something. He can come in here--teacher's pet and all that--and push the rest of us around. Tell us what we can do. I'm not going to take his..."

"I said, that's enough," the team captain had Bilker by his shirt collar. "You're just sore, cause coach trusts him to watch out for his daughter...and she doesn't seem to mind the arrangement," he said dropping Bilker onto the bench.

Bilker glared at Lonnie then at Gene. He bent over and began to untie his shoes. There was an aura of anger that hovered around Bilker; Lonnie and Gene knew the matter was not settled.

Gene put the last touches to combing his hair and tucking in his shirt with a sigh. Always when dealing with people in general there was no end to people with an issue over something.

Bilker was still in the locker room as Gene and Lonnie finished their grooming and walked out the doors.

"Thanks, Lonnie. I doubt it will do any good...just make him mad at you also, but thanks anyway."

"Oh, he always makes me sick! He's got a mouth and an attitude to match. Sometimes I'd like to dunk his head..."

"Well, yeah, I know what you mean, but what's the answer for idiots like him?" Gene said with a shake of his head. "They aren't happy with being their own worst enemy, they have to be everyone else's too."

"Looks like we're both heading the same direction," Lonnie commented as he knocked at the coach's office door. "Where you taking Angela this time?"

"I have to pick her and Mrs. Dorking up from the dress makers and take them home, then bring the car back here..."

"That's a tough luck," Lonnie grinned at Gene.

"I'm not...Angela and I are just friends, Lonnie," Gene replied with embarrassment. "In some ways though it is rather convenient for her..."

Lonnie looked skeptical, "Convenient for her? How's that?"

"Since guys think that Angela and I are an item, it keeps snakes..."

"Like Bilker...," Lonnie guessed.

"...away." Gene finished. "What's taking him so long, better knock again, Lonnie!"

"Oh, hello, boys!" Mr. Dorking stood in the doorway as Lonnie raised his hand to knock again. I'll meet you in front of the building when you get back, Gene. I need to go over some things with Lonnie. Here's the keys. Don't let those two get the best of you now! the coach said with an absent minded dismissal.

"Yes sir..." Gene turned and walked out to the Dorking's cherry red automobile. I don't know why those two can't just walk home, he thought. They're only a few blocks from the dressmakers...but it isn't my business.

He pulled up neatly in front of Deering's Ladies' Shop, shut the motor off, and went to the front door. Peering in he could see that Mrs. Dorking was just finishing up with Regi Deering the dress maker. Angela glanced up as she waited. Seated primly on the bench beside the big mirror, she motioned at him.

Gene rolled his eyes. "Mrs. Dorking, do you need any help?" he offered as he stood just inside the door.

"There are a few things here," Mrs. Dorking replied. Her attention still occupied by the dressmaker, she waved at a small mountain of boxes. "You may put them in the back seat."

"Edgar!" Regi Deering called loudly to her son, who quickly appeared. "Help this young man carry these boxes out please!"

Edgar Deering was a thin pale young boy the same age as Gene. He grabbed three boxes, and Gene grabbed three boxes--this was a task that would take more than one trip.

"It isn't that these things are so heavy!" Edgar spoke as he set his packages into the back seat. He pushed his shock of coal black hair out of his eyes as he spoke. "They are just so clumsy!"

"They don't feel like there's anything in them," Gene agreed. "Thanks, Edgar. I was only supposed to pick Miss and Mrs. Dorking up..."

"No--no--thank you!" Edgar exclaimed. "I always get to fetch and carry...at least I don't have to do it all this time."

Finishing up they set the last items in the back as Mrs. Dorking swept out the door, a small sack in hand, Angela following close behind.

"Quickly, now...we must get home quickly...I have an engagement this evening. Angela, you sit up front there," Mrs. Dorking hurried Gene along as he closed the door behind her.

He held the door for the young girl and waited.

"Gene, you don't have to do that..." she protested.

"That's fine, Angela. Just get in and sit down," he said shutting the door after her.

"That's so embarrassing," she whispered at him as he put the automobile into gear.

"I don't know why...," he looked into the street behind him and pulled out. "you have to grow up sometime." The auto skimmed down the street, took a right, and purred down the few blocks to the large white house with the red shutters, and wrap around porch.

"Hopefully, Matilda has supper ready," Mrs. Dorking worried out loud. "I don't want to be late! If you will just carry those boxes up and put them in the front room. I'm in too much of a hurry to show you where else to put them..." she said jumping out and hurrying up the front steps.

"Mother's always in a hurry..." Angela made a slight face. "Here, I'll carry a package, and we can have Harvey finish with the rest. I'm sure Father didn't hire you to 'fetch and carry', as Edgar would call it."

"No, he didn't, not that I can't help. It's just that I'm supposed to have the Chevy back to the school quickly. That--and I need to get home to help my uncle with chores," Gene frowned. "Thanks, Harvey," he said piling the rest of the packages onto a cart. "See you Monday, Angela!" He slid into the seat and headed back to the school.

Mr. Dorking and Lonnie rose from the bench as Gene's door slammed behind him.
"You study those and we'll go over them Monday, Lonnie.". He said handing Lonnie a tablet of papers.

"Here's your keys," Gene said. "I'll see you Monday also...Lord willing."

"Thank you, young man," Mr. Dorking picked up a brief case and smiled at Gene. "I appreciate your help. I suppose you're in a hurry, but I was going to mention. You know at the country club we have a Christmas ball. If you don't have plans, perhaps you could be Angela's escort for the evening...her flowers and all would be provided, of course..."

Inwardly Gene quaked, but he spoke in a firm forthright manner, "I'm sorry, sir I do have other plans, and we don't dance...or go to balls...either one.

The smile disappeared and Mr. Dorking's face lost its smoothness. "I find it difficult that one--such as yourself--that is in the traveled class...that has been overseas and all. I find it difficult that you would hold to such archaic beliefs! You don't dance?! Why, in society one can hardly be said to be accomplished until they can dance!"

"My Pa always said he didn't want to hold any other woman in his arms except my mother...and I know mother felt the same way...Perhaps it is archaic, but I'm not ready to make a choice. --I'm not saying Angela isn't a great pal and fun to be around--but..."

"It's just a dance, for Pete's sake...not a commitment! If you have other plans, you have other plans. I just thought you enjoyed the privilege of being her escort. I'm sure I can find someone else...Lonnie...or Carpelle,or...even George Bilker, anyone of the other guys on the team would jump at the chance..."

"I'm sure that's true, sir. You will have to do as you see fit. My Aunt and Uncle will be worried about me...I'll see you on Monday," Gene said and tipped his hat slightly before turning toward where he kept his bicycle.

As Gene turned the corner, Lonnie finished tucking the tablet inside his coat, and was about to head out on his bicycle as well.

"I live just on the outskirts of town...we can peddle a ways together," he said. "So, you and Angela aren't an item then?" he questioned as they neared his house.

"No. Matter of fact someone else may be taking my place shortly," Gene rolled to a stop and put a foot down as they came to Lonnie's house.

"Is that so? I've always thought Angela was mighty pretty. Most fellows would..."

"Jump at the chance to be her beau. That's what Mr. Dorking just told me," Gene said with a sigh.

"Ah-oh! Do I sense trouble in paradise?" Lonnie laughed.

"Seems like there is a Christmas dance coming up, and Angela needs an escort."

"You don't want to take the damsel to the dance?"

"That's the long and short of it...I don't dance, you see..."

"Well, it's not that hard to learn!"

"No, you don't understand...it is a scriptural thing."

"Oh, I do see. My folks don't like dances either. They say they are immoral, with drinking...and other things that they only whisper about."

"Well, I got to get going. My Uncle's health has been doing rather poor lately," Gene pushed off with his foot, "I'll see you Monday, Lord willing."
**************************************************

"Thank you, Lord!" Agnes breathed a sigh of relief as the long awaited figure appeared at the end of the drive way.

"Ge, Ge, Ge!" Nissa splashed her spoon back and forth in her dish. Nissa had watched as Agnes had kept an anxious vigilance between the front and back door for the last forty-five minutes.

"'ome! 'ome! 'ome!" she continued to splash.

"Yes, Nissa, Gene is home. Don't splash in your soup!" she said removing the bowl and giving her a piece of bread.

Agnes cut a thick slice from the loaf of bread then covered it with chunks of butter, and sprinkled sugar on top.

"Here!" she urged the rolled up slice into Gene's hand as he came in the back door. "Jed's been gone over an hour now."

"I'll take care of it," Gene turned and ran across the farm drive to the barn.

Agnes watched as in another few seconds Gene had slipped a bridle on Barney, the old bay horse. The patient horse stood quiet as Gene took a handful of mane in each hand and swung up. At Gene's urging the horse broke into a lope and the pair of them went quickly out of sight out across the pasture toward the wood lot.

Fifteen minutes more, Agnes stirred the soup and let Nissa down out of her chair. Another fifteen minutes went by and Agnes began to bundle Nissa in her warm wool coat. What was keeping Gene...what if he needed her help? Oh, God, please help them! she prayed as she slipped on her own coat and stepped out into the cold.

"Sled! Sled!" Nissa clapped. Thinking it was play time, she obediently sat on the sled as Agnes walked out into the cold pulling the sled behind.

"Hang on tight, baby!" This walk did not seem so long when she was riding behind the team, today it was an eternity. "Momma's going to run, so hang on tight!" she encouraged as she walked then trotted then walked some more.

Her heart leaped as she neared the wood lot. Gene was working over Jed's limp form as he lay in the snow. "Hang on, Nissa!" she warned as she took off on a final sprint that covered the last few yards.

"I told him not to come out here. I told him to wait. No, he wouldn't wait...had to come out!" she babbled as she knelt in the snow. "What's wrong? What can I do?"

"He'll be all right...he's coming around. I found the hot coffee you sent. I've warmed him up. See he's coming around."

Jed's eyes rolled as they helped him sit up. Gene rolled his coat up to use for a cushion, and continued to feverishly chafe his uncle's limbs.

"Uncle! Uncle!" he called as he slapped at his cheeks. "Wake up! Come on...help us get you up on this load of wood. We need to get you back up to the house...! Come on now!"

"Da, Da, Da! 'Mon, 'mon, 'mon!" Nissa sang still sitting on the sled.

Gene jumped up on the load of wood and made a place for sitting. "There you go," he said as they eased Jed into the spot, and Agnes settled beside him. "I'll just tie Barney on the back here, throw the sled on there, and Nissa will help me drive back to the house, won't you plum cake?"

"Giddup, Sally! Giddup, Tom!" the lines jumped in his hands, the team pulled forward, the chains rattled and Gene guided them in an arc toward the house.

The time was short compared to the trek Agnes had taken out, but her anxious eyes eagerly sought the lights of home.

Gene angled as close to the front door as he could, "Whoa!" he commanded.

"What a blessing Jed didn't take the big wagon. Easy now!" Agnes crooned as they slid Jed onto the ground. Nissa toddled along beside as the two of them helped Jed with feeble tread up the steps, across cold gray porch, and into the warm living room to his stuffed chair beside the stove.

"You take care of Jed...I'll go put up the team and finish the chores."

"Yes, you go ahead now. I'll take over from here."

It was an hour later by the time Gene was wearily heading into the house, and Doctor Foster's auto sat in the drive.

"Yes, I would say he has a bad case of pneumonia...give him lots of fluids...warm fluids especially. Keep him warm...Do you have any ipecac?"

"Yes, I have some Ipecac, and I have some warm soup. Some hot tea?" Agnes asked.

"Chicken broth? Hot tea, toast. Anything a long that line," the doctor instructed.

"I have some warm compresses."

"If he starts having trouble breathing...Gene...come here lad."

"Yes, sir?"

"Come with me," he placed a large skillful hand on Gene's shoulder and looked closely into his face. "I need you to help me get some things set up--I've seen this parlor before..." he said grimly running a weary hand through his white hair. "Well, this is what I need, Gene..."

"Doctor, I think that should be just about it," Gene said as he surveyed their makeshift hospital room. "Aunt do you have Uncle Jed ready? We'll help you get him into bed now."

"That should do it. Now, just don't get sick yourself. I'll be back tomorrow. Use the mustard plasters. If the mucous becomes a problem...use the formula that I gave you. Gene, you need to spell your Aunt so she doesn't get sick too. You've done a good job, but don't let down your guard." The doctor shouldered his way into his black coat. "You boys played a good season of football this year. My new associate did most of the games, but I did make some of them...Well, I'll see you tomorrow," he picked up his black bag and was gone.

"You take care of Uncle Jed. I'll take care of Nissa."

"She's had some supper...maybe just a little apple crisp there. Could you set the kettle on? I'll make a mustard plaster for him. Here, Jed, here's some warm tea," Agnes held the cup to his mouth. "Oh, Jed, why didn't you wait?" she whispered. "Oh, Jed," she said with a sigh.

"Stubborn," he whispered back. "Stubborn...and stupid."

"Jed, there's nothing wrong with being stubborn...you just have to make sure it's for the right reason! And Jed..."

"Peaches?" he closed his eyes and lay back on the pillow.

"I love you."