1. Wire and Words #4
Aunt Lucy pulled into the driveway just after the bus left.
Claire moved well out of the way as the not-a-minivan SUV thing pulled in and parked.
The garage door opened, and Uncle Jude emerged.
Aunt Lucy opened the car door. Loud wails rose from the back seat.
"Claire, can you get Gertie's bag and the shopping? Someone had a little problem."
"Yes, ma'am." She opened the back and cringed.
Oooooh, really bad diaper! AJ raced off as soon as Uncle Jude lifted him down from his car seat, going straight to the house door as fast as short legs permitted.
She took a deep breath of fresh air as Uncle Jude lifted Gertie and seat out of the SUV, then ducked back in.
Ugh, big mess! Bags in arms, Claire hustled into the house as the adults dealt with the hazmat.
AJ followed her once she got the door open.
"Stinky baby," he announced.
"Yes, she is, and it hurts." Should she remind him about his own hell diaper? No. Once she set the bags down, she helped him hang up his jacket and put his shoes in their place, then shed her own shoes. "Let's go to the kitchen." They needed to be out of the way. She left the baby gates open.
"I know you hurt. Shhhhh, I'll make it better, that's a good baby," Aunt Lucy crooned under Gertie's wails. Claire caught a glimpse of bare legs and rump in her aunt's arms, then looked away. Oh, it must be really, really bad. Poor Uncle Jude, having to clean up after that.
He didn't come back into the house for almost an hour.
She helped Levi encourage the three healthy rabbits back into their hutches after he and AJ rinsed their pans.
Then she finished getting supper ready and made spicy tea.
Gertie and Aunt Lucy came downstairs just after Dad Jude came in.
"The car seat and back seat are both cleaned and airing," he informed everyone from the kitchen doorway, then hurried upstairs.
"Thank you very much for getting everything done," Aunt Lucy said, smiling.
"You're welcome, ma'am. How's Gertie?"
"Better. Where's AJ?" She looked around.
From upstairs Levi yelped, "Put that down!" Claire pointed up at the ceiling, biting her tongue to keep from smiling. AJ had gotten into her things last week. He was as curious as he was quiet.
"That has to come from Shoim's side of the family," Aunt Lucy declared. She went into the living room and put Gertie in the playpen, then came back. "I'll give her a little plain cereal later. For now she needs to rest."
So did Aunt Lucy, as much as she sagged. Claire nodded. "Yes, ma'am. The only thing left to do is finish the salad. Everything's chopped, it just needs to be mixed."
Dad Jude returned, one hand on AJ's shoulder, steering him.
Levi trailed behind, a small, dark cloud over his head.
What had AJ gotten into this time? At least he kept his shoes on now.
Claire got out of the way as Levi set the table and Dad Jude buckled AJ into his table seat.
He tended to wiggle, sending him and the booster onto the floor.
Bauxite had complained when he landed too close to her.
After Dad Jude said grace and they'd all eaten the main dish, Aunt Lucy asked, "How was school?"
AJ stuck out his tongue. Aunt Lucy grabbed it and pulled, lightly, then let go. Levi said, "It was OK, Mom. I got an 80 on the vocabulary test in Earth Science, and we're doing more maps in geography. Chris says we don't need maps now that there's GPS and stuff."
The adults smiled, a knowing kind of smile. "GPS doesn't always show the important things, and sometimes is very wrong," Aunt Lucy said.
"Do you remember when people kept trying to drive into Kuhmann Pond because their car computers said the road went through there?" Uncle Jude asked.
"Oh, yeah." Levi studied his veggies, poked at them, then said, "The rabbit feels better, not as floppy inside."
The adults' look changed. Dad Jude asked, "Did you pick her up to see?"
"No, sir. You can just tell." He stabbed a carrot slice, then looked up. "Did the vet come?"
Dad Jude shook his head. "No. I called, and the vet said to watch the doe and make sure she had plenty of water and access to food. If she still acts sick tomorrow, then I'll take her in."
"OK." He munched on the carrots.
Dad Jude studied Levi, then seemed to shrug and had some of his own carrots. They tasted very good, fresh and full of carrotness, if that was a word. Aunt Lucy pointed with her fork to AJ's plate. He wrinkled his nose and had more kraut. He wasn't a fan of cabbage, or of anything sour.
"And your day, Claire?" Aunt Lucy asked after she checked on Gertie.
"English was good, ma'am. I will do a silver wire ring for the big project, since Mr. Hirschmann's not casting outside designs for a while. We had a government quiz over the branches of national and state government." Should she mention the surprise in the quiz? No.
That evening, after the boys and Gertie went to bed, and AJ got put back in bed, she gathered her nerve and went into the living room.
Aunt Claire was mending AJ's church shirt while Dad Jude read.
Mr. Shoim sat on his living room perch, reading over his mage's shoulder.
That meant it was magic homework. Maybe now wasn't the best time?
She braced and started, "Ah, Uncle Jude, Aunt Lucy?" When they both looked up, she blurted, "Can you adopt me?"
Dad Jude opened his mouth, then closed it. Aunt Lucy frowned, a thoughtful frown, not like her mom's angry frown. "Has your Uncle Paul said anything yet about your mother releasing all custody, Claire?"
She took a long breath. "No, ma'am, not yet, but I didn't ask.
I— After this summer, I don't want to go back to spend time with Mother, and the school stuff is complicated with having to get your and Uncle Paul's signatures on everything.
And if you adopt me I can get a driver's license and help more.
" Her mother had refused permission to get the license, but didn't say why.
Dad Jude set the book aside, flowed to his feet, and moved beside her. He rested one hand on her shoulder. "Claire Tabitha, did your mother buy you anything while you were with her, clothing or jewelry or books that you brought back with you?"
That was a strange question. "No, sir. She bought clothes and stuff, but I left it with her.
It ..." Should she say everything? Maybe just the important part.
"It wasn't really me, and not good for school clothes or shoes.
No jewelry, sir." The skirts would not be allowed, as short as they were, and snug.
The pants? Ick, way too tight, and pastels attracted dirt.
"Ask who Mr. Wegner would recommend," Mr. Shoim rasped from his perch, startling her a little. "And ask Mr. Schmitt about non-support. Start there."
Aunt Lucy had also gotten up. "Shoim's right, Claire. If your mother is not contributing anything to your care, and you have not taken anything from her for several years, that could be considered abandonment. Perhaps."
Dad Jude moved to rest both hands on her shoulders and met her eyes. "Why do you not want to see your mother, Claire?"
"She hurts me." The words came, she shouldn't but they came anyway, a rush she couldn't stop.
"She used to hit me sometimes, she still shrieks, throws things.
The clothes were all tight, and short, and made me feel bad, sir, ma'am.
I don't like high heels or short skirts and everyone stared at me and she says I'm fat.
It hurt." She felt tears flowing and tried to stop them. "I'm sorry."
Aunt Lucy held her, stroking her hair as Dad Jude moved back, hands closing into fists.
He'd gone scary cold and still. "I am angry with your mother's words and actions, not with you.
" He spoke very slowly, his accent getting really thick.
That meant he was trying not to lose his cool. "Thank you for telling us."
"Yes, thank you, Claire," Aunt Lucy echoed. "You are right, you should not have to visit her if you don't want to."
Mr. Shoim asked something in Dad Jude's language. He answered, then said in English, still slowly, "A good point, Shoim. We needs must speak with Mr. Schmitt, but it might be possible."
"Can you adopt me?" She sniffed. "Sorry."
"I make no promises, Claire Tabitha," Dad Jude said. "I will ask, and see what the laws are. Thank you for telling us why you do not want to see your mother again." His hands relaxed, even his left hand, as much as it could.
"Yes, thank you. And now you need to go to bed, because your Uncle Jude will not be here to help get Levi up on time, and I can't promise that I will help, either." Aunt Lucy squeezed her, then let go.
No, Aunt Lucy was not a morning person unless she had to be. "Can I ask AJ to help get Levi up on time?" She cast a little halo illusion over her head.
"First, if you wake him to ask, you are responsible for getting him back to sleep," Aunt Lucy warned, shaking a finger at her. "Two, you can, but you may not. Or else I'll ask Mr. Shoim to sing to you."
That was a real threat, worse than being grounded or having to gather potatoes. "Yes, ma'am. No AJ alarm clock. Good night." She hurried out before either adult or Mr. Shoim could see her grin.
"What's wrong with my singing?" the harrier demanded, quietly, as she opened the baby gate and closed it again.
"I have not sufficient remaining years of life to list all the flaws in your harmonization and phrasing," Dad Jude began. "And you need to go back to your customary habitat."
Thppppth.
She buried giggles in her pillow.
"What are you wearing Saturday?"
Claire pulled her thoughts back from the jewelry problem and blinked. "What do you mean?"
"To the dance. Tim said you're going with him, so what are you wearing?" Matilda poked her. "It's supposed to be apple something."
She started to snap an answer, then caught herself. "I don't know yet." That was true, and safe.