Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Weekly video chats with Mom and Dad were events I looked forward to. They both insisted I call them Mom and Dad, which took a bit to get used to. Just like calling Daddy-Daddy had but, after the first time, it just fit.
Due to everyone’s schedule, we couldn’t meet up until Thanksgiving which was so far away.
Daddy’s brother and sister were both busy with work of their own.
The plan now was to make the four-hour drive after our shift the day before Thanksgiving and come back the Sunday after.
I was super excited and nervous. Talking on the phone or over video was one thing, in person was usually where everything crashed and burned.
At least in my life that had been the case.
“Daddy, am I a good helper?”
“Yes, you are. Where did that come from?”
I shrugged, even though he couldn’t see me. “Just thinking is all.”
“Well, if there were any problems with your work I’d let you know. I’ve literally had no complaints about you nor do I have any.”
Since I’d lived at the Ranch, everything I’d ever been told about me and life in general had been proven wrong. Not sure how I felt about that. Had my parents purposely lied or did their words stem from how they were raised?
“This Daddy is calling it quitting time. It’s been a long week and my boy is dragging. Let’s have a nice, relaxing evening at home because I’ve got plans for us tomorrow.”
“Ooohhh where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise, silly. Let’s get cleaned up and head home.”
Sneaky Daddy, but I loved everything he did for me and we always had fun.
We stopped by the store to pick up the grocery order Daddy had placed and a couple packages on our walk home.
One of the other ranch hands was on vacation this week so Daddy needed me to work for him.
First time I worked a forty-hour week, but it would be nice when I get paid.
With Christmas around the corner, I wanted to find something special for Daddy only I had no idea what to get him. I’d ask Mom if she had any ideas.
“You did good this week, working all those extra hours, Sage. I know you missed your friends in the Butterfly room. Daddy really appreciates you being such a big helper. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Just didn’t want to tell him he was right when he said I’d get bored working full time. I really liked spending the afternoon with the other Butterflies.
“Why don’t you go get comfy while Daddy puts the groceries away.”
“Okay.” It was just cool enough to wear my cartoony sleep pants. “Can I have a juice box, please?”
“I’ll trade you one juice box for a kiss.”
I gave Daddy a big smooch.
“Here you go. Why don’t you color or watch TV while I make dinner.”
I forgot Devon had texted me. I found a cartoon to put on while I answered him. Texting was fun and I’d gotten pretty good at it. Devon showed me how to find all the silly emojis and sometimes we just sent those back and forth. He didn’t respond right away so he was probably busy at work again.
“Daddy, when are we moving?” My toys had taken over the living room. No matter how clean I kept them it was still a lot.
“Great question. After dinner I’ll see if housing emailed back.”
I didn’t feel like doing much, so just curled up on the couch with my stuffies and watched TV. I was almost asleep when Daddy hollered that dinner was ready.
“Sleepy boy. It’s gonna be an early night for us. Not sure you’d even make it through tubby time. I think a quick shower after dinner then a movie to fall asleep to.”
There wasn’t enough energy left in my body to argue, not that I would anyway.
“Sage, did you hear what I said?”
“Oh, no. Sorry.”
“Poor boy. That was a long week for you. I’ll hurry and clean up then we can shower.” Daddy took my plate and I crawled onto the couch and waited for him.
After our shower, I barely remember Daddy curling up in bed with me and saying goodnight. This week had kicked my little hiney.
“Rise and shine, sweet boy,” Daddy covered my face in kisses. “I love hearing your giggles. I have a special day planned for a very special boy. Time for breakfast.”
He must’ve hopped out of bed right when the sun peeked out. Daddy was dressed and far too full of energy.
“Daddy set out a comfy outfit for you.”
“Good, one less thing I have to think about today. My brain is all brained out.”
“Well then”—he was all kinds of kissy this morning—“Daddy will play the role of his boy’s brain today. You just sit back, have fun, and enjoy the ride.”
“Ride?”
“Metaphorically speaking. We’re not leaving the Ranch for our journey. Now, get dressed, breakfast is waiting.”
Huh, thought I’d seen everything here. Maybe we’re going to Reese’s or the arcade. Better make sure there’s nothing hanging off my clothes for the goats to eat. Lost a shirt that way and Daddy had to get me new shoestrings too. I felt sorry for those goats’ tummies.
“How’s this, Daddy?” I spun around the kitchen, so he saw my whole outfit.
“Perfect. Pretty soon we won’t be able to do much outdoors. Before long it’ll be too cold so let’s get all the outdoor time in that we can.”
I wasn’t looking forward to winter, although using the tunnels kinda sounded fun.
Too much snow ruined outdoor time, and all the bugs and animals hid away from the cold.
It was hard to remember this winter would be different and I wouldn’t be stuck inside with people who hated me and we had the tunnels to get to all the fun indoor play areas.
“Thank you for breakfast, Daddy.” My tummy was full of eggs, bacon and toast.
“You’re welcome. Grab your backpack and we’ll head out.”
But it wasn’t empty like I had left it. “What’s inside?”
“A surprise for later. Keep it zipped, no peeking.”
Daddy and his surprises. I think he enjoyed giving them as much as I liked getting them.
“There won’t be any room left for us in the apartment with all the stuff you keep buying.”
“That reminds me. I heard back and they can move us to a bigger unit at the end of the month. They’re gonna drop off boxes and tape later for us to start packing.”
“What about the furniture?”
“It stays with the apartment, they all come furnished. We’ll have different stuff in the new one. Come on, let’s head to our first stop.”
More than one stop?
Hmm, sneaky Daddy.
We came outside and walked toward that big mountain next to our apartment building. “Are we going hiking, Daddy?”
“No, sweet boy. This is the Sapphire Mines.”
“Isn’t that where the miners work?” I’d seen it on the map but figured it was for the miner people.
“No miners here except for you.” Daddy winked. “It’s a decommissioned mine that’s been turned into a fun space. I’m told it’s a favorite with all the Littles.”
Funny, no one mentioned it to me.
We walked inside and right into some sort of gift shop full of neat stuff. “Look, Daddy, a treasure chest.”
“Argh, that be for your booty, matey,” a guy wearing a Rawhide Ranch shirt said. “Welcome to Gem Mountain, I’m Roman. What’s your name?” he asked me.
“I’m Sage, this is my Daddy.”
“Hello, Sage and his Daddy, it’s nice to meet you. Are you here to mine or shop today?”
I looked up at Daddy, not sure how to answer.
“Hello, Roman, we’ll be doing both. This is Sage’s first time here.”
“Excellent, we love first timers. May I recommend starting with mining first, then ending in the gift shop.”
“I get to mine? Like for my own rocks and stuff? Do I get to keep them?”
“Aye, you do, matey. And there be more than rocks in that there mine.”
“Daddy, he’s a pirate. This is so cool!” My feet had a mind of their own, dancing and tapping away. I couldn’t wait to find all the buried treasure.
“It is. Ready to go inside?”
“Yes, please, Daddy.”
“Follow me into the Exploration Zone.” Roman pointed to the sign that hung above the entrance.
There were a couple of other people back there.
One was digging through buckets and making a mess.
Their Big wasn’t very happy with them. Every time he’d get it cleaned up, the naughty boy would dump the bucket over again.
The other one was working on this giant table with water running through it with his Big supervising.
“That’s the sluicing table,” Roman said. “Since it’s in use right now, let’s start with a tour of the mine.”
“’kay.” Daddy held my hand as we walked around the room.
“Along this wall are photos of the miners who used to work here. The main source of this old shaft was sapphires. Do you know what those are?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir, they’re pretty blue stones.”
“Yes, ones that match your eyes.”
“That’s what Daddy says.” I smiled and Daddy squeezed my hand.
“Sometimes you’ll find pieces they missed in those buckets over there,” he pointed to where that boy was making a mess. “Those are for you to sift through and search for buried treasure using that table where the other boy is at.”
“Someone is getting a spanking as soon as we get home.” That Big was mad at his boy for sure, but that boy still wasn’t listening.
“He’s naughty, Daddy.”
“Yes, love, it appears that way.”
“I’m a good boy.”
“That you are and that’s why Daddy planned this special day for you. Shall we let Roman continue?”
“Yes, please.”
“Such a polite boy you have,” Roman told Daddy. “The tools you see here are the ones used by the original miners but have been retired. They pulled sapphires the size of your fists out of here.”
“Whoa.”
“Whoa is right. In the cabinet across the room are the buckets you get to sift through.”
Just then the boy who’d been using the machine with his Big giggled and ran over to us. “Look at all the jewels we found. We’re rich!”
His Big smiled and shook his head. “Sorry, he’s a bit excited.”
“I’m Dempsey, who are you?”
“I’m Sage and this is my Daddy,” I held our hands up.
“This is my Daddy, Burke. Daddy, can Sage and his Daddy come to the arcade with us later?”
“I’m Burke,” Dempsey’s Daddy held his hand out to mine.
“Warner, nice to meet you.”
“Well, seems my boy made a new friend. Would you and Sage like to join us later for Pizza and games?”
“What do you say, Sage?” Daddy asked me.