Maniacs

by Lee Wise

  “Really?” I asked surprised. “I didn’t know that.”

  “That’s right.” Mike said.

  “What’s right?” Jill asked as she walked into the room. “Here put some sunscreen on. Your nose is all red.”

  “Do the kids have sunscreen on outside?” I asked. “I completely forgot about that.”

  “Oh they definitely do. Piper made them all put it on. She said that her mom died of cancer and one of her grandparents died of another type of cancer also.” Jill said.

  “I didn’t know that.” I replied. “I figured that they were just separated.”

  “No. Unfortunately, it was only a few years ago according to Piper.” Jill commented. “Anyways, I didn’t mean to interrupt your conversation.”

  “No worries.” Rose replied. “It was just about you anyways!”

  “Me?” Jill asked.

  “Yes, you. We heard that you are a very talented hairdresser.” Rose said.

  “Oh. I love doing hair!” Jill announced.

  “Well, I am ready for a chop and a style.” Rose said.

  “Right now?” Jill asked.

  “Whenever you are ready.” Rose replied.

  “Let’s do this.” Jill said.

  Rose got ready to follow, but then she looked at me. “Wait, I’m helping clean.”

  “No. You’re all set. I have two more plates and a few silverware, then I am heading outside.” I replied.

  “Yay!” She laughed and started to head towards the living room.

  “If you or anyone else wants your hair done, I will open my beauty parlor for a little while this morning!” Jill mentioned to me.

  “Sounds good. I will get mine done sometime today!” I announced.

  Finally, I finished the dishes and went outside. Jenny and Cathy had already left with their group.

  Allison and Angela had left to go hunting. The men were taking turns on the tractor and the kids were watching.

  Mrs. Ford walked over to me. “How’s it going?” She asked.

  “Good.” I said. “It’s beautiful out here.”

  “It is, isn’t it.” Mrs. Ford replied. “I love that I can hear the tractor, birds and farms sounds. It’s nice not to hear fighting or be afraid for a little while. It’s really nice for the kids.”

  I agreed. “Oh, by the way, Jill has opened up her beauty parlor. If anyone would like to get their hair done, she is all set up.”

  “Oh! I will have to stop by later!” Mrs. Ford said. “Nate, leave the chicken alone!” She hustled off to get him away from the chicken. I laughed and walked over to the kids.

  “If anyone wants to get their hair done, Jill is inside doing hair right this second.” I announced.

  “Really?” Piper exclaimed. “I want to!”

  “Me too!” Emma agreed.

  “Go for it!” I said. The girls ran into the house.

  “Can I go get my hair done also mama?” Sarah asked.

  “In a bit.” I said. “It looks like she is getting a lot of customers.”

  “I will go get mine done when Allison gets back.” Naomi said. “For right now, I am going to enjoy my grandson!” He was making cute baby noises, but then he made a face and it got stinky. “Oh no! Dylan, you’re supposed to save those for mama!”

  “Gross!” All the kids said covering their noses.

  Naomi laughed. “That’s what babies do!” She went inside to change Dylan’s diaper.

  “When I have kids, my wife is going to change all the poopy diapers!” Caleb announced.

  “I agree.” Nate said. “Do you know how to change diapers Sarah?”

  Sarah blushed and nodded her head. Did I miss something? I smiled big. “Mom!” Sarah blushed even more.

  “Do you think that Jill will shave some of my hair? Like a crew cut?” Caleb asked.

  “Definitely.” I responded.

  “Good. My hair is driving me crazy.” Caleb groaned.

  “Mine too!” Nate said.

  “I like your hair.” Sarah announced. “But I would like it short too.”

  Mary giggled. “Sarah, what are you going to have my mom do for your hair?”

  “I’m not getting my hair done!” Megan announced.

  “She didn’t ask you.” Sarah said.

  “I know. I was telling mama.” Megan replied.

  “You should get yours cut a little honey. It’s getting really long and it’s hard to keep clean.” I said.

  “I don’t want to!” Megan cried.

  “Just a little. If you get it trimmed, it will be healthy and able to grow.” I urged her.

  “Fine, but only a little!” Megan sighed.

  “Okay. What are you girls going to get done?” I asked Sarah and Mary.

  “I think that I will get an updo.” Mary commented. “My mama does my hair up nice and pretty.”

  “That’s true. I’ve seen it done at the school.” I replied.

  “I miss school!” Mary announced.

  “Me too!” Sarah agreed.

  “I don’t!” Megan said.

  “Not at all?” I asked.

  “Just music…and my friends…and some of the teachers…and some other things I forgot.” Megan said.

  “How can you miss things you forgot?” Sarah asked.

  Megan shrugged her shoulders. “I just do.”

  “It sounds like you miss school.” Mary said.

  “I guess a little bit.” Megan admitted.

  “I want your mom to give me an updo today also and then cut it tomorrow.” Sarah said.

  “Sarah, I don’t know if she will be able to do your hair twice.” I commented.

  “I’ll ask.” Sarah replied.

  “I know she will!” Mary said. “Mama loves doing hair!”

  John walked over to us. “Did you see me on that thing? I got a whole row done in no time!”

  “I wasn’t really watching.” I said and shrugged my shoulders.

  “I thought that you guys were here watching us.” John commented.

  “We were talking about hair.” Sarah said.

  “What?” John looked at Caleb and Nate.

  “The girls were!” Nate said quickly.

  “My mom’s doing hair inside. Sarah and I are next. Come on Sarah!” Mary said.

  Sarah looked at me to make sure she could go. “Okay. Go ahead.” I said to her.

  “Yay!” Sarah and Mary squealed. They ran inside and Megan went with them.

  “We’re going to get a snack.” Caleb said and he went inside with Nate.

  “Now I just have to find Brianna.” I said.

  “She’s with Miles. She wanted to learn how to milk the cow. She hadn’t had a chance yet.” John replied.

  “Maybe I’ll go tell her just in case she wants her hair done also. First, did you know that our little girl has a boyfriend?” I asked John.

  “Which little girl?” John smiled.

  “Seriously?” I laughed.

  “What?” John replied.

  I shook my head not sure if he was joking with me. “Sarah and Nate.” I responded. “But don’t embarrass them.”

  “Who me?” John laughed. I gave him a look. “I’ll try not to. But first, I’ll talk with Mike and make sure that he’s taught his son how to be a gentleman.”

  “John!” I exclaimed.

  “What?” He smiled.

  “Behave.” I warned.

  “Always!” He gave me a kiss and walked off quietly singing “Sarah and Nate sitting in a tree…”

  I shook my head, maybe I shouldn’t have told him! I walked off also to find Brianna. Sure enough, I found her in the barn with a big smile on her face milking the cow. “Look how much milk I got!” Brianna said excitedly.

  “Oh wow!” I exclaimed.

  “She’s the best milker out of all the kids!” Miles announced.

  “That’s because they always run off before they finish milking the cow!” Brianna explained, her face beaming with pride.

  “Speaking of
that,” I began. “They’re all inside getting their hair done. Do you want to join them?”

  “In a little bit. I’m almost done here.” She smiled.

  “Do you mind hanging out with her for a bit?” Miles asked. “I have to see Jeremy about my foot. It’s been hurting ever since that long walk.”

  “Of course.” I agreed. Miles limped away.

  “I don’t think Sarah likes me!” Brianna blurted out.

  “Of course she does.” I replied.

  “She always goes off to play with Mary, so I always play with Megan. I like Megan, but I wish that we could all just play together.” Brianna sighed.

  “Mary and Sarah grew up together, so they have just always known each other. They don’t mean any offense.” I replied. “I’ll talk to the girls and make sure that they include you.”

  “Thanks!” Brianna replied. “I think that I’m done. The bucket’s pretty full and my hand is tired. Can I go inside with the others now?”

  “Of course!” I said.

  “Thanks!” She ran off. I took the bucket out from underneath the cow. It was heavy! I brought it to the house and into the kitchen. I barely spilled any of the milk!

  Miles was inside getting his foot wrapped by Jeremy. “Thanks! I could have brought that in! I didn’t mean to make you work so hard!” He said to me. “I’ll take care of it so we can drink it.”

  “No problem. How’s your foot?” I asked.

  “It’s fine. I’m just old.” Miles laughed. “Did you take the cow out of the barn after?”

  “Oh no, I didn’t.” I said. “Would you like me to do it? I can…”

  “No problem. I’ve got it.” He began to stand up.

  “Actually, you need to stay off your feet for a little while and relax. I have to go outside anyways, so I will take care of her.” Jeremy said.

  “Yes Doctor!” Miles replied.

  “That’s what I like to hear!” Jeremy smiled and left.

  “I hate people making a fuss over me!” Miles complained and stood up.

  I looked at him. “I thought that you are supposed to be off your feet?” I asked.

  “I will be as soon as I take care of this milk!” Miles replied.

  The front door swung open and Allison and Angela walked in. “We need some knives to take care of what we got.”

  “Did you get a lot?” I asked.

  “We did and we just talked to the guys once more about a place to smoke the meat and a few are already starting on building something.” Angela said.

  “Awesome!” I replied.

  Rose came into the room. “What do you think?” She asked showing off her new hairstyle.

  “It’s beautiful!” I exclaimed. It really was. I was looking forward to getting my hair cut shorter.

  “I love it!” Allison exclaimed. “Who did your hair?”

  “Jill. She has a whole line in there right now though, including your mom.” Rose replied.

  “I’ll have to get mine done later then.” Allison remarked.

  “Me too!” Angela said.

  “Me three!” Miles joked. “Maybe I’ll get a perm!” We all laughed.

  “Do you want to help dress the animals Aleisha?” Allison asked.

  I made a face. “Sorry, but the only time that I’ll dress the animals is when I put a tutu on one of the cats!” I said.

  Angela laughed. “Some of them would like that attention! Did you see the kittens yet?”

  “No! I completely forgot!” I said.

  “Me too!” Allison replied. “I want to see them!”

  “I’ll have to go see them soon also!” Miles began. “I…”

  The door swung open. It was Chloe and Stefanie. “They’re coming back.” One of them made me say. “They found something. I couldn’t understand what, but to be on the safe side, I think the kids should go upstairs.”

  Mrs. Ford had walked in at that moment. “I’ll go get them.”

  “I’ll help.” I said.

  “You’re needed outside.” I heard in my head.

  “I’ll help gather the kids and be right out.” I announced. Chloe and Stefanie nodded their heads and went outside with Angela and Allison.

  We walked into the living room. Jill was just starting on Caleb’s hair. She had shaved a strip off. “The kids need to go upstairs.” Mrs. Ford announced.

  “We’ll have to finish after!” Jill said to Caleb. The girls giggled.

  “But it looks crazy right now.” Caleb whined looking in the mirror.

  “I promise that I will finish up in just a bit.” Jill responded.

  Caleb sighed. “Fine!” All the kids went upstairs. I noticed that Piper and Emma weren’t with them.

  They came in at that moment. “See our hair?” Emma asked. “We went to show it to my brother.”

  Piper blushed. “And my dad!” She insisted.

  Emma giggled. “But mostly my brother!” They both had elaborate updos.

  I smiled. “You both look beautiful!” I said.

  “Thanks!” They said and went upstairs.

  “That’s everyone!” Mrs. Ford said and she went upstairs.

  Naomi grabbed a bottle for Dylan and went upstairs also.

  “I guess I’ll head upstairs also.” Miles announced. “I’ll take care of the milk in a bit, but if I have to move quickly, I can’t so it makes more sense to be upstairs.” I agreed with him and he followed the others.

  Jill smiled. “I’ll clean up all that hair in a little while.” Then she whispered to me, “I think we know why he’s really going upstairs!”

  I nodded my head. “Helen!” I whispered.

  “That’s right!” Jill laughed.

  “And did you hear there’s another couple up there?” I asked.

  “What?” Jill smiled. “Oh, you mean Nate and Sarah!”

  “You already knew?” I asked surprised.

  “Oh yeah. Mary told me yesterday.” Jill laughed. We went outside.

  Molly started to bark, but she was wagging her tail. Then she went toward the deer that Angela was dressing. “No girl I said!” Angela laughed. “This dog has a one tracked mind!” I laughed.

  We saw movement in the driveway. Stefanie, Chloe and a few others were in front of all of us.

  “It’s just us.” We heard Jenny announce in all of our minds.

  They walked up. Cathy was carrying a box. “Where’s Miles?’ She asked.

  “He’s upstairs.” I replied. “What do you have in the box?”

  “Look inside!” She responded.

  A couple of us peeked in. There were three little puppies inside.

  “They’re newborns.” Cathy said. “The mother was dead laying beside them. She looked like she had starved.”

  “Oh no!” I said.

  Robert went inside and hollered up to Miles. A couple minutes later, he came down and looked in the box. A big smile lit up his face. “I’ll take these little guys and they’ll be as good as new soon.” He grabbed the box and went inside with them.

  Luis set some supplies down that they had gotten in front of the door. “All kinds of goodies in here including some things for the kids.”

  “Also…” Robert began with a smile. “Three houses down, there’s this awesome swing set the kids would love. I think with the tractor…”

  “Hell yeah!” John said. “That is definitely something we should grab for the kids!”

  Cathy laughed. “You just want to use the toy to get it!”

  “No!” John laughed. We all laughed knowing that was definitely what he wanted to do.

  “So did you find the wolves or did it just turn into a scavenging trip?” Ben asked. The mood got serious suddenly.

  “We picked up the trail, but they left.” Jenny/Cathy replied. “They are the dangerous ones’ pets now. In a couple days, we will follow them and take care of the wolves first before they reach the dangerous ones. Then we will go find the dangerous ones.”

  “In a couple days?” I asked.

>   “We need to leave as soon as we can.” Jenny/Cathy explained. “The wolves will get more dangerous and so will the dangerous ones if they come together.”

  “How long will you be gone?” I asked.

  “A while. But we will come back.” Jenny/Cathy replied. “We need to do this.”

  I nodded my head. “I understand.” A tear ran down my face.

  “Am I missing something?” Angela asked.

  “Cathy and I are going with them.” Robert announced.

  “What?” Angela asked.

  Cathy nodded. “We are. I’m going to help my daughter.”

  “Wow!” Angela exclaimed.

  “I’m going also.” Jacob said.

  That I wasn’t expecting, but it did make sense. “Well, we will miss all of you and be worried the whole time.” I said. I was sobbing, but I couldn’t help it. John came over to hug me and then Cathy did also.

  “We will miss all of you also.” Robert said. “But we’re here for a few days longer and right now, I’m starving!”

  It was already lunchtime. Where had all the time gone already? We went in to eat lunch. I had lost my appetite. What would I do without my sister? I would just worry about her and Robert the whole time they were gone. How would I break the news to the girls?

  “If you want,” Cathy whispered. “I can have a talk with the girls.” It was like she could read my mind.

  I nodded my head. “I think that it would be best coming from you.” My eyes teared up again.

  CHAPTER 24

  Lunch was finished and I helped clean up again. I was hoping that it would get my mind off of things, but it did exactly the opposite. Jill walked into the kitchen. “Would you like me to do your hair? It might make you feel a little better and then we could talk. I just finished your girls’ hair.”

  Megan and Sarah ran into the kitchen. “Mama! Look at our hair!”

  They both had beautiful updos. “Wow! That’s beautiful!” I exclaimed.

  “Where’s Aunt Cathy? I want to show her.” Sarah said.

  “Me too!” Megan agreed.

  “I believe that she is outdoors.” I replied.

  “Okay! Love you!” Sarah said.

  “Love you mama!” Megan copied Sarah and they ran outside. They always managed to make me smile.

  “Alright. I’ll get my hair done.” I said to Jill.