Double Trouble

Chris thought, ‘how can we leave here? If we did. Where would we go? How would we go?’

Kristy loudly expelled, “We got here didn’t we?” She splashed her hands and feet.

“From the main road, I don’t remember more than a couple of houses and no cars.” He shoved his face in his hands. His elbows resting upon his knees.

“How far was that?”

“A lot farther than we can walk on empty stomachs.”

“We can take our time,” Kristy decided.

“Yeah. . .Well, you need to eat, too! And even if we actually found our way, if we didn’t starve to death first, Mom, don’t want us - can’t keep us-o-o-or something.” He arose from the rock he had sat on and shoved his hair back uncovering a deep frown.

Kristy mumbled, “Mom don’t go to church anymore. If we went, it was with Aunt may. Maybe Mom’s sick or something?”

Chris’ stomach growled a loud roar. “We have to eat, Kristy.” He pleaded, “can’t you try to get along with Grandma?” He rubbed his aching belly. “Please? At least ‘til we get a meal. I’ve never been this hungry.”

The water had stilled. She had always been considered beautiful, but when she noticed her reflection, it, sure wasn’t agreeing. “My hair is standing straight out all over! It looks like that wire-haired dog, back home. I’ve never been filthy like this!” She whirled toward Chris, “Have you found an out-house?”

Chris shook his head ‘no’ while thinking, ‘she looks scary.’

With her fingers pulling her eyes down and her mouth up, Kristy turned with a Halloween face and glared at him.

He said, “Explain us to her,” but his thought was, ‘hope we’ve got a comb.’

“She ain’t got no time for no foolish talkin,’ Kristy mocked. “Have you got blisters?” Chris turned his rough palms up. “See. You wouldn’t have made it ten more minutes. Who knows what’s in that bottle and she had some funny looking weeds. Did you see that stuff?”

“No—I was looking at that big club Grandpa was waving around.

“Well—I’d rather, be beat to death with that club and get it over with, than to live in the same house with that hateful mean old-woman.”

“Now your Granny ain’t nigh as mean as she lets on,” Grandpa said, as he stepped into view.

“Oh, yes she is!” Kristy jumped up and backed from the creek until against a huge Hickory tree trunk.

“Reckon you young-uns’ll get chiggers a waller-n’ around in them weeds like that.”

“What’s chiggers?” Chris stared into Grandpa’s neutral, black eyes.

“They be little red bugs you cain’t hardly see, but law, when they start itchin’.”

“Then you have to go to town to the doctor,” Kristy beamed, ‘I’ve found us a way home.

“Why Granny’s the best an’ only doctor fer miles around,” Grandpa proclaimed.