Chapter 4

In the front yard, Aunt Karina was raking leaves. Jackson and Jane were taking turns jumping into rather large piles of oak, cottonwood, maple, box elder, and elm tree leaves. This caused some leaves to scatter back into previously raked areas, but this didn’t seem to bother Aunt Karina. Raina smiled as she watched Lady get into the jumping act too.

“Raina, it may not be something you’d like to do, but if you want to jump into the leaves as well, go ahead and change into something that you wouldn’t mind getting dirty and come back out. Joey’s already changing and I know that Rachel loves to as well.”

“I think I’d enjoy that Aunt Karina. I’ll be right back,” said Raina.

Raina went to the room she shared with Jane and Rachel. They had cleaned out a couple of dresser drawers for her and also given her some room in their closet. How natural sharing seems to come to them, Raina thought. They don’t complain about losing the extra room that they had, they actually seem to welcome me into their small space. She wasn’t used to having doll beds and Barbie dolls and other toys in her room, but she decided she would not let them bother her, after all of the nice things the two girls had done for her. Raina figured her belongings probably seemed strange to them as well, but was already sure the little girls admired her boom box. Rachel had asked the night before if she could play a Sleeping Beauty tape in it to go to sleep to.

Raina finished changing and headed back outside. Rachel and Joey were already having a wonderful time in the leaves. Joey had gotten the extra rake out of the basement and the pile had grown considerably. When it was her turn, Raina took a run at the pile, jumping at the last minute into what felt like a rough feather comforter. Even the smell of the decaying leaves was delicious to Raina’s senses. A couple of townspeople had been raking and burning leaves during school. That was also a wonderful smell to behold. When Raina told Aunt Karina about that, Aunt Karina showed Raina the compost heap where they hauled the leaves they had collected on the hobby farm and told her that along with food scraps and vegetable peelings they were able to create some good fertilizer for the garden. They were not getting many into the heap today however. Raina took another run at the pile.

“Ouch,” said Raina, “Why did that hurt so badly that time?”

Joey quickly explained that when the pile got too low to the ground from all of the jumping it was easier to land on the hard packed dirt because it was not padded as well. So another rake session was in order. This time the pile was made even bigger than the last time. Finally they all started to tire of the fall fun and headed inside. Joey asked Raina if she knew how to make hot cocoa.

“It’s normally Erica’s job, but she isn’t home now,” said Joey.

Aunt Karina found Erica’s favorite recipe, and Raina began to make homemade hot chocolate. She had always used the instant powdered mix before and hadn’t even thought of making it out of ordinary ingredients. She mixed sugar, baking cocoa, water and finally milk together on the stove. Everyone agreed it was delicious! As they were finishing up, the rest of the Pedersons came through the door. Uncle Samuel started to prepare supper and the others took a TV break before beginning their homework. Being very far from any major city, PBS, and the CBS station from the city of Alexandria were the only stations that came in. Raina noted the television shows she would no longer be able to keep up with. She wondered how they could stand this limited selection. After a half hour with the television, Aunt Karina turned it off and everyone who had any homework to finish began working on it.

Rachel, Joey and Jane got out a board game and began to play. Raina finished her algebra quickly and went to see if Uncle Samuel needed any help in the kitchen. She grated carrots for the salad and washed and peeled potatoes. Uncle Samuel pointed out that they had come from the garden and would taste very fresh. He was making hamburger gravy to go with the potatoes. He really seemed to enjoy cooking, a task that Raina didn’t mind, but usually had no extra enthusiasm for.

“Come and get it while it’s hot!” Uncle Samuel hailed from the kitchen.

Everyone got a plate and dished up buffet style from the stove, except for Jackson and Jane, who had help. Amazed again that everyone fit around the table, Raina began her meal when the phone rang. The oldest Pederson children all raced for the phone. She could not imagine why they all wanted to reach it first. Surely a boyfriend would not call them during suppertime. Aunt Karina noticed Raina’s confused look and explained that usually when the phone rang in the evening, it was a possible baby-sitting job and the older children all liked to have spending money. This time however, it was not a client. Raina’s parents had called to check on her.

“Raina, it’s for you,” LeAnne chimed.

Because of the time change and the late hour at which the Pedersons arrived home, Raina’s parents had caught her during suppertime. The Pedersons didn’t mind when she asked to be excused. They said to talk as long as she liked, that they could always keep her meal warm in the oven.

“Mom,” said Raina, when she picked up the phone, “I’ve really missed you and Dad.”

“Miss you too, Raina. We think we’ll be able to come for Thanks­giving,” said her mother.

“That would be great, Mom!” Raina said excitedly.

As they talked of school, the fall leaves, and her cousins, it became apparent to Raina that her parents had done the right thing sending her ahead of them to start in the fall. That didn’t make the distance any easier, but the hope they all felt was comforting.