“I’m bored; I miss my hund.” Eddie slumped in his chair at the kitchen table. “There ain’t nothing for me to do that’s fun, and I wish Vic was here so he could take me to the pond like he promised.”
“I’m sure he will teach you to swim, either some evening or this Saturday when he’s home all day. And how can you be bored when you’re eating lunch?” Eleanor pointed to his peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
The boy’s chin jutted out. “Didn’t mean right now. I was talking about being here by myself all day.”
Eleanor drank some of her iced tea and set the glass down. “You’re not here by yourself, Eddie. I’m with you, and you have Vic’s dog, Checkers, to play with.”
“All that hund wants to do is chase after a dumm old schtecke.” Eddie frowned. “I’m glad my hund don’t pester me like that all the time. The only thing Freckles likes to do is chase any squirrels that come into our yard.”
“You’re right, Checkers does enjoy chasing a stick, but there are other things you can do with him.”
“Like what?”
“Why don’t you try teaching him some new tricks? He can sit and speak, but I’m sure you could teach him to do more tricks.”
Eddie took a bite of his sandwich, followed by a drink of milk. “Maybe I could teach the hund to roll over or put his paw in my hand when I say, ‘Shake.’ ”
“Those are both good tricks. Why don’t you begin working with him after you’ve finished your lunch?”
The boy shrugged his slim shoulder. “I’ll see.”
“Wouldn’t it be fun to surprise your brother when he gets home this evening by showing him what you taught Checkers to do?”
“I guess so.”
Eddie didn’t sound too enthused, but Eleanor figured once he started working with the dog, he might see things in a different light—especially if he succeeded in teaching Checkers to do a few new tricks.
As she ate her sandwich with Eddie, Eleanor had some time to think. It was obvious that her husband had a hard time squeezing in time to keep the promise he’d made to his little brother. She hoped Vic would follow through so Eddie wouldn’t be disappointed. It would be a shame if, when Vic’s brother left after his folks got home, he told them that he hadn’t had a good time this week and never wanted to stay with Vic and Eleanor again. She could only imagine how frustrated Eddie must feel because of seeing Vic only in the evenings and not getting to do much in the way of fun with him.
Eleanor took another bite of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich. This isn’t turning out so well with Vic not making more of an effort with Eddie. I hope he can spare some time with his little brother this evening.
She glanced at the boy as he continued to eat. Between his father having no time to teach Eddie to swim, and now Vic promising every evening and not following through, Eddie must feel more discouraged each day. I can’t help feeling sorry for him.
Eleanor picked up her glass to have more iced tea. It was a pretty day, and the open window brought the sweet trill of birdsongs inside. The feeders were full, and the birds seemed happy as they flew from one feeder to another.
Eleanor’s thoughts took her in another direction. She’d made a chocolate chip pie to serve this evening after their supper. Maybe something sweet and tasty would put Eddie in a better mood toward the end of the day. She figured her husband would be thrilled with a thick slice of chocolaty pie too, since it was one of his favorites. He’d no doubt want a cup of coffee to go with it, and so would Eleanor. That would be a pleasant way to end the day, relaxing and enjoying a yummy dessert.
Turning her attention back to Eddie, as she watched him finish his glass of milk, Eleanor had to admit that having Vic’s little brother here for the past five days had been more of a challenge than she’d expected. Eleanor had tried to keep the boy occupied by asking him to help her with a few simple chores. She’d also gotten out a simple puzzle for him to work on. Nothing had held his attention very long, and it soon became difficult to listen to him complain all the time about Vic’s absence and failure to keep his promise to teach Eddie how to swim. Last night during supper, the boy had brought the topic up again. He’d reminded Vic that he would only be here a few more days before his folks got back from their trip and came to get him. “Then it’ll be too late,” Eddie had stated, speaking the words with emphasis. “I’ll probably never learn how to swim.”
Eleanor felt sorry for her husband’s youngest brother. Eddie looked up to Vic and expected him to keep his promise. But she also understood why Vic hadn’t taken Eddie to the pond for a swimming lesson yet. He’d gotten home late every evening so far and explained to Eddie that he was too tired to trek back to the pond near the back of their property, much less find the energy to get in the water and give a swimming lesson. Before Eddie went to bed last night, he’d once more brought up the topic of learning to swim. Vic had reminded his brother that on Saturday he wouldn’t have to leave home and go to work, so he’d give Eddie his first swimming lesson then. The boy had given Vic a hug and headed to bed with a hopeful-looking smile.
Parenting involves sacrifice, and it’s filled with many challenges, Eleanor thought as she watched Eddie gobble down the rest of his sandwich. Even so, I look forward to being a mother someday, and I’m sure I’ll feel differently when it’s my own flesh-and-blood child I am dealing with every day.
When Vic arrived home from work that evening, he’d no more than stepped out of Tom’s truck and said goodbye when he was greeted by Eddie and Checkers, waiting at the end of the driveway, both vying for his attention.
He threw a stick for the dog and then put one hand on top of his little brother’s head. “Did you have a good day?”
Eddie shrugged. “It was okay, but I wish you could’ve been with me.”
“I wish that too, but you knew I had to work, right?”
“Jah, that’s what our daed always says too.” Eddie’s chin lowered, almost to his chest.
“Someday, when you’re older and out of school, you’ll get a job and will most likely work five days a week, same as me.”
Eddie looked up at Vic and wrinkled his nose. “If I hafta get a job and go to work every day, I don’t wanna grow up.”
Vic chuckled and started walking toward the house. “You’ll change your mind about that when you start needing money.”
Eddie gave Vic’s free hand a tug. “It’s still hot out, Vic. Can we go swimming now, ‘stead of waiting till Saturday?”
Vic shook his head. “Sorry, buddy, but I have some chores to do in the barn. After that, I’m sure Eleanor will have supper ready. I will take you out back to the pond sometime tomorrow, though.”
“You promise?”
“Jah. Now let’s go inside so I can say hello to my fraa.”
The following morning, at the crack of dawn, Vic was awakened when someone pounded on his and Eleanor’s bedroom door. He rolled over in bed and groaned. If that’s my little brother, it better be something important.
Of course it’s Eddie, Vic told himself as he clambered out of bed and stepped into his trousers. Who else would it be? He looked over at his wife, now sitting up in bed.
“What’s going on?” she asked, followed by a yawn.
“I don’t know, but I’m about to find out.” Vic plodded across the room and pulled open the door. There stood Eddie in his bare feet, wearing a pair of swim trunks.
Vic grimaced. “What are you doing up so early, and why are you wearing your swimsuit?”
“We’re going to the pond so you can teach me to swim. Remember, Vic? You said we’d do it today.”
“Course I remember, but I didn’t say it would be this early. Why, the sun’s not even up all the way yet. You should go back to bed.”
Eddie’s shoulders drooped. “I ain’t tired. Besides, I’m hungerich.” He gave his belly a thump.
“Why don’t you go find something in the kitchen to tide you over till Eleanor gets up and fixes breakfast? I’m sure there’s a banana or an apple you can eat.”
“Okay.”
When Eddie headed down the hall, Vic turned to face Eleanor, who was now sitting on the side of the bed. “Don’t get up. My determined little bruder can wait awhile to have his breakfast.”
“It’s all right,” she said. “I’m awake now anyway, so I may as well get up and fix the morning meal. If I were to lie down again and close my eyes, I’d probably sleep longer than I should and then wake up with a koppweh.”
“I hear what you’re saying. I’m used to getting up early for work during the week, and whenever I sleep in on a Saturday, I usually end up with a headache.” Vic grabbed one of his work shirts and put it on. “While you’re getting breakfast made, I’ll go out to the barn and take care of the horses. Oh, and don’t worry about Checkers. I’ll feed him too.”
“Danki,” Eleanor said, followed by another yawn.
Vic came around to Eleanor’s side of the bed and gave her hug. “Thanks for keeping Eddie occupied all week while I was at work. I’m sure there were lots of other things you would have rather done.”
“It was fine, Vic. I’ll admit that finding enough things to keep him occupied was a bit of a challenge, but it was kind of fun.” She smiled. “I especially enjoyed watching Eddie teach Checkers how to do a few new tricks.”
“Jah, it was humorous last evening to see the dog flop on the floor and roll over with both feet in the air.” Vic chuckled. “I’m not sure how Eddie got him to do that trick. I’ve tried before, but with no luck whatsoever.”
“I guess maybe you didn’t offer Checkers enough treats.”
“Maybe so. Either that or the hund likes my little brother better than he does me.”
“I doubt it, but Eddie did spend a lot more time with the dog this week than you’re able to do each day.”
“True. Between eight hours of work, and sometimes more on the weekdays, plus the commute to and from the job, I’m not home as much as I’d like to be.” Vic sat on the bench near the bottom of their bed and put his socks and boots on. “Even when I’m here, I always have lots of chores to do.”
She nodded. “I try to do as much as I can when you’re gone, but there are some things I’m not able to do by myself.”
“It’s all right, Eleanor. I don’t expect you to do any more than you’re doing already.” Vic kissed her forehead. “I probably don’t say it enough, but I love and appreciate you so much.”
She smiled up at him and stroked his short beard. “I love and appreciate you too.”
After a hearty bacon-and-eggs breakfast, Vic pushed back his chair and headed for the back door.
“Are we going swimming now?” Eddie jumped up from his seat and started across the room.
“Not yet. I have a few more chores to do, and then I need to go out to the phone shed to see if there are any messages.” He put his hand on Eddie’s shoulder. “Maybe there’s one from our mamm and daed, letting us know what time they’ll be home on Monday.”
Eddie’s eyes brightened. “Won’t they be surprised when I tell them that I learned how to swim? You’re still planning to teach me, right, Vic?”
“Jah, sure. Just have a few things I need to get done first. You can come out to the phone shed with me if you like.”
Eddie shook his head. “Naw, that’s okay. Think I’ll see if I can teach Checkers one more trick.”
Vic gave a brief nod and hurried out the door. On the way to the phone shed, he noticed a hole in Checkers’ dog run, and he made a mental note to get that fixed before the day was out. If he didn’t repair it today, then tomorrow while they were at church, Checkers might figure a way to squeeze out.
“Sure seems like there’s always something that needs to be done around here,” Vic muttered as he approached the phone shed. “There just aren’t enough hours in the day.”
It was well past noon before Vic finished making all the repairs to the dog run. He’d not only replaced the one section he had first seen, but after inspecting the rest of the run, he’d found several more spots that needed fixing. Apparently his determined dog had managed to create several holes that could have offered an escape route if they’d become large enough for Checkers to squeeze through. Vic had heard Eleanor ring the dinner bell some time ago, but determined to get the job done, he’d kept working, figuring that lunch could wait.
Finally, when the last hole had been repaired to Vic’s satisfaction, he put his tools away and went up to the house. Upon entering the kitchen, he found Eleanor sitting at the table by herself. “I rang the dinner bell several times, but you didn’t come, so I hope you don’t mind, but I decided to go ahead and eat without you,” she said.
“Don’t mind at all, and I’m sorry I didn’t respond to the bell. I was determined to finish fixing the dog run.” He glanced around the room. “Where’s Eddie?”
Eleanor shrugged. “I figured he was with you.”
“Nope. I haven’t seen him since I started working on the dog run. He came out to see what I was doing once and brought up the topic of learning to swim. I told him I couldn’t do it until I got done with my project.”
“What’d he say?”
Vic pulled his fingers down the side of his face. “I’m not sure. He mumbled something, but I couldn’t make out the words.” Vic turned back toward the door. “I’d better go out and see if I can find him. He’s probably in the barn playing with the katze, or maybe he took Checkers there to work on some more tricks to surprise us with.”
“Okay, let me know if you can’t find him, and I’ll help you look.”
“Will do.” Vic hurried out the door.
Vic’s first stop was the barn, and when he didn’t find his brother there, he went out and stood in the middle of the yard. Cupping his hands around his mouth, Vic hollered, “Eddie! Where are you, my little brother?”
There was no response, but when Checkers, barking frantically, ran into the yard from the back side of the house, Vic’s pulse quickened. Could the dog be trying to tell me something?
“What’s wrong, boy? What are you barking about?”
Checkers bumped Vic’s leg with his nose and took off like a flash toward the back of the property. Vic followed close on Checkers’ heels as the dog continued to bark and run, leading him in the direction of the pond.
The muscles in Vic’s legs tightened as he continued to chase after the dog. Surely Eddie would not have gone to the pond without me—especially since he doesn’t know how to swim.
As Vic approached the pond, his heart pounded, while his breath caught in his throat. His little brother floated facedown and unmoving in the water.