It was October when the leaves are in their prettiest colors: orange, red, yellow and on the ground some brown. Sue sat on the porch thinking of her childhood and her two children, the games they played together and the learning they shared. Yes, she had the good life and was blessed and loved by her children and husband, Jack. In the background she could hear their son Billy's loud giggling and their puppy Rusty, barking. The only one she missed hearing was Anne, their older daughter. Sue knew where Anne was, especially this time of day on Friday. Anne and Jill, her best friend, were playing together in her room. She was always playing with dolls, but then, she was just like Sue when she was little. Jack was due home from work as she looked at her watch and figured she'd better go in and start dinner. As she was going in the front door, the backdoor slammed and a little boy's voice could be heard yelling. Such joys the children were and after dinner things would settle down, or she hoped. When dinner was on the table and was everyone together, meal prayers would be said. How long does it take to say grace and be thankful? Well, with the knocking on the door and the doorbell ringing, Sue thought dinner would never begin especially when each time Jack went to the door and no one was there. Was it their mind playing tricks on them or was someone really there? Follow the pranks and comedy in this heartfelt story of a family with everyday lessons.

Rusty

By Judy Duquin

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 Judy Duquin
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4634-2560-9

Chapter One

Sitting on the porch, Sue remembered how beautiful October was, with the colors on the trees and covering the grounds. Oregon's rich reds, oranges, yellows and greens hidden through each leaf made her think how Mother Nature was so wonderful this time of year. Watching the leaves sway as the breeze blew cooled what was left of an autumn day. Soon she'd look out at her yard; its surrounding area would be a blanket of white snow looking clean and fresh. She enjoyed the time alone here, thinking of things she's done both now and growing up. All thoughts were cast aside when a loud, "Mommy, Mommy!" was heard from inside the house.

"Mommy, where are you?" Anne wanted to know.

"What is all the yelling for?" asked Sue.

"Find me Mommy; it's your turn tonight!" yelled Anne.

"Well, there goes my thought for now." The screen door shut quietly behind Sue as she called for her older daughter, Anne.

"Anne, I know you're hiding close by me. I bet you're right there! Um ... not there. Okay, how about behind the chair! Boo, hey you're not there either." Now, searching through the living room and finding no Anne, Sue moved into the kitchen. "There you are, under the table. One, two, three, oops, you're not there. Anne, last one to the top of the stairs and in your room loses the cookie I have."

Running up the stairs, Sue heard a squeal of giggles. Rounding the corner of the stairs heading for her room, she saw a flash of blue dress running to hide. Giggling louder and louder, Sue hugged Anne as she wiggled and giggled and squirmed until she dropped her on the bed. Both of them laughed so hard they couldn't stop.

"Oh, Mommy," said Anne "you found me. I was good at hiding, wasn't I?"

"Yes, you were, my wiggly worm; yes you definitely were," said Sue.

"Now, I have a surprise for you that I thought was all mine."

"What is it Mommy?" asked Anne.

"Close your eyes and hold out your hand."

As Sue placed the cookie in her small hand, Anne giggled again, and her blue eyes popped open and quickly closed.

"Can I look Mommy?" asked Anne.

"Yes, love, you can look."

"A cookie for me, Mommy, and it's all mine?"

Smiling, Sue held her close, and thought of the days when her own mother did this to her. She was pretty much the same age. Thinking of being five, it was such fun and a delight playing their little game. A finder's reward was tossed in, no matter if she was found or not. Oh, those were the days.

The bang of the door slamming shut told her Billy, their four year old son, just came inside. The little whimper and yips behind him belonged to Rusty, their eight month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

"Mommy!" yelled Billy, "Rusty has my pants and won't let me go! Mommy!" Running feet on the floor, and the grr's from Rusty meant that the play day wasn't over for neither boy nor puppy.

At the bottom of the stairs were Billy and Rusty. Rusty was tugging on Billy's pants. "Mommy ... Rusty wants my pants and they are mine! He can't have them! They need extra legs for Rusty to wear."

Billy was right, even for a four year old. Those laughing blue eyes were looking at Sue as she bent down to remove Rusty from Billy's pant leg.

"Don't tease Rusty with your clothes, Billy. He thought they were his." Scolding Rusty was very difficult for her, as he was only a puppy, and was only playing with Billy. His verbal picture was too funny and laughable.

"I told you before not to tease Rusty with your clothes. He has his own toys that you both can play with, understand?" said Sue.

"Yes, Mommy," said Billy.

"I know what you can give him instead of your clothes to play with." Sue handed Billy a colorful toy. "Now you both can play with this, and not your pants, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy," said Billy.

Racing down the hallway towards the back yard, the boy and puppy were off. Loud screams of delight and yipping could be heard as they left.

As usual, Billy forgot to close the back door.

Sue caught up with them, shut the screen door, and stood watching the two of them play and roll in the grass. Finally, a place for them to play and enjoy: their own playground—soft, cool, but ever so green, even this time of year.

A car was coming up the driveway, and Sue knew who it had to be. It had been a long day, and Sue sure had missed him a lot. In the background, she could hear Rusty barking and Billy racing from the back to the front door just as it opened.

"Hello everyone, I'm home," said Jack.

"Hey Billy, how is my little man doing tonight? Are you forgetting something?" asked Jack.

A big smile lit up his face as he grabbed for his dad's leg and held fast to it. "Pony ride Daddy? Please? Pretty please?" asked Billy.

"All right, but first I need to put up my briefcase. Hold on, here we go," said Jack. "Hold tight, Billy."

Sue stood in the door smiling at the sight of father and son. "I think Dad could use some help; how about it?" she asked.

"Nope, the cowboy here is holding strong, and he is enjoying himself. However, Rusty may be another story. One holding on in the front is one thing, but I seem to have picked up a hitchhiker from the back," said Jack, looking behind him. "Sue, would you get Rusty off my pant leg before he ruins a good pair of pants?"

"Sure, that's the second set of pant legs he liked today," she said, smiling.

"Thanks, sweetheart."

Turning to Billy, Jack asked, "Hey partner, where is your sister?"

"Don't know Daddy," said Billy. "I've been playing outside with Rusty."

"Well then I think we better go find her, so I can collect my hug and tell her I'm home. Hold on there. Here we go." Billy squealed with joy as he was bounced on his daddy's foot, holding on tight. "Yippee, giddy-up horsey."

Making it to the top of the staircase, Jack peeked into Anne's room and thought how much she looked like her mother, with her long, blonde hair, and blue eyes, like the sky. The sun brought out the highlights in her hair as she sat on the cream carpet. Anne was putting a pretty pink dress on her doll, Jill, and had Jill's hair put in a pony tail just like hers. Jack had truly been blessed with a wonderful family.

"Hi, pumpkin." said Jack. "How's my big girl doing tonight?" Anne reeled around with a hug and smiled with her painted lips.

"Oh my, what have we here?" asked Jack.

"I'm playing house Daddy, and I'm the mommy today. Jill is taking her nap now so I can talk with you," said Anne.

Laughing out loud, Jack picked up Anne and got the biggest hug and a red set of lip marks on his cheek. "How is Jill doing today, and are you both having a fun day?"

"She's fine, and yes we are." Would you like me to make you some tea and give you a cookie?" asked Anne.

"Thank you very much," replied Jack. "That would be very nice of you. I will be right back though, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy. I will call you when it's ready."

As Jack entered the kitchen and smelled what Sue had been cooking for dinner, his stomach began to growl. Jack said, "Wow, it sure smells good in here, and I'm as hungry as a bear. When do we eat? Looks like everyone has been busy."

Sue smiled and gave him a hug. "Rusty and Billy have been together all day. According to Billy, Rusty was trying to take off his pants."

"What?" asked Jack, laughing. "That must have been a sight."

"Oh it was," said Sue. "Rusty had the back...