Here's a story for this week...
Anni woke to a steady rumbling in the basement of their country home.
“Oh no! Calico’s at it again!” She groaned, jumping out of bed and running down the hall to her brother’s room.
“Jakob! Wake up, we’ve gotta get outside!” She pounded on his bedroom door.
“Ah, what is it, Anni?”
“Calico’s doing another experiment!” In less than a minute, Jakob came barreling out of the room, and the two of them raced down the stairs and out the front door.
They stood in the tall prairie grass, watching and listening expectantly. Sure enough, soon there came a loud explosion, followed by warbled strains of out of tune notes. And the southwest corner of the house was once again in disarray.
“Ohhhh..... What are Pa and Ma going to say about this?” Anni moaned.
“I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure it’ll be the last time they’ll hire Calico to baby sit us! That mad scientist is nuts!” Jacob fumed as they surveyed the damage. Pretty soon a very dirty and bedraggled Calico came out the front door and hurried over to them.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, mateys, looks as if my mixtures went wrong again. I thought I was going to have Beethoven’s fifth that time!” Calico attempted to apologize. You see, Calico was a scientist who was trying to come up with a way to make music out of explosions and chemical reactions. He had a ways to go yet.... although sometimes, like this time, some notes came out..... out of tune though they may be.
“Oh, it’s all right-” Anni attempted to reassure Calico, but Jakob cut in.
“It is NOT all right! Calico, look what you’ve done! Again! This is the second time you’ve done this! When will you ever learn? YOU are the one who’s supposed to be baby sitting us, not us baby sitting you!” Jakob said angrily.
“But, Jakob, I really am sorry… I just can’t seem to get along without my experiments, that’s all.” Calico said glumly.
“Well, maybe you should build yourself an experiment shed that you can blow up, instead of our basement.” Anni said, trying to smooth it over between Calico and Jakob.
“That’s an excellent idea, sister. What do you think of it, Calico?”
“Well, I s’pose it’s a pretty good idea, but how am I supposed ter go about making meself a shed?”
“Oh, you’re just good at blowing things up, not building them, aye?”
“Aye, yer right there, sonny.” Calico said morosely.
“Maybe you could hire someone to build it for you.” Anni suggested.
“Another grand idea!” And so that was the conclusion for that subject. But now they had to decide what to do about the southwest corner of the house, and quickly, for the clouds were gathering and darkening, and it promised to rain soon.
“I know! There are many old tarps in the barn, we could probably use them!” So the three of them ran to the barn and made quick work of dragging several tarps over to the house, where they secured them the best they could. They had just finished when Anni felt a drop of rain on her face. With in seconds, it was pouring.
“Run!” The three of them ran into the house, where they stood in the doorway, sopping wet.
“Now what?” Jakob asked.
“I suppose we should get into dry clothes, and fix breakfast.” Anni said.
“What a marvelous idea!” Calico grinned.
Soon they were all in dry clothes, and all of three of them decided to help make breakfast. As they were sitting down to eat their muffins and eggs, they heard a constant drip, drip, drip over in the direction of the southwest corner of the house.
“Oh no! The tarps must have had holes in them!” Calico, Jakob, and Annie rushed over to where the tarps formed a temporary ceiling. Sure enough, one of the tarps had a hole, and it was leaking dangerously. Anni ran for a bucket while Calico and Jakob made a futile attempt to stop the drip by Jakob standing on Calico’s shoulders and stuffing his head into the hole. Needless to say, all this resulted in was sore shoulders for Calico and a nasty cold for Jakob. Anni arrived, triumphantly holding a bucket and she set it under the drip, and then hastened Jakob to bed after getting him into yet another set of dry clothes.
“Now, Calico, promise me you won’t try to do any more experiments today, please. I’m going to need to take care of Jakob, not try to fix what you’ve blown up.” Anni said, trying her hardest not to sound too condemning.
“Oh, all right, I suppose I can refrain from any more mischief for the day.” And so Anni and Calico spent the rest of the day by Jakob’s bedside, nursing him back to health.
“Anni, when did you say your parents were getting back?” Calico asked the next morning.
“Either today or tomorrow, they weren’t sure.” Anni replied.
“They’re sure gonna be mad,” Calico moaned.
“Maybe you shoulda thought of that before you blew the house up.” Jakob commented from his bed.
“Nice idea.” Calico mumbled. “I didn’t blow the whole house up though.”
“Hmmm. Good thing we have house insurance.”
“Do you think we could start fixing it?” Anni asked.
“Are you crazy? We don’t know the first thing about fixing blown up houses, Anni.” Jakob said.
“You’re right.” Anni replied. “So what are we going to do now?”
“Wait for your parents to get home, I reckon.” Calico replied.
“Right.... Are you feeling any better, Jake?”
“I suppose.”
“That’s good.”
The three of them made small talk and did various things until dinner time, when Calico and Anni managed to cook a fairly decent meal. After that Calico got so restless he started pacing back and forth across the carpet.
“Calico! Stop pacing, you’re making me nervous!” Anni wailed.
“How can I help it? I’m nervous too! Your parents are going to fire me from ever baby-sitting you again and then what will I do? You’re the only ones who will let me experiment in your house!” Calico moaned.
“Yeah, and that might not even be anymore when Pa and Ma get home. Why don’t you just experiment in your own house?”
“It’s not my house, I’m renting it and my landlord doesn’t want me doing any experiments there.”
“Oh. Why don’t you go compose something? Take your mind off it.”
“Hmm. I guess that’s a good idea.” Calico replied, and headed down the stairs, followed by Jakob.
Suddenly, the phone rang with an atrocious blare, startling Anni. She quickly regained her senses and grabbed the phone.
“Hello, this is Anni.” She answered.
“Hey Anni!” Squealed a little, high-pitched voice.
“Oh, hey, Gracie.” Anni replied to her youngest sister.
“Ma wants to talk to you but I got to be the one to call!” Said the voice in an important mannner.
“Oh, okay.... Does she want to talk to me now?” Anni asked, though it was rather obvious.
“I tink so.” The voice died away and there was a loud clank in Anni’s ear, then her mother’s voice came through.
“Anni? Are you still there?”
“Yes, Ma.”
“Good. How is it going at home?”
“Uh...... Okay I guess.”
“You don’t sound so sure.”
“Um......... Well..... When are you gonna get back?”
“We’re turning in the drive.”
“Oh! Well, uh, then you’ll be finding out right quick.”
“Finding out wh------ Anni!!!” With that, the phone went dead and Anni peered out the window to see Pa and Ma running towards the house. She quickly replaced the phone in its holder, yelled something unintelligible downstairs to Calico and Jakob, and scurried outdoors.
“Anni Warkentin Dueck! What has been going on here?” Ma asked as Anni reached them.
“Perhaps you should ask Calico that.” Anni replied timidly.
“Oh dear. Is this the result of another failed experiment?” Ma asked as Pa began to survey the damage.
“I reckon you could call it that.” Anni replied.
“Where is Calico? And Jakob? Was anyone hurt?” Ma asked.
“Downstairs, downstairs, and not really.” Anni replied.
“Not really? What is that supposed to mean?”
“Well, no one was hurt in the event of the explosion, but Jakob has been suffering from a cold as a result of trying to repair the damage done.” Anni explained.
“Now how did that happen?”
“It started to rain and he got soaked.” Anni replied.
“He is recovering though?”
“Quite swiftly, in fact.”
“Ah, good. Now would you like to help me unload the vehicle while your father takes a look?”
“Most certainly, Ma.” With that, Ma and Anni hurried towards the deep blue Excursion, where Anni’s four younger siblings were sitting solemnly in their seats, gazing at the wreckage.
“Come on out and help us bring things in, young ‘uns.” Ma said as she opened the trunk doors and began handing out suitcases and bags. The four youngest quickly jumped out and dutifully began lugging their own suitcases towards the door, with Ma and Anni following behind. As they entered the house, a strange odor greeted them.
“What’s that awful smell?” Ellen-Adel, the oldest of the triplets, asked.
“Is it the house blowin’ up agin?” Little Arthur-Lorenzo asked.
“Uh, I don’t know, but I think it’s coming from downstairs.” Anni said. All six of them darted down the stairs at nearly top speed. Rounding the corner, they found the source of the smell. Standing in front of a table were Calico and Jakob, intently watching something from which drifted a distinct unpleasant odor. Anni was the first to venture over and peer into the container. Inside was a boiling mass of vinegar, baking soda, and the key ingredient; grasshoppers. And rising from the concoction was one of the worst smells Anni had ever encountered.
“What are you doing?” Calico and Jakob spun around. Being so enthralled with their gooey mess they had not noticed the six pairs of feet pounding down the stairs.
“Uh, Calico’s showing me his new idea.” Jakob replied.
“And what is that?” Anni asked suspiciously.
“It’s grasshopper propellant.”
“It smells like it stinks.” Ellen-Adel said, pinching her nose.
“I have this wonderful theory that if baking soda and vinegar can make a rocket shoot off, then it can also send all the grasshoppers flying into outer space!” Calico replied with a grin of satisfaction on his face. The six newcomers stared in disbelief.
“You really think you’re going to annihilate all the grasshoppers with vinegar and baking soda?” Ma asked.
“Why, sure, once I get the proportions right.”
“Uh huh. And meanwhile, you’re blowing up parts of our house.”
“Oh, that wasn’t with the baking soda and vinegar, that was with th----”
“Calico, I’m sure it’s very interesting what you blew half the basement out with, but right now we need to get it fixed.” Ma replied sternly.
“Yes’m.” Calico said somberly.
The group headed back up the stairs, where Pa was waiting for them outside.
“Can it be repaired, Mr. Dueck?” Calico asked nervously.
“Well, it could be, but it would take a great deal of work; it might even require rebuilding the house.” Pa gave his diagnosis.
“Are you sure there isn’t any way to repair it without rebuilding, Isaias?” Ma asked, her forehead creased.
“Well, we’d have to call in a carpenter to see for sure, but remember what we’ve been talking about these past few weeks?” Pa turned to Ma. Ma looked up in surprise.
“You mean about the farmstead?” She asked.
“Yup, that’s what I mean.” Pa replied.
“Y-you’re thinking seriously about it now?”
“Well, what do you think about it?”
“Hmm… Well, with this unexpected turn of events, I would have to say the idea sounds appealing.” Ma answered.
“What idea?” Anni asked curiously.
“Should we tell them now, Isaias?”
“I don’t see why not. Go ahead, Karen.” Pa nodded.
“Well, children, your grandfather has asked if we would consider coming to live with him on the family farm, as it is getting harder for him to get around and get all the chores done and the animals fed--”
“Really? Oh, please, may we?” The triplets chimed in.
“Well, that’s what we were getting to, young ‘uns.” Pa said. The six Dueck children looked at each other in excitement.
“I take it ya’ll are all for it?” Ma asked. The question was greeted by a rousing chorus of excited chatter.
“I’d take that for a yes. Karen?”
“That’s what I’d interpret it as!” Ma laughed. They all then hurried inside to discuss further over some icecream.
“Hey, Anni, want to go eat downstairs and keep an eye on that grasshopper paste?” Jakob asked.
“Oh, me, me! I want to!” Four year old Arthur yelled.
“Oh, all right, you can come too, Arthur. You comin’, Anni?”
“Sure…” Anni said, and the three of them headed downstairs.
“So you really think this could work to annihilate the grasshopper population, aye?” Anni asked, peering into the dark depths of the pot. Jakob shrugged.
“Don’ know. It’s really Calico’s idea..... we’ll have to see.” And with that they promptly finished their ice cream. Soon after they were finished, Elida-Rose ran down the stairs to collect the ice cream bowls.
“Can I have your bowls?” She asked.
“Oh, I was supposed to give it back?” Jakob asked.
“Yes.....” Elida-Rose replied.
“Ooops, I ate it!”
“What!?! You ATE it?” Elida-Rose screeched, then yelled up the stairs--
“MA!! Help! Come quick, Jakob ate his bowl! You said to never mess with glass, it could hurt you! But Jakob just ate it!” Turning to Jakob she frantically asked,
“Are you gonna die?”
“Ah, no, ‘course not, Lida! I didn’t really eat it!” Jakob chuckled, pulling the bowl out from under his chair.
“Jakob! That was mean!” Elida-Rose pouted, grabbing the bowl and heading back up the stairs. Jakob merely chuckled.
“Why are you always pulling pranks on the triplets, Jakob?” Anni asked.
“’Cause it’s fun, that’s why.” Jakob grinned. Anni sighed and followed Elida-Rose up the stairs, with Jakob coming behind. As they reached the landing, the phone rang with an atrocious blare.
“I get it!” Lorena-Grace yelled, running to the phone and jerking it off it’s cradle.
“Hello, this is the Duecks; Lorena-Grace speaking,” She said in her most professional voice. “Yes, she is, just a minute please.” She said. “Where’s Ma?” She then whispered loudly (directly into the phone).
“Right here, Gracie.” Ma said, taking the phone that Lorena-Grace offered.
“Hello? This is Karen....... Oh, hello!.....” Ma moved off into the bedroom to the right of the living room. The six Dueck children and Calico sat down on the various couches and chairs and picked up books or other things to occupy themselves until Ma got off the phone. In about ten minutes, Ma reentered the room.
“Who was it?” They all asked in unison.
“That was your grandfather.”
“Grandpa Warkentin?” Anni asked. (That was Ma’s father)
“Yes, it was Grandpa Warkentin.”
“Did you tell him we’re thinkin’ about comin’?” Anni asked.
“As a matter of fact, I did; after he asked though. Seems his arthritis has been springing up a lot lately and the chores are being left undone half of the time. He’s getting pretty desperate to find some help. Turns out it would work out well for both of us; he gets the help he needs and we get the house we need.... I think it’s pretty much settled. Your father and I still need to work out a few details, but other than that, it’s basically confirmed.” Ma reported.
“Yeah!” Came a yell from the entire Dueck group. They were obviously excited about the idea that was quickly becoming reality.
“The only downfall, however, is that we would no longer have need for a baby-sitter, as Grandpa would fill that role when needed…” Ma began.
“Does that mean I’m off duty?” Calico asked, shoulders drooping.
“Well, it seems to be that way.... but there is an advantage to all this.” Ma replied.
“What’s that?” Calico asked.
“What’s left of this house would be turned over to you, and you could experiment all you wanted. You could also live here in the areas you hadn’t yet destroyed.” Ma said with a hint of a smirk.
“Aye! That’s a wonderful idea!” Calico exclaimed, grinning, ignoring the part about the “parts he hadn’t yet destroyed”.
“And maybe next time we see you you’ll have Beethoven’s Fifth mastered.”
“Aye, that would be the goal.”
With that they all went out to see what Pa was up to.
“Ma?” Elida-Rose suddenly piped up.
“Yes?”
“Did ya know that Jakob pretended to eat a bowl?”
“Lida! Shhh!” Jakob scowled. “Uh, I think I need to go feed the dogs now!” Jakob grinned sheepishly and hurried off with Arthur-Lorenzo hurrying behind.
“But it’s my turn!.....” Arthur’s voice faded away as they disappeared around the corner of the shed.
“I thought it was my turn.” Lorena-Grace said forlornly. Ma chuckled softly.
“Ah, ya’ll will get plenty of chances to feed animals once we get to Grandpa’s house.”
“I can’t wait!” Lorena-Grace squealed, jumping up and down in her excitement.
Okay, sorry that was such a long part, but I was trying to divide it into two parts! Part 2 coming soon...
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