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Show -9- Peppermint Monday and ma because pa said we had to. I wanted to see Jake's old shack, but pa was insistant. When they came back two hours later, Cheddar was bandaged up, and stunk terribly with some goop Jake had put on his wing, whatever the stuff was, it healed Cheddar right up. Russ and Jake became good friends after that, good enough friends to start people talking. They made quite a picture as Jake plowed down the hill. A big, weathered man carrying a frail boy; an eagle perched on the boy's sagging shoulder. The mountains behind them served as a giant backdrop of the blue haze tourists came to see. The tall, teeth-like peaks bit into the cornflower blue skies. The pair was close enough now to hear. Russ' soft, clear voice contrasting with Jake's booming, husky one. "How's Cheddar?" Jason asked, squirming under Jake's hard, gray gaze. "Wonderful," Russ gushed. "He just scored one hundred in a test flight. That hurt wing is as good as new." His small, pale face turning up toward Jake's unshaven one. "Then he needs some cheese for a reward," Jason said. "Come on Russ. Let's get him some." Jake carried Russ up the porch steps and lowered him until he rested full length on a wicker, lounge chair. He made no comment about Jason's rudeness, but obviously understood the hint for him to leave. "Darn bee!" I swung my long arms again, cursing the buzzing insect. I didn't realize I'd complained out loud until those flint hard eyes focused on me. "If you kill a young spring bee, you'll never find his honey tree." Jake's rough voice mumbled the short rhyme, spoken more like a warning than a childhood verse. I wasn't sure what his message was, and I guess he |
