UNLIKELY REALITY

 

 

            In some reality somewhere, Jody actually managed to run away, all the way to Boston. Penny gradually recovered from having strained himself, and went to visit the Forresters.

            "Good to see you're gittin' 'round better," said Buck, welcoming him.

            "It has eased a mite. Hit's good to be able to git outen the house a bit and come visit. I been near 'bout stir-crazy."

            "What 'bout Jody?" Mill-wheel wondered. "He back yit?"

            "No. But at least we know a heap more now 'n we knowed when Ory come over here."

            "So what's the news?" Buck inquired.

            Penny looked around at the six men and hesitated. "You-all ain't gonna b'lieve this. I know it's a fact, and I don't b'lieve it! But somehow, all by hisself, my boy has managed to git hisself...to Boston." He fell silent, regarding them uncomfortably. They stared at him.

            "Boston!" Buck raised his eyebrows significantly.

            "Yeah." Penny nodded meaningfully. "Hit's what you're thinkin'. I got a letter from Oliver." He watched their faces for a reaction, but they kept their expressions carefully neutral. He went on, "Oliver said, 'I got him. Now what you want I should do with him?'"

            "Have you written an answer?" Mill-wheel asked.

            "I've started. So far, hit reads, 'Dear Oliver, you kin start by spankin' him.'"

            They grinned.

            "I'll swear, fellers, I'm so riled, I cain't half see straight."

            "I'd not blame you," Buck agreed.

            "You think Oliver'll do it?" Lem grinned, unkindly enjoying the mental image of Jody's possible torment.

            "Aw, who knows? But now, the problem is gittin' the boy back. At first, Oliver was right glad to see Jody, 'til he realized I wa'n't with him. See, he'd figgered we'd jest come up for a visit. When he seed Jody was alone, and made him 'splain why, he got riled and said, 'Now, I'll jest take you right back there, and hand you over.'"

            The Forresters exchanged glances; some grinned subtly at each other.

            Penny shifted in his chair, realizing that they viewed this as a wonderful opportunity to get another crack at Oliver. He continued, "And you know what my leetle scaper said to Oliver then? He said, 'Try that, and I'll run away from you, too; and then won't nobody know where I am.'"

            The Forresters straightened in their chairs, stunned.

            "Why, that leetle devil!" Buck exclaimed.

            "We may not like Oliver," Lem said, "but he's still an adult. The boy's got no right to talk to him that-a-way."

            "Not to mention, aggravatin' you like this, Penny," Arch added.

            "Tell you what," Mill-wheel offered. "You tell that boy o' yourn that when you git him back here, you'll fetch him to us, and we'll spank him."

            "All of us," Pack clarified.

            Penny blinked. "That oughta make an impression on him, all right."

            "In more ways than one." Lem laughed.

            "Uh, yes. Well, I ain't sure I'm gonna git him back, leastways for awhiles. Oliver offered to try to drag the boy back here anyways, but he admitted that 'tain't impossible that the leetle scaper could git away from him somewheres along the way. He wanted to know iffen I want he should risk it. I jest don't know."

            "Well, what else kin you do?" Gabby pressed him.

            "I could go up and try to git him myself. But there agin, iffen I cain't convince Jody to want to come back, he could run away from me, too. I reckon hit's better to know he's safe some'eres, than to try to fetch him back here and risk losin' him altogether."

            "But you cain't jest leave him there," Buck protested. "Oliver cain't take keer of him; he'll be goin' out to sea."

            "Oh, that ain't no problem. Grandma'll love to have him. Another boy to raise, 'specially one she loves a'ready. She'll be thrilled. In fact, iffen she ain't knowed that this'd be upsettin' me, I reckon she'd be celebratin'."

            "So, you gonna leave him stay?" Mill-wheel prompted.

            "I don't know. I don't want to. I miss him turrible. I jest keep hopin' that iffen I leave him stay awhiles, mebbe he'll miss me, too, and wanta come back. Oliver said in his letter that they'll be glad to keep him iffen I wanta do it that-a-way."

            "Penny," Buck said. "You want my opinion?"

            "That's what I come for."

            "You're too easy on that boy. You baby him and spoil him. Now, we like Jody, but we figger you should take a firmer hand with him. You kin git riled at me for sayin' this iffen you want...."

            "No," Penny responded resignedly. "His ma tells me the same thing. But I figger his ma don't spoil him enough; she's too hard on him. I reckon I go too fur th'other way. What would you do iffen you was me?"

            "Well, iffen I was you," Buck replied, "I'd charge up there and grab that boy, spank him good, and drag him down here, iffen I had to tie him up to do it."

            "I reckon you're right. Iffen this ain't the doggedest problem I've ever had with that boy."

            "Well, tell you what, Penny." Lem tried to suppress a grin. "We'll go up to Boston with you and git him."

            His brothers echoed his grin.

            Penny chuckled knowingly. "Uh, no, thank you. I don't s'pose that'd be too good an idee."

            "You don't figger Oliver'd be glad to see us?" Buck teased.

            Penny smiled.