Song of the South

Meeting the folks

Several days later and they had officially moved everything from Eric’s house into the new house. The children’s bedroom sets had arrived, been constructed, and put into their rooms. Kinsey had decorated the walls to match the furniture that she had bought before all the furniture had been placed in each room. Eric was busy with everything else that he hadn’t seen the baby’s room just yet.

Kellie was helping get the kitchen in order while Lori was directing where the big living room and dining room furniture was to go. Barry was helping Brent get the bassist’s room arranged the way Eric wanted it. As Kinsey was fixing breakfast for everyone, Kellie and Lori had gotten her to open as to why she was suddenly so happy. Upon hearing about the conversation, and the decision they had made, she and Eric had had the previous night made both women smile and tell her how happy they were for her.

She confessed about being nervous at leaving the children at home while she went out on the road with Eric. Kellie was quick to tell her that she would love to watch the kids while she was gone and that they would be perfectly fine while she was away. Lori had agreed with Eric in that she needed to have her own experiences of her own and that going out on the road would actually be good for her. Eric’s parents had come by to meet the woman that their son had told them about and her five siblings.

Lane had started crying so she was walking around trying to stay out of everyone’s way. Eric met his parents outside so he could give them a tour of the grounds and explain what Kinsey was planning for their property. His father was a bit concerned that he was living with this young girl, and five small children, and they weren’t married. He explained that they had started dating as of the previous night but that didn’t make his father feel any better. As they walked around, he explained everything about them and the situation he and his ex-wife had saved them from.

When they entered the house, Eric’s mother stopped in her tracks. It was utter chaos but there was a young woman, to Eric’s mother Joan she didn’t look over sixteen, in a rocking chair with a baby in her arms while she read to several other children from a large story book. All the children were fanned out around this young woman who was reading to them.

“Sissy, I think Lane is hungry.” The oldest child stated, pointing to the baby who was nibbling on its fingers

“Daisy would you mind fetching me a bottle please? I’ll wait until you come back to finish the story.” Kinsey told her sister

“Who are they?” Eric’s father, Gene, questioned

“The woman is Kinsey. She’s the one I told you about. Everyone but Stella are her brothers and sisters that she’s raising.” Eric explained

“She’s…. she’s so good with them!” Joan exclaimed, staring at the group

“I know. She’s been taking care of her sick, disabled father and the oldest girl since she was sixteen. Her mother ran off leaving them alone.” Eric stated

“What about the other children? Didn’t you say they were also her brothers and sisters?” Gene questioned

“Oh! This is the young lady you told us about. The one whose mother would get pregnant and then just drop them off with her husband and other kids.” Joan stated as what her son had told her about them came back

“Yes Mom. This is them.” Eric replied as he walked his parents over to where they were sitting

“Kinsey? I want you to meet my parents Joan and Gene. Mom, Dad, this is Kinsey. She’s the oldest. That is Daisy the second oldest. That young man is Jesse the third oldest. That squirmy little guy is Hayden who’s the second youngest, the cutie sitting to his left is Bella. The baby is Lane and he’s about six months old.” Eric said, pointing everyone out to one another