The Taco Dilemma

Chapter Three:

Kiara heard voices. They were quiet at first- barely audible, but she noticed them more and more as the night went on.

Jimmy was already in bed. As much as Kiara wanted to help out in the war she just couldn't abandon him. All she could do was hope and pray the others would be alright. There were rumours that the war would begin at dawn.

Kiara had tried to go to bed, but the sound of murmuring outside her room kept her awake. Finally, she pressed her ear to the wall and the voices grew louder. She wasn't just imagining it.

Two voices. It was difficult to make out any words, but she clung to whatever she could hear. There was another sound, too- the faint sound of a grown man sobbing.

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Depression- it kept Harlowe awake at night as his constant sneezes rattled in his brain. He and Tobias lingered around Farthenwood to make sure the egg was safe. Every now and then Harlowe crept into the secret tunnels to check on his son. Of course he was happy Roden was back, but he couldn't allow anyone to harm him again. The anxiety of losing his son weighed down on him like an overweight horse.

That night, Harlowe felt the need to check on the egg. He entered the tunnels and lifted the loose boards covering the glistening chicken baby. As he held his son close to his chest, he heard steps coming toward him.

"I thought I would find you here." Tobias whispered. He knelt beside Harlowe and wrapped his arm around him. "Listen, tomorrow we will strike against Jaron. With the help of the people I think we can defeat him. But if worse comes to worse, just know that I am more than willing to risk my life to protect Roden."

Harlowe glanced at Tobias, sneezed and said, "Thank you."

Tobias nodded. There was an awkward silence. For a moment Harlowe thought he could hear scratching from the other end of the wall, but he shrugged it off.

Finally Harlowe broke the silence, "Tobias, you're my son."

Tobias' eyes widened and he shook his head. "No, I'm an orphan--"

"Not anymore. Will you let me adopt you?"

Tears streamed down Tobias' cheeks and he pulled Harlowe into a warm hug. Well, the hug wasn't exactly warm, it just sounded more descriptive to say it that way. "Yes, I would love to be your son... papa!"

Then they wept.

As the sobs and constant sneezing finally subsided, the scratching Harlowe had heard in the wall before grew louder and closer. He pulled away from his newfound son and put a finger to his lips, warning Tobias to keep quiet. Still the relentless clawing continued and drew closer with every passing second. Whatever had made the noise was beginning to break through the wall. Harlowe

put his hand protectively over the floorboard that held his child inside and Tobias began silently panic farting. They watched as the crack grew to a hole and a head poked out, dust and debris covering her entire body, her brilliantly blue hair tangled and several plastic spoons in her fist. She immediately climbed out of the hole and looked over the teary eyed men in sympathy.

"My name is Kiara Brooke." The girl said in a sweet, comforting voice. "I was hearing sobbing through the other side of the wall and clawed my way with spoons just to help. You see, I've dealt with crying men many times before and I know I can help you now."

Kiara dug into her skirt pocket and pulled out a lollipop and a container of bubbles. She held them out to them. "Which one would you like?"

Harlowe smiled for the first time in many hours and gratefully took the lollipop. He slowly opened the floorboard and gently placed the candy right beside his son. "Roden always loved lollipops...." He whispered.