Little House on Prairie - Sequel.

Chapter 7 - Albert Part Two

"The question is.. what kind of adventure should we have?" Laura asked. Albert made a grin. "I have no clue. It can't be something big or too exhausting. I am not strong enough for that..." Laura sighed. "Maybe this is a bad idea, Albert. You should be really resting, not wandering around looking for an adventure that might make your condition worse." Albert laughed. "Worse, Laura? Really? Worse? I can't get any worse..." He took Laura's hand and looked at her. "I'm dying, Laura." Laura looked at him, realizing something. This wasn't about her and what she felt comfortable with. This was Albert's life. Maybe his last day. Maybe his last minutes. Laura sighed and dried some tears from the corner of her eye. "I know, Albert... Let's go climb that tree you always wanted to climb." Albert raised his eyebrow. "Tree...? Oh yes, that one. I never dared too, it's too tall". Laura smirked. "You wanted an adventure. Now you got one. No complaining, let's go." she said and stood up. "Stubborn as always" Albert coughed and followed her on their way to their one last adventure. 

They soon arrived at the tree. "It's taller than I remember" Albert said. Laura turned over to him. "You're not going to be chicken now, are you? Finally you can fulfill your childhood goal." Albert looked at her with a wary grin on his face and sighed. "Fine fine, let's do it." They both started to climb. The branches were thick and easy to climb on. The only problem was the height. It would take ages to reach the upper branch of the tree. Laura stopped a few branches higher than Albert. "I don't know it could be this exhausting climbing a tree. " she said and dried sweat off her forehead. Albert laughed. "Oh, but it is. Right?" Laura laughed and kept on climbing. "I think we should stop there. " she said and pointed at a branch about two meter from her. Albert coughed. "No, we're going to the top. We can do it." "Yeah, but how are we suppose to get down from the top? You didn't think about that, did you?" Laura asked. Albert scratched his head. "No, I didn't really." Laura laughed. "Still same old, Albert." They kept on climbing and resting in between. Albert leaned on the main branch. "We're really doing this. I can't believe it." he said with a surprise in his voice. "Happy I convinced you to doing this now, hah?" Laura asked. Albert laughed. "Yeah, I am. Thanks." Laura smiled. "Let's keep climbing. We're almost at the top." Albert nodded and kept climbing. Laura let him climb in front of her instead in case something were going to happen. Albert grabbed the upper branch and stretched out. "Oh my..." he said and stared into the horizon. Laura followed right behind. "Wow..." she whispered. The view was stunning. The sunset had started. "It's beautiful." Albert said. "It sure is." Laura replied. They both kept staring at the sunset until it almost went down. 

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It was night time. Darkness filled Walnut Grove only with the stars to light it up. Albert lay in bed. His breath were short. Heaven was near for getting a new angel. "Laura? Dad?" he whispered. "Yes, Albert?" Laura and Charles said, almost in choir. "Thank you...For everything. For finding me. For giving me a family." Charles teared all up. "I love you, son." Laura let teardrops fell from her eyes. "And Laura... Thank you for all our memories together. All our mischievous acts. Our last adventure." Laura couldn't help herself. She cried and cried. "Thank you, Albert. For being the best brother I could ask for. I love you..." Albert held both Laura's and Charles' hand. "I love you. Promise that you will never forget me. Remember me with laughter, not tears." Laura and Charles nodded and tried to keep their cries back. It seemed impossible at the time. A son and a brother was close to die. Albert close his eyes slowly as his body got relaxed. Charles and Laura watched him breathe his last breath. He was gone. They both cried and hugged each other. "Pa..." Laura cried. "Half Pint..." Charles recalled in between his sobs. 

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A few days later, they were going to the funeral. The entire Walnut Grove showed up to take farewell with Albert. Even Mrs. Oleson had to wipe her tears with her handkerchief. Reverend Alden stood for the farewell speech. He tried to keep himself from crying, but Laura could see he was struggling. They all were. Almanzo held Laura around her waist. A painful day. Such a young life lost. A good young man with ambitions, hopes and joy. "He will be missed" Mr. Oleson whispered mostly to himself, even though both Laura and Charles could hear him. They were all going to miss him. Walnut Grove would never be the same without Albert. 

Laura and Charles stayed behind with the grave after the funeral. "Will the pain ever go away, Pa?" Laura said as she teared up. "No. I won't. " Charles replied. "But maybe one day we will be able to remember Albert with joy instead of tears. Remember all the great time we had with him..." Charles let his tears fall. He took his arm around Laura as they stood there by the grave, saying goodbye to a loved one. 

In next chapter we will get back to present time to Sleepy Eye. I hope you liked the last two chapters about Albert and his final days. It sure was emotionally to write this, but I felt the last chapter of his story needed to be told.