Between the Barn and the Stage

8

Sam calmed down after a while, and I remained still and my eyes closed. If I opened them, I'd probably cry.

"I sorry. Sissy sad. I bad boy."

"No, no, Sam. I shouldn't have forced you. Can we go home now?" I asked, my eyes closed.

"Yes. So sissy can read books in barn."

"Okay." I said rubbing my nose. I was still raining, but I didn't care. I was wet anyways. I opened my eyes and ignored everyone staring at me in surprise and worry, and picked Sam up. I put a visibly forced smile on my face and said with mock cheer, "Let's go see what Nikki is up to in the books now, okay? We just have to walk. I can carry you if you want. We can play horsey! You are the Indian, running on his horse in the storm, getting home to the village in time for dinner and stories."

"Yeah! Horsey!"

"You have to hold on tight, sissy doesn't want you to fall." I said, opening the door and stepping out into the rain.

"Wait! Dylan--" Chatham began, but stopped and looked at my brother, who was tense. "Your number. Give it too me."

"Why? I have to go--"

"Dylan, please. I need to speak with you. Besides, doesn't Sammy want to hear from Chatham-friend again?"

Sammy piped up and squirmed on my back. "Yeah! Give him number, give him number!"

"My phone is in the house. When we get home, can you get it for me? It's in your room, Sammy. On your bed." I told my brother, and looked to Chatham. I hesitantly gave him my number, and Sammy said, "Home! Home!"

"Okay, I'm going. Bye, Chatham." I said, and then I took off down the road. My brother was laughing all the way, telling me to go faster. I avoided puddled and mud, so not to slip, and made it home. I went up the driveway, and put Sam down on the porch. I knelt down and told him, "Sam, I can't go inside. Mommy is being mean, but don't tell her that, okay? Go get my phone. I'll be right here when you get back."

"Okay!" he said cheerfully, and I opened the door. He rushed in, and I stood there, looking at the inside.

"Dylan? Is that you?"

"Yeah, but I'm not coming inside! Just getting Sammy to get a few things! We'll both be in the barn!"

"Okay, but you need to me your new sister, Darla!" she called, and walked to the door with a two year old girl with blonde pigtails waddled after her. Darla hid behind my mom, and I waved. Sam came running back, right past mom and the little girl. I knew he didn't notice them, and I prevented him from looking. "Can you get sissy some clothes? You know where they are." I whispered, and he dashed off again. My mom narrowed her eyes, and I hid my phone behind my back.

"What are you hiding?"

I slid it in my underwear--the skirt doesn't have any pockets, sorry--and held out my hands. "I am just holding my hands behind my back. Would you rather I cross my arms?" I asked, making myself sound dumb so I wouldn't get yelled at. Sammy came running back with a bad full of clothes, and I quickly ducked in and grabbed an umbrella. "Thanks, mom!" I said, and slammed the door. Sam flinched, and I quickly opened up the umbrella. I picked Sam up, put the bag on my other arm, and ran with the umbrella overhead, my mom yelling at me from the door.

I ran to the barn, and put Sammy down. He rushed inside when I opened the door, and I set the umbrella down. I went up to the hay loft, where Sam was laying and going through my books. "You can begin reading, I'm getting into dry clothes, and then making dinner. You good with that?"

"Yup!" he said, opening up book four from Dork Diaries. He knew how to read, which was odd for a four year old who still didn't talk in complete sentences. But again, he's four. Talking is different from reading.