The ABC Sisters

Chapter Two:

November 1st, 1991:

Mama was in the living room knitting on the couch as I was making tonight's dinner. Cassidy had already made lunch which was a basic ham & cheese sandwich for everyone however, Alex never came back, assuming he went home.

I walked over to the living room to sit with mama as I watched her knit Addison a new sweater for the winter. The weather can be extremely harsh during the winter in Knoxsfield so we do our best to keep warm with a fire and mama's homemade sweaters.

"The girls are upstairs writing for papa's birthday, why can't you do the same Bethany?" Mama asked in a low sincere as she was stitching the arm part of the sweater. I stood up tossing my hands up, letting out a big sigh. "Now look here missy, you cannot stay mad at your father forever because he wanted to serve our country!" Mama's voice flaired up.

"Well, what else am I supposed to do mama!? I told him I did not want him to go away but he still went because you told him too!" I snapped letting my anger rise to a level that matches hers.

The room fell silent assuming she's keeping her thoughts to herself like I am in case we both say something we would regret. I do believe every child should have the right to exploit how they feel no matter what. Mama did have a point about how I shouldn't stay mad at papa but, he gave me no choice when he left to go serve.

Mama cleared her throat after finishing up one of her stitches,"Go check on that stew and when we are finished with dinner you are going to write to your father and I do not want to hear a peep from you, do you understand Bethany?" I nodded walking over into the kitchen with my head hanged down to my chest.

I pulled a fresh batch of cornbread out the oven, carefully setting it down on the table where mama, Addison, & Cassidy were seated. There was still no sign of Alex, so I assumed it was going to be just the four of us tonight for dinner.

"Addison, your sisters had already done enough today with the cooking so it's time you do your part and start the prayer," Mama calls out from across the table. She sighed looking all around the house before closing her eyes and clasping her hands together.

Dear Jesus,

We give our thanks to you for blessing our big, big, big family along with this very, very, very yummy delicious dinner that my sister has cooked for us all. Papa's birthday is coming up so we do ask that you watch over him as you are watching over us, Amen!

The room echoed with a small amen before we placed our hands down on the table.

There was a soft knock at the door and we all stared at each other to see who would be the one to get the door. Nobody volunteered so I assumed it was going to be me to get the door, again.

I took small soft steps to the door and opened it slightly leaving a tiny crack to see who it was. "Hey Beth, sorry for being late. May I come in?" Alex was breathing heavy as if he was chased. I bowed my head down at him and opened the door wide enough to let him in. Addison squealed as she saw Alex's face. Now I have something to tease her about this time and everyone was my witness so there can be no denial when I call her out on it.

"Come, Come! We just finished our prayer." Mama stood up to give him a hug. I rolled my eyes and walked across the dining room so I can sit next to Cassidy who was already digging in with a big scoop of stew in her bowl.

"So Alex, how's your mama doing?" Mama asked, picking up her spoon to take small scoop from the bowl.

"She's doing great actually, thank you for asking." He grinned. I can hear Addison giggling away across the table. Boy, this was going to be a very long night with Alex and Miss Giggles.

An hour went by and everyone had finished eating their stew and cornbread. Addison was laid back on the couch with her legs sprawled out as she rubs her belly. I was still thinking about what Alex could have said to that girl at the market. "Are you single?" or "Look how hideous that girl Bethany looks." Everything started to bother me so much that I stood up excusing myself quietly from the table to begin the dishes. Mama looked at me the way she looked at papa when he went away and my sisters watched me leave with confused faces.

I filled the sink with dish water with soap as I took in deep breaths' in to calm myself from overthinking things with Alex and the market girl.

"Hey, you ok?" Alex asks, joining in from behind me with his arms folded in front of him which startles me a bit. My eyes darted at him in anger but my face grew soft and I turned my attention back over to the bubbly sink. "I'm fine, thanks." I muttered under my breath hoping he would understand and not question anything further. He groans to himself, placing his hands in his pockets while looking down at the ground.

"Look, all I told that cashier at the market was to give the change to that grumpy lady that was behind us. That's all!" His voice was stern. I flinched at the sound of his voice but I keep scrubbing, pretending to not hear everything he just said.

I waited a minute before responding. "Well, thank you for paying for the groceries and I am sorry for my bitter-like joke. I really shouldn't have been your mother and wife," I said with air quotes at mother and wife. He looked up giving me a salute and a small wink before joining back to the dining table where Addison was seated again. I watched her blush away as she was talking to Alex about her three dolls that papa sent her for Christmas.

After Alex left, mama sent Addison to bed so she can proceed with her knitting in peace as Cassidy and I finish cleaning up the kitchen.

"Alex is a very nice boy huh dear?" Mama hums, sewing a bright magenta sparkly heart into the right arm of the sweater. I rolled my eyes to the back of my head which Cassidy was staring at me with her jaw hanging. I cupped my hands under the bubbles from the sink and blew away at Cassidy's face. She gasped before quickly grabbing the hose to spray me with water. I screamed running away from her to the opposite side of the kitchen and she attempts to spray me once more with the hose.

"Girls, Girls, your sister is sleeping!" Mama hisses in a hushed tone. Cassidy and I looked to mama before whispering back," Sorry mama!"

We went back to cleaning up the rest of the kitchen so we can both go to bed to prepare for tomorrow. I know mama was not gonna let me get away without papa's letter. It is best to get it over and done with.