88 Lamb stew (87)

After school Bella headed home to see her sister. She stopped and picked up lamb and veggies to start lamb strew for dinner.

She made sure to give Zane a heads up on what she was doing.

Bella and Babs started cooking while they talked. It surprised Bella that her Professor asked Babs out.

Babs had decided to keep the baby because it was not the babie's fault. She needed Bella's help to tell the rest of her family.

"Bella, I just don't want Dad to be more disappointed in me. I just started to earn his trust back."

"Babs, Dad loves you and will support you. He may be disappointed but that does not mean he will stop loving you. Lets tell everyone on Saturday when everyone will be here to meet Josh Ok."

Babs smiled and agreed.

Bert was surprized to find Bella and dinner was almost done. It was his turn to cook tonight. He was going to make spaghetti with meatballs.

"Thanks Bella It's been a while since we had lamb stew, what's the special occasion?" Bert asked.

"I missed my family is that special enough." She laughed.

The rest of the night went by way to fast. Bella packed up a portion of stew for Zane and headed home.

After a hot shower she decided to read while waiting for Zane because she had late classes tomorrow.

◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇ THE THREE LITTLE MEN IN THE WOOD cont.

Once, in the winter-time, when the river was frozen as hard as a stone, and hill and valley were covered with snow, the woman made a cloak of paper, and called the maiden to her and said, "Put on this cloak, and go away into the wood to fetch me a little basketful of strawberries, for I have a wish for some."

"Mercy on us!" said the maiden, "in winter there are no strawberries growing; the ground is frozen, and the snow, too, has covered everything. And why must I go in that paper cloak? It is so cold out of doors that it freezes one's breath even, and if the wind does not blow off this cloak, the thorns will tear it from my body."

"Will you dare to contradict me?" said the step-mother. "Make haste off, and let me not see you again until you have found me a basket of strawberries."

Then she gave her a small piece of dry bread, saying, "On that you must subsist the whole day." But she thought--out of doors she will be frozen and starved, so that my eyes will never see her again! So the girl did as she was told, and put on the paper cloak, and went away with the basket.

Far and near there was nothing but snow, and not a green blade was to be seen. When she came to the forest she discovered a little cottage, out of which three little Dwarfs were peeping.

The girl wished them good morning, and knocked gently at the door. They called her in, and entering the room, she sat down on a bench by the fire to warm herself, and eat her breakfast.

The Dwarfs called out, "Give us some of it!"

"Willingly," she replied, and, dividing her bread in two, she gave them half.

They asked, "What do you here in the forest, in the winter-time, in this thin cloak?"

"Ah!" she answered, "I must, seek a basketful of strawberries, and I dare not return home until I can take them with me."

When she had eaten her bread, they gave her a broom, saying, "Sweep away the snow with this from the back door."

But when she was gone out of doors the three Dwarfs said one to another, "What shall we give her, because she is so gentle and good, and has shared her bread with us?"

Then said the first, "I grant to her that she shall become more beautiful every day."

The second said, "I grant that a piece of gold shall fall out of her mouth for every word she speaks."

The third said, "I grant that a King shall come and make her his bride."

Meanwhile, the girl had done as the Dwarf had bidden her, and had swept away the snow from behind the house. And what do you think she found there? Actually, ripe strawberries! which came quite red and sweet up under the snow.

So filling her basket in great glee, she thanked the little men and gave them each her hand, and then ran home to take her step-mother what she wished for.

◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇

Mike stepped into the bedroom drying his hair.

"So anything good happen today?" He asked.

"Nothing much I already told you about my day at dinner." Sally said.

"I know just trying to keep you talking. I love that voice of yours." He grinned.

"Oh, your Dad called today. Asked if Josh was taking care of us."She said.

"That strange. What did you tell him?"

"I said we stayed the weekend with him till our place was done. Was that alright,?" She asked.

"Did you say anything about Ben?"

"No, I know how your dad feels. I just wish he would see how wonderful Josh is." Sally said.

"Me too, I'll give Dad a call to check in."

Mike picked up his phone, "Hey old man, Sally said you called."

"Just checking on my boy to make sure your move went fine. George was going to come up in a few weeks to check out the new place and I was thinking about tagging along." His dad said.

"You do know Josh lives in this town, he's been here for almost five years. You never once visited him."

"Mike stop; you know why. Do you not want me to visit?"

"Dad, Josh is your son too. It hurts the way you treat him."

"I am not talking about this with you."

"What ever... I got to go. Tell George to call me with details. We should be here except for the weekend after next we are heading out with some new friends."

"Ok I will. Love ya son."

"Love you to Dad."

With that they hung up.