2 Chapter 2

KERRING SAT CLOSE TO THE CAR DOOR AS SHE GAZED OUT THE CAR WINDOW, OBSERVING EVERY LIVING CRETURE, LAND-MARK, VEHICLE , BODY OF WATER, TREE AND BRIDGE! HER EYES WERE FIXATED ON EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING IT COULD BEHOLD!

UNEXPECTEDLY, THEIR STOPS WERE LIMITED! THEY ONLY NEEDED TO STOP IN A LITTLE TOWN CALLED BALLAHS BAY, TO BUY SNACKS FOR KERRING!

MS. BEE HAD TAKEN NOTICED THAT KERRING'S MOTHER, PEGGY, HADN'T GIVEN HER ANYTHING TO EAT BEFORE THEY LEFT! SO, SHE PRESUMED BY NOW THAT KERRING WOULD BE HUNGRY!

KERRING SAT IN THE CAR AND HAD HER BUN AND CHEESE AND SODA! WHILE MR. MARTIN AND MR. BEE WENT AND EMPTY THEIR BLADDERS! MR. BEE JOKED ABOUT HOW PEGGY'S LEMON-AID IS GOING TO CAUSE HIM TO FORM ANOTHER POND IN THAT TOWN BECAUSE HE HAD FREQUENT URINATION ERGES.

KERRING DIDN'T GIVE ANY INDICATION OF WANTING TO USE THE BATHROOM AND NEITHER DID MS. BEE EITHER! AND PROBABLY IF MS. BEE NEEDED TO, SHE WOULDN'T HAVE GONE; BECAUSE SHE WAS TOO MUCH OF A LADY TO GO INTO ANYONE OF THE REST-ROOMS IN THE BARS THAT HAD LINED THE STREETS SIDE; TO RELEAVE HER SELF! SHE WOULD PREFER TO HOLD IT UNTIL SHE HAD GOTTEN HOME! AND NEITHER WOULD SHE HAVE TAKEN A CHILD INSIDE ONE OF THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS WITH HER EITHER!

THE MEN RETURNED TO THE CAR AND THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY! NEVER TO STOP AGAIN UNTIL THEY HAD REACHED MR. MARTIN'S SHOP; WHERE HE WAS LIVING WITH HIS FAMILY.

AT MR. MARTIN'S SHOP EVERYONE GOT OUT OF THE CAR! MR. MARTIN HANDED MR. BEE THE KEYS TO THE CAR; BECAUSE HE WOULD BE DRIVING THE REST OF THE WAY HOME!

ONCE INSIDE THE SHOP KERRING WAS GIVEN ICE CREAM AS A TREAT... IT WAS ON THE HOUSE! MR. MARTIN WANTED TO TREAT HER TO SOME ICE CREAM! HE THEN JOKED!

"THE NEXT TIME SHE WILL PAY ME FOR IT!"

MS. BEE PUT THE ICE CREAM CONE TO KERRING'S MOUTH AND SAID...

"THIS IS FOR YOU DEAR, EAT UP!"

THE FIRST TASTE OF THE ICE CREAM HAD KERRING'S EYES OPENNED EVER SO WIDELY! AS SHE EXTENDED HER TOUNGE TO LICKED THE CORNERS OF HER MOUTH! AS IF TO TOUCH HER JAWS! SHE WAS EXTREAMLY ENTRIQUED BY ITS TASTE! SHE HAD IT FAST AND WITH PASSION! IT WAS LIKE NOTHING SHE HAD EVER TASTED BEFORE! WHEN THE FIRST ONE WAS FINISHED, SHE WANTED ANOTHER! AND ANOTHER! AND SHE WOULD INDICATE SUCH, WITHOUT SPEAKING A WORD! SHE WOULD PAT MS. BEE ON THE KNEES AND POINTED TO THE SHOP COUNTER! AFTER THE THRID ONE, MS. BEE TOLD HER SHE COULDN'T HAVE ANYMORE! BECAUSE IT WOULD HURT HER BELLY AND MAKE HER REAL SICK!

KERRING DIDN'T FUSS! SHE JUST WENT BY THE SHOP DOOR AND LOOKED AROUND THE AREA, AS IF SHE WANTED TO MEMORISED WHERE SHE WAS AND ALL THAT SHE HAD SEEN. MR. BEE AND MR. MARTIN YAP AWAY FOR A WHILE AND HAD TWO OR THREE BEERS WHILE HIS WIFE SAT IN THE CORNER OF THE SHOP WAITING FOR THEM TO FINISH THEIR REMINISCING!

MR. MARTIN'S WIVE, CAME INTO THE SHOP SHORTLY, WHEN SHE HAD HEARD HER HUSBAND'S VOICE. SHE SAID HELLO TO THE BARROWDIENS, ASKED A LITTLE ABOUT KERRING! AND THEN WENT BACK TO WHATEVER SHE WAS DOING IN THE BACK OF THE SHOP! BEFORE SHE HAD RETURNED TO THE BACK OF THE SHOP; SHE HAD MENTIONED TO MS. BEE THAT HER CHILDREN WERE NOW BIG AND AWAY FROM HOME NOW... THEY WERE IN COLLEGE.

"COME GIRL! I THINK IT IS TIME TO GO!"

MR. BEE SAID TO KERRING, AS HE STOOD UP FROM HIS SEAT.

"IT IS GETTING DARK AND DARKER! SO WE MUST BE ON OUR WAY NOW! PLEASE TELL MRS. MARTIN, GOOD BYE FOR ME! SO WE CAN BE ON OUR WAY."

MR. BEE CONTINUED.

"MRS. MARTIN, MRS. MARTIN!"

HER HUSBAND CALLED.

MRS. MARTIN CAME FROM THE BACK OF THE BUILDING WITH SOME CLOTHES HANGING OVER HER SHOULDER AND SOME OVER HER ARM; AS IF SHE WAS WASHING OR IRONING.

"WE ARE LEAVING NOW AND KERRING AND I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU GOOD BYE! I GUSS WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT MONDAY, WHEN WE ARE GOING INTO TOWN!"

MS. BEE SAID.

"OK THEN, TRAVELL SAFELY, I'LL SEE YOU MONDAY MORNING! BYE KERRING! BE A GOOD GIRL NOW AND TAKE CARE OF MOMMY!"

SAID, MS. MARTIN!

MR. MARTIN CAME FROM BEHIND THE SHOP COUNTER AND WALKED HIS FRIEND, HIS FRIEND'S WIFE AND LITTLE KERRING; THE NEW ADDITION TO THE THEIR FAMILY, TO THE CAR. HE OPENNED THE CAR DOOR FOR HIS FRIEND, AND THEN THE REAR CAR DOOR; SO LITTLE KERRING COULD GET INSIDE THE CAR! KERRING JUMPED INTO THE BACK SEAT, WHILE MS. BEE, WENT AND SAT BESIDE HER HUSBAND IN THE FRONT! THEY SAID THEIR FINAL GOOD BYES! AS MR. MARTIN KNOCKED THE SIDE OF THE CAR AND MR. BEE PULLED AWAY FROM WHERE HE WAS PARKED! LOOKING THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRRIO AS HE TOOTED HIS HORN INDICATING, BYE! BYE!

WHILE IN THE CAR MR. BEE DISCUSSED WHERE THEY WOULD DRIVE TO GET HOME. THEY WERE HESITANT WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD TAKE THE LONG ROUTE OR THE SHORT CUT. THE LONG ROUTE HAD VERY GOOD ROADS, BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY LONG AND WHINING. HOWEVER, IT WOULD TAKE AN EXTRA HOUR TO GET HOME IF THEY SHOULD TAKE THAT ROUTE.

THE SHORT ROUTE ON THE OTHER HAND HAD NO ASPHALT AND VERY BUMPPY! IT WOULD GET THEM HOME IN JUST HALF AN HOUR! THEY WERE ALL VERY TIRED, EXHAUSTED AND WEARY! SO THEY DECIDED ON TAKING THE SHORT ROAD HOME INSTEAD!

IN MOMENTS, THEY WERE HOME! THEY PULLED UP TO THE DRIVE WAY, WHICH HAD A HUGE IRON, DUSTY RED GATE WITH A LARGE CHAIN AND A VERY THICK PAD LOCKS ATTACHED TO IT!

THE DRIVE WAY SEEMED ETERNALLY LONG! ON THE LEFT SIDE A CHERRY GARDEN LAID OUT WITH BEAUTIFUL CHERRY BLOSSOMS AND SOME WITH RIPEN FRUITS! ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GATE WERE CHICKEN COOPS THAT STARTED MED-WAY OF THE DRIVE WAY, STRAIGHT TO A FEW FEET FROM THE HOUSE! THE HUGE UP-STAIRS AND DOWN-STAIRS PINK AND WHITE HOUSE SOOD DEAD IN THE MIDDLE WITH VERY LARGE BLUE AWNINGS! IT WAS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD!

KERRING WAS IN TOTOAL SHOCK! WHEN SHE HAD SEEN THE HOUSE! THE SIGHT OF THE HOUSE STIMULATED HER THOUGHTS! ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS SHE WAS UNABLE TO ASK ANYONE RAN THROUGH HER MIND! AND SHE THOUGHT TO HERSELF!

"I'M GOING TO GET LOSS IN THIS HOUSE! HOW I'M I EVER GOING TO FIND MY WAY AROUND HERE?"

HER LIGHT BROWN EYES! WERE POPPING OUT OF HER HEAD! AS SHE LOOKED AROUND HER STRANGE SURROUNDINGS IN GREAT DISBELIEVE!

GETTING OUT OF THE CAR WAS SLOW AND UNCERTAINED FOR KERRING. SHE CLINCHED TO MS. BEE HAND EVER SO THIGHTLY! WITH HER HEART BEATING SO FASTLY IN HER CHEST! WONDERING, IF SOMEONE REALLY LIVED HERE! AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE LIVING THERE! THE SIZE OF THE HUMONGOUS HOUSE SHOCKED LITTLE KERRING TO HER CORE!

AS KERRING CONTINUED TO CLINCH TO MS. BEE SKIRT AND HANDS! THERE CAME THE SHAGGY, FLUFFY DOG! HE SUDDENLY BURST FORTH FROM BEHIND THE BUSHES! ROF! ROF! ROF! ROF! ROF! ROF! CAUSING KERRING TO JUMP! SHE HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH A BIG DOG BEFORE! HE WAS NOTHING COMPARE TO THOSE BONEY MUNGRELS DOGS SHE HAD BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO SEEING IN THE TENTAMENT YARD WHERE SHE HAD BEEN LIVING!

LULUS FUR WAS SHINE, FLUFFY AND PRETTY! HE WAS AS BIG AS KERRING! HE HAD MEAT ON HIS BONES AND LARGE CANINES THAT CAUSE KERRING TO CRINGE WITH FEAR! LULU'S MOUTH WAS SO BIG! HE COULD GUBBLE-UP ONE OF KERRING'S WHOLE ARM IN ONE BITE!

MR. BEE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY OPENNED THE FRONT DOOR AND PUT KERRINGS' BAG INSIDE ON THE FLOOR. HE THEN WALKED TO THE DELCO WHERE HE PUT SOME OIL INTO THE MACHINE AND GOT IT STARTED! BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING DARKER, AND THEY NEEDED LIGHT TO SEE! ONCE THE DELCO GOT STARTED HE TOOK THE KEYS FROM HIS POCKET AND OPENNED THE SIDE DOOR THAT WAS LOCATED AT THE BACK OF THE GARRAGE.

"LADIES FIRST, PLEASE!"

MR. BEE SAID.

AS HE INDECATED WITH HIS HANDS FOR HIS WIFE AND KERRING TO GO INSIDE THE HOUSE! HE THEN RAISED HIS HAND TO TURN A LIGHT SWITCH ON; WHICH WAS SITUATED ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE WALL, AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE DOORWAY. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE ENTIRE HALL-WAY; WHICH SEEMED EXTREMELY LONG AND FRIGHTENING TO KERRING!

WITH KERRING STILL CLINCHING TO MS. BEE'S SKIRT FOR DEAR LIFE WHILE STILL OBSERVING EVERY SINGLE DETAIL OF THE HALLWAY!

AT THE END OF THE CORRIDOR WAS A BEAUTIFUL LARGE ROOM WITH A VERY LARGE PIANO AND A ROYAL BLUE RAPPED LIVING ROOM CHAIR-SET WITH WOODEN HANDLES! THE CHAIR SHAPED LIKE AN UMBRELLIA WHEN TURNED SIDE WAYS!

THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF FRAMED PAINTINGS AND PICTURES ON THE WALLS! CAUSING KERRING EYES TO MOVE ALL OVER THE ROOM LIKE TWINKLING STAR LIGHTS AT NIGHTS!

"KERRING CAN YOU PLAY THE PIANO?

MR. BEE ASKED, TEASEINGLY.

AS HE OPENNED THE COVER OF THE PIANO AND PASSED HIS FINGERS OVER THE KEYS AND LOOKED AT KERRING AND SMILED! KNOWING FULLY WELL, SHE WOULD NEVER ANSWER HIM AND NEITHER COULD SHE PLAY THE PIANO EITHER! SHE STARED AT HIM IN DISBELIEF! WHILE SHE TRIED TO RECALL THE NAME PIANO IN HER HEAD. HE PASSED HIS FINGERS OVER IT SEVERAL MORE TIMES TO GET HER REACTION... IF SHE WOULD GIGLE OR JOIN HIM AND TRY PASSING HER FINGERS ON THE KEYS ALSO! BUT SHE DIDN'T REACT AT ALL! INSTEAD, SHE JUST CONTINUED CLINCHING TO MS. BEE'S SKIRT! BUT MR. BEE HOPED IN HIS HEART THAT ONE DAY SHE WOULD LEARN HOW TO PLAY THE PIANO AND MADE SHORT MENTIONED OF IT TO HIS WIFE WHILE HE CLOSED BACK THE DOOR OF THE PIANO!

MR. BEE, THEN TURNED ON THE LIGHTS TO THE STAIRCASE AND TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS TO THE DOWNSTAIRS LIVING ROOM. HE TOOK UP THE BAG WITH KERRING'S BELONGINGS AND THE THREE CLIMED THE NORROW WHINING STAIRS CASE. WITH MS. BEE AND KERRING INFRONT OF HIM!

THERE WAS A TINY, DUSTY RED, COLOURED DOOR SITUATED AT THE LEFT SIDE, GOING UP THE STAIRS. KERRING WONDERED WHAT WAS INSIDE THE ROOM. IT REMINDED HER OF ONE OF THE DOORS AT THE TENAMENT YARD WHERE SHE CAME FROM. THE DOOR HAD A LOT OF INDENTATIOONS AND CRACKS! BUT ONE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THROUGH IT! WHEN MS. BEE HAD NOTICED HOW KERRING'S EYES HAD LIT UP WITH WONDER AND CONCERN! SHE MENTIONED RIGHT AWAY!

"THIS IS THE DOOR TO THE WINE CELLER!"

THERE WAS A DEEP WHINNING BEND BEFORE REACHING THE TOP OF THE STAIRS, AND A LARGE ENCLOSED WALL WITH DARK SOIL CONTAINED INSIDE OF IT. NO ONE TOLD HER WHAT THAT WAS FOR! PROABLEA, BECAUSE HER EYES WERE FIXATED ON THE ROOM AHEAD OF HER WITH THE BIG BEAUTIFUL RED CHAIRS! AND A LITTLE BLACK BOX FIXED AT THE FAR CORNER OF THE ROOM! MS. BEE EXPRESSED TO KERRING THAT THE BLACK BOX WAS A TELEVISION; SOMETHING SHE HAD NEVER SEEN OF HEARD OF BEFORE!

AT THE LEFT OF THE ROOM WAS THE DINNING ROOM WITH A VERYLARGE PIECE OF FURNITURE CALLED, "BUFFET" PLACED AGAINST THE WALL. "IT RESEMBLES THE PIANO THAT WAS DOWNSTAIRS!" KERRING THOUGHT!

INFRONT OF THE BUFFET, AT THE CENTRE OF THE ROOM, WAS THE VERY LARGE EIGHT SEAT MAHOGONY DINNING TABLE; WITH A LARGE GLASS DISH WITH VARIOUS ARTIFICIAL FRUITS PLACED ON-TOP OF IT! ALONG WITH SOME ASSORTED PLACE MATS!

KERRING PEEPED INTO THE NEXT ROOM WHICH SHE LEARNED WAS THE KITCHEN! IT SURE DIDN'T LOOK LIKE HER MOTHER'S KITCHEN ONE BIT! THE KITCHEN WAS LARGE AND HAD A LARGE GAS STOVE. KERRING WOULD LEARN WHAT IT WAS FOR THE NEXT DAY. IT HAD CUPBOARDS, A WHITE REFRIDGERATOR STUCKED IN THE CORNER AND A TABLE IN ANOTHER CORNER WITH A COAL STOVE UNDERNEATH IT! AND NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF TABLE CLOTHS ON TOP OF IT. AS IF IT WAS THE PREP AREA FOR SOME HIGH-END RESTAURANT! SHE WOULD LEARN WHAT WAS IN THE KITCHEN THE NEXT MORNING.

KERRING WAS INTRODUCED TO HER ROOM, AS MR. BEE PUT HER BAG ONTO THE FLOOR. MS. BEE CAME INTO THE ROOM RIGHT AWAY! IT SEEMS AS IF SHE WAS COMING FROM HER BATH-ROOM. KERRING WAS SO BUSY LOOKING AROUND, AND TAKING MENTAL NOTE OF EVERYHING IN THE SURROUNDINGS THAT SHE HADN'T NOTICED THAT MR. BEE HAD LEFT THE ROOM! MS. BEE HOWEVER, TOLD HER TO TAKE HER CLOTHES OFF AND GET INTO THE SHOWER!

WHILE KERRING WAS TAKING HER CLOTHES OFF, MS. BEE TURNED DOWN THE BED AND TOOK OUT A THIN, HALF-WHITE, LONG NIGHT GOWN FROM ONE OF THE DRESSER DRAWS AND A WASH RAG. SHE THEN PLACED THE NIGHT GOWN ON THE BED, TOOK THE WASH RAG WITH HER TO THE BATHROOM AND GAVE KERRING A GOOD WASH DOWN - A SHOWER! DRIED HER OFF, SPRINKLED SOME JOHNSON BABY POWDER ON HER CHEST, UNDER HER ARM-PIT AND IN HER PANTIES, GOT HER DRESS AND TUCKED HER INTO BED AND THEN SAID A PRAYER OVER HER.

MS. BEE WOULD HAVE NORMALLY RED A BED TIME STORY TO HER! BUT, SHE WAS EXTREAMLY TIRED AND WEARY FROM THE DAY'S ACTIVITES AND NEEDED TO TAKE A SHOWER AND STRETCH HER BACK OUT! SHE TOLD KERRING TO SLEEP THIGHT! AS SHE CLOSED THE BEDROOM DOOR BEHIND HER AND WALKED ACROSS THE HALL WAY TO HER BED ROOM.

ANXIETY WAS THE ORDER OF THE NIGHT FOR KERRING. SHE WAS UNABLE TO SLEEP THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT PEACEFULLY! ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS WERE RUNNING THROUGH HER YOUNG AND FRAGILE MIND. THEY WERE QUESTIONS SHE COULDN'T ARTICULATE AND NO ONE COULD READ HER MIND! ONLY SHE! AND SHE ALONE COULD FIGURE THEM OUT! ALTHOU, HER BED WAS FURNISHED WITH SO MUCH LUXZURIOUS LINNENS, SHE TOSS AND TURNED FOR MOST OF THE NIGHT! SHE GOT OUT OF THE BED TO INVESTIGATE HER SURROUNDINGS SOME MORE AND UNSUPERVISED! HER ROOM FELT LIKE A FAIRY-TALE LAND AND FOR ONCE SHE FELT LIKE A PRINCESS!

EVERYTHING IN THE ROOM WAS NEW TO HER. SHE WASN'T ACCUSTOMED TO THE FLUSH TOILET OR THE INDOOR SHOWER SHE HAD RECENTLY USED. BECAUSE, SHE HAD USED THE OUT HOUSE AND A SHAKY STRUCTURE MADE OF FEW PIECES OF ZINC AND STICKS TO GRANT SOME PRIVACY ALL HER LIFE AS A SHOWERE OR BATH AREA. SHE LOOKED AROUND THE BATHROOM AND THEN CAME BACK TO THE BEDROOM AND LOOKED AT THE FURNITURES. SHE WANTED TO OPEN EACH DRAWS TO SEE WHAT WAS INSIDE OF THEM, BUT WAS AFRAID OF GETTING INTO TROUBLE! SHE WAS ACCUSTOM TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO AND NOT TAKING THE INITIATIVE OR TAKING THE RISK TO INVESTIGATE ANYTHING ON HER OWN... THEN AGAIN WHAT WAS IN HER POVERTY STRICKEN WORLD TO BE DISCOVERED? SHE HAD NO SENSE OF ADVENTURE!

THERE WERE STUFF DOLLS AND PLASTIC DOLLS ON THE SHELVES IN THE ROOM! AND ANOTHER GIGANTIC DOLL! MUCH BIGGER THAN KERRING! THA WAS PLACED IN A ROCKING CHAIR IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM. KERRING LATER LEARNED IT COULD TALK AND WALK! IT WASN'T UNTIL AROUND THREE O'CLOCK, IN THE WAY HOURS OF THE MORNING THAT SHE HAD GOTTEN EXTRA EXHAUSTED, WENT BACK TO BED AND FELL ASLEEP!

KERRING'S SLEEP, WAS SWEET! BUT SHORT! KERRING FELL INTO A DEEP SLEEP! BUT WAS AWAKEN BY MS. BEE AROUND NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. SHE HAD ONLY GOTTEN FOUR HOURS OF SLEEP!

"GOOD MORNING KERRING! IT'S TIME TO RISE AND SHINE! IT'S BREAKFAST TIME! BRUSH YOUR TEETH, CHANGE YOUR NIGHT GOWN AND COME TO THE TABLE FOR BREAKFAST!"

MS. BEE EXCLAIMED.

KERRING RUBBED HER EYES AND CRAWLED OUT OF BED! SHE IMMEDIATELY! WENT TO THE BATHROOM! EMPTIED HER BLADDER AND ATTENED TO HER ORAL HYGIENE! SHE WONDERED WHAT TO PUT ON, BUT WAS UNSURE! SHE TOOK OUT ONE OF HER OLD DRESSES FROM HER BAG AND WALKED TO THE DINNING ROOM WITH SURE UNCERTAINTY! HANDS OVER HER MOUTH AND HEAD BOWED!

THERE WAS FOOD ON THE TABLE. MS. BEE WASN'T IN SIGHT BUT, SHE COULD BE HEARD IN THE KITCHEN. KERRING SLOWLY WALKED UP TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE KITCHEN, AND UTTERED UNDER HER BREATH, "MOMMY!"

MS. BEE LOOKED AROUND AND NOTICE SHE WAS UNDRESS. SHE BROUGHT HER BACK TO THE BED ROOM AND DRESSED HER IN A BEAUTIFUL FLORAL DRESS WITH STRINGS AT THE BACK OF IT. HAND IN-HAND THE BOTH OF THEM WALKED BACK TO THE DINNING TABLE.

MS. BEE THEN HAD HER SEATED ON A CHAIR AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF WHERE SHE WAS SITTING.

"DADDY, SOON COME! HE WILL SIT HERE! THIS IS WHERE HE USUALLY SITS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS TAKING HIM SO LONG!" MS. BEE EXPRESSED.

MR. BEE PULLED THE CURTAINS AND MADE A GRAND ENTRANCE TO THE DINNING ROOM! HE HAD ON A LARGE STIFF ARMY GREEN HAT AND PANTS AND SHIRT TO MATCH! HE WALKED TO THE DINNING ROOM FROM THE CURTAINS LIKE HE WAS IN SOME FORM OF HISTORIC PARADE WITH HANDS SWINGING AT HIS SIDE LIKE A SOLIDER IN A PRACTICE SESSION, FOR ARMY DUTY! HE LOOKED INTEMIDATING TO LITTLE KERRING! BUT HE REALY WASN'T! BUT HIS HEIGHT, SIZE AND ATTIRE FOOLED MANY PERSONS, ESPECIALLY, CHILDREN! THE FACT THAT HE WAS VERY TALL AND SERVED IN THE ARMY MADE MANY PERSONS INCLUDING MEN HUMBLED THEMSELVED IN HIS PRESENCE! FURTHERMORE, HE WAS KNOWN TO HAVE A RIFFLE AND A HAND GUN WHICH RUMOR HAD IT! HE WAS GOOD AT USING IT... HE CARRIED IT FOR PROTECTION! MAINLY FOR HIS FAMILY AND HIS BUSINESS! ALTHOUGH! THE GUNS WERE LOCKED AWAY NINTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE TIME IN HIS BED ROOM!

"GOOD MORNING! MS. BEE! GOOD MORNING KERRING!"

MR. BEE SAID, TO THE TWO FEMALES IN THE ROOM.

"GOOD MORNING MR. BEE,"

REPLIED, HIS WIFE.

KERRING LOOKED INTO HIS EYES WITH FEAR AND FORCED OUT THE WORDS,

"MORNING, DADDY!"

MR. BEE SMILED, WANTING TO GIVE KERRING A LIP READING LESSON, BUT THOUGHT IT COULD STAY FOR ANOTHER DAY. AFTER ALL! SHE WAS NEW TO THE FAMILY AND DIDN'T NEED THE PRESSURE OF EXPRESSING HERSELF IN WAYS SHE COULDN'T! SHE NEEDED TO FEEL SECURE, LOVE, WANTED AND SAFE!

EACH PLACE AT THE TABLE HAD TOAST BREAD, PLASTERED WITH CREAMY ANCHOR BUTTER! AND FRY EGGS PLACED ON TOP OF IT! ON WHITE MEDIUM SIZE PLATES WITH FINE GOLDEN RIMMS! ALONG WITH HOT CHOCOLATE TEA POURED IN WHITE MATCHING MUGS; AND A TEA-POT THAT WAS PLACED IN THE CENTRE OF THE TABLE, INCASE ANYONE NEEDED ANYMORE HOT CHOCOLATE!

AT THE TABLE, MR. BEE BROUGHT UP THE TOPIC OF KERRING STARTING SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER. HE SUGGESTED, SHE GOING TO SCHOOL WILL HELP HER TO SPEAK PROPERLY AND SOCIALIZING WITH OTHER CHILDREN HER AGE AND OLDER, WILL HELP HER FORM WORDS MUCH BETTER! HE BELIEVED KERRING HEARING AND SEEING THE OTHER CHILDREN SPEAKING WILL PROPELL HER TO INCREASE HER VOCABULARY AND ENABLE HER TO FORM WORDS ALSO.

HIS WIFE BELIEVED HE WAS RIGHT! AND STATED, SHE WOULD HAVE TO ENQUIRE ABOUT THE SCHOOL UNIFORMS, TRANSPORTATION, LUNCH; AND THE DAYS THAT THEY WOULD BE IN THE CITY; WHERE AND WITH WHOM WOULD SHE STAY. THEY CONCLUDED WITH, ENQUIRING ABOUT A SCHOOL; AND THAT WOULD BE MONDAY'S ASSIGNMENT FOR THE FAMILY.

THEY WERE FINISHED EATING BY NOW; SO MS. BEE GATHERED-UP THE PLATES FROM THE TABLE WHILE MR. BEE, WENT FOR A WALK DOWN THE DRIVE WAY. AND LITTLE KERRING, MADE HERSELF USEFUL! BY ASSISTING MS. BEE WITH THE PLATES TO THE KITCHEN SINK! ALTHOU, SHE DIDN'T UTTER A WORD! SHE JUST GOT UP AND CARRIED WHAT SHE COULD TO KITCHEN SINK, MAKING TWO OR THREE TRIPS DOING SO!

KERRING INSISTED ON HELPING MS. BEE WASH AND PUT THE DISHES AWAY. MS. BEE SHOWED HER THAT THE SINK HAD TO BE HALF-WAY-FULL WITH WATER AND SOAP, THEN ANOTHER CONTAINER WOULD HAVE RINSING WATER TO RINSE OFF THE SOAP FROM OFF THE DISHES, THEN THE DISHES WOULD BE PUT INTO THE DRAINNER TO DRAIN OFF SOME OF THE EXCESS WATER; AND THEN THEY WOULD BE TOWEL DRIED AND PLACED BACK IN THE CUP-BOARD FOR USE AGAIN.

IT WAS A ROUTINE KERRING WOULD LEARN VERY WELL AND VERY QUICKLY! SHE WAS UNABLE TO REACHED THE SINK AND THE CUP-BOARDS, SO MS. BEE GAVE HER A LITTLE WOODEN STOOL; THAT SHE HERSELF SOMETIMES USES TO STAND-ON WHEN HEIGHT BECAME A CHALLENGE FOR HER... IT WAS KEPT IN THE CORNER OF THE KITCHEN TO STAND ON AND PUT THE PLATES BACK IN THE CUP-BOARD.

NOW THAT BREAKFASY WAS OVER AND EVERYONE HAD THEIR FILL! MS. BEE MOPPED OFF THE DINNING ROOM FLOORS, WHILE KERRING TOOK CARE OF THE DISHES. WHEN KERRING HAD FINISHED PUTTING AWAY THE DISHES! MS. BEE TOLD HER TO SIT ON THE VARANDA; SO SHE COULD NOW MOPP OFF THE KITCHEN FLOORS AND THEN SUGGESTED; THEY BOTH SHOULD GO FOR A WALK AS SOON AS SHE HAD FINISHED BUT NEEDED TO REST FOR A FEW MINTUES!

WHEN MS. BEE WAS FINISH CLEANING THE FLOORS THEY BOTH SAT ON THE VARANDA AND WATCHED AS THE BIRDS FLEW AROUND THE PINE TREES THAT WERE PLANTED ON TOP OF THE SLOPE INFRONT OF THE VARANVA! THE BIRDS WOULD WISLE AND DRAW THE NECTAR FROM THE BLOSSOMS ON THE TREES! AS THEY FLEW AROUND THE TREES CONTINUOUSLY CHIRPING! KERRING WOULD SMILE IN AMUSEMENT! AS THEY FLEW AROUND THE PINE TREES AND WHISLED! MS. BEE WAS WATCHING HER INTENSELY AS KERRING WAS WATCHING AND LISTENING TO THE BIRDS! CHIRP! CHIRP! CHIRP! CHIRP!

MS. BEE GOT HER STRAW HAT THAT WAS HANGING FROM A NAIL ON THE VARANDA WALL. SHE MOTIONED TO KERRING TO COME! BECAUSE IT IS TIME TO GO FOR A WALK NOW! MS. BEE TOOK HER BASKET FROM THE KITCHEN! AND SO THE BOTH OF THEM LEFT THE HOUSE TO THE AREA WHERE THE CHCKENS WERE HOUSED! THEY WENT THROUGH A TINY, BROKEN DOWN WOODEN GATE! AND THEN INTO A LARGE OPEN FIELD WITH ALL SORTS OF TREES NEAR TO WHERE THE CHICKENS HAD BEEN CRACKLING! THEY THEN WALKED DOWN INTO THE DEEP FOREST LOOKING GARDEN! WITH TREES THAT MS. BEE WOULD NAME OUT TO KERRING! AS SHE FELT THEIR FRUITS TO SEE IF THEY WRE RIPE OR NEAR FIT!

IF SUCH WAS THE CASE! SHE WOULD THEN PICK THEM AND PLACED THEM INTO HER STRAW BASKET AS THEY WALKED AROUND THE PROPERTY! THEY WERE PICKING ALL SORTS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES! SWEET-SAPS, SOUR-SAP, MANGOES, GRAPE FRUITS, HOG PLUMS, TOMATOES, TAMBRINS AND ANYTHING THEY COULD GET THEIR HANDS ON TO EAT! AS THEY WALKED THROUGH THE BUSHES! KERRING PULLED AT MS. BEE DRESS AND POINTED TO THE GROUND! IT WAS A BABY SNAKE! UNTURLING ITSELF FROM BENEATH THE GRASS ROOTS! MS. BEE GRAB A STICK AND JAB INTO IT SEVERAL TIMES! SHE THEN HAD GOTTEN A BIG STONE AND THREW IT ON THE SNAKE WHEN SHE SAW THAT IT WOULDN'T DIE RIGHT AWAY! SHE GOT HOLD OF ANOTHER STONE AND DROPT IT ON THE SNAKE! AND THEN ANOTHER STONE! AND THEN ANOTHER STONE! UNTIL THE WOUNDED SNAKE WAS DEAD! SHE THEN TURNED TO KERRING AND SAID.

"YOU MUST BE CAREFUL! WHENEVER YOU COME DOWN HERE! BECAUSE THESE SNAKES WILL BITE YOU! AND THEIR BITES ARE POISIONOUS! AND THIS IS A BABY ONE, SO THERE MUST BE A MOTHER ONE SOMEPLACE AROUND HERE! YOU HEAR ME!"

WHILE SHE TOOK A STICK AND CLEAR THE PATH-WAY, TO MAKE SURE THERE WEREN'T ANY OTHER SNAKES CLOSE BY!

THEY DECIDED TO TURN BACK AND GO TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, WHERE THERE WERE LESS GRASS GROWING! AND WHERE THE CHERRY GARDENS WERE SITUATED! ANOTHER SHABBY GATE WAS REMOVED AND THEY ENTERED THE CHERRY GARDEN WHICH HAD GREEN CHERRIES, RIPE CHEERIES, SPOILED CHERRIES, TURNED CHERRIES AND CHERRIES BLOSSOMS ALL OVER! THERE WERE CHERRIES ON THE GROUND SWARMED WITH FRUIT FLIES GETTING THEIR STOMACHS FILL WITH CHERRY SUBSTANCES! THERE WERE SO MANY CHERRIES ON THE TREES! SOME OF THE TREE LIMBS WERE DRAGGING TO THE GROUND BECAUSE THEY WERE SO HEAVY LADEN WITH CHERRIES!

MS. BEE PULLED TWO BAGS FROM HER APRON POCKETS! AND GAVE ONE TO KERRING! TELLING HER, SHE COULD PICK FOR HERSELF AND PUT INTO THE BAG! HER EYES LIT UP IMMEDIATELY AS MS. BEE TOLD, SHE COULD PICK CHERRIES FOR HERSELF! AS SHE PICKED AND PUT INTO THE BAG! SHE PUT INTO HER MOUTH! SOME DARK, SOME DARK RED! SOME SWEET AND JUICY! SOME NOT SO DARK AND YET! STILL SWEENT! WHILE OTHERS WERE TURN! WITH A LITTLE RED AND A LITTLE YELLOW, INDECATING THAT THEY WERE FIT! KERRING STUFFED HER MOUTH MORE AND MORE! AS SHE TRIED TO FIND THE SWEETER ONES! AND MOST JUICY ONES TO CONSUME! SHE THEN SPIT THE SEEDS ON THE GROUND! AS SHE SWOLLOWED THE JUICE FROM THE CHERRIES! SHE WAS IN CHERRY HEAVEN AND SHE LOVED IT!

MS. BEE DECIDED TO GIVE KERRING THE ONE- O- ONE LESSON IN CHERRY JUICING AND CHERRY WINE MAKING! SO SHE WENT BACK TO THE GARDEN TO PICK SOME MORE CHERIES AND POURED THEM INTO A BIG WHITE BUCKET SHE HAD ON THE VARANDA! WHEN THE BUCKET WAS FULL! SHE WASHED THE CHEERIES PROPERLY AND THEN ADDED SOME WATER TO THEM! SHE THEN BEGAN SQUEEZING! AND SQUEEZED! AND SQUEEZED OUT AS MUCH JUICE AS SHE POSSIBLE COULD! SHE REPEATED THE PROCESS TWO MORE TIMES UNTIL SHE FELT SATISFIED THAT SHE HAD THE AMOUNT OF JUICED SHE WANTED FROM THE CHERRIES! SHE THEN POURED AROUND A THREE POUND BAG OF SUGAR INTO THE LIQUID! AND STERED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE SUGAR WAS TOTALLY DESOLVED INTO THE LIQUID! LEAVING IT HAVING AN ORANGE LOOKING COLOUR! SHE THEN FILLED SOME QUART BOTTLES SHE HAD IN THE KITCHEN AT THE SAMETIME, EXPLAINING TO KERRING; THAT THE BOTTLES HAD TO BE VERY CLEAN IN ORDER FOR THE WINE TO BE PRODUCED!

WHEN MS. BEE HAD FINISHED FILLING THE BOTTLES SHE TOLD KERRING TO COME WITH HER! THIS TIME! MS. BEE HAD FOUR BOTTLES IN HAND! SO, THEY BOTH WALKED DOWN THE STAIRS! PLACED THE BOTTLES ON THE FLOOR AND OPENED THE DUSTY RED DOOR SITUATED AT THE DEEP CORNER OF THE STAIRS! KERRING WAS EXCITED TO SEE WHAT WAS INSIDE THE ROOM! SHE KEPT JUMPING UP AND DOWN! LIKE A PINK-PONK BALL! AS MS. BEE, OPENED THE DOOR AND PULLED THE LIGHT STRINGS! KERRING GUSHED OUT!

"WOW!"

SHE HAD NEVER SEEN SO MANY BOTTLES IN HER LIFE! SHE WAS TAKEN ABACK WITH ALL THE BOTTLES AND THE REDISH, BROWNISH LIQUID THEY CONTAINED! MS. BEE TOOK THOSE THAT SHE HAD BROUGHT WITH HER AND PLACED THEM IN THE FAR BACK OF THE ROOM AND MOVED SOME THAT WERE IN THE FAR BACK TO THE FORE-FRONT. SHE THEN ASKED KERRING...

"DO YOU KNOW WHAT THESE ARE?"

KNOWING WELL, KERRING COULDN'T ANSWER HER STRAIGHT-FORWARD!

"THESE ARE WINE! WINE TO BE SOLD FOR MONEY! YOU CAN'T DRINK ANY OF THIS! IT WILL MAKE YOU DRUNK! AND FALL DOWN ON THE GROUND!"

MS. BEE COMMENTED! AS SHE AMUSED HERSELF WITH KERRING'S LACK OF VERBAL SKILLS!

MS. BEE CONTINUED TO SHUFFLE THE WINE BOTTLES IN THE CELLOR AS KERRING WATCHED HER KEENLY! WHEN SHE HAD FINISHED SHUFFLING AND RESHUFFLING, SHE WENT UP STAIRS AND GOT THE OTHER BOTTLES WITH KERRING TUGGING CLOSELY BEHIND HER! KERRING MADE AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE TWO OF THE BOTTLES BUT MS. BEE COMMENTED...

"YOU CAN ONLY CARRY ONE BOTTLE AT A TIME, CHILD!"

KERRING HUGGED THE BOTTLE WITH ALL HER STRENGHT AND FOLLOWED MS. BEE DOWN THE STAIRS TO THE CELLOR, TO STORE THE BOTTLES WITH THE CHERRY LIQUID.

ONE OR TWO BOTTLES WERE ALREADY BROKEN IN THE CELLOR AND THE WINE DRAINED FROM IT! CAUSING THE ROOM TO HAVE A PLEASANT ODER! BUT AT THE SAME TIME GIVING THE HEAD A JILTED EFFECT! FROM THE POTENCY OF THE LIQUER! MS. BEE HAD TOLD KERRING TO BE VERY CAREFUL THAT THE BROKEN BOTTLES DON'T CUT HER! SHE CONTINUED TO EXPLAIN TO KERRING THAT THE BOTTLES WERE BROKEN BECAUSE THE ROOM HAD GOTTEN TOO HOT! AND THE ROOM WAS SUPPOSED TO STAY COOL! THAT IS WHY THIS ROOM WAS BUILT UNDER THE STAIR... IT WAS THE COOLEST AREA OF THE ENTIRE HOUSE! THEREFORE, THE CHERRY JUICE WILL FUMIGATE, CAUSING THE BOTTLES TO BURST! IF THE ROOM HAD GOTTEN TOO HOT! ALTHOUGH, KERRING DIDN'T SAY A WORD! MS. BEE KNEW SHE UNDERSTOOD PART OF WHAT SHE WAS SAYING TO HER!

AFTER REARRANGING THE BOTTLES IN THE CELLOR AND MS.BEE FELT SATISFIED WITH THE TASK SHE HAD DONE! SHE TURNED OFF THE CELLOR LIGHTS, CLOSED THE DOOR BEHINED HER AND WENT BACK UP-STAIRS TO THE VARANDA TO CLEAN UP THE AREA! WITH KERRING STILL TUGGING BEHIND HER LIKE A HEN AND ITS CHICKENS!

ONCE THEY WERE UPSTAIRS! MS. BEE HAD NOTICED, SHE HAD NOT HEARD HER HUSBANDS' VOICE IN ANY OF THE SURROUNDING AREAS! AND DECIDED AS SOON AS SHE WAS FINISHED! SHE WOULD GO LOOKING FOR HIM! IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR HIM NOT TO COME BACK TO THE HOUSE, GET SOME WATER AND BROWSE THROUGH THE NEWS PAPERS!

MS. BEE GOT HER STRAW HAT! PUT THE SPARE HAT THAT BELONGED TO ONE OF HER DAUGHTERS' WHO WAS AWAY AT COLLEGE, ON KERRING'S HEAD! AND SO THEY BOTH STEP OUT OF THE HOUSE, IN SEARCH OF HER HUSBAND! HE WAS UP IN AGE AND ANYTHING COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO HIM! HE COULD HAVE BEEN BITTEN BY A SNAKE! MS. BEE THOUGHT! ESPECIALLY, TO THE FACT! THAT SHE HAD JUST SEEN A LITTLE ONE THIS MORNING CROWLING AROUND IN THE GRASS; NEAR THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHICKEN COOP!

AS SOON AS THEY HAD REACHED THE GATE! LEADING TO THE GARDEN AND ENTRANCE TO THE CHICKEN COOP, SHE SHOUTED OUT LOUDY!

"MR. BEE WHERE ARE YOU! MR. BEE! MR. BEE WHERE ARE YOU!"

"I'M HERE!" HE REPLIED.

AS THEY BEND THE CORNER TO WHERE THEY HAD HEARD HIS VOICE COMING FROM! THEY SAW HIM STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CHICKEN COOP WITH A LONG PIECE OF WIRE IN HIS HAND! SWEATING PERFUSELY! THERE WERE BEADS OF SWEAT ROLLING DOWN HIS FACE! LIKE AN ICE-COLD LEMONAID GLASS IN SUMMER SEASON! HIS SHIRT WAS COMPLETELY WET! THE SWEAT HAD STARTED SOAKING THROUGH HIS PANT!

AFTER ALL! THE ROOF OF THE CHICKEN COOP WAS COVERED WITH ZINK! WHICH TEND TO GENERATE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HEAT; ESPECIALLY, DURING THE SUMMER! WHEN THE TIME WAS MUCH-MUCH HOTTER THAN USUAL!

"THANK GOD, YOUR'E ALRIGHT!"

MS. BEE EXCLAIMED.

"YES! I'M ALRIGHT! IT IS THIS PIECE OF WIRE I'M THREADING IN THE CHICKEN MESH, BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE THE MONGOOSE THEM CUT THE MESH-WIRE AND CAME INSIDE AND ATE MOST OF THE EGGS. LOOK! THERE IS FEATHERS EVERY WHERE! IT LOOKS LIKE THE CHICKEN AND THE MANGOOSE HAD A TAG-AND-WAR LAST NIGHT! THERE IS HARDLY ANY EGGS IN THE COOP! SEE! THE BASKET IT'S EMPTY! WE HAVE TO SET SOME FORM OF POISON TO GET RID OF THEM OR ELSE! THEY ARE GOING TO EAT THE EGGS AND THEN THE CHICKENS!"

MS. BEE REACHED INTO HER APRON POCKET AND GOT OUT HER RAG; WHICH SHE IS NEVER WITHOUT! AND DRIED THE SWEAT FROM HER HUSBAND'S FACE!

"LET ME GET YOU SOMETHING COLD TO DRINK! COME ON, KERRING!"

SHE SAID.

AS THEY HURRIED OFF TOWARDS THE HOUSE.

IN A FEW MINTUES THEY WERE BACK WITH A LARGE, GREEN JUG, FILLED WITH ICE-WATER WITH FRESHLY SQUEEZED LEMONS AND A DRINKING GLASS!

KERRING CARRIED THE DRINKING GLASS AND ALSO A TOWEL! SO MR. BEE COULD USE IT TO DRY HIS FACE WHENEVER HE HAD GOTTEN SWEATY AGAIN! HE WAS SO THANKFUL FOR THE WATER WITH THE FRESHLY SQUEEZED LEMONS... IT WAS JUST THE WAY HE LIKED IT! HE HAD THE GLASS OF WATER AND THEN HE ASKED FOR ANOTHER ONE WHILE MAKING A GRUNTING SOUND TO INDICATE THAT HE WAS SATISFIED AND HIS THRIST HAD BEEN FULLY QUENCHED! HE THEN TOOK THE TOWEL FROM KERRING AND DRIED THE SWEAT FROM HIS FACE! BUT REMOVED HIS GLASSES BEFORE DOING SO CAUSING KERRING TO CHUCKLE!

"AS SOON AS I'M DONE HERE, I'LL BE UP! SEE YOU GUYS LATER!" MR. BEE SAID.

TO HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER AS HE REDIRECTED HIS ATTENTION TO WHAT HE WAS DOING.

IT WAS ALMOST LUNCH TIME NOW, AND MS. BEE CONTEMPLATED ON WHAT TO FIX FOR LUNCH. HER HUSBAND WILL BE SOON FINISHED WITH HIS TASK, AND WIIL BE HUGRY! KERRING MIGHT ALSO WANT SOMETHING TO EAT! ALTHOU, SHE HAD EATEN SO MANY CHERRIES EARLIER ON!

IT WAS SUNDAY... MS. BEE USUALLY PREPARES DINNER EARLY AND SKIP LUNCH! BUT EVERYTHING WAS OFF SCHEDULE BECAUSE OF THE TRIP THEY HAD TAKEN THE DAY BEFORE! EVERYONE HAD GOTTEN UP LATE THAT MORNING! UP TO LULU WAS STILL IN IS KENNEL WHEN THEY HAD GOTTEN UP!

IT WAS BECAUSE MS. BEE HAD GONE CHERRY PICKING AND NEEDED TO SHOW KERRING HOW IT WAS DONE WHY SHE HADN'T STARTED DINNER EARLY! PLUS, SHE TOOK ADDITIONAL TIME REARRANEING THE BOTTLES IN THE WINE CELLOR CAUSING TIME TO DRIFT BY!

FURTHERMORE! MR. BEE HAD GOTTEN COUGHT UP WITH REPAIRING THE CHICKEN WIRES THAT THE MANGOOSE HAD CUT OUT WITH THEIR TEETH! SO EVERYTHING WAS OFF SCHEDULE! BUT MS. BEE HAD A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM! SHE WOULD FIXD SOME CRACKERS AND CHEESE! WITH SOME CHERRY JUICE WHICH SHE HAD LEFT OVER FROM THE BIG MIXTURE IN THE BUCKET! AND HAD PLACED IT IN THE REFRIDGERATOR! EVERYONE WOULD SNACK ON THAT! AND THEN, SHE WOULD START DINNER RIGHT AWAY!

DINNER WILL NOT BE THE USUAL RICE AND PEAS! COOKED DOWN IN COCONUT JUICE! WITH: CHICKEN, BEEF, OR OXTAIL... THE PEAS USUALLY TAKES A WHILE TO COOK! AND HAD TO BE SOAK FRIST FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS... USUALLY, OVERNIGHT!

FOR DINNER! IT WILL BE BROWN STEW CHICKEN WITH WHITE RICE AND AN ASSORTMENT OF VEGETABLES! WITH WATER OR SOMEMORE OF THAT FRESHLY SQUEEZED CHERRY JUICE... THAT WAS THE ORDER OF THE DAY!

MS. BEE GOT OUT THE CHICKEN FROM THE REFRIDGERATOR AND THE RICE FROM THE CUP-BOARD ABOVE HER HEAD. SHE SEASONED THE CHICKEN WITH LOCALLY GROWN HERBS, MOLASSES AND LEFT IT TO SOAK FOR A LITTLE WHILE! SHE THEN WASHED THE RICE AND PLACED IN ON THE LIT STOVE! WITH A SMALL AMOUT OF WATER!

KERRING ALWAYS WANTED TO HELP! SO MS. BEE GAVE HER THE VEGETABLES TO WASH IN A PUDDEN PAN OF WATER! KERRING STOOD ON THE STOOL AND WASHED THE VEGETABLESTHAT WAS PLACED IN THE PUDDEN PAN IN THE KITCHEN SINK WHILE MS.BEE NAMED OUT EACH VEGETABLE TO HER ONE BY ONE; SO AS TO HELP HER STMULATE HER SPEECH IMPAIRMENT!

"TO-MA-TO, CAR-ROT, LET-TICE; ALL ARE VEG-GE-TAB-LES," MS. BEE SAID TO KERRING.

AS SHE REPEATED THE NAMES OF THE VEGETABLE, OVER AND OVER AGAIN! HOPING KERRING WOULD SAY A WORD AFTER HER! AND SURPRISINGLY! THERE WAS SOME PROGRESS MADE THAT DAY! KERRING UTTERED TWICE THE WORD.

"VE-GE-TAB-LES! VE-GE-TAB-LES!"

AS SHE FLIPPED HER TOUNGE INTO HER MOUTH IN AN AMUSING WAY AND SMILED! MS. BEE SMILED BACK, AND SAID...

"I KNOW YOU CAN TALK, IT ONLY TAKES TIME FOR YOU TO FORM THOSE WORDS! YOU WILL TALK! I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR DADDY WHEN HE COMES UP FOR DINNER!"

MS. BEE SLICED THE TOMATOES, THREAD THE CARROTS! USING HER TIN GREATER! SHE THEN BROKE THE LETTECES INTO SMALLER, MANAGEABLE PIECES! ALL THIS TIME KERRING STOOD BY HER SIDE... AS SHE WATCHED HER MOTHER EVER SO CAREFULLY - EVERY SINGLE THING THAT SHE WAS DOING! THE SALAD BOWL LOOKED BEAUTIFUL! AND KERRING CLAPPED HER TINY HANDS WITH EXCITINGMENT! TO SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL IT LOOKED! MS. BEE TOOK OUT THE DINNER PLATES FROM THE CUP-BOARD AND THEN SET THE TABLE FOR DINNER!

"THE FOLK GOES ON THE LEFT AND THE KNIFE GOES ON THE RIGHT! PUT THE BONE PLATE ABOVE THE DINNER PLATES! SO WHEN YOU CHEW THE MEAT AND ANY BONES ARE LEFT! YOU CAN PUT THE BONES ONTO IT! THE JUG GOES IN THE CENTRE OF THE TABLE; SO EVERYONE CAN REACH FOR IT! WHEN THEY ARE READY TO GET SOMETHING TO DRINK; AND A GLASS GOES AT EACH PLACE, PREFERABLE THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PLATES! WHERE SOMEONE WILL BE SITTING! WE MUST PUT SOME BOWLS OUT FOR DESSERT ALSO!"

MS. BEE EXPLAINED.

THE TABLE WAS SET AND LOOKED BEAUTIFUL! KERRING HAD LEARNED A VALUABLE LESSON THAT MOMENT! SHE HAD LEARNED HOW TO SET A DINNING TABLE - WHERE THE KNIVES AND FORKS GOES AND ALSO THE DESSERT SPOONS!

MS. BEE WENT BACK TO THE KITCHEN TO CHECK ON THE RICE ON THE STOVE AND THEN PUT THE MEAT ON THE STOVE. SHE BELIEVED IT WAS SOAKED WITH ENOUGH SEASONINGS AND DECIDED TO PUT IN ON THE FIRE TO BE COOKED. SHE WAS HAPPY EVERYTHING WAS MOVING ALONG FAST! THE WAY SHE WANTED IT TO! THE RICE WAS ALMOST DONE COOKING! IT JUST NEEDED TO STEAM DOWN A TIT BIT MORE!

MR. BEE CAME UP FROM THE CHICKEN COOP DRAGGING HIS FEET LIKE A WOUNDED LION! HE WAS TIRED! HE HAD WITH HIM THE DRINKING GLASS AND THE BIG GREEN JUG IN HIS HAND. HE HAD ACCOMPLISHED WHAT HE HAD SET OUT TO DO... THE HOLE IN THE CHICKEN-COOP WIRE HAD BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANGOOSE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A WHILE BEFORE THEY PUT ANOTHER HOLE INTO IT AGAIN! HE FELT SATISFIED WITH THE FINISHED PRODUCT OF HIS TASK! AND NOW HE NEEDED SOMETHING TO EAT... SOMETHING TO HOLD HIM! HE DIDN'T WANT THE CHEESE AND CRACKERS HIS WIFE HAD LEFT OUT FOR HIM OR ANYTHING ELSE!

WHO CARED TO HAVE SOME SNACK THIS TIME OF THE DAY? HE WANTED DINNER! SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL! DINNER WAS ALMOST DONE ANYWAY! AND SO HE DECIDED HE WOULD BE QUITE! AND WAIT UNTIL IT WAS DONE! HE FURTHER EXPRESSED TO HIS WIFE THAT IF HE ATE ANYTHING NOW! HE WOULD BE TOO FULL AND HE WOULDN'T CONSUME ENOUGH FOOD OR ENJOY THE MEAL AS HE WANTED TO! SHE WAS OK WITH THAT! AND PUT AWAY THE CHEESE AND THE CRACKERS IN THE REFRIDGERATOR FOR ANOTHER DAY.

"AFTER ALL IT WON'T SPOIL!"

MS. BEE COMMENTED.

KERRING HAVE HAD TWO SLICES OF THE CHEESE AND TWO CRACKERS EARLIER ON; SHE REALLY DIDN'T CARE FOR IT! SHE CARED ABOUT SEEING WHAT MS. BEE WAS DOING IN THE KITCHEN! SHE WANTED TO LEARN WHATEVER WAS SHOWN TO HER IN HER NEW ENVIRONMENT!

MS. BEE CHECKED ON THE RICE AND IT WAS FINISHED AND THE CHICKEN WAS ALMOST DONE ALSO. DINNER WOULD SOON BE ON THE TABLE. THE CHICKEN JUST NEEDED TO SEMMER DOWN A LITTLE MORE! AND THEN MS. BEE COULD PUT THE RICE IN A PIREX DISH AND ALSO THE MEAT, AS SOON AS IT WAS COOKING!

MS. BEE WAS PLEASED WITH HERSELF! AND HER HUSBAND FOR BEING SO PATIENT WITH HER! AND MOST OF ALL! KREEING; THE NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY WHO HAS BEEN SO HELPFUL! FROM THE MOMENT SHE WOKE UP! UNTIL IT WAS TIME FOR BED!

MS. BEE FELL IN LOVE WITH HER AND WANTED EVERYTHING GOOD FOR HER! MR. BEE LOVED HER ALSO... HE NOTICED SHE HAD A KIND SPIRIT! SHE ALWAYS WANTED TO HELP OUT! ALTHOUGH, SHE HADN'T SPOKEN A WORD!

DINNER WAS ON THE TABLE AND EVERYONE WAS SEATED. MS. BEE SAID THE GRACE OVER THE MEAL. THEY ALL ATE AND ENJOYED THEIR MEAL! MS. BEE MENTIONED TO HER HUSBAND ABOUT KERRING, SAYING THE WORD VEGETABLES TWICE! WHILE THEY WERE PREPARING DINNER! HE WAS AMUSED AND ESTATIC TO HEAR THAT SHE HAD SPOKEN AND SHE HAVE NOT GONE TO SCHOOL AS YET! HE WAS HAPPY TO HEAR THE NEWS, VERY HAPPY! HE WANTED TO HEAR MORE WORDS OUT OF HER, BUT DIDN'T PUSH IT! HE TOLD HIS WIFE TEASINGLY!

"MAYBE TOMORROW SHE WILL SAY THREE OR FOUR MORE WORDS!"

AS HE PLACED HIS HAND ON HIS CHEST TO SHOW A SINCERE GESTURE OF HAPPINESS! THE OTHER SURPRISE WAS FOR KERRING! SHE HAD HEARD THE WORD DESSERT BEFORE, BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANT!

AFTER THE MAIN COURSE WAS FINISH MS. BEE WENT TO THE REFRIDGERATOR AND TOOK OUT A TUB OF ICE-CREAM. KERRING DID'T REALIZED WHAT IT WAS; UNTIL MS. BEE STARTED PUTTING SOME INTO HER HUSBAND'S BOWL. KERRING STARTED TO CLAP HER HANDS! HER FACE LIT UP! SHE SMILED AND POINTED TO THE TUB! SHE REMEMBERED ICE-CREAM WAS GIVEN TO HER YESTERDAY AND HOW MUCH SHE LOVED IT! SHE WANTED MORE! AND MORE! AND MORE OF IT! SHE WAS FILLED WITH PURE JOY! WHEN MS. BEE POURED ICE-CREAM INTO HER BOWL, SHE HAD A SMILE THAT MADE HER MOUTH REACHED TO HER EARS! SHE WAS SO HAPPY! SHE WAS OVER JOYED!

EVERY SUP OF ICE-CREAM, MADE HER HEART MELTED INSIDE OF HER! HER LITTLE MIND WONDERED AS SHE ATE HER PORTION WITH GREAT ATTENTIVENESS! NOT A SPOON MISSED HER LIPS, PURE PLEASURE! HOWEVER, THIS TIME, SHE WOULDN'T BE HAVING SECONDS! BECAUSE, THE TUB OF ICE-CREAM IN THE REFRIDERATOR WAS GOING TO LAST FOR ANOTHER WEEK! AND IT WAS ALREADY ALMOST DONE! MS. BEE KNEW SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BUY ANYMORE ICE-CREAM BEFORE THE WEEK ENDED! SO SHE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE HER TIME WITH WHAT WAS THERE! FUTHERMORE, SHE KNEW KERRING WOULD BE EXPECTING ICE-CREAM EVERYTIME DINNER WAS SERVED; NOW THAT SHE KNEW IT WAS IN HER REACH!

WHEN DINNER WAS OVER KERRING HELP HER MOTHER TO CLEAR OFF THE TABLE, WASH THE DISHES AND PUT THEM AWAY. WHEN SUCH WAS DONE, MS. BEE AIDED KERRING... SHE TOLD HER TO GET UNDRESS IT WAS SHOWER TIME.

MS. BEE PREPARED SOME CLOTHES FOR HER TO PUT ON WHEN SHE WAS FINISHED SHOWERING. ONCE SHE WAS OUT OF THE SHOWER MS. BEE HELP DRY OFF THE EXCESS WATER FROM HER BODY WITH A TOWEL. SHE TOOK THIS TIME TO NAME AND EXPLAINED THE VARIOUS BODY PARTS TO KERRING. SHE FURTHER WENT ON TO TELL HER THAT THESE WERE PRIVATE PARTS AND SHE SHOULDN'T ALLOW ANYONE TO TOUCH HER VAGINA, BREAST OR BOTTOCKS! AND IF ANYONE DID! SHE SHOULD LET HER KNOW!

KERRING, GOT DRESS AND WAS TOLD TO SIT IN THE LIVING ROOM; THE LIVING ROOM WHERE ALL THE CHAIRS WERE COVERED IN RED AND CLEAR PLASTIC TO PREVENT ANY FORM OF SOILING! THE ROOM WAS SO BEAUTIFUL AND WELL KEPT THAT KERRING WAS SURPRISES WHEN MS. BEE HAD TOLD HER TO SIT THERE, BUT NO SOONER HAD SHE SAT DOWN! MS. BEE WENT TO THE DINNING ROOM, GOT ONE OF THE DINNING ROOM CHAIRS AND TOLD KERRING TO GET UP AND SIT ON THE CHAIR FROM THE DINNING INSTEAD!

MS. BEE THEN TURNED ON THE LITTLE BLACK BOX SITUATED IN THE FAR CORNER OF THE ROOM... THE LITTLE BLACK BOX WAS A BLACK AND WHITE TELEVISION! KERRING WAS SHOCK! SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK WHEN SHE SAW THE THREE MEN RUNNING AROUND IN THE LITTLE BOX! HOWEVER, MS. BEE TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO HER THAT THE BOX SHOWED PICTURES AND THE PICTURES WERE TELLING A STORY!

IT TOOK A WHILE FOR KERRING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MS. BEE, WAS EXPLAING TO HER! NEVERTHELESS, SHE SAT ATTENTIVELY AND WATCHED THE THREE MEN RUNNING AROUND AND HITTING EACH OTHER WITH FRYING PANS AND CLUBS AND MAKING HAND GESTURES WHILE THEY DID SO!

ANOTHER SHOW CAME ON! WITH A WHITE WOMAN FLYING AROUND IN THE AIR! THIS SHOW, INTRIGED KERRING MORETHAN THE OTHER ONE DID! AND SHE PAID MUCH MORE ATTENTION TO IT! THE FIRST SHOW WAS TOO VIOLENT FOR HER! THOSE SHOWS WERE: "THE THREE STOOGIES AND "THE FLYING NUN"! WHICH SHE WOULD LATER COME TO FIND OUT!

MR. BEE WAS HAVING HIS SHOWER. MS.BEE WENT INSIDE TO HAVE HERS ALSO. WHEN THEY WERE BOTH FINISHED AND HAD GOTTEN DRESSED, THEY BOTH CAME TO THE LIVING ROOM TO JOIN KERRING; THEN MR. BEE ASKED.

"WHY IS KERRING SITTING ON THE DINNING ROOM CHAIR?"

MS. BEE HAD A SURPRISE LOOK ON HER FACE, AS SHE SAID...

"BECAUSE I DON'T WANT HER TO MESS UP MY GOOD LIVING ROOM CHAIRS, THESE CHAIRS ARE FOR WHEN I HAVE VISITORS!"

"CUT YOUR NON-SENSE! LET THE CHILD SIT ON THE COUCH! IT IS COVERED WITH PLASTIC! WHAT DAMAGE CAN SHE DO TO IT? GET UP KERRING AND GO SIT ON THE COUCH!"

MR. BEE DEMANDED.

AS HE PLOP-DOWN HIS LARGE FRAME ON ONE OF THE PRECIOUS RED COUCHES CAUSING IT TO GIVE OFF AN UNPLEASANT SOUND!

THE LOOK ON MS. BEE FACE SAID IT ALL! HER FACE WAS RED AS CRIMSON AS SHE BROUGHT BACK THE DINNING ROOM CHAIR TO THE TABLE! SHE HATED WHENEVER HER AND HER HUSBAND HAD GOTTEN INTO ANY SORT OF ROW OR DISAGREEMENTS! ESPECIALLY, IF HE RAISED HIS VOICE AT HER! SHE WOULD BECOME VERY WITHDRAWN AND QUITE! SHE CAME BACK TO THE LIVING ROOM AND SAT ON ONE OF THE SINGLE CHAIRS! SHE DIDN'T SIT BESIDE HER HUSBAND AT ALL! SHE WAS OBVIOUSLY UPSET THAT HE HAD RAISED HIS VOICE AT HER! SO ALL HER ATTENTION WAS NOW ON THE TELEVISION!

SHE HARDLY EXPLAINED ANYTHING TO KERRING ABOUT ANY OF THE PROGRAMS ON THE TELEVISION OR EXCHANGED ANY WORDS WITH HER HUSBAND, EITHER; UNTIL IT WAS TIME FOR BED! AND HE DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE EITHER! HE JUST SAT THERE UNTIL HE HAD DOSE-OFF INTO A DEEP SLEEP! AND SHE HAD TO CALL HIM AND TELL HIM IT WAS TIME FOR BED!

IT WAS AROUND NINE O'CLOCK; SO MS. BEE ASSISTED KERRING INTO BED AND EXPLAIN TO HER THAT THE FOLLOWING DAY WAS GOING TO BE A VERY BUSY ONE! BECAUSE, THEY HAD TO FIND A SCHOOL FOR HER TO ATTEND FOR SEPTEMBER! AND ALSO GET THE MATERIALS AND WHATEVERE THE SCHOOL NEEDED FOR HER TO BEGIN SCHOOL!

KERRING WAS FILLED WITH ANXIATY! BUT SHE SLEPT A LITTLE BETTER THAN HER FRIST NIGHT AT HER NEW HOME! SHE GOT UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO URINATE BY HERSELF AND WENT BACK TO BED AND FELL ASLEEP AGAIN!

SINCE IT WAS NOW DAY BREAK! KERRING CONTEMPLATED IF SHE SHOULD GET UP AND WAKE UP MOMMY AND DADDY, OR, IF SHE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THEY CAME AND CALLED HER! SHE OPTED ON THE FORMER IDEA AND WENT TO THEIR ROOM TO WAKE THEM! ENVISIONING THEY WOULD BE IN THE SAME ROOM AND THEY WOULD WELCOME AND GREETED HER HAPPILY!

KERRING PULLED THE PARTITION CURTAINS AND KNOCKED ON THE DOOR THAT WAS CLOSEST TO HER AND HALF-WAY SHUT!

SHE WAS EXPECTING MS. BEE TO ANSWER HER! BUT, IT WAS MR. BEE WHO HAD ANSWERED!

"WHO IS IT?"

MR. BEE ASKED.

KERRING WAS SHOCK TO HEAR HIS HUSKY VOICE ASKING WHO IS IT? SO HE KEPT SILENT FOR MOMENT PONDERING IN HER LITTLE HEAD IF SHE SHOULD RUN BACK TO HER BEDROOM!

BUT, BEFORE SHE COULD MOVE, MR. BEE HAD A CASE OF FLATULENCE - HE BEGAN PASSING GAS, CAUSING KERRING TO CHUCKLE WITH LAUGHTER! AND SHE WOULDN'T ANSWER TO HIS QUESTION, BUT, JUST STOOD AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE DOOR! HIS VOICE WAS TOO INTIMEDATING AND SHE FELT A BIT INSECURE TO SAY IT WAS HER! IT WAS ONLY HER THIRD DAY BEING ARROUND THEM! SHE WASN'T FULLY ACCUSTOMED TO THEM AS YET! AND AS SHE RECALL! MR. BEE WAS A BIT ROUGH WITH HIS WIFE THE NIGHT BEFORE!

MS. BEE WASN'T IN THE ROOM, BUT WAS IN THE BEDROOM OPERSITE THE BEDROOM HER HUSBAND WAS IN. SHE APPEARED FROM BEHIND THE DOOR WHEN SHE HEARD HER HUSBAND ASKING.

"WHO IS IT?"

AND NO ONE RESPONDED.

"GOOD MORNING! KERRING, HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING? YOU SLEPT WELL AND IS UP VERY EARLY! YOU ARE READY TO GO?"

AT THIS TIME, MS. BEE WAS OUT OF THE ROOM, SHE WAS STANDING AT THE ROOM-DOOR WHERE HER HUSBAND WAS. SHE PUT HER HAND ON KERRINGS' HEAD TO GREET HER, JUST SHOWING HER SOME AFFECTION!

MS. BEE KNEW HER HUSBAND VOICE COULD BE VERY INTIMEDATING! ESPECIALLY, TO CHILDREN! SHE ASSUMED THAT IS WHY, KERRING DIDN'T ANSWERED HIM!

"WHAT YOU ALL DOING AT THE DOOR? I HAVE BEEN ASKING, WHO IS IT; REPEATEDLY! AND NO ONE IS ANSWERING! SOMEONE IS GIGLING! WHEN I'M PASSING GASS! YOU NEVER HEAR SOMEONE PASS GASS BEFORE?"

MR. BEE EXCLAIMED.

"DID YOU LAUGH WHEN DADDY PASS GAS?"

KERRING PUT HER HANDS TO HER MOUTH AND SHUCKLED A LAUGH AGAIN! WHILE LOOKING INTO MS. BEE DARK BROWNE EYES, AS IF SHE WANTED HER TO JOIN HER IN THE LAUGHTER!

"WHEN SOMEONE PASSES GASS YOU MUSN'T LAUGH! IT IS NOT FUNNY! DON'T YOU EVER PASS GASS?"

MR. BEE ASKED FURIOUSLY!

KERRING SHOOK HER HEAD TO INDICATE AN INFATIC NO!

"THAT IS NOT TRUE EVERYONE PASSES GASS!"

MS. BEE INTERCEEDED.

"WHAT DID SHE SAY? SHE DONT PASS GASS! THIS CHILD IS A FOOL!"

MR. BEE EXCLAIMED.

"SHE IS NOT A FOOL! SHE JUST DON'Y RECALL DOING SO!"

MS. BEE REPLIED.

"ONE DAY! WHEN I HEAR YOU PASSING GAS KERRING! I'LL BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION!"

MS. BEE SAID, SHAMEFULLY.

WHILE GETTING DRESS, MR. BEE WIFE ASSISTED HIM IN DOING SO; AND THEN SHE WHEN BACK TO HER ROOM AND FINSH GETTING HERSELF DRESSED. SHE TOLD KERRING NOT TO GET DRESS AS YET! HOWEVER, SHE MUST GO AND BRUSH HER TEETH AND RETURN TO THE DINNING TABLE FOR BREAKFAST! AND SO SHE DID!

THE MENU OF THE DAY WAS BOILD EGGS AND TOAST WITH WATER CRACKERS SOAKED IN WARM WATER AND THEN PLASTERED WITH BUTTER! MR. BEE WANTED HIS EGGS SOFT, AND MS. BEE FIXED IT THAT WAY FOR HIM! THE THREE HAD BREAKFAST IN A VERY QUIT MOOD! WITH KERRING, NOT WANTING TO HAVE ANY EYE CONTACT WITH MR. BEE! SHE FEARED HE WOULD SCOULED HER AGAIN! MR. BEE DIDN'T KEPT HIS EYES OFF KERRING AT ALL, THINKING SHE NEEDED TO BE TAUGHT A LESSSON ON HOW THE BODY FUNCTIONS, AND HE WOULD BE THE ONE TO TEACH HER THAT LESSON!

AFTER BREAKFAST! KERRING WENT TO ASSIST MS. BEE WITH THE DISHES AS USUAL AND MS. BEE, IN-TURN, WENT AND ASSISTED HER IN GETTING HER SELF DRESS AND HER HAIR COMB FOR WHAT WOULD BE A VERY LONG DAY ON THE ROAD!

EVERYONE WAS DRESS AND READY! THEY ALL WALKED TO THE CAR TOGATHER WITH KERRING HOLDING ONTO MS. BEE HAND! WHEN THEY HAD REACHED THE GARRAGE MR. BEE, PUT KEYS IN THE IGNITION, STARTED THE CAR AND DROVE THE CAR ONTO THE DRIVE-WAY. MS. BEE OPENNED THE BACK-DOOR OF THE CAR FOR KERRING AND TOLD HER TO GET IN AND SIT! AND SO SHE DID!

MS. BEE THEN WALKED TO THE GATE TO OPEN IT FOR HER HUSBAND! WHEN HE PULLED THE CAR OUT ONTO THE STREETS SHE CLOSED THE HUGE DUSY RED IRON GATE BEHIND HER! SAT INSIDE THE CAR BESIDE HER HUSBAND! NOW THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY AND READY FOR THE LONG DAY ACTIVITIES!