It's good to be home again. We did have a lovely time with my grandparents, and I was able to get quite a bit done on the new HUGE project that I mentioned last week. This book I'm compiling of all those bike trips, well, it's growing. Last week I had 24 trips to include in the book. (A lot, but I could handle it.) Now I'm up to 39+! (Yeah, I told you it was huge.) Not all the trips have pictures, but nearly all have my grandpa's diary which all have to be typed up. Some trips have my grandma's diary too, as well as pictures, maps, newspaper articles, an uncle's diary or a combination of some of the above.
So with that and the large quilting project I need to get done in 3 months, I really don't have a lot of time to devote to new books. I'm still writing (because I can't NOT write) but publishing is taking a back seat for now.
We are back to summer weather here. Our lovely taste of autumn has slipped into a memory and we turned on the air conditioning once more.
Those of you have left comments on this blog last week, thank you. I wanted to reply, but things were quite busy and I wasn't on the computer much, so I didn't get to it. But, if you leave comments this week, I hope to be able to reply to them. :)
I hope you enjoy this next part. It's a good thing this is a long story or I'm afraid I'd run out of things to post. :P Happy reading!
To the Farm
Part 6
Hardly had they finished eating when the doorbell rang. Mr. Mitchell went to answer it as Mrs. Mitchell and Johnny, who had volunteered to help instead of Ria, were busy clearing off the table.
“Good evening, Earl,” Ria heard her father greet their visitor, and she knit her brows and glanced at Ed. He was looking at Jimmy with raised eyebrows and a look a surprise on his face.
“Evie wanted me to bring this to Emma,” Earl was heard to say.
Then Emma’s voice came through the open door, “Oh, thank you. I was needing that. Are you in a special hurry?”
Ria sighed. As much as she wanted something done to make her ankle feel better, somehow having Uncle Earl look at it forced her to face reality; she wouldn’t be playing baseball with her cousins next week. So busy were her thoughts that she didn’t notice what was being said in the living room until her father called for Ed to carry Ria in.
Ed smiled sympathetically at his sister. He knew from experience that sprained ankles could be very painful.
Dr. Earl grinned at his niece as he pulled up a stool beside the sofa where Ed had placed her. “I hear you were injured in the line of duty, young lady,” he began. “Let’s see how bad it is.” Gently he felt her ankle. It was so swollen that he had to resort to a knife to cut the sock off.
Ria made no cry as her ankle was examined, though the pain caused her to clench her hands, and at one point her uncle remarked, “You know, Ria, it really would help if you breathed. At least now and then.” In her effort to hold back any cries of pain, she had unintentionally been holding her breath.
She gave a slight giggle and then frowned in pain.
In a few minutes, her ankle was firmly bandaged and resting on a pillow, and her uncle stood up. “That is a nasty sprain, Ria. I’m afraid you will have to stay off of it for at least three weeks.”
“Three weeks,” Ria groaned, thinking of all that she would have to miss.
“I didn’t say you were confined to a couch,” Uncle Earl laughed. “In a day or two you can probably move about some with crutches. But,” he added, “no putting that foot to the ground until I give you leave. Is that clear?” Earl, sounding more like a doctor instead of just an uncle, glanced about at the others as he spoke.
Everyone nodded though Ria made a face. It would be a long three weeks, she thought, but maybe she could move about on crutches by Saturday. Then at least she wouldn’t be quite at the mercy of her teasing cousins.
“What about tomorrow, Earl?” Mitch asked his young brother-in-law.
“Keep her home,” was the blunt reply. “I’ll come over after church to take another look.”
Ria didn’t sleep very well that night for her ankle pained her a great deal. After her mother had left and the house was quiet, she turned her head and buried her face in her pillow and cried. It had been a long day, and to end it with the knowledge that she wouldn’t be doing all the things she had planned, was hard. When her cry was over, she was able to sleep some until, trying to turn over, sharp stabs of pain shot through her whole leg and brought her instantly awake. Biting her lip, she bore the pain in silence so as not to wake the others.
Her thoughts went over the day again and the fun she had expected to have at the farm next Saturday. “Now I’ll be stuck in a chair like an invalid,” she moaned. “Why, oh why did I have to sprain my ankle today?”
Finally, just as the sun was beginning to turn the clouds a rosy pink, Ria fell into a sound sleep. She didn’t even hear her brothers and father leave for church.
When they returned, Ed ran up to see Ria. He had missed his little sister who usually shared a hymnbook with him. “Hi,” he greeted her with a smile when he poked his head in her half open door. “Would you like to spend some time on the couch?”
“Yes!” Ria was tired of her room even though her mom had spent the morning with her. At least downstairs she could look out the window and be somewhat involved in the conversations. Putting her arms around her brother’s neck, she let him lift her in his strong arms.
“Does it still hurt much?” Ed asked softly.
“Yes. But don’t tell the gang.”
Ed smiled and promised “I won’t.”
Once Ria was established on the couch before the large windows in the living room, her father came in. “Hello, Ria,” he greeted her, dropping a kiss on her forehead. “You were missed at church today. Emma and Lucy wanted to know where you were, as did almost every other one of the younger cousins. Uncle Frank said to tell you he’d stop by tomorrow if you’d like some company, and Grandma and Grandpa promised to come with him.” Mr. Mitchell drew up a chair, sat down and went on. “Several others asked about you.”
“And everyone of the gang said to say they missed you,” Jimmy put in, stepping from the kitchen with a tray of lunch for his sister.
“And don’t forget Lydia,” Johnny added. “She stopped me and asked where you were.”
Looking down at her tray of lunch, Ria asked, “Can’t you all eat in here too? I want to hear about everyone and I can’t if you are in the dining room. Please, Mom!” she added as Mrs. Mitchell looked through the doorway.
With a smile, Emma nodded. She had already decided that a solitary lunch would not suit Ria very well, for her daughter was a social girl who liked to be in the middle of almost everything.
They were still eating when Dr. Earl and Evie arrived.
“Ria!” Evie exclaimed almost as soon as she entered the house. “You were sadly missed at church this morning. How are you feeling?”
“Full.” Ria pushed her empty plate to the farther side of her tray. Then she winced. Any slight movement or touch on her ankle or foot sent waves of pain racing up her leg.
“Have you both eaten?” Emma asked, starting to rise.
“Oh, yes.” Evie waved her sister aside and took Ria’s try herself. “With only two of us to fix lunch for, it doesn’t take as long. Besides, I’ve learned how to eat like a doctor.” Her merry laugh rang through the room and her husband looked up at her, a quizzical expression on his face.
“How does one eat?” He ventured to ask.
“Always in a hurry.”
It was impossible for the others not to join in the laugh.
Do you know anyone who always eats in a hurry?
Have you had to miss church because of an injury?
Do you want to return next week?
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