Follow the Path He Set For You

About a week later a large, black automobile pulled up in front of Reggie’s house. He had the sudden thought – the children! He didn’t feel ready. He quickly combed his hair and tucked in his shirt and went to the door. He was met by a rotund woman with gray hair who had two children by the hand. “Here are the children.” She promptly turned and left. He was left staring at the children and they at him. All Reggie knew were their names, and all the personal possessions they had were on their backs. He was scared, but Susannah and Lillian had agreed to help him. “Well, Devin and Bronwen. I’m so glad to finally meet you. I’m your Uncle Reggie. Just call me Reggie.” The children said nothing, just continued to stare. He couldn’t tell if they were shy or antagonistic. “Come on in the house and I’ll show you your room.” He opened the door and held it for them, but they stood there. “Come on in, you two. You can’t stand on the porch forever.” He took Bronwen’s hand and led her in and Devin followed. He showed them the whole house and ended with their room. “For now, you’ll have to share a room but not forever.” “I’m not sleeping in the room with her!” blurted Devin. “We’ve always slept in the same room, Devin.” Bronwen teared up for fear her brother was going away and they wouldn’t be together. Reggie stepped in and said, “You two can share this room very well for a while.” “Does that mean we have to go away again?” I hate that!” “No, sweetheart. Not at all. This is your ‘forever’ home.” Reggie knelt on one knee and reached out his arms and hugged her close to his chest. Tears came to her eyes and his. He hoped he’d be able to get through to Bronwen easier than Devin. Devin was standing there watching with his weight on one leg and the other leg cocked out on his heel. His arms were crossed and his face was sullen with a storm written all over it, as if to say, ‘You’re not getting close to me. Don’t even try.’ Reggie ignored Devin’s stance and said, “This afternoon we’ll go to the mercantile and buy you some more clothes. You can’t wear the same ones every day. We have to wash them sometime. Right now --.” “I’ll wear my own clothes. I’ve had them on for a week now and I’m fine.” “Okay,” Reggie responded, but he’d still buy him some clothes. “Let’s go outside and I’ll show you where everybody lives.” He had to urge them to go out the door. “It’s okay, we’re coming back. Now this next door is Clyde and Lillian Armour with two older children, Ban and Beth. All the houses you see around are either family members or close friends who work on the farm, like I do. I handle the bees from which we get a lot of honey and sell it all over Texas. I also help with the corn and cotton we grow and sell and sometimes I help with the cattle.” Out of the corner of his eye, Reggie saw that Devin was interested by the look on his face. Lillian stepped out on the porch and called to Reggie, “These children must be Devin and Bronwen. Helo, children. I’m Lillian Armour and this is my daughter Beth. How do you like it so far?” Silence reigned. “They’re a little shy right now, Lillian. Another time maybe. I was jus showing them around a little.” “Well, Children, you’re welcome in my house anytime. Nice to meet you.” After they walked on, Lillian said to Beth, “Let’s go over and see if anything needs doing, like making beds or fixing their supper.” “Let’s go on down to Jeff’s woodworking shop.” Jeff looked up when he glimpsed movement at the door. “Well, hello. This must be Devin and Bronwen. How are you two?” Total silence. “They’re a little shy right. They’ve got a lot to get used to.” “I understand. Well, this is my woodworking shop. I build furniture and carve it for people who order it. This rockin’ horse is what I’m workin’ on right now.” When Bronwen saw it, her eyes grew as big as saucers and a small grin worked its way to her lips. Jeff and Reggie looked at each other and were each thinking this could be a way to get through to her. “Bronwen, would you like to sit up here on the rockin’ horse?” She looked at Reggie and he nodded. Jeff helped her climb on it and get it started rocking. Then he showed her how to keep it rocking herself. “Bronwen, would you like to have this rockin’ horse?” Her mouth formed a perfect O. She looked at Reggie again for his approval and he nodded. “We’ll stop back by and get it on the way home. I’m showing them the farm and who lives where What do you say to Mr. Jeff, Bronwen?” “Thank you, Mr. Jeff. It’s Boo-ti-ful!” “You are so welcome. Come back and see me again.” As they left Jeff’s shop, Reggie pointed out a small rise. “This is where Jeff and his wife Melody are going to build their house. Right now they live with his parents, Clem and Susannah Brown. You’ll meet them shortly. This next house is Thomas and Victoria’s and their son Tommy. Thomas owns the cattle and sometimes I help him. I generally help whoever needs me. Okay, this last house is the first one ever built here by Clem and Susannah. Thomas, Ruth and Jeff are their children. Ruth and her husband Jon live in town because he’s a banker.” Devin was taking it all in. “Don’t even think of robbing a bank, Devin. You’re only eight, you know.” “I know a lot of things. My Pop showed me how to break and enter.” “Somehow I don’t doubt that. I’ll come see you in prison one day, like your Ma.” Anger flew all over Devin and he lowered his head and rammed Reggie in the stomach like a bull. “Don’t say bad thing about my Ma. She love us.” When Reggie got his wind back, he responded, “I’m sure she does, Devin, but she’s in prison right now for breaking the law. Even she would not want to see you locked up for doing something illegal.” “That’s not bad. She just got caught this time, but she’ll get out and we’ll get to go home to London. I don’t like it here and I don’t like you! You’re nothing like my Ma. How can you be her brother?”