Chapter 5 The Broke Home

  "Beau!  Away from there before ye fall in.  'Tis bad 'nough ye knocked over the mop bucket."

  Brandi Broke gently nudged her filthy child with her mop.  Instead of fussing he giggled.

  "Give me back that mop little man," she mock threatened.

  Beau squealed with delight.

  Brandi went back to mopping.

  "Splash Beau!  Splash yerself good.  Goodness knows it will make it a might easier to wash ye."

  Beau did as he was told.

  "At least ye ain't wanderin' off to make more messes."

  Brandi mopped up the last of the water.  Beau sat there fit to cry.

  "Want water?"

  Beau's face lit up.

  Brandi filled the tub and scrubbed him good, then put him in another rag.

  "There, now how would ye like some food in yer belly?"

  Beau bounced on her hip.

  "There ye are."

  "Mind ye eat some too little man."

  "Hello ma."

  "Dustin!  How was yer day?"

  Dustin looked sad, beaten down.  She would like to think that meant his day had gone badly...but he had looked like that since Skip died.

  "The same ma."

  Brandi struggled with how to soothe her son.  Dustin had become man of the household with his pa's passing.  He couldn't stop to grieve properly.

  "Ma?"

  "Yes Dustin?"

  "Beau's done."

  Brandi plucked up her youngest.

  "Ye look sleepy little man."

  Brandi brought him to his cradle.  Skip had fashioned it out of an old barrel when Dustin was a wee one.

  "Nap time," Brandi cooed.

   Brandi sighed.  These nap times wouldn't last much longer.  Despite all her best efforts, Beau was growing up.

  Brandi turned her attentions to Dustin, but saw only his heel as he went out the door.  So soon home from schooling and he must set out to make a wage already.

  Oh Skip.  What is to become of us without ye?