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Chapter 10: Lance

It was around one o’clock in the afternoon and the house was quiet. Almost too quiet. I checked on Julia, partly because I wanted to make sure she was really asleep, and partly because I just loved to watch her. She was a really cute baby… well, almost not a baby anymore. She’d be hell on wheels once she got her running feet. Still, with her strawberry blond hair and green eyes, I could tell already she’d be a heartbreaker by the time she was Brian’s age. Then she wouldn’t have time for old Uncle Lance, and I wouldn’t be her favorite any longer. Better enjoy it now.

She was sound asleep, her thumb halfway in her mouth and her raggedy stuffed dog by her side. I wish I’d had a camera; they grow up so fast. For a second, I wondered if I would ever have a daughter, someone I could really call my own. Of course, that would require a woman to be in the picture, so I put that idea back on the shelf. Way back. I’d never even found a girl I wanted to date long term, much less make that kind of commitment with. Kids were not in my immediate future.

Cleaning, however, was. The place was pretty sparsely furnished, but that only made the job easier. It took me about an hour to get everything in order; hopefully Harry would be too tired when he came home to complain about me doing his job. I’d just tossed the last of the towels in the dryer when I heard the Elf’s babbling. Sure enough, she was awake and raring to go.

“Come on, Jujubee, let’s go shopping!” I said in a kind of cartoon voice. She looked at me sort of funny, then jammed her fist in her mouth. I laughed. “Okay, I won’t do that again. And how about some crackers and juice instead of that fist, huh?”

She didn’t argue, and before I knew it she was happily flinging half the crackers across the kitchen floor while the other half got stuffed in her mouth. She took the juice really well, sipping at the cup happily while I recleaned the floor. Soon I’d changed her and we were out the door.

Jackson’s Market was only three blocks away, and there was a small park nearby. The Elf loved watching the birds and the people, and seemed content to sit in her stroller and bounce and babble happily. I pulled out the book I’d stuffed in the pocket of the stroller, and did a little studying.

My goal was to finish my requirements for graduation by the end of December. I had a job waiting for me if I did, a decent one at the production plant in Riverside. It paid good, had regular hours, and most of all, offered educational benefits and a chance at a scholarship. If I ever wanted to get out of this dismal town, education was my only out. I had no real money, and without a higher degree than a high school diploma, I knew I’d end up spending my entire life right here. The thought made me frown every time; I wanted to travel, to see the world, to experience some of the things I’d read about in books. None of that happened here.

I would have been long graduated if the accident hadn’t changed everything. I was in 8th grade when my parent’s car was hit head-on by a drunk driver. The SOB didn’t even get a scratch, and is still probably driving today. My parents were buried three days after my thirteenth birthday.

My sister was married by then, and became my legal guardian. I guess it messed me up pretty good, because I don’t really remember much of that year. Suffice it to say, I got held back in school, and have been playing catch-up ever since. Howie, who had been one year behind me, suddenly was my classmate. Although he never let that affect our friendship, it still bothered me that I was ‘behind’.

I spent a good hour studying Civics; since I only had a couple of classes, they let me just come in for the exams and for a few special lessons. Suited me just fine.

Julia began to fuss, and I could tell it was time to hit the road again. We proceeded on to the market, where I spent most of my money on stuff for the bare cupboards and empty shelves of the Littrell house. By the time I was finished, I could barely see the kid for all the bags hanging off the handles.

While the Elf chewed happily on a cookie, I headed home. I asked her if Harry liked vegetable soup, but only got a burble for a reply. Taking that as a ‘yes’, I pushed us along the sidewalk, already planning my afternoon activities. Soup wouldn’t solve all Harry’s problems, but things didn’t look as grim when your stomach was full. He’d been hungry way too long.

The soup wasn’t the kind of thing you really had to watch, so I kept it at a low simmer and spent some time making a fool of myself for Julia. I fed her… not soup, just some oatmeal and milk… and settled down in the living room for a while. She suffered through the evening news, so it was her turn; we were checking out some cartoons on television when the phone rang. It was Brian.

Ten minutes later, I hung up the phone. Brian was worried, I could tell. The kid was sharp, I was sure he realized what Harry working overtime implied. I was just glad that he was having a little fun over at Kevin’s. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

Mentally, I wished him luck on getting the job, although daycare positions are usually given to women. Completely prejudiced, I know, but that’s the way the world worked. Bri would be great at it, he’d always done a terrific job with the Elf and he was only 16. That had to count for something.