It was October when the leaves are in their prettiest colors: orange, red, yellow and on the ground some brown. Sue sat on the porch thinking of her childhood and her two children, the games they played together and the learning they shared. Yes, she had the good life and was blessed and loved by her children and husband, Jack. In the background she could hear their son Billy's loud giggling and their puppy Rusty, barking. The only one she missed hearing was Anne, their older daughter. Sue knew where Anne was, especially this time of day on Friday. Anne and Jill, her best friend, were playing together in her room. She was always playing with dolls, but then, she was just like Sue when she was little. Jack was due home from work as she looked at her watch and figured she'd better go in and start dinner. As she was going in the front door, the backdoor slammed and a little boy's voice could be heard yelling. Such joys the children were and after dinner things would settle down, or she hoped. When dinner was on the table and was everyone together, meal prayers would be said. How long does it take to say grace and be thankful? Well, with the knocking on the door and the doorbell ringing, Sue thought dinner would never begin especially when each time Jack went to the door and no one was there. Was it their mind playing tricks on them or was someone really there? Follow the pranks and comedy in this heartfelt story of a family with everyday lessons.

Rusty

By Judy Duquin

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 Judy Duquin
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4634-2560-9

Chapter One

Sitting on the porch, Sue remembered how beautiful October was, with the colors on the trees and covering the grounds. Oregon's rich reds, oranges, yellows and greens hidden through each leaf made her think how Mother Nature was so wonderful this time of year. Watching the leaves sway as the breeze blew cooled what was left of an autumn day. Soon she'd look out at her yard; its surrounding area would be a blanket of white snow looking clean and fresh. She enjoyed the time alone here, thinking of things she's done both now and growing up. All thoughts were cast aside when a loud, "Mommy, Mommy!" was heard from inside the house.

"Mommy, where are you?" Anne wanted to know.

"What is all the yelling for?" asked Sue.

"Find me Mommy; it's your turn tonight!" yelled Anne.

"Well, there goes my thought for now." The screen door shut quietly behind Sue as she called for her older daughter, Anne.

"Anne, I know you're hiding close by me. I bet you're right there! Um ... not there. Okay, how about behind the chair! Boo, hey you're not there either." Now, searching through the living room and finding no Anne, Sue moved into the kitchen. "There you are, under the table. One, two, three, oops, you're not there. Anne, last one to the top of the stairs and in your room loses the cookie I have."

Running up the stairs, Sue heard a squeal of giggles. Rounding the corner of the stairs heading for her room, she saw a flash of blue dress running to hide. Giggling louder and louder, Sue hugged Anne as she wiggled and giggled and squirmed until she dropped her on the bed. Both of them laughed so hard they couldn't stop.

"Oh, Mommy," said Anne "you found me. I was good at hiding, wasn't I?"

"Yes, you were, my wiggly worm; yes you definitely were," said Sue.

"Now, I have a surprise for you that I thought was all mine."

"What is it Mommy?" asked Anne.

"Close your eyes and hold out your hand."

As Sue placed the cookie in her small hand, Anne giggled again, and her blue eyes popped open and quickly closed.

"Can I look Mommy?" asked Anne.

"Yes, love, you can look."

"A cookie for me, Mommy, and it's all mine?"

Smiling, Sue held her close, and thought of the days when her own mother did this to her. She was pretty much the same age. Thinking of being five, it was such fun and a delight playing their little game. A finder's reward was tossed in, no matter if she was found or not. Oh, those were the days.

The bang of the door slamming shut told her Billy, their four year old son, just came inside. The little whimper and yips behind him belonged to Rusty, their eight month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

"Mommy!" yelled Billy, "Rusty has my pants and won't let me go! Mommy!" Running feet on the floor, and the grr's from Rusty meant that the play day wasn't over for neither boy nor puppy.

At the bottom of the stairs were Billy and Rusty. Rusty was tugging on Billy's pants. "Mommy ... Rusty wants my pants and they are mine! He can't have them! They need extra legs for Rusty to wear."

Billy was right, even for a four year old. Those laughing blue eyes were looking at Sue as she bent down to remove Rusty from Billy's pant leg.

"Don't tease Rusty with your clothes, Billy. He thought they were his." Scolding Rusty was very difficult for her, as he was only a puppy, and was only playing with Billy. His verbal picture was too funny and laughable.

"I told you before not to tease Rusty with your clothes. He has his own toys that you both can play with, understand?" said Sue.

"Yes, Mommy," said Billy.

"I know what you can give him instead of your clothes to play with." Sue handed Billy a colorful toy. "Now you both can play with this, and not your pants, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy," said Billy.

Racing down the hallway towards the back yard, the boy and puppy were off. Loud screams of delight and yipping could be heard as they left.

As usual, Billy forgot to close the back door.

Sue caught up with them, shut the screen door, and stood watching the two of them play and roll in the grass. Finally, a place for them to play and enjoy: their own playground—soft, cool, but ever so green, even this time of year.

A car was coming up the driveway, and Sue knew who it had to be. It had been a long day, and Sue sure had missed him a lot. In the background, she could hear Rusty barking and Billy racing from the back to the front door just as it opened.

"Hello everyone, I'm home," said Jack.

"Hey Billy, how is my little man doing tonight? Are you forgetting something?" asked Jack.

A big smile lit up his face as he grabbed for his dad's leg and held fast to it. "Pony ride Daddy? Please? Pretty please?" asked Billy.

"All right, but first I need to put up my briefcase. Hold on, here we go," said Jack. "Hold tight, Billy."

Sue stood in the door smiling at the sight of father and son. "I think Dad could use some help; how about it?" she asked.

"Nope, the cowboy here is holding strong, and he is enjoying himself. However, Rusty may be another story. One holding on in the front is one thing, but I seem to have picked up a hitchhiker from the back," said Jack, looking behind him. "Sue, would you get Rusty off my pant leg before he ruins a good pair of pants?"

"Sure, that's the second set of pant legs he liked today," she said, smiling.

"Thanks, sweetheart."

Turning to Billy, Jack asked, "Hey partner, where is your sister?"

"Don't know Daddy," said Billy. "I've been playing outside with Rusty."

"Well then I think we better go find her, so I can collect my hug and tell her I'm home. Hold on there. Here we go." Billy squealed with joy as he was bounced on his daddy's foot, holding on tight. "Yippee, giddy-up horsey."

Making it to the top of the staircase, Jack peeked into Anne's room and thought how much she looked like her mother, with her long, blonde hair, and blue eyes, like the sky. The sun brought out the highlights in her hair as she sat on the cream carpet. Anne was putting a pretty pink dress on her doll, Jill, and had Jill's hair put in a pony tail just like hers. Jack had truly been blessed with a wonderful family.

"Hi, pumpkin." said Jack. "How's my big girl doing tonight?" Anne reeled around with a hug and smiled with her painted lips.

"Oh my, what have we here?" asked Jack.

"I'm playing house Daddy, and I'm the mommy today. Jill is taking her nap now so I can talk with you," said Anne.

Laughing out loud, Jack picked up Anne and got the biggest hug and a red set of lip marks on his cheek. "How is Jill doing today, and are you both having a fun day?"

"She's fine, and yes we are." Would you like me to make you some tea and give you a cookie?" asked Anne.

"Thank you very much," replied Jack. "That would be very nice of you. I will be right back though, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy. I will call you when it's ready."

As Jack entered the kitchen and smelled what Sue had been cooking for dinner, his stomach began to growl. Jack said, "Wow, it sure smells good in here, and I'm as hungry as a bear. When do we eat? Looks like everyone has been busy."

Sue smiled and gave him a hug. "Rusty and Billy have been together all day. According to Billy, Rusty was trying to take off his pants."

"What?" asked Jack, laughing. "That must have been a sight."

"Oh it was," said Sue. "Rusty had the back of Billy's pant leg today, tugging on it like an old sock. Billy was yelling up a storm and dragging Rusty all around, with his paws hitting the floor every now and then. Finally, I got both of them taken care of, and out the back door. I stood and watched Billy race down to the swing in the yard and Rusty right behind him at his heels. Anne wanted to play mommy today, and so we made her up as one."

"I can see you were greeted by her, or was that one of your other girlfriends?" Sue asked.

Jack looked surprised at the question.

"How is that?" Jack asked.

Laughing at him, Sue said, "You'd better take a look at your face and see for yourself."

Smiling, Jack went to the hallway and looked in the mirror. There it was, as plain as day: a small pair of red lips planted right on his cheek. Coming back into the kitchen where Sue was fixing dinner, Jack began wiping off the tiny lip marks and said, "Looks like my girlfriend planted one on me, and left the evidence for everyone to see. Seems like I'm going to have to talk to her about leaving the evidence on my cheek from now on. You know I don't want my wife getting any ideas about me, or my girlfriend."

Sue hugged him again.

At that point, a small voice yelled from upstairs, "Daddy, your tea and cookies are ready." "Okay, pumpkin, I'm coming up, just a minute though. Honey, do I have time to have tea and a cookie with my girlfriend before we have to eat?"

"Oh, you have time," said Sue.

"What smells good?" asked Jack.

"Jack, are you trying to wiggle out of something with that girlfriend of yours?"

"Nope, I just need to sit a spell and have tea and a cookie. Then I will be back down and show her off to you. I hope you won't be too upset with my girlfriend, seeing how pretty she is."

On that note, Sue gave Jack a hug and a swat with the towel in her hand, as he left the kitchen and hurried upstairs.

"Billy, Anne!" called Sue. "Time to come in and eat. Bring Rusty in too, and put him in the laundry room while we eat."

"Okay Mommy. Come on Rusty, let's eat." Racing around the yard one more time before rounding to the back porch, Rusty seemed to have won the race; his red ears flying in the wind as he ran past Billy. He stopped there with his tail wagging, watching Billy catch up with him.

Climbing the stairs, Rusty tried to get ahead, and tripped Billy. Crashing to the porch, half of him on the stairs and the other half laying on the porch, Billy let out a scream and started to cry.

Hearing the scream from Billy, Jack raced down the stairs with Anne at his heels, and met Sue heading out the back door. As the door opened, there lay Billy on his side, crying, while Rusty licked his tears from his face, whining while he licked. "Billy, what happened? Are you all right?" asked Sue and Jack together. They bent over Billy to check out any injuries that may have occurred in his fall.

Sniffing and wiping the tears from his eyes, he nodded. "Russ ... Russ ... Rusty tripped me." Rusty was still trying to get back to where Billy was, but Sue and Jack had moved him away from Billy.

"Anne, please take Rusty and put him in the laundry room. Put the gate up so he can't get out for now."

"Okay, Mommy ..." Anne grabbed Rusty by his collar and was off to the laundry room. Jack picked Billy up as Sue checked to see how he was. Only bruises were found; nothing too major with the crash.

Billy was wiggling in Jack's arms to get down and start running.

"Hold on, partner," said Jack. "I think you'd better slow down for now. Head upstairs now and get washed up for dinner. After all the excitement you gave us, I'm starved."

"Me too," replied Billy.

"Tell Anne to get washed for dinner too, okay?"

`"Okay," said Billy.

"Well, one more crisis down, and heaven knows how many more," said Sue. "Come and help me get things on the table."

Jack set the table as Sue finished preparing dinner. "Could you get the bowls down for me from the top shelf in the cabinet?" Sue asked.

"Sure, one minute."

Reaching up for the bowls and handing them down to Sue, Jack planted a kiss on her forehead. Sue smiled and handed Jack the bowl of potatoes to put on the table, and the chicken too.

"When you're done, come back and get the vegetables, while I make the gravy." Jack was putting everything on the table when Anne and Billy came down.

He looked at Billy and told him to go back up and wash again. "This time, don't forget your face and neck."

"Ah, Daddy," said Billy. "I did wash my face."

"Well partner, scat. It doesn't look like it. Hurry back down; we're ready to eat," replied Jack.

"Okay! Okay! Okay!" said Billy, and off he ran.

"Anne, you need to have pink lips, not red. You need to ask Mommy to get your lips clean and then come back down, too," said Jack.

"Okay, Daddy," said Anne. Then turning to her mom, she said, "Mommy! Mommy!"

"What do you need Anne?" asked Sue.

"Daddy said my lips are red and I need to clean them until they're pink."

Sue held back a smile and tried to put on a very causal look when responding to Anne. "I'll go with you and help you get your pink lips back and get rid of the red ones. Is that okay, sweetheart?"

"Sure Mommy," said Anne. "Daddy will be surprised that my red lips will be gone."

"He sure will."

"Mommy, did I lose my pink lips when we painted them red? Will we find them in my room?" asked Anne.

With a smile, Sue said, "Kind of like that. Here is what we are going to do, and you only do this with me when I'm around to help you, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy, we will do this when you and I are together."

Sue smiled, and handed Anne a warm washcloth to hold over her red lips. "Now, hold your lips open just a little while I put some of this cream on them. Remember don't lick the cream, Anne. You have to keep it out of your mouth"

"Okay, Mommy," said Anne.

As Sue put the cream on Anne's lips, the red started to disappear. "Okay sweetheart, now with the warm cloth, wipe the cream away. Then I will rinse the cloth out and you can wipe your lips again. All right, here you go."

Anne took the cloth and wiped her lips.

"Here Mommy, did I find my pink lips like Daddy wanted?" asked Anne.

Sue laughed. "Almost. Here, wipe again and then we can look and see what we have."

"Okay Mommy."

As Anne finished wiping her lips again, Sue gave her a mirror to look for herself.

"Mommy!!" exclaimed Anne, "I found my pink lips. They're not lost anymore." Sue hugged her and told her they sure did find her lips and Daddy will be so happy to see them. "Let's go eat now."

Heading downstairs, Anne was yelling at the top of her lungs, "Daddy, Daddy, I found my lips! I found my lips!"

Jack was coming out of the dining room to see Anne, and she ran right into him.

"See Daddy, I found my pink lips. My lips are not missing anymore."

"You sure did find them, pumpkin. They look just like the old ones."

"Mommy helped me find them."

Jack chuckled, "Well good for you. Now let's sit down and eat." Everyone was cleaned up and at the table for the meal.

"Children, before we start to eat, we must say our meal prayer," said Sue. "Fold your hands and bow your heads. Lord, bless this food that was prepared for us. Make it nourishing to our bodies so we may continue in our daily work to please you. Thank you, Lord, for our family that you blessed us with. Guide them in their lives and keep them safe and happy, and meet their needs. Come and be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen."

"Mommy, can I have a drink?" asked Anne.

"Sure sweetheart; what would you like to have?"

"Milk," said Anne and Billy together.

"That's a good choice," said Sue. "Before I get it, I need to hear that magic word. What is it?"

"Please," chimed Anne.

"All right," Sue said as she got up from her chair. "Jack, do you want anything while I'm up?"

"No thank you dear, said Jack." Sue was smiling as she left to get the children their drinks from the kitchen. After she left, Jack helped the children fill their plates so they could start eating. Sue brought the milk for Billy and Anne. As she was arriving at the table, the doorbell rang. Sue looked at Jack, and both kids jumped up and started to run for the door.

"Anne and Billy, come back and sit down at the table. You both know better than to run for the door. Daddy will see who is at the door while you both sit down here and eat your meal."

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Rustyby Judy Duquin Copyright © 2011 by Judy Duquin. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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