Runaways (Orphans 5)

Butterfly beamed.

"Maybe Janet will do some dancing for us again and Raven will sing a song. I bet if we leave Crystal alone out here, she'll write a nice new poem," Nana added. "I got some groceries for you to pick up at the corner store, Norman. Maybe Brooke will ride along and help you."

"Sure," I said.

"That'd be fine," Norman said. He looked at all of us and smiled. "Some grandparents somewhere are sure lucky folks," he said.

If we could, we would have all burst out with the truth, just to keep the tears from clouding our eyes.

I was happy to ride along with Norman and I enjoyed hearing him talk about his farming days, his family and growing up in the area, how he met and fell in love with Nana and how much he loved his grandchildren. He wished he could see them more, for Nana's sake as much as his own, he said, and I wondered why they weren't brought around more often. I gathered from what Norman said that his daughter-in-law wasn't fond of visiting the old homestead, as he called it.

He started to ask me questions about my own family and I found myself backed into a corner once or twice. I wasn't as good at making up stories as Crystal. Usually, it was better to let her come up with everything. I know I contradicted myself a few times and made statements that made little or no sense.

I could only imagine what my family would be like. I told him I had no brothers or sisters and used my memories of Pamela for a reference.

"She sounds a lot like Gerry's wife," he muttered.

I went around the aisles in the grocery store, locating the things Nana had put on her list. He said I cut his shopping time in half because I could find things easier.

"I oughta adopt you," he quipped on our way out and I almost lost my breath. I looked down quickly so he wouldn't see the expression on my face. I was never as good as Crystal or especially Raven when it came to hiding my feelings and thoughts. Raven always said I might as well have two tiny television screens for eyes because my thoughts get played on them as clearly as any show on TV.

Dinner was wonderful. None of us could recall anything like it, even when we had lived with foster parents. Butterfly declared it felt like Thanksgiving, which made us all laugh. It was hard to describe the feeling of warmth we all experienced, but it was as if Norman and Nana were truly our grandparents, the family we had never known, and one night, just by accident, we had stumbled upon them. We felt as if we had known them all our lives. Our laughter came naturally, our smiles and concern for each other just seemed to flow.

After dinner Butterfly danced again, only this time she danced longer, truly performing better than ever before. Raven sang two songs. She would have sung a third if she were asked. Crystal had written a short poem about nature, about the way it embraces us and makes us feel alive and spiritual.

I kept my eyes on Nana. I couldn't help but be drawn to her. She was so gentle and so beautiful in her way. There was a sincerity of feeling we all had missed most of our lives. When she watched Butterfly, heard Raven and Crystal, her eyes filled with tears of joy. It brought tears to my own.

Norman thanked us all again for helping him out in the yard.

"I oughta hire you all on for the summer," he said with a chuckle.

"I wish you would," Nana said. "I'd love to have you all stay."

"So would I," Butterfly piped up, her longing for home and family so strong she couldn't contain herself.

"But we have to get to my house," Crystal said, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Butterfly, who looked down quickly.

"Of course, you do, dear. Your families will be worried enough as it is and I'm sure your mama and papa are looking forward to seeing you," Nana said. "Well now, I'm a bit tired," she revealed. "You girls can go into the den and watch television, if you like," she added, rising. "We missed all the shows we would watch."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Crystal said.

"No, no, this was better than anything we could have seen on television, wasn't it, Norman?"

"About a million times better," he said, nodding.

"I'll have breakfast on for you girls in the morning," Nana said starting for the door. She did look tired and suddenly, very old.

"No need for that, Nana," I said. "We'll be getting an early start."

"We get up early," she declared. "You don't leave this house without something hot in your stomach, you hear?"

"Yes, ma'am," I said quickly and she smiled. "Good night, girls. Sleep well."

"Good night, Nana," we all chorused.

Norman remained behind a moment.

"I want to thank you for visiting with us," he said. "It's been a joy. Really has," he added and stood up with a groan. He felt his lower back and shook his head, smiling at me. "You got me working harder than I have all month, girls. Could be you're dangerous to have around," he said with a laugh. I smiled at him. "Night, girls."