Family Bonds 24

Alvin was awakened by Brittany’s voice. “What’s going on?” He got out of bed to see what the commotion was all about.

“Just this,” Brittany said, handing the paper to Alvin. “Looks like these two are planning a trip.”

Theodore awakened as well as Eleanor. “Would you guys shut up and go to sleep!” Theodore almost shouted, still half asleep.

Eleanor dragged herself out of bed. “Hey, guys, what’s going on?”

“Ask Simon,” Brittany said. “You two were going to sneak out without saying a word, weren’t you?”

“Well,” Simon said, scratching his head.

“I knew it,” Brittany said, pointing a finger and scolding him. “You were going to drag my sister to who knows where, leaving us to worry.” She stuck her nose up at him.

“So you’re going to check out that circus Sadie told us about,” Alvin said.

“That was the plan,” Simon said and went over to the closet to grab his backpack.

“And you say I come up with all of the crazy schemes?” Alvin said sarcastically. “Well, look who’s being the hypocrite.”

“And dragging my poor, sweet innocent sister into all of this,” Brittany said, grabbing Jeanette. “You should be ashamed of yourself, Simon Seville.”

Simon came out of the closet with his backpack in hand. He came over to where Brittany was standing and dropped it at her feet. “Just wait a minute,” Simon said, looking her dead in the eye. “I never wanted Jeanette to come. She’s insisting on going.”

“What?!” Brittany almost shouted. “Well, if she did it’s only because you talked her into it.”

“Brittany, quiet down, or Dave and Sadie will wake up,” Jeanette said, trying to calm her sister’s rage. Brittany just simply sat down on her bed and folded her arms. “Simon didn’t talk me into anything. In fact, he demanded that I stay here.”

“Is that true?” Brittany asked in a calm voice.

“Yes,” Jeanette said, sitting down beside her.

“Then I agree,” Brittany said. “It’s way too dangerous.”

“Wait a minute,” Eleanor said. “This could be the one chance for the boys to find out about their mother. I think we should support them.”

“I’m all for that, Eleanor,” Brittany said. “But…”

“But nothing,” Eleanor said. “I think we should all go. If it were us looking for our parents the boys would be there for us. Right?”

“But Ellie,” Theodore said. “Brittany’s right. It could be dangerous. I would never forgive myself if you got hurt.”

“That’s why we should all go,” Eleanor said. “We could protect each other. We’ll be like the six musketeers. All for one and one for all.”

“I think it’s a bad idea,” Brittany said.

“Me, too,” Alvin said, sitting down next to her. “But if you’re going to be stubborn I’m in.”

“Well, then we better hurry before Dave and Sadie get up,” Simon said. “We don’t want them to know we’re gone, until it’s too late.”

They all quickly packed a bag. Alvin looked over at Brittany. “One bag,” he said.

“I know,” she said, giving him a dirty look.

Within an hour they were ready. It was almost dawn so they didn’t have much time.

“Okay, guys,” Alvin whispered as they were getting ready to sneak down the hall.

Simon had just finished writing a letter and sealed it in an envelop and placed it standing up on the desk. They went out the back patio and through the gate. Simon had a plan on how to get to the circus grounds, but they would have to get to the rail station first.

Jeanette had found out that a train passed through there twice a day. They just had to get there in time, before they got caught.

“So, what are we going to do?” Brittany asked, directing the question mostly to Alvin.

“Hitch,” he said matter-a-factly. “What else?”

She just groaned, thinking this whole thing was a terrible idea.

To Be Continued...

Link to first part.

http://expertscolumn.com/content/family-bonds

Link to previous part.

http://expertscolumn.com/content/family-bonds-23