overwhelming.
We lived on an acreage and had
some bantam hens. Bantams
have a habit of laying eggs
wherever they choose.
.....
Lucile dropped her schoolbooks
on the table and made me a cup
of tea. Soon, the cup of tea
helping, I gained my composure
and let out a big sigh.
“Do you wish you didn't
have us?” Van, the
youngest, wanted to
know.
James looked at me and asked,
“Mom? Did we do something
wrong?”
“No,” I replied, struggling to
smile. “I'm just exhausted. It's all
right. Some day when you have
children you'll understand.”
Because of their great flying
ability, we found it impossible to
keep these little chickens penned
up so the children made it their
job to find the bantie eggs each
day.
One day two of the boys found a
nest of six eggs. Half on, and half
off the nest, lay a dead hen. The
boys came running to me, asking
if they could bring the eggs in and
try to incubate them.
I agreed. It was summer and
would make a great project for
them.
“Do you wish you didn't have us?”
Van, the youngest, wanted to
know.
“Of course I don't wish I didn't
have you,” I replied, pulling him
close. “But sometimes mommies
just get tired. Sometimes
mommies wish they could have a
break. But I'm okay now. Come
and help get supper.”
JASMINE'S PLACE
19