B&C III - 59

Brian and Christine
Book Three
Saint Jane's
Part 59

They started back toward Brian’s house when he said “Christy, would you like to go for a walk in the park?”

“Okay.”

When they got to the park they walked along and saw the women with their babies, sitting around talking with each other. Some of the older kids were playing on the swings and slides. Christy ran over and got on one of the empty swings and started swinging back and forth vigorously while Brian watched,

When she saw a vendor with a push cart she stopped swinging and said “Brian, can I have an ice cream?”

“Sure” he said.

She jumped off the swing and they went over to the vendor. Brian bought two ice creams on sticks and they sat on a bench and ate them.

“Christy, back there at the school you said that I was your Dad. Is that true?”

“Yup. I don’t have any other Dads. You’re it.”

Brian felt tagged. “Why am I your Dad?”

“Because you care about me.”

A silent laugh came rising up in him like a big bubble.

“Brian?”

“What.”

“Would you ever do anything like that to girls?”

“You mean like what happened to you at Saint Jane’s?”

“Yup.”

“No sweetheart, I never would.”

“There was an older man there. He wasn’t very nice. He was mean.”

“I’m sorry about that. I’m not that man.”

“I hope he’s in the clink.”

That brought back another memory to Brian. A nice one this time.

[“Well, the two troll brains I met are now in the clink.”
“What’s the clink?”
“It’s slang for the jail.”
“Oh. The clink. That’s a funny name. Why do they call it the clink?”
“I don’t really know” said Brian, “but I think it refers to the sound the metal cell door makes when it closes.”
“Clink!”]

“Well, Christy, I’m sure he is, for a good long time. Maybe forever.”

“Hope so.”

“Did you make any friends while you were there?”

“No. I just wanted to get out. Soon as I got there.”

“Well, you’ll make some friends at the school.”

“I guess so.”

“Sure you will. That girl Sally seems like a bright, friendly girl. She could be your friend.”

“Yup.”

When Christy finished her ice cream she looked at the stick turning it over in her fingers, holding it up to the light.

“How’s your room?” Brian asked.

She looked up with a big smile “Oh it’s great. It’s the best room I ever lived in. Cept” she frowned.

“Except what?”

“Are you going to have any more children?”

“Yes. I’m going to round up as many kids as I can find, 12 or 15, and move them all into your room.”

She gasped “You’re kidding!”

“Yes. I’m kidding. You’re it.”


(To be continued.)