Free Dear to Me by Wanda E. Brunstetter Page B

taking hold of Emma’s hand. “Let’s go to the kitchen and let the others handle this.”
     “She needs our help.”
     “We’re gonna have to trap ’em.”
     “They’re just a couple of desperate critters.”
     “Come here, Snow.”
     “Easy now, Cinnamon.”
     Everyone spoke at once, and the animals kept circling the living room. Finally, Noah held up his hands. “Everybody, please calm down.” He turned to Isaiah. “What are the paper sacks for?”
     The boy shrugged. “I don’t know. Gabe asked me to get ’em.”
     Gabe swiped at the sweat beaded on his forehead. “I figured if the four of us each took a sack, we might be able to trap Cinnamon or Snow inside one of the bags.”
     “I believe I have a better plan.” Noah turned back to Isaiah. “Please go to the kitchen and get a broom from the utility closet.”
     Melinda’s eyes grew huge as silver dollars as she grasped her stepfather’s arm. “I hope you’re not going to smack either one of my pets.”
     Faith spoke up. “Only one of them is a pet, Melinda, and I’m sure your daed wouldn’t intentionally hurt either animal.”
     Grandpa Hertzler sank into the closest chair. “Would ya put that broom away? I hate housework; always did.” He shook his head, and his white beard moved back and forth across his chest like the pendulum on the clock above the fireplace.
     “We’re not going to clean house, Pop,” Noah said. “And I don’t plan to do the animals any harm.” He nodded at Isaiah. “Now hurry and get me that broom.”
     The boy shoved the paper sacks at Gabe and scurried out of the room.
     Gabe handed one sack to Melinda, one to Aaron, one to Susie, and kept the one for himself. He crouched down and opened his sack, telling the others to do the same. “If either the cat or the squirrel comes your way, try to scoop it into your bag.”
     Noah shook his head. “I don’t think that’s going to work. I believe my way’s better.” He cupped his hands around his mouth. “Isaiah, where is that broom?”
     “I’ll see what’s keeping him,” Melinda’s mother offered.
     Just then, Isaiah dashed into the room, flung the broom at his father, and scuttled off to one side with an expectant look on his face.
     “Somebody, open the front door!”
     Melinda rushed to do as her stepfather had commanded.
     Gabe groaned. Whatever Noah had in mind, he was sure it would fail. He remained on his knees, waiting for either the squirrel or the kitten to pass his way again. A few seconds later, Cinnamon skittered across the floor in front of Gabe’s paper sack, and Noah’s broom swooshed past the critter’s bushy tail. Cinnamon took off like a flash of lightning and zipped through the open doorway.
     With a pathetic meow, the cat darted under the sofa, and no amount of coaxing on Melinda’s part could bring her out.
     “Just leave her be,” Noah said as he headed for the kitchen with the other adults. “She’ll come out when she’s good and ready.”
     As Gabe stood, his heart went out to Melinda. She looked so dejected, sitting with her head down and her shoulders slumped. What had started out to be a nice birthday party had turned into utter mayhem.
     “Come on, the excitement’s over. Let’s head back to the dining room and finish those games we started,” Aaron said to the others.
     “I’m going to the kitchen to get more cake,” Isaiah announced.
     The children and teens filed out of the room, but Melinda stayed in a kneeling position as she continued to call her kitten. “Here, Snow. You can come out now. The squirrel is gone.”
     Gabe shifted from one foot to the other, unsure of what to do. He thought about offering to go outside and look for the squirrel but knew that would be ridiculous. Cinnamon was probably halfway to Seymour by now.
     For lack of anything better to do, he flopped into a chair and sat with his arms folded, staring out the window at the pouring rain and streaks of