Second in the Series

The Marshall triplets are almost two years older in this passage than in the passage shared yesterday.  I think they are growing up nicely.

The girls had finished their homework and were playing with the kittens when the doorbell rang.  Rosadel had told Cassidy there was no need for her to come back with Arlene and Julie, so this time it was just the two women.

Pooh ran right to Arlene when they walked into the dining room.  Lou walked over to Arlene and Julie. “Hi, I’m Lou Marshall. I’m glad to meet you.  And that is Grace, and that is Rosie, and that is Michelle.”

Arlene and Julie were immediately charmed.  “Hi, Lou. I’m Arlene and this is Julie. Thank you for taking such good care of these kittens.”

“You’re welcome.  What are you going to name Pooh?”

Arlene had picked up the kitten and was cuddling her.  “My last cat was orange too, and her name was Ginger Rogers.  I think this one will be Lucille Ball and we will call her Lucy.”

“What happened to Ginger Rogers?” asked Rosie.

Arlene sighed.  “Ginger died right after I was diagnosed with cancer.  We decided to wait until I was finished with chemotherapy before getting another kitten.”

“What’s chemo that word mean?”  asked Grace.

Rosadel intervened.  “Chemotherapy is one of the ways that cancer is treated.  Sometimes, when people have chemotherapy, they are very sick and tired until it is over.”

“Did Mom-Mom Allie have chemotherapy?”  asked Lou.

“Many times,” replied Rosadel.  

“I’m sorry you are sick with cancer,” Grace told Arlene.  “I hope you get better and that Pooh, I mean Lucy, helps you feel better faster.”

Arlene knelt down so that she could look Grace right in the eyes.  “Thank you Grace. I actually started feeling better as soon as I met Lucy.”

“We have been kind of getting mad at everyone because they are taking our kittens away, but I’m starting to understand what Gee-Jay told us.  I hope that Lucy makes you feel better too.” said Lou.

Arlene looked somewhat helplessly at Rosadel, not sure how to answer.

“They’re mine and I can’t always follow the conversation, Arlene, so you are not alone.  My mom, that would be Mom-Mom Allie died from cancer when I was twelve, and Gee-Jay is my dad’s wife.  I think what Lou just told you is she finally understands that these kittens are meant to live with other people who need them more than we do.”

“That’s right, Mommy,” said Grace, “See you do know what we mean.”

Arlene’s eyes filled.  “Thank you girls. I really do need Lucy right now, she will help me not miss Ginger so much.  I can’t go back to work for a while, so I get lonely while Julie is at work.  Lucy will keep me company until I feel well enough to go to work.”

The girls said goodbye to Pooh/Lucy with no tears, and with hugs for Arlene and Julie.  “We’ll pray for you to get better on our rosary beads,” promised Grace. “Sister Dorothy gave them to us because we’re grown up enough now.”

From "Unexpected Blessings", Book 2 in the Bayou Beni series.