Billy looked up through his lashes, tears welling in his eyes. “Don’t be cross.”
“I’m not cross.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Maybe a little. Come here.”
Billy scrambled to his feet and jumped forward, throwing himself into William’s arms.
“You know what we need?”
“What?” The boy asked, his face pressed against William’s neck.
“Ice cream.”
“Oooh yeah!” Billy jumped to his feet, grabbed his sun hat and jammed it on his blonde curls. “Let’s go.”
“Hey, what are the rules?”
“I gotta hold your hand.”
“That’s right, so wait up.”
Harmony restored, they walked across the footpath and over the road, but instead of heading up the Main Street, Billy pulled William’s hand.
“Ice cream shop’s up here, buddy.”
“I don’t feel like ice cream.”
“Really? Because two minutes ago you couldn’t get enough of the idea.”
Billy shrugged and tugged on William’s hand. Curious to see where they were headed and figuring the longer they spent out of the house, the more chance Juniper had to rest, William allowed Billy to lead the way. They turned left into the next street off Beach Road, then took the second street on the right. William looked around. He couldn’t figure out where they were going, until Billy stopped in front of a two-story red brick home with a large front yard and a long driveway that led back to an enormous shed.
“Nora has cookies.”
“You little brat! I’m not knocking on Nora’s door demanding cookies. I barely know her.”
“She’ll make you tea and then you know her.”
Well, that was a point that was hard to argue against. But still. “No, buddy. Let’s go and have ice cream.” Just as Billy’s shoulders were slumping and his lip beginning to wobble, John came out to the door of the shed and called out.
“Hey, young fella. What’re you doing here?”
“Nora has cookies,” he stated, walking down the drive toward John.
“That she does. If you ask real nice, and use your manners, she might give you one.”
Billy looked up at William triumphantly. “See!” he whispered in a loud aside.
“You’re a scoundrel.”
Billy grinned, delighted at the insult. Then he walked off, hands in his pockets, saying “scoundrel, scoooundrel, scoundrelll” to himself as he climbed the back steps and reached up on tiptoes to pull on the door handle. “Nora! I’m a scoundrel!” he shouted as he went inside.
“I’ve often said that,” William heard Nora call back then both men smiled as Billy’s giggle floated on the air.
William briefly explained how they’d ended up on John’s doorstep demanding cookies, much to John’s amusement. “He sure is a scallywag, but we wouldn’t have him any other way.”
“True.” William followed John as he went back into the shed,dropping Billy’s backpack onto the wide workbench. “This is a great setup you’ve got here.”
