The Haircut
Terri Sutro
The girl sighed as she settled comfortably in his
lap. “Oh Thaddeus, I love your
hair. Such beautiful curls. Why I can’t make mine do that?” She giggled and ran her fingers through the
long blond hair of the man known to most of the populace on either side of the
Kid Curry blinked at her,
silently groaned and glanced at his partner.
Hannibal Heyes laughed. “I’m sure he’d be happy to show you how he
does it Miss Jennie.” He forced himself
to swallow his smile. “Women sure do
love those curls Thaddeus.”
“Don’t you have somewhere
else to be Joshua.” Kid growled at his
cousin.
“Nope. No place at all.” Heyes said pleasantly.
“Well I do.” He stood up unceremoniously pulling the woman
to her feet with him. “I’m gonna get a
haircut.”
Heyes grinned. “Barber’s closed for the night. But if you’re in a hurry, I’d be glad to help
you out?”
Kid froze, staring at
Heyes. Finally his face creased in a
memory.
“It wasn’t so bad.” Heyes reminded him.
“No, not so bad at all. After a month or so when it all grew out
again.” Kid grinned in spite of
himself. “Think I’ll just wait till morning.”
“OK, Thaddeus, but if you
change your mind, I think I’m gonna be helping those fellas over there lighten
their money belts.” Heyes rose and
started towards an adjoining table where a seat had just opened up at what
looked like a very profitable poker game.
Kid watched him go. He shook his head, and muttered under his
breath. Haircut. He snorted in amusement, remembering the
last time Heyes, a pair of shears and he had gotten together.
“Well will you look at
him.” The smiling woman approached
Bridget Curry with hands outstretched.
“What beautiful curls.” She
ruffled the blond ringlets happily. “Why
with those curls he should be a little girl.”
Seven year old Jedediah
Curry squirmed out of his mother’s grasp.
“I’m not a girl.” He shouted.
“Now Jed, darlin’. Mrs. Witherspoon didn’t mean that…” Bridget Curry smiled and tried to get hold of
her son.
“I don’t care…I’m not a
girl…” He glared at the woman unhappily.
Mrs. Elsie Witherspoon
frowned. “Such a temper. You should
teach the child manners Mrs. Curry.” She
huffed off down the busy main street of
Bridget Curry sighed and
looked down at her youngest child. His
jaw was set and his forehead creased in a deepening frown. His eyes, normally a laughing sky blue were a
darker, stormier shade. “Jedediah
m’love, you shouldn’t be talkin’ to adults that way.”
“But ma, she called me a
girl…” Jed’s lip trembled angrily.
“No, darlin’ she just
said…” Bridget sighed again and ran her
fingers through the blond curls. Try as
she did she never could stay angry with him.
“Well your hair is a wee bit long…maybe we should see about gettin’ it
cut.”
Jed nodded vigorously. “Can we cut it now ma?” He tugged on her arm and tried to turn her
towards their wagon.
She laughed. “We have supplies to buy, darlin’. But after that. Come along now. Aunt Murieann and Hannibal are already at
Mr. Patrick’s General Store. We
shouldn’t be keeping them waiting.” She
practically dragged the boy across the dusty street to the store where her
sister and nephew were talking to the storekeeper.
The dark haired boy’s eyes
lit up when he saw his friend enter the story.
He immediately disengaged his hand from his mother’s and ran to him.
“JED! Come look what I got Jed!”
Jed ran towards him eager to
see what was being clutched in that small fist and together they disappeared
towards the back of the store.
“Don’t be gettin’ into
trouble you two!” Brigid Curry called
out, knowing full well they would. It
was just a matter of what and where. She
hugged her sister and they exchanged knowing glances. “Day to you Mr. Patrick. Did that cloth I sent for come?”
“Oh Bri, it did indeed and
it’s lovely.” The dark haired woman held
up the bolt of deep blue cloth for her
sister. “It’ll make a beautiful dress
for Rachel.”
“Indeed it will Miz
Curry.” Sean Aloysius Patrick’s dry
goods store was part of the mercantile area along
“Ay, well he’s a handsome
lad to be sure.” She fingered the cloth and thumbed through the folds. “But Mr. Patrick, there’s far too
much….” She frowned calculating the cost
of the extra fabric.
“They went and sent all that
ma’am. And there’s not enough for two
lady’s dresses, but surely enough for….”
He saw the distinct something else in her glance and cleared his
throat. “Well I can’t sell the left
over, so there’ll be no charge.”
Brigid Curry was a beautiful
woman, tall, slender with golden blond hair and wide blue eyes. Many men admired her, including Mr.
Patrick. Brigid Curry wasn’t aware of
most of that and if she had, she would have put the men in their place with a
few very carefully chosen words. For
whatever else Brigid was, she was devoted to her husband James and their
children. She glanced at her sister who
was trying not to laugh at the man’s attempts at flattery. “I can’t be takin’ it Mr. Patrick. But thank you for your offer.”
“Now Bri, the poor man can’t
be sellin’ that wee remnant. She’ll take
it Mr. Patrick and be thankin’ ye too.”
She nudged her sister with a look.
Brigid took another deep
breath and glared at Muireann. “Very
well, thank you Mr. Patrick for your kindness.
Now if ye’ll be gettin’ our supplies together we both have chores
waitin’ for us at home.”
“And some of us have social
engagements to attend to.” Mrs.
Witherspoon had listened to the dialogue at the counter. She pushed her way between the two
women. “And if I’m not mistaken, I was
here first.”
Muireann laughed, ignoring
the woman’s interruption. “G’on then and
take care of Mrs. Witherspoon first, Mr. Patrick. A few more moments won’t be causing that much
trouble.” She turned to Brigid. “You and Rachel’ll both be beautiful at the
dance.”
Brigid scowled at the other
woman’s rudeness, but turned her attention to her sister. “And what’ll ye be wearin’ Molly?” She peeked around her sister and found a bold
of deep green. “Ay, wearin’ the color of
home. It’ll suit you sister.”
Muireann smiled softly. As beautiful as her sister, with auburn hair
that shown coppery in the Kansas sun and eyes that could be the deepest brown
or the blackest black depending on her mood.
Suddenly the sisters
exchanged glances and looked around. It
was far too quiet. And for far too long.
“Hannibal? Jedediah?”
Muireann called out. “What’re ya
gettin’ into boys?”
There was silence for a
moment.
“Nothin’ ma?” Hannibal’s voice trickled out from the back
of the store. He exchanged looks with
his cousin and shook his head. How did
his ma always know.”
“You sure this’ll work
Han?” Jedediah kept glancing over his
shoulder. He just knew his ma was gonna
be there.
“Sure Jed. If I set the fuse just right…long enough I
mean, why we’ll be clear at the other side of the park ‘fore it goes off. Right in the middle of Mr. Swanson’s tuba
playin’.” Nine year old Hannibal Heyes
grinned a mischievious grin.
June in Lawrence brought
warm nights and band concerts to the town’s center. The residents came to South Park and sat on
blankets listening to the band play. The
adults might even dance. Which was fine
for them. But for a little boy named
Hannibal Heyes with too much energy to sit still for long, they needed just
something else to make them tolerable.
Something like the biggest
firecracker Lawrence had ever seen. He’d
been planning it for months now, carefully gathering used bullets, shotgun
pellets anything that had a trace of gunpowder on it. He had actually been brave enough to take
some of his father’s real bullets from the desk he wasn’t supposed to get
into.
He knew that’s where the gun
was kept. He didn’t want to touch
that. Something about it scared
him. His father and uncle and even his
grampa had been practicing shooting for months.
In case the troubles come to our farm, he’d told a curious
Hannibal. Not to worry son, they won’t
come. We don’t have anything they’d be
interested in. No, the gun didn’t mean
anything to him. But the bullets. Well the bullets had something he
wanted.
Hannibal wanted to ask them
more about the troubles. And about the
soldiers who came to their farm from time to time. But he didn’t have time for that now. He had to finish the plans. He made a note to talk to his father about
those other things later. He had so many
questions to ask his father. And
everytime he’d get one answered, he always thought up another. He pushed his errant thoughts aside. He had to get back to the firecracker.
Every night since he thought
this up, in the dark of his room, with only a stub of a candle casting a soft
glow, Hannibal would scrape the gunpowder into a small leather pouch until it
finally was full. He’d kept it a secret
from everyone, even his best friend, until he was sure he could do it. Now to tell Jed what he had planned for the 4th
of July.
But his ma took him to town
first thing the next morning. “I’ll be
needing some help with the supplies Hannibal.
And your father has his work here.”
She ruffled his hair and fixed a simple straw hat livened up with a red
sash on her hair. “Come along now
darlin’.”
“But ma…I got things…I mean
I got chores to do. Pa’ll skin me for
sure if’n I don’t get to them.” He tried
to scramble away, but she caught his arm.
“Now don’t try any of your
blarney on me Hannibal. We both know as
soon as I leave you’ll be sneakin’ off to see Jedediah.” She smiled and turned him to the door,
deciding to put him out of his misery.
“You can see him later, he and Aunt Brigid will be meetin’ us at the
store in a while. Come alone now.”
Hannibal’s eyes widened,
hearing his words and suddenly he was pulling her towards the wagon. “Can I drive the wagon Ma?” Hannibal scrambled onto the seat of the wagon
and reached for the reins. “Please, I’ll
be real careful.”
His mother chuckled. “You’ll be wantin’ to grow up too soon…all
right, just go slowly. Hannibal. Slowly.”
He smiled gleefully and
clucked the horses into motion, frowning when his mother’s hand covered his in
an unspoken command to slow down.
They finally made it into
town. Hannibal jumped down and rushed to
help his mother, taking her hand once she was down and tugging it till they got
to Mr. Patrick’s store.
“Hannibal, well you please
slow down…oh mornin’ Mrs. McCarthy…Hannibal for Heaven sakes…good day t’ye Mr.
Perkins…HANNIBAL!” She pulled to a stop,
ricocheting Hannibal back into her arms.
“What on earth…what’re ya in such a hurry for darlin’…” She saw the eager look in her son’s
eyes. “Ah, of course. It’d be because Aunt Brigid and Jedediah are
at the store.” She laughed. “G’on then, off with ye. I need to stop and see Mr. Campbell at the
leather store.” She shooed him off,
watching as he took off running to find his friend. Smiling fondly at the boy, she sighed and
entered the shop.
Hannibal raced to the dry
goods store and pushed open the door. He
looked frantically around but didn’t see either his aunt or his best
friend.
“Well young Hannibal, what
can we do for you today?” Mr. Patrick
handed the boy a cinnamon stick.
“Did you see Jed, Mr.
Patrick?” Hannibal looked around again,
then remembered. “Thank you Mr.
Patrick. Is Jed here?”
“Why no, I haven’t seen Jed
today, nor his mother.” The man looked
up as the door opened.
Hannibal turned
excitedly. “Jed, I gotta talk…oh.”
“Morning Mrs.
Witherspoon. How can I help you?” Mr. Patrick smiled at the woman and walked
her to the counter.
Hannibal sighed deeply. He saw his mother crossing the street. Where was Jed. He had things to tell him. He opened the door as his mother
approached. “Jed’s not here ma. He’s comin’ isn’t he? You said he’d be here with Aunt Brigid.”
“And so he will be
darlin’. Perhaps they weren’t pushing
the horses quite so quickly.” She
grinned at him and brushed his hair off his forehead with her fingers. “They’ll be here soon enough. Come along now. I need to talk to Mr. Patrick.” She took his hand, eyeing the cinnamon
stick. “You’ll be savin’ that till after
lunch.”
Hannibal looked
dejected. “Yes ma.” His small shoulders slumped as he followed
her to the counter.
To most nine year old boys
time waiting for their best friend to arrive seems to never pass. To Hannibal Heyes who had not been born with
any part of the gift of patience, waiting for Jed seemed to take forever. He nearly tackled the younger boy when he
finally arrived. “JED! Come look what I got Jed!”
Finally alone in the shadows
of the back of the store the two small heads conspired.
“We gotta build it today
Jed. It won’t be hard. I got all the parts and I know I can do
it.” Hannibal showed Jed a picture he’d
drawn.
Jed turned it around. “But Han, it’s gonna half’ta be real
big.” He scrunched up his face. “You got the powder?”
Hannibal nodded
vigorously. “I been savin’ it up
Jed. It’s gonna be bigger that the one
that fella at the circus had last year.
You remember?”
It was Jed’s turn to
nod. “That blowed a hole right in the
top of the tent Han.” His smile
faded. “I don’t think ma’ll like us
blowing a hole in anything Han.”
“We won’t Jed. I know how to point it so it won’t hurt
nothin’. It’ll just make a real big
noise. Trust me Jed. I know how to do this.” Hannibal broke the cinnamon stick in half and
gave the larger piece to his cousin.
“You gonna help me?”
Jed hitched up his overalls
and glared his best glare. “Course I am.
We’re partners. What do we gotta
do?”
“Well after chores, you come
over and we’ll start building it. I got
a hiding place all picked out in the barn.
No one’ll find it. Then we just
gotta figure out how to get it to town on Sunday.” Hannibal looked thoughtful.
“We could wrap it in a
blanket and put it in the wagon real early Han.
If we got in the wagon first we could sit next to it. No one would even see it.” Jed was studying the drawing his cousin had
given him. “How big you think it gonna
be?”
“That’s a good idea
Jed.” Hannibal bit off a piece of the
candy and motioned with his hands.
“About this big I think.” He
spread his arms wide.
“We’re gonna need a bigger
blanket.” Jed folded the paper and put
it in his pocket.
They jumped up at the sound
of Muireann Heyes’ voice.
“Hannibal? Jedediah?”
Muireann called out. “What’re ya
gettin’ into boys?”
There was silence for a
moment.
“Nothin’ ma?” Hannibal’s voice trickled out from the back
of the store. He exchanged looks with
his cousin and shook his head. How did
his ma always know.”
The two little boys walked
solemly back to the counter where both mothers stood. The women looked at one another. Something was going to happen. There was no mistaking those faces.
“Hannibal, take Jedediah out
to the wagon. And don’t be getting into
trouble.” Brigid Curry frowned.
“Yes ma’am.” Hannibal motioned to his cousin and the two
boys ran to the door, running right into Mrs. Elspeth Witherspoon.
“Well…little boys should
know their manners.” She huffed as she
left the store.
“Oh.” Jed remembered their prior encounter and
didn’t move for a minute a dark expression on his usually happy face.
“What is it Jed?” Hannibal held the door open, but his cousin
didn’t move until the woman had crossed the street and was nearly out of sight.
Then he ran past Hannibal to
his wagon and climbed in.
Hannibal caught up, climbing
in next to him. “What’s the matter? Did Miz Witherspoon do somethin’ to you?”
Jed’s eyes had darkened to a
deep blue. “She called me a girl.” He whispered, glaring at Hannibal, daring him
to laugh.
“Huh? Why’d she think that? That’s dumb Jed.” Hannibal cocked his head curiously.
“She did Han.” He thought for a minute. “Han?
Do I have hair like a girl?”
Hannibal screwed up his face
and studied his friend.
“Do I Han?” Jed for an instant looked worried that his
friend might actually agree.
“Nah. It’s just that it’s long and got curls and
stuff Jed.” He suddenly figured it
out. “Is that what she said Jed? Cause you just gotta ignore her. Why she don’t know nothin’.”
Jed relaxed. “Anyways I’m gonna get a haircut.” He jumped up, remembering. I gotta go get Ma. She promised I could have one after the
store.” He slid down from the wagon and
started running back towards the store, meeting his mother and the young man
who helped out at the store, half way there.
“Ma! I gotta get a haircut. You promised.” He tried to pull her towards the barber shop
where he’d watched his pa get a haircut once.
“Jedediah! Will ye stop pullin’…Jedediah! I told you you’d get your haircut and so you
will. As soon as we get home…I’ll do it
myself. Now will you get to the
wagon. Your father will be wonderin’
what’s become of us all.” She tugged the
boy back to the wagon and watched as the man loaded the bolt or fabric and her
other supplies. “Go on Hannibal. Your
mother’ll be lookin’ for you too.”
Brigid gave her son the look that told him clearly that this was not the
time for an argument.
“Yes ma’am.” Hannibal climbed down and walked forlornly
towards his wagon. He could see his
mother dividing her attention between him and the supplies being loaded in the
wagon. He turned back and waved at Jed
as their wagon went by.
It was a slow ride back to
the Heyes farm. Muireann kept hold of
the reins this time. “I think the horses
have had enough of a race for one day darlin’.”
“Yes ma’am.”
She watched him for a
moment. Lost in his dreams
again. She slid an arm around his
shoulders and drew him a bit closer.
He looked up at her and
smiled. “It’s all right ma. I just got some things to think about.”
He sounded so serious, she
had to smile again. “You’re just a boy
Hannibal. Don’t go spending so much time
thinkin’ about things that you miss what’s in front of you.”
He frowned, not
understanding entirely. “Yes ma.” He’d have to ask her to explain what she
meant. But not now. They were finally home and he had other, more
important things to do. “Can I go
ma?”
She sighed. “Yes darlin’.
But don’t be goin’ far. You’ve
got your lessons to finish and chores to do.
“I won’t ma. I promise.”
He jumped down and ran to the barn, skidding to a stop when he saw his
father coming out. “Pa…”
“Ah, I see you and your ma
are home. Did you enjoy your trip to
town Hannibal?” Daniel Heyes knelt down
so he was eye level with his son.
“Yes pa. Jed was there and Aunt Brigid.” His eyes drifted towards the barn.
“You have chores don’t you
son?” His father tried not to smile at
the downcast expression on the boy’s face.
“Well I suppose they can wait for a little while. Tis a fine day and I’m sure you and Jedediah
have some grand adventure planned.”
Hannibal’s eyes lit up. “Yes pa…I mean no…I mean…thank you pa. I promise I’ll do my chores later.” He ran towards the Curry farm to get Jed.
“Hannibal!” His father’s voice stopped him.
He turned hesitatingly
hoping his father hadn’t been teasing him.
“Yea Pa. I promise I’ll do my
chores Pa and my lessons too…can I go now Pa?”
“Jedediah’s already in the
barn.” Daniel Heyes laughed at the
amazed expression on his son’s face.
Hannibal frowned. He’d never understand how his ma and pa
always knew everything. But he decided
it was all right. He had a plan. And he and Jed had the whole day to finish
the firecracker so that it would work perfectly.
“Jed!” Hannibal stopped just inside the barn,
letting his eyes adjust to the shadows.
“Up here Han.” Jed peeked down from the loft that the two
boys had made their special place.
They’d spend hours there playing and talking and sharing dreams and
adventures they’d be having when they were grown up.
Hannibal hastily climbed the
ladder up and looked around. Satisfied
they were alone he started digging through some blankets balled up in a
corner. “Look Jed.” He drew out a long slender tube of heavy
paper, about a foot in length and an inch around. “I saved the box my map came in. And I used some of the stuff pa uses us stick
his stamps in his book to keep it together.
I thought it needed colors so I colored it.” He handed it solemnly to Jed.
The younger boy took it,
holding it up to the light. He nodded
his approval. “How you gonna get the
fuse in Han?” Both ends were sealed.
Hannibal frowned and looked
at his cousin, then at his firecracker.
“I forgot Jed. How could I forget
the fuse.” He shook his head.
“It’s all right Han. If we make a hole at the end we can push the
fuse up the ‘cracker. And if’n you still
got the glue we can make it so the powder don’t come out.” Jed pointed to the end he thought would do.
“I got the glue right here
Jed. You wanna make the hole?” Hannibal unburied the pot of glue and picked
off the bits of straw stuck to it.
Jed looked around and
finally found a loose nail hanging from one of the beams in the loft. He yanked out and carved a hole in one end of
the tube. “You got the fuse Han?”
Hannibal nodded and handed
him a length of cord.
Jed carefully fed the cord
through the hole into the tube until he had only a about a six inch length
left. Then he held the tube out. “That long enough Han?”
Hannibal studied it
thoughtfully, pulling it out a bit more, then carefully painted the glue over
the hole. He added an extra glop just to
be sure. “It’s gonna take a while to dry
so it’s not sticky anymore.”
“I’ll hold it Han. We got time.”
Jed lowered himself crosslegged onto the hay covered floor of the
loft.
Hannibal followed. “Thanks Jed.
I forgot the fuse.” He shook his
head.
“But I remembered, so it
don’t matter.” The younger boy
frowned. “Han?”
“Yea Jed.” Hannibal stretched out next to Jed and folded
his arms behind his head.
“I don’t think my ma’s gonna
give me a haircut.” Jed said
mournfully. “She said she would, but
then she and Rachel were talkin’ ‘bout her stupid dress and ma kept sayin’
later. But I don’t wanna look like a
girl Han.”
Hannibal thought for a
moment. “You want me to cut it
Jed?”
“You ever cut hair before
Han?” Jed turned hopefully to his
cousin.
“Why sure. I cut Xander’s and Conor’s all the
time.” Hannibal had never actually cut
either of his brothers’ hair. But he’d
watched as his mother lined all three boys up and cut each in turn, but he
figured that was close enough.
“Would’ya Han?” Jed tested the glue with the tip of his
finger, then carefully set the firecracker down.
“Sure Jed. You want me to do it now? I think pa keeps some scissors out here.” Hannibal sat up.
“Yea, that way I won’t look
like no girl no more Han.” Jed nodded
vigorously.
“You don’t look like a girl
Jed, but if’n you want…” He got up and
started down the stairs. “I’ll see if I
can find the scissors.
A moment later the boy was
back in the loft. “I got ‘em Jed.” He was trying to remember what his mother
did. “Come over here so I got light.”
Jed sat crosslegged in front
of his cousin waiting expectantly. “You
gonna do it Han?”
“Yea, just let me figure out
where to start.” Hannibal shrugged his
shoulders and took hold of one of the blond curls.
Snip. The curl came away in his hand. This haircutting wasn’t so hard.
Snip. Another. And another.
“The firecracker is gonna be
the best anywhere Jed. It’s gonna go as
high as the stars.” Hannibal closed his
eyes and watched his firecracker climbing and climbing and finally
exploding.
“No one’s gonna know what it
was or where it came from Han.” Jed
laughed.
Hannibal laughed too. “We’re gonna be famous Jed.”
“Han? You almost done?” Jed looked at all the curls that surrounded
him.
“Huh? Oh yea…oh.” Hannibal released his hold on his vision of a
firecracker and returned to the loft.
His eyes widened and he swallowed hard.
His ma and aunt were gonna kill him.
Jed’s hair lay everywhere. What
was left was chopped at all lengths. Some very short, some not. “Uh, Jed.
You wanted the curls gone, right?”
He said weakly.
“Yea Han…Han?” Jed looked confused.
“I’m sorry Jed. I got to thinkin’ ‘bout the firecracker…I’m
sorry Jed…it’ll grow back…” Hannibal
suddenly had a thought. “I can fix it
Jed.”
An hour later the two boys
had hidden the firecracker and climbed down the ladder.
“You sure it’s better
Han?” Jed didn’t know what exactly Han
had fixed. But he trusted him
completely.
Hannibal couldn’t look. “Yea Jed. It’s better. I got chores.”
“Yea, me too. Are you comin’ over tonight Han?” Jed headed back to his farm.
“Uh, no, I got lessons
Jed.” He headed towards the house. “Uh Jed.
Your ma’ll be busy with Rachel’s dress.
So you just go do your chores.
OK? Oh and make sure you wear
your hat.”
“Jed looked confused. “Sure Han.”
He ran off down the well worn path back to his house.
Daniel and Muireann Heyes
wondered why their eldest son was suddenly so quiet. He’d come in the house and gone straight to
do his chores. Then he’d done his lessons. Then he’d gone to his room and was reading a
book.
They’d asked if he’d had a
fight with Jed, but he shook his head.
His ma felt his forehead to make sure he wasn’t sick. He had such a mournful, desperate look in his
eyes, they both knew something had happened.
But Hannibal had his own ways and they knew him well enough to know he’d
either talk about it when he was ready or they’d find out on their own.
The family had just sat down
to supper when the explosion happened.
The door burst open and
Brigid Curry stormed into the house.
“Hannibal Heyes, how could you…Muireann I expect the child to bear full
punishment for this…my poor little boy…oh Hannibal what were ya thinkin’…what
are people gonna say…Daniel…you’ll be teaching the boy a lesson or so help
me…”
“Calm yourself woman.” Daniel Heyes rose and went to his sister in
law. “What’s happened. Is Jedediah hurt?”
“Hurt? Hurt?
How can you even ask. Why look at
him?” She reached behind her and pulled
Jed out. His face was tearstained and
his lip trembled.
Hannibal closed his
eyes.
The other children
laughed.
“Oh my Lord in Heaven.” Daniel said.
“Saints preserve us” Muireann whispered. “What on earth….”
There was the sound of
childish laughter. “Looka Jed Ma” Alexander Heyes happily squealed
“Never you mind that. Alexander, Conor, go to your room. Now.
I’ll bring your dinner.” Their
mother ordered the boys off.
The two children ran to
their room, still laughing at their cousin’s plight.
James Curry and Brendan
Patrick Curry, grampa to the children slid silently into the house from either
side of the woman.
“My beautiful child…look at
him…look at what Hannibal’s done to him.”
Brigid Curry’s anger turned to tears.
“His beautiful hair…”
“Jedediah, darlin’ what
happened?” Murieann knelt before the boy
and put her arms around him.
Jed’s voice quivered. He still wasn’t sure what the problem was,
although he knew it had something to do with his new haircut.
He’d gone home and done his
chores and lessons. He’d kept his hat on
until he was done and it was almost supper.
Then he took it off. His brothers
had stared at him, and started laughing.
They always teased him, so he didn’t think much of it. His ma had been busy with Rachel.
But then his ma had called
him to supper and as soon as he’d come into the room she’d started
screaming. Rachel had laughed too, but
then got as mad as their ma.
Now, the boy wasn’t sure
what to say. “Han cut my hair for me,
Aunt Murieann.”
The woman turned to her
son. “Oh Hannibal how could you.”
Hannibal opened his
eyes. “I’m sorry ma, I tried to cut it
good, cause Jed didn’t want to look like a girl no more. But I cut too much so I tried to fix it…”
“By gluing it back on?” Brigid strode to the boy. “Do ye realize what you’ve done?”
Daniel stepped between
them. “Now Bri, Hannibal didn’t mean to
hurt Jedediah. But I must admit, I’ve
never heard of anything like that before.
Are ya hurt Jedediah?”
“No sir. Han was just tryin’
to help…” Jed started. He scratched his head and came away with a
curl in it.
Daniel choked, the beginning
of a laugh escaping from his throat. He
heard similar sounds coming from the other men.
He turned to see Brigid’s
face.
He swallowed the laugh
quickly. “James…” He tried to address a
question to his brother in law, but the man was suddenly convulsed by a
coughing fit. Although to anyone
watching he might have been laughing.
“Glue! He glued my baby’s hair back on! What was the boy thinkin’” Brigid scooped Jed up. “It’ll never come out!”
Daniel refused to look at
either of the other man. He turned to
his son. “Come along Hannibal.” Taking the boy’s arm he led him from the house. “You’d both
best come along. To help, I
mean.”
The two men nodded as
solemnly as they could and followed him out of the house.
“And I’d best hear the sound
of a leather strap against his backside…”
Brigid called out after them and slammed the door.
“Ma, please don’t be mad at Han. He didn’t mean...it was my fault…he was just
tryin’ to help me.” Jed looked up at his
mother, his blue eyes wide with anguish that he’d caused his friend to get a
whipping. “Aunt Murieann…Han didn’t do
nothin’ really.”
Finally Murieann couldn’t
stand it any longer and broke out laughing.
Brigid looked astonished
then angry then finally gave up. She
sighed deeply and tried to brush some of the curls off Jed’s forehead. They came away in her hand. She sighed again.
“Come along, let’s wash that
off.” Murieann took Jed’s hand and led
him to the kitchen. “Then there’ll be a
big piece of cake for you. Is that all
right darlin’?” She caressed his cheek enjoying the smile that creased his
face.
“Yes ma’am!” He let himself be draped with a towel. “Aunt Muireann? Han’s not in trouble is he?”
The two women exchanged
looks.
“Yes Jed he is. Hannibal knows better than to do something
like this.” At the look on his face, she
leaned down and kissed his forehead. “Don’t
you be worryin’ about Hannibal, now. By
the morn’ he’ll have some new mischief planned.”
Jed wondered how his aunt
knew about that, but decided not to say anything more. It was a secret after all.
The woman brought the
younger children their dinner in their room.
“Rachel’s seein’ to Michael
and Patrick.” Brigid said as they set
the plates down on the small table in the room all three boys shared.
Then Murieann and Brigid
returned to Jed and set about washing the glue out. They trimmed what was left of his hair. When it was done, they both decided it while
shorter than usual, it would grow out after a time. And he hadn’t really been hurt.
“There. All done.”
Muireann removed the towel from the boys shoulders. “D’ya want your cake now Jedediah?”
Brigid turned his head and
looked at him carefully. “I suppose
it’ll haf’ta do.”
“And I don’t look like a
girl.” Jed said emphatically. “Can I go find Han ma? He can have my piece of cake.”
“Yes darlin’ g’on. And don’t be worryin’. There’s enough cake for the two of ye.” Brigid kissed his cheek and watched him run
out of the house.
“It will be nice and cool
for summer Bri.” Muireann said, humor
apparent in her voice. “And Hannibal
didn’t mean to hurt Jed.” Of that I’m
sure.”
“I know Molly. The way Hannibal protects Jed, well I trust
him with Jed’s life. It was such a shock
d’ya know. Those curls pasted to
Jedediah head and…” She smiled. “Is there any tea to go with that cake?”
“I’ll go make some right
now. Go tell the men to come in and to
find our two little angels.” She hugged
her sister.
“Han?” Jed called out to the darkness in the barn. “You in there?”
“Go ‘way Jed.” A little voice came from the corner.
“Han?” Jed thought he saw movement and followed the
voice. “Ow.” He tripped in the dark and went sprawling
right in front of his cousin.
“You ok Jed?” Hannibal helped him up.
“Han, you been cryin’?” The moon shifted enough for the younger boy
to see his friend’s face.
“Nah. Got somethin’ in my eye.” Hannibal wiped his face with his sleeve.
“You get a whippin’
Han? I told them it weren’t your
fault. I told them…I’m sorry Han.” Jed looked as miserable as Hannibal did.
“It’s all right Jed. It wasn’t a bad whippin’ anyway.” The boy paused. “I’m sorry Jed. I should’a been payin attention.” He paused.
“Are you mad at me?”
“Nah. Why’d I be mad at you
Han? I asked you to do it. Han?
Did you tell your ma about the firecracker?” Jed was tired of talking about his haircut.
“Huh? No.
Why’d I tell her that. She’d
never let me…what’d she say Jed?”
Hannibal had a moment of panic that his ma really did know what they
were going to do.
“That tomorrow you’d be
plannin’ somethin’ Han. I don’t ‘member
what, ‘xactly.” Jed’s brow furrowed as
he tried to remember the woman’s exact words.
“Oh. That’s all right. Ma always thinks I’m plannin’ somethin’. You wanna help me put the firecracker in the
wagon tonight Jed. Then we just gotta
get to the wagon first.” It was all
right.
“Sure Han, I can get
it.” He scrambled up the ladder,
retrieved the blanket wrapped firecracker and carefully climbed back down.
Together the two boys edged
out of the barn and towards the wagon.
No one in sight. They slid the
package against the side of the wagon and tucked it in.
“Well here’s where the two
of ye got yerselves to.” A wisp of smoke
curled from Grampa Curry’s pipe. “Helpin
to load the wagon early boys?” He smiled
knowingly.
“G.g.grampa…” Hannibal stuttered, surprised at the man’s
appearance.
“We’re not doin’ nothin’
Grampa.” Jed’s heart was thumping.
The man looked at the boys,
then at the wagon, then back at the boys.
“So, would the nothin’ you’re plannin’ be goin’ ta happen at the picnic
tomorrow night?”
The boys frowned in
unison. Then they smiled. Grampa Curry loved adventures too. They both nodded.
“Fine boys. I believe there’s cake waitin’. G’on now the both of ye.” He waved his pipe shooing them off.
“Thanks Grampa.” They
shouted and ran off.
The adults were sitting in
the parlour when the boys ran up.
“Well we were wonderin’ if
you two were comin’ back. Hannibal, have
ye said you’re sorry to Jedediah.”
Muireann tilted his face up, not missing the boy’s still swollen eyes.
“Yes ma’am.”
“And Jedediah, is that all
right with you?”
“Yes Aunt Muireann.”
The woman smiled. “Well then. Tis all right again. Now, will there be anyone wantin’ some of me cake?”
The two boys managed to
convince their parents to let Jed stay with Hannibal that night. All four adults knew something was being
planned. But it was just too difficult
to say no when the Hannibal’s very young, but very skilled silver tongue got to
spinning the reasons Jed should stay.
And if they were able to see
past that, they’d look at the pleading in Jed’s wide blue eyes and
surrender.
The Curry’s bid everyone
good night and walked arm in arm back to their farm.
Muireann got the children
tucked into bed and went to clear the
dishes. Finally she returned to the
boy’s to make one final check on them.
Her two younger children
were already asleep. But Hannibal and
Jed were waiting for her. “Now close
those eyes and have sweet dreams, m’loves.
And whatever you’re plannin’ for the morrow, I hope it’s nothin’ more
than a second helpin’ of Rachel’s berry pie.”
She smoothed the hair back from Hannibal’s forehead and tucked the
covers tighter around Jed.
Her words brought shocked
looks from both boys and they started to answer her.
“Now, no talkin’, just
sleepin’.” She kissed them both
goodnight.
“Night ma.” Hannibal couldn’t figure out just how she
knew.
“Night Aunt Muireann.” Jed snuggled deeper into the covers, his eyes
closing quickly.
“Ma? I’m really sorry.” Hannibal reached for her hand.
“I know darlin’. Don’t fret. No one thought you’d do anything
to harm Jedediah.” She kissed his
cheek. “Now close your eyes and may the
saints protect you on whatever adventure you’re plannin’. She watched his eyes close and his breathing
deepen, before releasing his hand and tiptoeing out.
July 4th morning
found Hannibal and Jed, up, dressed and ready early. They raced into the kitchen to find Daniel
and Muireann sitting side by side at the table.
They looked startled at the sudden entrance, but smiled at the children.
“Can we go now ma?” Hannibal nudged himself between them.
“Mornin’ darlin’s” Muireann ruffled his hair and smiled at
Jed. “Are you hungry boys?”
“Yes ma’am!” Jed nodded eagerly.
“But ma, can’t we go
now?” Hannibal persisted.
“Hannibal, the picnic isn’t
for hours yet and the fireworks won’t be till dark. Now go get your brothers up, then come back
and get started on breakfast. You and
Jed can have the mornin’ to yourselves.
We’ll leave just at noon.” Daniel
gently pushed Hannibal in the direction he’d just came from.
The two boys spent the very
long morning playing near the house.
They were eager to get to town, but they also wanted to make sure no one
went near the wagon. Finally it was time
to go.
The Curry’s arrived and both
families headed for South Park, where the entire town would gather for an
afternoon of food, music and games. At
night there would be fireworks. Hannibal
and Jed scrambled onto the wagon first making sure they were sitting firmly
against their firecracker.
Grampa Curry greeted both
boys with a wink and a smile.
It was a short ride to the
park. The boys were the last out of the
wagon, waiting until the rest of the families had gone off to great friends and
to find just the right place to spread their blankets. Picnic baskets were opened and food spread
out. The adults were busy talking and
the children were busy eating and playing.
There was a lot of laughter from all parts of the park as more and more
people arrived.
For a little while the two
boys almost forgot about their plan. At
least it was put aside as they ran and played with the other children. They finally both fell asleep. It was nearly dark when they finally woke up.
“Did we miss it!” Hannibal jumped up and ran to his father.
“Pa! Did we miss it?”
“No…settle down…they’re just
goin’ to get it all set up.” His father
laughed.
Hannibal took a deep
breath. “I was afraid…I mean Jed and me
don’t want to miss the fireworks Pa. Can
we go watch them get ready?”
Daniel looked at his son,
whom he loved a very great deal. He also
knew him inside and out. “Hannibal, you
aren’t plannin’ on doin’ anything with those fireworks now are ye?”
Hannibal looked at his
father and considered his words very carefully.
“No Pa. I’m not gonna do anything
with those fireworks.”
His father squinted at the
boy. “All right then, but don’t be too
long.”
“Yes Pa. I mean no Pa. Come on Jed.”
Hannibal grabbed his friend’s hand and dragged him running towards the
center of the park, where the fireworks were being set up. He stopped when he was hidden by a group of
people.
“Han, the wagon’s that
way.” Jed pointed back the direction
they’d come from.
“I know Jed, but Pa was
watchin’. Come on. We’ll go back that way.” He started running for the trees that ringed
the park.
They stayed in the trees
until they came to where the wagons, buggies and horses had been hitched. Quickly finding the right one, Hannibal
climbed up and carefully handed the blanket wrapped package to Jed.
“Let’s go.” He said quietly, taking the firecracker out
of the blanket and sliding it up his sleeve, along with a stub of a candle and
a long wooden match. “I know just where
to put it.”
“Wherever can the boys have
gotten to? I hope they haven’t found new
trouble to get into.” Muireann looked
anxiously around the park.
“And whose doin’ would that
be?” Brigid glared at Daniel.
The man chuckled. “Now Bri.
I think Hannibal’s learned his lesson.
Don’t fret Molly, you know whenever Hannibal and Jed get together…well
they’ll be back in time for the fireworks.
And for the rest of your fried chicken.
And you know neither boy would miss your apple pie Brigid.”
As if on cue, the two boys
scurried back to their families.
“Is there still pie,
Ma?” Jed dropped to his knees and
searched frantically through the picnic basket.
“Where did you two get off
to?” James Curry wrapped an arm around
his son’s waist and hauled him up, swinging him around.
Jed laughed as the others
watched.
“We just watched Pa….” Hannibal was about to say more, when the
Mayor’s voice rang out.
“Happy 4th of
July, friends!!!”
There were answering shouts
back to him and he held up his hands for quiet.
“I hope you’ve had a
wonderful day and that the display we’ve planned for tonight will be
memorable…”
A rocket went up behind him,
startling him into jumping forward.
The crowd ooohed and
ahhhhhed as the rocket climbed finally exploding in a shower of sparkles.
Hannibal nudged Jed. “Ours’ll be better than that old thing.” He whispered.
“Well it appears the
fireworks are ready.” The Mayor
laughed. “So…well let’s get
started!” He moved aside and the men lit
the next rocket. And the next. Sparklers were handed out and the children
held them out for their parents to light.
Hannibal and Jed and the
other children waved the sparkling sticks around, casting drops of light off to
float through the air.
More rockets were lit.
Hannibal looked at Jed. Their’s should have gone up by now. Something had gone wrong.
Jed shrugged.
Hannibal looked for a way to get to the firecracker. Both sets of parents were right there. There was no way to escape and find out what had happened. He frowned, both angry and disappointed. And the worst of it was the next day ther