The weather had started to turn cold. Doug woke to the first frost of the year.
“Hey, Mom! I’m going to run over to the lake and check on the water nymphs before class.”
“Ok, but stay out of the water!” she hollered as the door slammed shut. “And don’t slam the door…” She finished to herself. From the first time she saw Doug she had adored him. She and her husband Donald had tried to have a family of their own for years but were never able to, and when Don was killed in an accident, she had given up all hope of becoming a mother. But when Doug showed up on that fridged night so long ago she was the first one there to help care for the little bundle of energy. And when Professor Murine mentioned they were looking for a foster parent she could hardly contain her excitement. It wasn’t long before she was asking the head mistress if she could adopt him as her son. She can still remember the long pause and the head mistresses’ stern eyes that quickly melted into a warm embrace and tender tears of joy.
From the very beginning she had made sure she was up a few minutes before Doug so she could go into his room and spend a minute sitting quietly by his bed, savoring her newfound motherhood. But lately she was finding it almost impossible to get up before him, especially when he had a mission in mind.
A loud rap on the front door pulled her out of her daze. She set her coffee cup down as she went to see who it was.
Two cheerful green eyes greeted her. “Good morning Professor Sampson, is Doug here?”
“Oh, good morning Ronnie… and Steve. No, he headed out early to check on the water nymphs, this time of year is hard on them. If you hurry you might be able to catch him at the pond, be sure to move quietly or you will spook the nymphs and disappoint Doug.” She watched them run off down the hill. She knew how much the nymphs meant to Doug, they had been his companions for years, but now that he had started school, she was glad to see he was making some real friends.
Before she had closed the door she heard another voice, “MaryAnn! Heavens, are you off in another world this morning?” Professor Murine came walking up to the door.
“Oh Bethany! I’m sorry, yes, I am. Doug has just grown so much, and now with his new friends… ” she made a sweeping gesture to indicate her mind wandering. “Come in, come in! Help yourself, the coffee is in the kitchen.”
“So, is Doug home?” Bethany asked.
“No, he ran off early. His two little friends were already here looking for him.” She smiled then immediately shifted her attention back on Bethany. They both sat down at the kitchen table and MaryAnn leaned forward and asked in a hushed whisper. “So what did you find out?”
Bethany’s eyes widened as she leaned close.
“Hey, Mom! I’m going to run over to the lake and check on the water nymphs before class.”
“Ok, but stay out of the water!” she hollered as the door slammed shut. “And don’t slam the door…” She finished to herself. From the first time she saw Doug she had adored him. She and her husband Donald had tried to have a family of their own for years but were never able to, and when Don was killed in an accident, she had given up all hope of becoming a mother. But when Doug showed up on that fridged night so long ago she was the first one there to help care for the little bundle of energy. And when Professor Murine mentioned they were looking for a foster parent she could hardly contain her excitement. It wasn’t long before she was asking the head mistress if she could adopt him as her son. She can still remember the long pause and the head mistresses’ stern eyes that quickly melted into a warm embrace and tender tears of joy.
From the very beginning she had made sure she was up a few minutes before Doug so she could go into his room and spend a minute sitting quietly by his bed, savoring her newfound motherhood. But lately she was finding it almost impossible to get up before him, especially when he had a mission in mind.
A loud rap on the front door pulled her out of her daze. She set her coffee cup down as she went to see who it was.
Two cheerful green eyes greeted her. “Good morning Professor Sampson, is Doug here?”
“Oh, good morning Ronnie… and Steve. No, he headed out early to check on the water nymphs, this time of year is hard on them. If you hurry you might be able to catch him at the pond, be sure to move quietly or you will spook the nymphs and disappoint Doug.” She watched them run off down the hill. She knew how much the nymphs meant to Doug, they had been his companions for years, but now that he had started school, she was glad to see he was making some real friends.
Before she had closed the door she heard another voice, “MaryAnn! Heavens, are you off in another world this morning?” Professor Murine came walking up to the door.
“Oh Bethany! I’m sorry, yes, I am. Doug has just grown so much, and now with his new friends… ” she made a sweeping gesture to indicate her mind wandering. “Come in, come in! Help yourself, the coffee is in the kitchen.”
“So, is Doug home?” Bethany asked.
“No, he ran off early. His two little friends were already here looking for him.” She smiled then immediately shifted her attention back on Bethany. They both sat down at the kitchen table and MaryAnn leaned forward and asked in a hushed whisper. “So what did you find out?”
Bethany’s eyes widened as she leaned close.
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