Generation 2, Chapter 4

Beverly tried her best to get good grades in school. Despite missing her friends she left behind, she liked living in Barnacle Bay. No one here knew about the fire so there were no awkward silences. Her old friends had started to treat her differently, some even quit talking to her altogether. Here she was just the new girl.

She missed her sister and had stopped asking for bed time stories. Somehow it just wasn't the same anymore and she didn't want to be untrue to her sister's memory. It had been their special time together.

"Honey it's time for bed."

"But Daddy I'm not tired," she protested.

"Would it help if I read to you?" William asked expecting her to say no as she had done since the fire. He was surprised when she said yes.

"What's the matter sweet heart?" William asked when he finished.

"Daddy why did Sydney have to go away?"

"Oh pumpkin I don't know. Sometimes bad things just happen."

"Sometimes I think I caused the fire"

"Why do you think that?" William asked in concern

"Because I saw the fire going in the fire place and I didn't tell her. I fell asleep while she was reading to me. Then it was too late. If I had told her none of this would have happened. It's my fault."

"Is that why you haven't wanted me to read to you?"

Nodding her head Beverly said "Yes Daddy. It's my punishment."

"Your punishment?" William asked confused "Oh honey, it wasn't your fault. You didn't do anything to be punished for. You didn't start the fire did you?" Beverly shook her head. "Then you haven't done anything to be punished for now have you?"

"I guess not," Beverly whispered.

"I know not," William confirmed "Listen pumpkin sometimes awful things happen that we have no control over and can't prevent no matter how hard we try. It doesn't mean it's our fault. Do you understand?"

"Maybe a little," Beverly yawned "I think I can sleep now. Thank you Daddy."

William kissed her goodnight, hoping her dreams would be happy ones. He sighed knowing it was going to take awhile before the family healed. William wondered what things were festering in the minds of his children's minds and whether he would be able to help them when it came up.



"Mom?" Evelyn hesitated

"Yes dear, what is it?" Jessica asked surprised that Evelyn was coming to her instead of William.

"Well Dad thought you might know more than him on this subject."

"What could I know more about than him?" Jessica wondered aloud.

"I thought the same thing."

Stifling an indignant snort Jessica asked "so how can I help?"

"How do you know when a boy really likes you?"

"Hmm that is a difficult question. Sometimes you just have to trust your instincts."

"That's what Dad said. So I just have to take a chance."

"Yes sometimes you do Evelyn. Sometimes a guy is out to get what he can get and that applies to some girls as well. But if he genuinely likes you he will go out of his way to help you. He'll do it without expecting anything in return."

Thinking this over Evelyn said as much to herself as to her mom , Like Shon was with Sydney."

"You could say that. Shon was able to bring out the best in Sydney." Jessica agreed. "When you meet the right one, he'll do the same for you."

"Thank you Mom," Sydney said giving her a spontaneous hug.

After talking with her Mom, Evelyn was feeling a little restless and decided to check out the new inventing table her Dad had given her. She had been a little envious of her siblings artistic talents. She was all thumbs when came to painting and chemistry held little interest to her. But for some reason she found tinkering around with bits of junk relaxing and she a knack for creating gadgets from it.

She realized she was almost out of scrap for the project she was working on and decided to take a quick trip to the junkyard. She scavenged around and found several items she could use. She lugged them all back to the house. While she worked her mind kept drifting to the time she spent with Shon while her brothers were in the hospital. She wondered how he was and if he missed them. If only she could meet someone like him.

The months flew by and it was soon Michaels birthday. As he grew everyone could see he resembled his sister Sydney. They hoped his attitude would be different though. Michael was attached to Robert and the night of his birthday he started to fuss and cry until Robert picked him up. It didn't stop the tantrum that was building but it did help, he cuddled into Roberts neck and whimpered into his ear.

Robert comforted him saying "It's alright bud, I don't like crowds either. But your safe with me."

Robert carried him around for the rest of the evening. Whenever someone came up to them, Michael would turn his head and bury his face into Roberts shoulder. Once the party wound down and everyone left, Michael wanted down.

"I don't get it" Jessica said "Michael's so easy going I wonder what got into him tonight.

"Maybe he doesn't like crowds," Robert suggested "I don't like lots of people around either. He seems fine now."

"Think your right, Rob." William said watching Michael crawl over to Evelyn.

Evelyn picked him up and carried him over to a quiet spot in the hall and tried to teach him a few words. She soon lost interest finding it more difficult than she expected. However with patience and endurance William was able to teach him the basics and Michael picked up the rest. Soon Michael was talking nonstop and repeating things that know one knew he had even heard.

Jessica noticed that Michael was attempting to stand on his own and walking along the furniture. She decided it was time he learned to walk. He learned quickly and was soon walking everywhere. Potty training was a different story. A wet messy diaper didn't bother him but to take him away from his chosen activity to the potty was enough to start a tantrum.

The only thing he disliked more was to be left in his crib. If he was awake he wanted out and he would scream until someone came. Both William and Jessica were looking forward to the time when he was big enough to not be in a crib anymore.