Times with the Grandchildren

[PrlUnicorn]

March 2021

Rhi looked exhausted when her mother arrived. The plan had been for Colleen to look after the children so their parents could have some time out after Eregor finished at his various jobs for the day. The first thing out of Collie's mouth was "Go ta bed, I've got this. The girls are doin' their studies 'n' what not."

Rhi hugged the children and headed off to have a long soak in the tub with a book she'd been neglecting.

"So, who wants pancakes?" She started pulling the ingredients and cooking utensils out.

Brian, who had turned three not so long ago, looked gleeful. It was food; he wasn't about to refuse! He lowered the step stool attached to one of the kitchen chairs and climbed up to investigate what was going on the counter.

A bowl of batter and a wooden spoon were slid across to Brian. "Try not to make a mess 'r we'll be havin' lessons in the art o' kitchen clean up afore the evenin' is over."

Brian huffed, but the momentary grumpiness passed as he stirred the batter. The bowl was spinning as he did so.

"Hold the bowl wit' one hand 'n' stir wit' t'other." When her grandson looked befuddled, Collie demonstrated the hand placement. "Take yer time, boyo. It's not a race." As the pre-schooler worked on his stirring technique, Colleen found a cast iron griddle in one of the lower kitchen cabinets.

"Pancakes are for breakfast!" Alin said as he peeked into the kitchen to see what was afoot.

The thunking of a book against against a head was heard. "Nuh uh! Brinner is a thing!" Lena giggled and darted off with her twin chasing after her.

"Why you..." echoed against the walls as the chase continued.

"Hey... mind ya leave yer mother alone!" Collie scolded lightly and she poked her head out of the kitchen. The buzzing of the two young voices were heard until a door softly clicked closed.

"Libr'y?" Brian, still working diligently on the batter, asked.

"Aye, they're in the library." Collie smiled

The library, huge and ever expanding, was a place for many things including lively discussion, reading, and research. While the Tower's library wasn't by any means a silent place, the children had other places for roughhousing. Alin and Lena had started a game of checkers.