Secrets Past Chp 3
Date: 5/30/98
From: barnster

A young boy of around 13 yrs old stood before his irate father, with his head bent and his hands behind his back. He traced a pattern on the richly carpeted floor, with one black booted foot.

"I will not tolerate this behaviour!" fumed his enraged parent. "when an elder calls for you, you will answer! Do you hear me!"

"Yes, Father," came the quiet reply. Satisfied, his father nodded his head curtly.

"Remember in future. Now, go to your room, and stay there."

The boy lifted his head, his youthful face showing his shock.

His father eyed him sternly. "perhaps missing your supper, will help you to remember," he added. And with another curt nod, indicated that he was dismissed.

The lad eyed his father with a scowl, before leaving the room.

When he had gone, the child's mother hesitantly asked, "Wasn't that rather harsh of you, Joshua?"
Joshua turned with eyebrows raised. "Are you inferring that he shouldn't be punished, Naomi?"

"If he has done wrong, yes. But to deny him his supper..."

Joshua raised himself to his full height. "I'll be the judge of that, Naomi. Remember that!" he ordered of his wife, as he headed towards the hall. "I have some work to finish. I don't want any unnecessary interruptions," and with that headed down the hall to his study.

***

In his room, Barnabas sat on his bed, staring dejectedly at the floor. But a knocking on his door made him lift his head. "Who is it?" he asked suspiciously.

"May I come in, Barnabas?" whispered a woman's voice.

A rare smile lit his face. "Yes, Mother."

At his summons, the door opened. And as his mother entered the room, he politely rose from the bed. She was carrying a tray. "I wanted you to know, I think your father was wrong. So, I brought up your supper," said Naomi, as she put the tray down.

Barnabas looked at the floor. "But Father will be angry, if he finds out," he protested.

But Naomi cut him off. "I was sure that no one saw me, assured his mother. "Your father will never know," she continued, as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"But Aunt Abigail will find out," continued Barnabas, turning to look at his mother, earnestly, his serious brown eyes showing his concern. "She has ways of finding everything out. And then she'll tell Father!"

Naomi smiled, and brushed the stray locks of hair from his forehead. "This is the one time, when she won't find out. Now, eat your supper before it gets cold."

He stared at her a moment. And for a second, a shadow of the handsome man he would become, crossed his face. Impulsively, he wrapped his arm around her neck, and buried his head in her shoulder. "I love you, Mother," came his muffled voice.

Smiling as her arms encircled him, she said, "I love you, too."

***

Over two hundred years into the future, a sleeping boy began to cry quietly...

To be continued...