Double Trouble

By Loretta Dragoo

During WWII, teenage twins (Chris and Kristy Akers, whose minds entwine to the point they have silent conversations) were sent to grandparents theyd never met. Their grandparents strange version of English, way of life, home doctoring, Grouchy Grandma, no out-house, and extremely hard work caused the twins one thought.

I wanna go home!

Getting home becomes more and more complicated as they try to figure out ways to get there.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abbott Press
• Release date: Sep 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9781458204929

Loretta Dragoo

From the author I love to crochet everything from doll clothes to wearables. I also love boating and fishing on the lake. But, most of all, I love conjuring up characters that I can make do anything I want them to. Well, almost. My characters are people–so they have to live in reality. Well, almost reality. So, I create a really complicated life for them to work through.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Anger and hunger caused Chris Akers to whack the ground so hard with the hoe that it caused a sharp pain to run up his arm until it throbbed in his head. As he dropped the hoe he glanced toward his twin Kristy, who was dancing around holding her wrist. He hurried to her, grabbing her hand and turning her palm upward. Kristy whimpered as they felt her salty tears drop onto raw flesh. She jerked free and began shaking her hand.

From the middle of a row of field-corn, Grandma Akers yelled, Quit dilly-dally-n an get to choppin’ weeds, it’s nigh on dinner time. Kristy glared upward into Chris’ steel-gray eyes, hoping for answers.

Chris raked his straight-mousy hair back, as he met Kristy’s purple eyes. The red from her crying, had completely hid the usual deep sparkling sapphire. That does it! He grabbed her wrist and started walking toward the house.

They heard Grandma yell, Get back here! But Chris walked even faster, despite Kristy pulling hard against his firm, rough grip.

Kirsty already hated Tennessee. She longed for her teenage friends and to snuggle in a blanket and read a good book while the dirty snow lingered at their mid-Indiana home. She silently prayed, God, please, get us home?

In their un-usual silent conversation, she yelled, ‘Chris, you’re getting us in real trouble! Besides that, we could get snake bit or—Or, something!’

He just as quietly tossed back, ‘Quit thinking so hard. I’m tired of feeling your every thought. The only hope I’ve got of privacy is when you’re asleep!’ Chris glanced her way and loudly complained, Any more trouble couldn’t hurt much worse than my empty stomach and your blisters. I’m too hungry, filthy and tired to care! He thought, ‘Your yellow curls are a nasty mess.’ His thought changed to, ‘I can’t figure out how you peck at food and stay alive, hungry as I am.’

Kristy sassed, I eat! while yanking against his strength, a strength, she had two years earlier given up hope of ever matching again. She had remained a mere five feet tall while Chris had grown until he ducked through doors. I want to go home. Then she thought, ‘my hair’s what? You’re not supposed to say that to any girl!’

I didn’t!

You thought it! I wan-na go home. Please God, fix our mind mess? All of it!

Chris wanted to argue but the wagon was catching up. Now Young-un’s, it ain’t right, you jest up an walkin’ away from your Granny like that, Their grizzly looking Grandpa Akers began. Reckon I’ll have to cut a hickory if you cain’t behave no better-n that.

Chris yelled, We haven’t eaten since early yesterday!

Kristy butted in, And you expect us to weed a whole corn field!

Chris added, And you didn’t even care enough to offer us any breakfast!

Kristy growled, We haven’t slept much, either!

She pulled the straw hat off that Grandma had ordered her to wear and threw it in the back of the wagon. ‘How did all of this happen since yesterday morning?’ Her, thought continued, ‘Wonder, if all this complaining is going to cause us even more trouble’?

And now she’s got bleeding blisters! Chris was usually calm but his inner being had taken over, We’re not your dirty slaves!

Blisters a-for noon? Grandma, spewed tobacco off the opposite side of the wagon. I ain’t never heerd uv no such. Didn’t your Ma make you work none? The petite woman, twisted and squirmed while slinging her arms, causing more of her gray - fine hair to creep from the tight bun at her neck. Puny citified Young-uns, She snarled. They’ll not earn thar keep, Abe. She spewed more tobacco.

We work our garden every year! Kristy defended.

Chris added, And we do other work, too, an-and we get something to eat!

Grandpa, motioned with a nod toward the back of the wagon.

Chris pulled Kristy along, then lifted her onto the wagon and jumped up beside her.

‘I knew this wasn’t a vacation!’ Chris didn’t answer. He didn’t have to.

Kristy remembered the mournful sound, as the neighbor’s car which had left them, strained against the long challenging climb up the mountain until there was only country silence. She wondered, ‘why are we here? We could have went to Grandma Calvins at New Castle.’

Chris thought, ‘wonder when Mr. Jones, will come back?’

‘He won’t!’ She turned and stared at Chris as he raked through his too long hair. God, this place looks like pictures of slaves quarters, in our history book. What’s the Cumberland Plateau, anyway? Grandma Calvin’s in New Castle, would have wanted us and fed us too. There isn’t even a sink! No electric—Wonder where the bathroom is? I want to go home! Amen.

‘Maybe there’s an out-house.’ Chris hated the pitiful way she looked and didn’t want to know about his appearance.

When they arrived at the old cabin and entered the kitchen, Kristy could still smell the stink from the oil lamp that had been put out when they left for the field. She watched as Grandma stoked the fire in the wood cookstove and gathered things from assorted places into her huge apron pocket.

Then the woman approached and turned toward her, Le’me see that hand. Kristy jerked her hand behind her back as the woman deposited things from her pocket onto the table. The woman turned back and growled, Gim’me that hand!

Don’t touch me! Don’t you even think about it, you Old Witch! Kristy let out a terrifying scream that made the mule tied to the porch rail make a mournful loud noise, then they heard a thud as the animal yanked the rail loose and ran off, braying.

Now, see what’ch done throwin’ a fit like that! Reckon you best cut that hickory, Abe. Grandma yelled, They ain’t no Young-un ever talked to me like that, an they ain’t none a gon-na!

They heard Grandpa mumbling a complaint as he hammered the rail back in place.

Chris stepped between Kristy and their grandma, and calmly asked, Can’t we talk this over?

Ain’t got time for no foolish talkin’! That hand needs doctorin’ an’ they’s work to be done! Grandma tried to reach around Chris to grab Kristy, but Chris caught and firmly held her arm while shoving her back a step. Grandma, grabbed the poking-stick with her free hand and swung it at Chris’ head but he ducked while knocking the stick to the floor with a loud thud.

Kristy stared at the weird things on the table until she heard Grandpa’s abrupt, What’s a goin’ on?

She’s darn near scared the life out of Kristy! Chris answered, while pointing toward Grandma.

I ain’t done no such! Boy, don’t you lie like that, no more!

Kristy yelled, He didn’t lie! She screamed again then added, Keep that mean woman and th - that horrible stuff away from me! She pointed toward the table.

Chris abruptly announced, I don’t think our Dad would like the way you’re treating us! He grabbed Kristy’s arm and drug her out the door behind him. Unsure what to do, he hurried down the path toward the spring. He was sure they were in deep trouble, feeling he’d made a mistake standing up to these old people and thinking, ‘Now, we’re in more trouble than I’ve got any idea how to get us out of.’

When they stopped by the creek below the spring, Chris bellied down and drank as Kristy sloshed her aching hands in the water below him. Fiery pain shot through the raw blisters, which almost brought tears to both of them.

Kristy sat down, removed her shoes and dangled her aching feet in the water. That woman hates us. That kitchen is awful!

Chris seated himself upon a rock then mumbled, Can’t say I liked everyone back home, but at least I knew what to expect. I know as well as you do how bad this is, but Kristy, you’ve got to try to get along.

How can they possibly be Dad’s parents? They talk weird and act so stupid.

But Kristy… Do we really – really know Dad? Think about it. He’s always been Army. Then WWII started, and for over a year, and that’s a long time, we haven’t even heard from him. They had worried and wondered when it would be their turn to receive the terrible news.

Chris thought, ‘how can we leave here? If we did. Where would we go? How would we go?’

Kristy loudly expelled, We got here didn’t we? She splashed her hands and feet.

From the main road, I don’t remember more than a couple of houses and no cars. He shoved his face in his hands. His elbows resting upon his knees.

How far was that?

A lot farther than we can walk on empty stomachs.

We can take our time, Kristy decided.

Yeah… Well, you need to eat, too! And even if we actually found our way, if we didn’t starve to death first, Mom, don’t want us - can’t keep us, o-o-or—something. He arose from the rock he had sat on and shoved his hair back uncovering a deep frown.

Kristy mumbled, Mom don’t go to church anymore. If we went, it was with Aunt May. Maybe Mom’s sick or something?

Chris’ stomach growled, a loud roar. We have to eat, Kristy. He pleaded, Can’t you try to get along with Grandma? He rubbed his aching belly. Please? At least ‘til we get a meal. I’ve never been this hungry.

The water had, stilled. She had always been considered beautiful, but when she noticed her reflection, it, sure wasn’t agreeing. My hair is standing straight out all over! It looks like that wire-haired dog, back home! I’ve never been filthy like this! She whirled toward Chris, "Have you found an out-house?"

Chris shook his head ‘no’, while thinking, ‘she looks scary.’

With her fingers pulling her eyes down and her mouth up, Kristy turned with a Halloween face and glared at him.

He said, Explain us to her, but his thought was, ‘hope we’ve got a comb.’

She ain’t got no time for no foolish talkin’, Kristy mocked. Have you got blisters? Chris turned his rough palms up. See. You wouldn’t have made it ten more minutes. Who knows what’s in that bottle and she had some funny looking weeds? Did you see that stuff?

No—I was looking at that big club Grandpa was waving around.

Well—I’d rather, be beat to death with that club and get it over with, than to live in the same house with that hateful mean old-woman!

Now, your Granny ain’t nigh as mean as she lets on, Grandpa said, as he stepped into view.

Oh, yes she is! Kristy jumped up and backed from the creek until against a huge Hickory tree trunk. Tall brush being the only thing stopping her from running.

Reckon you young-un’s ’ll get chiggers a waller-n’ around in them weeds like that.

What’s chiggers? Chris stared into Grandpa’s neutral, black eyes.

They be little red bugs you cain’t hardly see, but law, when they start itchin’.

Then you have to go to town to the doctor, Kristy beamed, ‘I’ve found us a way home.’

Why Granny’s the best an’ only doctor fer miles around, Grandpa proclaimed.

Kristy yelled, She’s no Doctor. She wrung her hands, unaware of blisters bursting. Doctors have offices, nurses, needles and pills! Don’t you people know anything?

Know what them little pills is made out-uv, Young-un?

Of course not! I’m no doctor! Kristy felt more anger building as reasons for hating the so called ‘vacation’ continued to mount.

I hear tell they done made somethin’ they call penny-cel-n but septin’ for that, them fancy little pills is made out-ta roots an herbs.

Chris growled, And now, you’re going to try to tell me, Grandma makes them little pills!

I don’t tell no lies, Young-un. But—I’ll tell ya; them fresh herbs an’ roots, is a heap sight better, an’ work a heap sight faster thern them pills. Grandpa, stared across the spring a moment, then added, I tried to tell Ma, you come from a mighty different place. He turned to walk away, then stopped. Me an Ma are goin’ back to work. You Young-un’s rest a spell. You hear, now?

Kristy wondered what a spell was as Chris wondered if they had chiggers. An itchy feeling caused both to scratch where nothing existed.

As they looked toward the path, Chris thought, ‘maybe they’ll leave us some food’.

You and your hungry gut! I want to go home! Kristy’s mind wandered from, wonder where all the food he consumes goes, to I want some strawberries and then my warm bed. ‘You’re so tall and skinny. I’m so tired I could sleep for a week.’

Chris rambled, ‘You might grow some if you’d eat more. Since you’re so smart and want so much, think us home! Mom should have given us warning so I could have told Mr. Williams and my boss.’ Meaning his coach, and the hardware store owner.

What about Judy? Bet, she’s wondering if she’s still your girlfriend.

Chris got right in her face with a snarl and, Mind - your - own - business! His fists clinched. Forgetting about hiding his feelings, he thought, ‘Wonder what she knows?’

‘Hum—Wonder what I don’t know?’ She sheepishly smiled.

Chris wanted to hit her but her fingernails had a way of tearing at flesh, so he put all his effort into closing his mind.

Kristy seldom got the upper hand and enjoyed every moment. It was always fun knowing everything. Then she slurred, When me, Judy and Linda got our first bras. You were right there—meddling! In his face with a sassy attitude, she added, Sticking your nose in m- - y business!

She was too loud for him to succeed at controlling anything. That was two years ago! We’re sixteen in a couple of weeks! He hurried to the house and bounced onto the porch and into the kitchen where he smelled food and found leftovers. He heaped upon an old cracked plate all it would hold. His stomach felt weak and lurched causing him to almost fall onto the old wood cook-stove. He paused and took a slow deep breath, then fixed another half-full plate.

Kristy lagged behind knowing she had pushed the limit! She also knew, if they were ever going to get out of the trouble dealt them, she would need Chris. When she stepped into the cabin, the old worn couch wasn’t clean but a glance along her full skirt proved, neither was she. She curled upon the corner of the couch and looked out the screen less, door. Tears tried to form despite her efforts.

They had never met these people and were so far south some of the apple blossoms were already falling. ‘Why aren’t we at Grandma Calvin’s, in New Castle? For some reason Mom, don’t want us close enough to visit. That’s what it is!’ She was so upset she hadn’t considered food.

Chris shoved a plate in front of her. Eat some. You don’t have to eat it all, but you’ve got to eat or die the way they’re going to work us.

I–I don’t… But the food smelled good and was warm. Well, a couple of colas and a candy bar wasn’t much. She took the plate and slowly picked at the food and finally ate the beans and fried potatoes and all but one bite of the cornbread. She put the plate on the floor, as she yawned and instantly drifted into sleep.

Meanwhile, Chris parked himself on an old bench on the porch. He stared at the head of the path to the spring as he toyed with bites of food. He was so hungry his stomach rebuked the first two bites which he had to spit out. He then took small bites and chewed slowly until food began to ease the pain and begin comforting.

Nothing makes any sense, Chris thought. Our stuff was packed when we got home from church. Identical twins don’t think like we do. Why here? Our crazy mind-mixing came in pretty handy at school. Kristy knows too much about me. Way too much!

Chris prayed, How will we date when I have to wait ‘til she’s asleep to think a girl’s pretty, God? Don’t guess it matters now that we’re stuck here. He gradually appeased his stomach.

He peeked inside and found Kristy sound asleep, so he allowed Judy to linger in his thoughts. She’s really pretty. I stole a kiss when Kristy had the flu and was full of fever back in January. Judy liked that. But what about dating, God? How is that ever going to happen? Can’t You fix it? Sure, You can, so why don’t, You? Then he wondered if Judy cared that he wasn’t there and if God would answer his prayer. He quickly added, amen.

Chris remembered watching two skinny old cows enter the barn and into separate stalls, that morning. I still don’t get how dumb animals can be that smart. Grandpa had shoved a bucket beneath a cow’s udder. Then he had ordered, Chris, Load up the wagon with them hoes an buckets what’s over yonder in that stall - an’ get them bags of seeds hangin’ on that cedar post. Might have ta plant some?

Chris knew about gardening having helped at home and having helped their neighbor, the one who dumped us here. I’ll never help him again, God. I know about forgiving, but…

Chris had loaded six hoes and two large buckets of stinking manure, which had made him gag. Wonder if Kristy smelled that? That ole barn is leaning