Nightly Lessons Book I: The Book of Beginnings

[Peeker]

"Oh! Hey!" Janus grimaced, trying to push Mikeal's arm off of his neck. "C'mon, Mikeal! I can't fight back if we're in front of a guest!" He laughed a little, using more than just teenaged strength to make his point... still not enough to break the grip, but enough to let him know he wanted to try harder.

Lucy gave a happy bark, and helpfully licked at Janus' hand, sniffing his ribcage, her tail wagging as he tried to get his 'big brother' off of him.

"Aww! Leggo, Mikeal! Lucy! Kill! Sic 'im! Do something useful, you crazy mutt!"

The noogie continued on the blushing boy's skull.

"Okay! Uncle! I give! Jus' leggo!" The boy smiled, embarassed, looking over at the old woman. "I'd apologize for my brother being rude," he teased, not too gently, "but he'd probably just noogie me again..."

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"Or smack you in the bum for been smart mouthed," Mikeal laughed but released him and smiled at him. "Nah... he's a good boy. Very well mannered."

Ms. Norris only sat and smiled at him with kind eyes. All she saw were two brothers enjoying being in a loving home. She merely nodded her head.

"So that's all the noise I've heard for the last few days..." She then looked at Mikeal. "But wheres the other ones? Barton told me he heard a little boy and and girl one of the nights..."

"Little boy and.... oh!" Mikela quickly laughed. "That was a friend of mine, I was watching my cousin when a friend came by with his daughter. You know children. They're always noisy."

[Peeker]

Janus, who was bright red with embarassment, decided to make the best of an otherwise horrifying situation: he hadn't realized other people could here him being paddled.

Ulp.

"Yeah.... my cousin... he's, um... a real brat..." Janus rubbed the back of his head, nervously, running his hand through his hair. "I'm just sort of glad I wasn't here... I don't think Mikeal could put up with more than one of us at a time." He smiled mischeviously at Mikeal, not wanting to leave himself feeling so awkward. "...that little girl is even worse, though! Now she's a real pain in the bum!" He grinned, and tilted his head back to Ms. Norris before Mikeal could pick on him.

"So who is Mr. Barton? I haven't met anyone in the building, yet."

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"Oh really?" Mikeal looked at Janus with his own mischievous grin. "I'm sure Alice would love to hear how you feel about little Ally. In fact I'm sure Aleks would want to know too."

Ms. Norris grinned having a feeling the two would pick at each other soon.

"As for Jakey boy," Mikeal patted Janus' shoulder again. "He's not so bad. A short temper at times and a little bratty, but he's a good boy, so is the girl. In fact... I might just have a nice photo of us all together dressed for a fantasy photo. We did a sort of victorian look for fun. You know how kids love dress up."

[Peeker]

Janus was still blushing at Mikeal's off-handed compliment. A little bratty? Maybe it wasn't a compliment, then... Bratty?

Well... he'd called himself bratty, so he guessed maybe Mikeal was just playing along with it. He hoped.

"...you're gonna show her that old picture? That thing's just weird, Mikeal! She isn't gonna want to see you four lookin' silly!" Janus protested, his blush climbing to his ears. "I thought you said you weren't gonna show that t' anyone..." The boy frowned. He didn't want to make a scene in front of the nice old woman... but he sure didn't want to let her think of him wearing that goofy hat!

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"Nonesense deary, Ai'd love ta see it," Ms. Norris smiled as she folded her hands together and smiled at the two. As Mikeal walked off to look for the photo, the elderly woman turned towards Janus and smiled. "So dear... do yah have any of yah old photos from yah childhood?"

"Father burned then all whn he left Ms. Norris," Mikeal called. "Just like he did with me."

He was answering her questions fast so that there wouldn't be any odd holes in their story. Ms. Norris was a lonely widow and her family lived far from her so she didn't get visits very often, so Mikeal often kept her company with he wanted it. So did Barton. He was a nice fellow and Ms. Norris did judge either of them for their waking hours or love lives.

"Oh? Yah poor thing," Ms. Norris patted Janus' hand. "It must be horrible ta not have memories from the past."

"Found it!" Mikeal returned with the photo and placed it on the tabel. "As for memories, I'm sure Janus doesn't want to remember life with our father."

Ms. Norris nodded her head understandingly and picked the photo up and cooed.

"Awww... now aint that a pair of sweet little moppets."

[Peeker]

Janus, still not able to detatch himself from the picture of "Jake", shifted over next to her to look at the picture. He hadn't actually seen it himself. He reddened, and pulled back a tiny bit when Ms. Norris patted his hand... but kept it there.

"You like it?" He peered at the two kids and the two adults... Actually... yeah, they did look sort of cute. Heh.

Janus looked at the picture with a smile. It was sort of nice to be thought of as cute - without feeling like he was being made fun of - again. Then back at Mikeal. "Do you have any pictures of little Mikey?" Janus looked back. "He's our other cousin." He smiled at his brother. "...you know, with Aunt Lucy, maybe?"

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

Mikeal smiled kindly at Janus, secretly willing the album away.

"Nope, I'm afraid not," He ruffled Janus' hair. "As for Aunt Lucy, I'm sure I have a nice picture of her somewhere in the attic."

Ms. Norris nodded as she looked at the picture commenting Aleks' strange white hair.

"His daughter sneaked a bit of bleach into his shampoo as a joke, that's all," Mikeal answered and leaned close to Janus. "Janus, I don't have pictures of Lucy in modern clothing. I can't show her thoughs."

[Peeker]

Janus looked a little crestfallen. He hadn't meant to put them in an awkward position.

"Sorry...." He murmured to Mikeal, before turning back to Ms. Norris with a gentle look on his face, as he sipped his juice again.

"Yeah. Mister Rastline has a pretty good sense of humor... I don't think he was even that mad at Alice..." The boy shrugged. This lying about their friends was addictive. He didn't want to keep going - he'd eventually say too much. Instead, the boy trailed off, hoping Mikeal could put the conversation in another direction...

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"Oh, a fahter with a sense of humor aye?" Ms. Norris laughed and handled the picture back. "Ai hope ai can meet 'im someday. Sounds like a very nice chap. Well ai best get going again..."

Caboose quickly rose and and fetched the walking cane.

"thank you deary," She turned and before Janus could stop the elderly woman she pinched his cheeks and cooed. "It's a fine younging yah got yahself Mikey. Do stop by some time for a cupa tea."

Mikeal laughed nervously and opened the door for the elder.

"Good bye Ms. Norris," He closed the door and patted Janus shoulder. "I'm sorry about that."