ELLEN #THREE

Sunshine filtered through a crack in the wall, waking Ellen with the promise of a dry day. Barney had already left leaving her and the children asleep. Dear God, please lead him in the right direction. Would he see the notice? What would he think? Well at least it had stopped raining and that would put him in a better mood.

Hearing the baby stirring Ellen threw off the bedcovers determined that today would be a good day. Opening the door letting the sun stream in along with a sneaky breeze, she decided that it was time the children spent the day out of doors.

“Patrick, Owen, Ellen, could you three big children please get dressed and get your boots on, while I get the babes ready. We are going on a treasure hunt after breakfast. Maria and Cornelius come to Mammy, we are going to have such fun today.” Observing the clean table she realised Barney had gone without breakfast again, I hope he is home early for a decent meal. Her stomach growled lustily.  I must eat a bit of porridge this morning.

The older children scrambled to get their boots on, while Ellen dealt with the younger two.

A treasure hunt Ellen? Well I suppose finding a potato might be a treasure, I just hope I can convince the children a potato is indeed a treasure.

After breakfast and a quick wash they all hurried outside, with Patrick and Owen carrying a bucket and a basket. They had been cooped up inside for five days. Five days is definitely four days too long for children to be indoors, Ellen thought.

“Now Patrick, you take the loy and dig in that spot.[1]  If you find a potato before any treasure just put it in the bucket, like a good boy. Owen give me that basket and you can hold the bucket for Patrick and keep an eye out for treasure in case he misses it.”

Ellen walked further down the field with the other three children, Ellen and Maria skipping ahead while she carried Cornelius.

“Mammy, look what I have found!” yelled a very excited Owen who had wandered away from where Patrick was digging, obviously having gotten bored with bucket duties.

Ellen and the other children converged on Owen to see what all the excitement was about.

“You told us not to pick these unless you was around, but are they the right ones Mammy? Are they?” Owen could barely contain his excitement at his find.

Ellen bent over and picked the mushroom, with a satisfied smile on her face.

“My word, yes it is a right one, my young man, what a find and look there are more. So Owen, because you spotted them first you can have the first pick of whatever ones you want, then the others can help you. You all should be able to fill the basket.

Patrick, we really need to dig up some potatoes to go with these treasures for tonight’s dinner. What do you say, do you think you can find a potato treasure?”

Patrick headed back to where he had been digging with a determined look on his face. Within the hour they had indeed found their treasure of four potatoes and the special find of mushrooms.

In the distance Ellen noticed her husband returning home. I wonder what he has found? I hope he has found our treasure too.

From the distance there came the call of “Patrick, Owen, Ellen, Maria and Neil, come help me pull off my boots before I go inside, will you?”

I do wish he wouldn’t call Cornelius that, it is a perfectly good name on its own, why does he need to shorten it?

Ellen brought up the rear after her giggling children, hoping against hope that today would see the beginning of their new lives. 

At least I can cook up an early meal for Barney before we talk.
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1. The loy, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spade