*
The next morning dawned with rays of sunlight bouncing around the room. Gertrude was startled awake when something else bounced across his face. Something was down under the covers. “OW!” Gertrude reached down and pulled out a purring Agabus. He smiled, and lay back down. Agabus curled up on Gertrude’s beard and fell asleep. A pan dropping in the kitchen once again startled Gertrude awake.
Winifred was scurrying around the kitchen like a rat looking for an escape route from a cat. She looked towards Gertrude. “This is all your fault, you know… I have too much to do and not enough time to do it!” A knock sounded at the door. Gertrude opened it.
“Good morning, Gertrude. Don’t you look lovely today!” Derry barged past him, carrying bags of roots and herbs. “I am sorry I am late, Winifred. The bed felt so good to me this morning that I could not resist staying there a few moments longer. What would you have me do?”
Winifred smiled at her friend. “I just got out of bed myself, Derry. I am so far behind. My son is behind in his chores, too, as I don’t have any wood for my oven. Since you have the roots we need for the pies, why don’t we start on those.”
Gertrude watched the two ladies scurrying around and decided that he had best get dressed. In the wink of an eye, he was out the door and fetching the wood his mother had requested. “Mother, Derry, don’t forget about the committee meeting later.”
Winifred and Derry stopped in their tracks and looked at each other and went into a panic. Pieces of vegetables were flying everywhere and the mist from the flour hung in the air. Soon the stovetop was full of pots and the ovens were emitting the aromatic smell of freshly baking breads. Gertrude was just about to bring in the last load of wood when Toddy appeared. “Hello, Gertrude. I heard about your mother. Is she all right?”
“She’s fine. Come inside and see for yourself.” Gertrude followed Toddy through the door. “Mother, Toddy is here for a visit.”
“Oh, by the blessing of Kern! Do you have time to help us with our chores? I have to have all of this ready for the celebration tomorrow night.” Winifred pleaded, looking at Toddy.
“I really came down here to see Gertrude, but I do find myself with some spare time today.” She glanced at Gertrude to see the surprised look on his face. “What would you have me do, Winifred?”
“I need to have the roots in the sink peeled and sliced.” Winifred handed Toddy an apron and helped her tie it in the back. “You are such a sweet child for helping me in my time of need.” Toddy looked at Gertrude as she shrugged her shoulders and got ushered over to the sink by Winifred.