Black Diamond.
I was working on the court docket when I saw Jimmy and Willy talking outside. I went out and asked them if they wanted to eat something so we went over to the cantina and ate outside while we talked. We talked about Willy living at the orphanage and my office in Black Diamond.
“Ma, did pa tell ya what he did today?” Jimmy asked.
“What’d pa do today kiddo?”
“He went and bought a bunch of food for the orphanage and Miss Abi. He say he got flour, beans, sugar and bread stuff.”
“Oh did he? That’s great.” I smiled, proud of him.
“Miss Abi be glad,” Willy said. “An me too cos she gonna do some good stuff with that,” Willy said.
“Yeah, I remember when me an Natalie was there, we had horse stew once...it was ok, but I not recommend it,” Jimmy said.
We continued to talk about Jimmy’s experience at the orphanage and we talked about weird foods and I told them about when the Apache village tried to cook me frog legs to get me over my fear of frogs, but it didn’t work. I told Jimmy it was probably safer if we spent more time in Bisbee and Diamond, and Jimmy told Willy that he should come visit more and that they could hang out and fish and explore.
“Ma did you know Natalie tried kissin Jeffery again? And that you can get babies from kissing?” Jimmy asked.
“She what? No more Buster?” I blinked.
“Uh huh...when we was all sick in the orphanage.. she try kissin him and Miss Abi stopped her.”
“Now you don’t be foolin’ me son.” I stared at him.
“No, I think it just to prove she like Buster more.. Buster jus wasn’t round. I was there ma, I saw it with my own eyes.”
I shook my head, thinking about how much my daughter was so much like me. “I’ll have to have a talk with her.”
“But she kisses his shoulder, but then they both had their eyes closed,” Jimmy said.
“Does it count if yer eyes is closed?” Willy asked.
“Does it mean she gonna have a baby now ma?” Jimmy asked.
“Now listen.. Both of you… Don’t be kissin’ no girls for another..... ten years. Got it?” I looked between them.
“No way!” Willy exclaimed and Jimmy looked at me intently with a stare.
“Don’t look at me like that young man.” I looked at him firmly.
“Oh, don’t worry ma. Girls are yucky and have cooties. I ain’t kissin’ no girl!!”
“Ma? Jimmy?” Natalie called out then.
“Natalie Marie Paige!!” I exclaimed. “Get your butt over to the cantina right now!”
“Yes ma....? I didn’t do it, I swear. Jimmy did.” Natalie cringed as she slowed down as she approached.
“Young lady, was Jimmy kissing Jeffrey?” I asked her.
“Uh…” She gulped and backed up.
“Then I’m pretty sure Jimmy didn’t do it this time. You want to tell me what that was all about?”
“Uh…. Jimmy!” Natalie knocked Jimmy’s hat off his head.
“I’m sorry Natalie!!” Jimmy exclaimed.
“Hi, I’m Willy,” Willy introduced.
“It just sorta, um… come out… I didn’t mean to…” Jimmy said.
“Natalie... I thought you liked Buster?” I looked at her.
“Well uh... I do but… Jeff was bein’ so… And… Well…”
“But ma it not her fault… Buster not there, so she was lonely, and she couldn’t kiss me… so who else she gonna kiss?”
“I DUNNO!!” Natalie shifted on her feet and looked down with a sigh.
“Jimmy say you gonna have a baby now,” Willy put in.
“I AM NOT!!” I exclaimed.
“Now now… You three listen to me. Natalie take a seat honey.”
“But…” Natalie started.
“I ain’t mad, I just wanna explain something to all three of you. And you’re gonna wanna sit,” I looked at her. “Now listen... I know that you’re gettin’ to the age where these feelings are confusing. But you need to be sure that you don’t go kissin’ each other until you’re older. Even if you’re twelve, Natalie. It’s somethin’ ya should save for when you’re at least fourteen…”
“But ma what do we do if a girl kisses us first?” Jimmy asked. “Or boy, in Natalie’s case.”
“Ya stick a frog in her face, Jimmy,” Willy suggested.
“But ma…” Natalie started. “What if you wanna kiss more than one boy?”
“Uh... you what?” I blinked, seeing Jade come over and looked at her for help.
“Dang sis, how many boys ya wanna kiss?” Jimmy blinked.
“Sounds like you got your work cut out, Trin,” Jade said.
Willy reached under his shirt and brought out a frog, but kept it away from me. “I think he died.”
“You drop that right now.” I scooted back in my chair.
“Aye not be a good idea to be kissing lot boys at your age Natalie,” Jade agreed with me.
“Awww, but he’s Willy’s froggy....you might could turn ’im into a prince Natalie,” Jimmy suggested.
“But he gonna be a dead prince Jimmy,” Willy held out the frog to Natalie.
Natalie and I jumped back from the table and Jimmy looked over at Nat as Willy hid his frog again. “What did I say?” Jimmy asked.
“It’s okay sweetie. I know you’re confused right now. We’ll talk at home alone okay?” I put a hand on her shoulder.
“Willy… why are girls sooo weird?” Jimmy asked him.
“Hey! We ain’t weird!” Natalie exclaimed.
“Jade, you’re right. I’ve got my hands full tonight,” I told Jade.
“Did you get to see Chet at all?”
“Unfortunately no, I haven’t seen him and we’ve been looking over the store to see if he comes by,” I told her.
I heard Natalie tackling Jimmy and blinked, spinning around to them. “Natalie! Jimmy! On your feet. Now.”
“Ma! Make her stop!” Jimmy cried.
“I’m sorry Willy, it looks like my children need a talking to at home,” I told him. “Jade, sorry but I gotta take these two home and talk some sense into them.”
“Natalie, you ain’t acting much girl-like. See that’s just weird!” Jimmy exclaimed.
“Way to go, Jimmy,” Natalie muttered.
“You started it!”
“Say goodbye to Willy, kids. Now,” I said firmly and they said goodbye as we walked towards the house.
Bisbee.
We walked into the house and I pointed. “House. March.”
“Ma can’t I go in there and talk with Pa instead?” Natalie begged.
“Natalie, stay down here. Jimmy, go upstairs, and I’ll talk to you after I talk to your sister,” I told her and looked at Jimmy.
“But… what did I do?!”
“Upstairs young man.”
“It’s all your fault, sis!” Jimmy pouted and stomped upstairs.
“YOU STARTED IT!!!” Natalie shouted.
“Corners. NOW!” I ordered.
“I DID NOT!” Jimmy went up and stood in a corner and mumbled under his breath.
I looked over at Natalie and sat down beside her as I said, “Now kiddo... I know you’re going through a very confusing time right now. You’re startin’ to think about boys a lot, aren’t you?”
“I can’t even focus ma. I keep thinkin’ about when I’m gonna see Buster or Jeff again and I... I can’t…” Natalie told me.
“I know sweetie. I used to have to deal with that confusion too.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, I think too much ma! Maybe you should send her to one dem covenent places with the old woman in black robes and white hoods!” Jimmy exclaimed from upstairs.
“Mmhmm, sure I did,” I nodded to Nat and then called up, “Jimmy! Quiet up there!” Looking back at Nat I said, “Now Nat... I had a lot of confusing feelings when I first came to Tombstone... Lots of different boys used to want to kiss me. But you know what I had to do? I had to focus on work and eventually... I would find the one I was s’posed to be with.”
“When ya met Pa?”
“Actually, no. When I met Alex... We lived together for a while over in the canyon. He was a doctor.”
“But… Ya weren’t meant to be with him.”
“I know sweeite... but the point is... he showed me what life could be like with the right person. And I had to go through that in order to be ready for what your pa was offerin’.”
“I’m confused.”
“Sometimes kiddo... things don’t always make sense. Sometimes... it don’t happen like you think it should. But you can’t rush it.”
“Cause girls are weird!” Jimmy exclaimed.
“You’ve gotta let boys come to you. The right one will want to spend time with you and will one day want to kiss you,” I told Natalie.
“But... they’re both just so... Why can’t I make up my mind?”
“Maybe you’re not meant to yet, kiddo. Maybe you’ve gotta get to know boys as friends first... Lots of boys... without kissing.. To know what kind of man you want. Does that make any sense?”
“Okay but... so it’s okay to be friends with more than one boy?”
“Course it is! I’ve got lots of friends who are boys... That don’t mean I’m meant to be with ’em all.”
“Like who, ma?”
“Well... There’s your pa... but there’s also Mr. David, Mr. Alex, Mr. Cas, Mr. Adrian…”
“But ain’t Mr Adrian your boss?”
“Well sure... But he’s still my friend. And guess what... your pa’s got other girls who are his friends too.”
“He does??”
“Mmhmm... Like Miss Bree, Miss Doll, Miss Angel, Miss Pet… See honey, it’s okay to spend lots of time with more than one person of the other gender. But... don’t be kissin’ all of ’em.”
“But... why?”
“YEAH SIS!” Jimmy exclaimed.
“Cause that’s something that you do because you feel special towards someone. More than any of the other boys you know. You want to spend more time with that one person. And until you figure out which person that is… No kisisn’.”
“But we can hug?”
“Oh no!” Jimmy exclaimed.
“Well sure... when you say goodbye you can hug... but not too much. But... there’s been times where Mr Alex or Mr David gave me a hug when I was upset. That’s okay.”
“Yeah like when we was in the library and Jeff gave me a hug!”
“That’s right. But here’s a little tip... And you might wanna come on the couch for this one,” I told her and she came over to sit beside me. I pulled her close and leaned in to whisper into her ear. “When you do feel those things for one boy... more than any other… Don’t tell your brother about it.”
“Yeah I guess I shouldn’t have tried to kiss Jeff in front of him huh?” Nat giggled.
“Probably not.” I chuckled and hugged her tight. “Now let me go talk to your brother. There’s some cookies in the kitchen if you are hungry.”
“Thanks ma…” Nat said and hugged me tight. “I love you.”
“I love you too babygirl. Now go on.”
“Excuse me!!” Jimmy shouted then and I plugged my nose, smelling something from upstairs.
I walked upstairs and saw Jimmy in the corner. I knew this talk was going to be harder and took a deep breath as I said, “Come on kiddo, let’s go sit on the bed.” Jimmy came over and sat down beside me as I looked at him. “You know your big sister is going through some changes, right?”
“Um… I guess so.”
“Well... She’s starting to have... different feelings about boys. And you’ll get those feelings towards girls someday soon... But not yet. You’re still little.”
“But she’s a girl ma… and only 12… am I gonna have those feelings about girl when I turn 12?”
“Yeah around there.. But listen…”
“But why are girls so weird?”
“It’s not easy for her. It’s real confusing and I hope that my talk with her helped… We’re just different kiddo. You gotta be nicer though. It ain’t her fault that she’s got these feelings... She just doesn’t know how to control them.”
“You got that right! But….. she picks on me too.”
“Well I know.. But you’ve gotta remember she’s older. And she’ll figure out ways to turn the blame on you even when she started it… Which isn’t fair but that’s what older siblings have always done for centuries. Think about Cain and Abel in the Bible. Or Joseph and his brothers… But you know what?”
“Well yeah, but I ain’t gonna kill my sister or sell her to some King either.”
“If you show her that you love her and ain’t gonna make fun of her in front of your friends.... She’ll pick on you less too. That’s the point of those stories Jimmy. Joseph... he wasn’t too smart at first. He kinda egged his siblings on. You know what that means?”
“I do love her ma. She my sister, but she gets weird around boys, and it’s like, I dunno.”
“Mmhmm I know. And there’s times it’s gonna be weird… But you gotta give her space when that happens. But she knows now how to act I hope.”
“Yeah, it means to pushed them to do things.”
“Right. So if you don’t do stuff that’s gonna push Natalie into bugging you... she won’t.”
“But what if I think she is doing something wrong? Like with boys, you know, like say I found out something about one of ’em, and she likes them.”
“Well then you tell me. And I’ll figure out how to tell her.”
“Did you have these same feelings for pa when you met him ma?”
“Mmhmm. I couldn’t think about anything but your pa. I couldn’t focus on work. Every time I went to a dance I wished he was there. Whenever I passed by the... places where we spent time... I missed him. Then I realized one day that I just couldn’t live without him. And that’s when he gave me this ring.” I smiled and showed him my right hand.
“Awww…. Oh wow!” Jimmy looked at my ring.
“Your pa’s got one too.”
“Uh huh… I seen it on him...he never takes it off.”
“But... there’s a lot that happens in a person’s life before they get to that poitn. And that’s the journey your sister’s starting. And you’re not quite on yet.”
“Ma?”
“Yeah kiddo?”
“Girls can’t have babies from kissing, can they?”
“Nope they sure can’t.” I chuckled. “Not from hugging either.”
“Yay! I don’t want Natalie having no baby by Jeffery...he would be too ugly I think.”
“Jimmy! Have you not been listening?”
“I been listening ma.. I promise.”
“Good. Then stop teasin’ your sister. I’m gonna call her upstairs and get you two ready for bed, okay”
“I wast teasin… I just saying… you ever looked at Jeffery?”
“Jimmy Wallace.” I looked at him.
“Okay ma!” Jimmy frowned.
“Don’t be callin’ people ugly. It ain’t right for us to judge that. Remember... God looks on the inside. Not on the outside. Got it?”
“Yeah, yore right, but we got to look at ’em on the outside. I’m sorry ma… I promise not to call nobody ugly.”
“Natalie, Come on upstairs for bed sweetie!” I called for him and nodded to Jimmy. “Good boy.”
Natalie came upstairs and stood on the other side of the wall, folding her arms across her chest.
Jimmy looked over and said, “Natalie?”
“What?” She asked impatiently.
“I’m sorry for teasin and pickin on you.”
“That’s okay, Jimmy. You didn’t understand it. I shouldn’t have tried to kiss Jeff.”
“I’m not sure I do understand it, but it’s something you can’t control I guess… I guess ma couldn’t either.”
“Alright you two…” I smiled. “Time for bed. Don’t let your father catch you up still.”
Natalie and Jimmy hugged each other goodnight and said they loved each other, and then came over to me to hug me. They apologized for making me mad and I told them, “You’re both forgiven. Sleep well, my little angels.”
Watching them crawl into bed, I smiled and headed to my own bed and read a novel until Thomas came home from doing his rounds in Tombstone.
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