Family Outings (TAG)

Five year old, Ella Rosewood stood beside her older brother John as he expertly and gently manipulated the claw machine, they were in front of. The mahogany haired girl watched in awe with rapt attention as the claw reached down and grabbed the grey owl, Ella had been eyeing when they first arrived at the restaurant. John’s tongue peeked out as he looked at the claw and prize with concentration.

The claw came up and dropped the stuffed toy down the chute. The strawberry blonde reached down and picked up the toy. “Here you go, Ella,” the nine year old boy handed the owl to his little sister.

Ella accepted the owl and gave her brother a hug. “Thank you, John. He’s so cute,” the five year old gushed.

John chuckled and gently patted Ella’s head. He gently disrupted her curled pigtails that had been tied with blue ribbons. John awkwardly looked at their dad and older brother, Scott, for help.

“Ella, what did John get you?” Jeff Tracy asked the dark red haired girl as he picked her up and placed her on his hip.

As Ella answered her dad’s question, Jeff walked them to the car. While, Scott and John followed behind.

Scott looked over at John, “That was nice of you to get Ella, the owl,” Scott told his brother. A smile on his face as they reached the car.

Jeff Tracy was putting Ella in her car seat. Lucille Tracy had placed seven year old Virgil and three year old Gordon in their car seats. Scott and John waited for their dad to finish.

“She really wanted that owl,” John answered as he met Scott’s gaze. “Besides, Ella was well behaved during lunch. She just sat on the table and colored in her coloring book.”

Scott nodded in agreement. “You’re not wrong,” he agreed.

Before he could elaborate further, “Alright you two, get inside,” Jeff said as he turned from Ella to Scott and John.

The two older Tracy boys moved inside and buckled themselves into the van. As Scott moved past Ella he gently ruffled her hair. A giggle fell from her lips, at her brother’s actions. He sat in the back, just behind Ella. Virgil just behind Gordon’s seat with John in the middle next to Scott. The Tracy Patriarchs both in the front seat.

Lucy had a smile on her face as she glanced at her children. The five of them were wonderful, despite, Ella being adopted into the family. Scott and John had never held it against her, while Virgil was only two years older than Ella. All of her boys loved Ella and she couldn’t be more proud of them.

As Jeff drove through town back to their small little farm, all five of the Tracy children chattered with each other. Excitement from the outing, but eventually Gordon drifted to sleep. Ella and Virgil followed after the youngest Tracy boy, moments later.

“Out like little lights,” Lucy commented as she looked at her three sleeping children.

-fin