Charlie Burghard (charlieburghard) wrote in tiberiusswann, @ 2010-10-20 11:01:00 |
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Entry tags: | charlie |
Wednesday: August/20/08
Who: Charlie, Maggie and Lewis
When: Wednesday morning before dawn
Where: outside the staff building
What: Maggie's leaving campus for a few days
"But why do I have to leave?" Maggie managed to whine before a deep yawn consumed her. She rubbed at her eyes with her free hand, the other was firmly grasped by Charlie's. Meanwhile his other hand was lugging a soft bag with netting that allowed an annoyed kitty to watch where they were going. The group was headed to the parking lot outside the staff building.
"I already told you, Maggie. The next few days are gonna be really busy for me, Ava too. All of the staff will be busy. You'll be back first thing Sunday." He'd explained this several times in the last thirty minutes. Charlie felt bad waking Maggie up so early, but he didn't have much choice. He needed to get her off campus so he could focus on work again. There was still a lot to do before the inspectors arrived later today, and Charlie couldn't worry about Maggie while doing everything. Soon after talking to Cassie's mother, he'd called his brother to explain the situation, and they both agreed it was better if Maggie wasn't around during the inspections. Charlie couldn't expect her to stay locked up in the apartment that whole time, and he couldn't risk the prospect of an inspector spotting her and asking a bunch of questions. Maggie was a terrible liar, and he didn't want to ask her to do it.
Maggie pouted and let go of Charlie's hand for a moment, which caused him to frown as well until he realized she'd only done so in order to adjust the strap on her backpack. A second later, Maggie took hold of his hand again. "So I won't get to ride my horse until Sunday?" Of course that was her primary concern, and Charlie was grateful for that. She shouldn't be worried about anything more.
"Sorry, Magpie... but I'll be sure to give him a sugar cube or two every single day you're gone... okay?" He looked down at her and gave her fingers a little squeeze.
Maggie nodded and then thought of something else. "What about my homework? Do I still have to do it?"
Charlie chuckled at this. "Yeah.. still gotta do your homework. But you get some extra time to do it. Should leave you more time to play with Edelweiss, watch some really bad horror movies like you love... and maybe get your mom to teach you some new cookie recipes. Then you can share them with Ava, because we both know she needs to learn how to make proper cookies."
Giggling, Maggie nodded enthusiastically. "We could learn to make Snickerdoodles! Those are grandpa's favorites!"
"Mine too. Your grandma used to make them when I was little, and sometimes I helped. And when your grandpa got home from work, he'd go straight to the kitchen, rattle the lid on the cookie jar, and he'd say 'Where are my cookies?' You know why?" Maggie was wide eyed now, listening to the story. She liked hearing stories about when her dad and uncle were little. "Because Lewis and I would eat so many, that sometimes there wouldn't be any left!" Maggie giggled as Charlie continued, "But the kitchen smelled like them from the cooking, so your grandpa knew there had to be some cookies in the house. Sometimes we'd hide the cookies just to make him search for them."
"Where did you hide them?" she asked, totally sucked into this story.
"All sorts of places. One time we even hid them under his bed so he'd smell them when he got ready to sleep and wonder where the heck those cookies were." That got another giggle out of Maggie.
Charlie was smiling and chuckling too, but it faded a bit as he glanced at his watch. The sun would be rising in about fifteen minutes. Good thing Lewis was punctual. Charlie saw headlights approaching, and he hurried Maggie along a bit. They arrived at the parking lot the same time as Lewis. He turned off the car and hopped out, immediately scooping up his little girl and giving her a few kisses before setting her down. Charlie used that opportunity to put Edelweiss in the back seat.
"So.. we'll be back on Sunday night?" Lewis asked.
Charlie nodded, "Yeah." He'd already discussed this with Lewis. They both knew there was a chance something could go wrong during the inspection, and that was the primary reason for having Maggie off campus. The inspectors could learn the truth about the school. If that happened, it was for Maggie's safety that she not be there. Charlie had to be, but Maggie didn't. Of course, they didn't tell Maggie any of this. She was better off not knowing.
She must have known something though, because she was a perceptive little thing. When Charlie hugged her goodbye, she noticed he was giving her one of those hugs that indicated he was worried he might not see her again. Maggie's earlier smiles and laughter were gone. "What's wrong, Uncle Charlie?"
He pulled away and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Nothing, Magpie. I'm just going to miss you lots while you're gone."
"But I'll be back in a few days, right?" Her mind flashed back to the last few times she'd gone much longer than a few days without seeing her uncle.
"Of course, sweetie. Just a few days." As soon as Charlie said it, he half regretted it. He didn't make promises he couldn't keep, and Charlie worried he might not be able to keep this one. "Go on.. you still got your jammies on, and it's still dark. You should get yourself back into bed, and then I bet your mom will make you pancakes when you wake up."
Maggie wasn't convinced, but she kept her mouth shut when she saw the way her dad looked at her uncle. Lewis gave Maggie's back a little push of encouragement to climb into the car. When she did, he gave his brother a big hug and whispered to him, "Call me with updates."
Charlie nodded and squeezed his brother tight for just a moment before releasing him. Lewis and Maggie left then, while Charlie waved until he could see the slightest lightening of the horizon. It was time for him to get inside. He jogged back to the staff building and away from the approaching sunrise.