After Chloe left the kitchen and ran to the front yard, Mrs Willis carried baby Asher to old Mrs Hopeson. Then she returned to the kitchen and started cleaning it. Later, after Chloe returned to the kitchen, she saw Mrs Willis cleaning up the mess.
Mrs Willis had already cleaned the muddy soup from the floor and packed the soup pot to the side. She was now draining the water from the rice.
Chole then joined her and began cleaning the kitchen.
When Mrs Willis was draining the rice, Chloe went to lift the barrel and place it in its previous position. After that, she started cleaning the firewood stove. The little firewood under the stove was completely wet, including the ashes that were now sticking to the wet floor. She then went out to get a broom to sweep the wet ashes. When she returned, Mrs Willis was already done draining the rice. She was now wiping the floor. Chloe then began sweeping the ashes. After she finished sweeping the ashes, she collected them and put them in a small black nylon bag. Holding it in her left hand, she picked up the soup pot and went outside.
Mrs Willis was done wiping the floor a few minutes later. She tthen went outside to dump the dirty water. By this time, Chloe had already washed the soup pot. She was now carrying firewood into the kitchen.
When Mrs Willis returned to the kitchen after she had dumped the dirty water and washed her hands, Chloe had already finished lighting the fire. So she went to check on the rice she kept in the pot in a sieve. After she had checked on the rice, she turned to Chloe.
"Chloe, I've checked the rice; there's no sand in it. Apart from the water that soaked it. You just have to set it on the fire to dry it," Mrs Willis said.
"Thank you, Lena", Chloe thanked Mrs Willis. Emotionally
Then....
"Heh, so somebody knows how to thank me?" Mrs asked teasingly.
Chloe rolled her eyes at her; all the emotions she had 'invited for meeting' flew back to their nest.
She turned her back to Mrs Willis and went to set her rice water on the fire.
At that time, it was seven-fifteen in the evening. And everybody was back from the farm.
"Eheh, I haven't seen Tricia and Dee since we came back from the farm." Mrs Willis said.
Tricia and Dee are the nicknames of Patricia and Deborah.
"How will you see us, after the two of you went and ate that big 'melon', leaving Dee and me behind?"
Patricia answered playfully. while she and Deborah were entering the kitchen, carrying big bowls.
"Let's just forgive them, after this heavy price they had paid, let's see if they dare to leave us behind again,"
Deborah added playfully.
When the duo in the kitchen saw Patricia and Deborah enter, they rolled their eyes at them.
"Your should stop rolling your eyes before they fall out," Deborah said, after she saw them rolling their eyes.
"Okay, let's be serious. Chloe, we heard the children dumped your food. So we brought you soups. As for the rice, you can cook it yourself."
Patricia said, setting the bowl of soup in her hand on the small kitchen table. Deborah also did the same.
"Alright, Chloe, since everything is done here, I am going home to bathe my small trouble maker. See your tomorrow." Mrs Willis said, then turned to leave.
"Okay, see you tomorrow", the other three women bid her goodbye together.
....
After Mrs Willis reached the front yard, she saw her three cousins-in-law sitting under the big tree.
With Joseph standing in front of them, 'pumping tyre'( it's a punishment in the form of squats, but you have to reach all the way down).
His father was monitoring him, sternly instructing him to do the exercise properly. He was sweating from the 'exercise'. But one tear didn't drop from his eyes. When he saw Mrs Willis, his eyes lit up, but when his father saw him looking at Mrs Willis, he urged him.
"Pumped the tyre, pumped it faster, hurry, let's go, up down, up down, up down." His father, Mr Walter, instructed.
As for Faith, she was done with her punishment and had gone inside to bathe. Mrs Willis then greeted them and asked for old Mrs Hopeson.
"She had gone inside after she bathed Asher. As for Asher, Aaron carried him home"
Mr Thomas replied to her.
"Okay, then see your tomorrow." Mrs Willis bid them goodnight.
"Goodnight, sister-in-law." The three brothers replied.
Mrs Willis nodded at them and headed to her house.
.....
After she arrived home, she saw her husband in the kitchen reheating their dinner. She sweetly greeted him and asked if baby Asher was asleep.
"He was sleepy while we were coming home. So after we reached home, I put him to sleep." Her husband replied.
"Hmm, okay. Leh me check on him then I will come to join you in the kitchen." She said and then headed to their room to check on baby Asher.
After Mrs Willis entered her room, she saw her son sleeping on his back in the middle of the mattress. His arms and legs were spread in four directions, and his little mouth was open. Maybe he was dreaming of food or something related to it because he was smacking his little lips and drooling.
Seeing her son's cute appearance, a soft smile unknowingly appeared on Mrs Willis' face. She gazed at him for a while, her gaze filled with motherly love and tenderness.
Then, she walked to the bed, sat on it and bent down and kissed his forehead. After that, she went outside into the kitchen.
After she entered the kitchen, she sat on the small kitchen chair and began chatting with her husband, asking him how his day went on the farm. They chatted while waiting for their food to get hot. After a few minutes, the food was ready. They then ate in the kitchen. Afterwards, they took their baths and went to bed.
...
On this side in Chloe's home...
After Mrs Willis left, Mr Walter let Joseph 'pump tyre' for another five minutes before he was released. After he was released, Joseph went inside and took bath
After Chloe was done cooking the rice, they had dinner and went to bed.
....
In Chloe and her husband's bedroom....
"Tomorrow you should carry Joseph on the farm," Chloe said to her husband.
"He can follow me tomorrow, I don't have a problem with that. The main problem is the other two. You know, wherever one of them goes, the rest will follow. So if Joseph is following me, tomorrow, the farm will be upside-down, " Her husband replied.
"Hmm, tomorrow we will see," Chloe said.
After that topic, they chatted for a few minutes and closed their eyes to sleep. While hugging each other.
"