Rated G
Alliance owns these characters, and I make no legal claim to them in any way. No profit will be made from this story.
SPRING CLEANING
Rosa stood in the kitchen, smiling contentedly. Today was the day of the annual Vecchio Spring cleaning, and most of the family had been engaged in various assignments for most of the day.
Tony was the only one who had managed to escape home cleaning duties. He had recently been hired onto a construction crew, and they had wanted him to work today. He hadn't wanted to say no so early in his employment there; and he had explained, Saturday work meant overtime pay.
Rosa, Maria and Frannie had cleaned the house from top to bottom, scrubbing floors and windows and washing curtains and bed linens; and the children had helped by cleaning up their rooms. Ray and Fraser had the most interesting job of all- going through the basement and attic and deciding what to keep and what to throw away.
They had spent much of the day debating what was valuable and what was junk; then packing boxes and carrying them up from the basement and down from the attic. The back porch was now lined and stacked with boxes waiting for the garbage man.
As the last part of their job, the two men had packed boxes with old clothes and dishes and other items that were to be donated to charity and were now stacking those boxes in the kitchen.
Rosa stood smiling at her "two boys" as they added more boxes to the stack.
Rosa watched Ben as he set down the box he was carrying; and she saw him suddenly stiffen, and he bit his lip. Ben then looked over at Ray, and when he saw that Ray's attention was still on the box he was carrying, Ben reached around and began rubbing his back.
"Hey Ma," Ray said. He looked up, and Ben instantly let his hand drop back down to his side.
"We've just got a couple more loads, and then we're done for the night," Ray said happily.
"Actually, I think you already are done for the night," Rosa said.
"What?"
"You boys have worked hard enough for one day. Tony can move the rest of those boxes tomorrow."
"Really? Tony?" Ray was skeptical.
"Yes. It will make him feel like he helped out."
"All right," Ray grinned; more than ready to call it quits.
"Why don't you boys have a seat? I'll make us some coffee. And for you Benton, I'll make a cup of tea."
"Thank you, Rosa," Ben smiled. The two men sat down at the kitchen table, Ben easing himself carefully into his chair.
Just a few minutes later Rosa was back at the table, carrying a tray with the coffee, tea, and sugar, cream and spoons. She set the tray down on the table and smiled at Ray. "You know Caro, I believe there is still a box of gingersnap cookies in the pantry if you would like to get it."
"You don't have to ask me twice," Ray grinned, jumping up and heading into the pantry.
Once he had left the room, Rosa touched Ben lightly on the shoulder. "Benton," she said.
Ben looked up at her, and Rosa dropped two ibuprofen tablets into his hand. Ben's expression changed to one of surprise.
"Take them, Caro," she said with a gentle smile.
Ben nodded and swallowed the two pills, and Rosa ran a hand through his hair, then began gently rubbing his back. Ray re-entered the room, and Rosa stepped away from Ben and began pouring Ray's coffee for him.
Ray sat down and opened the box of cookies. "Ahh, that's much better," he said.
Ben and Rosa looked briefly at each other, then looked at Ray and smiled.
THE END
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