a winter story, part four

"Your parents will hear of this, Felix." 

by: Olivia Dale

Felix was awakened early in the morning by Great Aunt Eliza rousing him. He looked around. It was still dark. What is Great Aunt Eliza doing up and around at this time of the night? He thought.
"The pump's frozen stiff, Felix, and I need water for my tea." Eliza hissed in his ear, trying to sound quiet, not wanting to wake up the rest of the family.
Felix groaned. "What time is it?" He muttered sleepily.
"It's past midnight, and I need hot tea to warm me up." Eliza said, shivering. A snore indicated that Felix had drifted back to sleep. She yanked the covers off of Felix, which jerked him awake again.
"Come on, boy, don't be so lazy." she pulled him up from the cot. Of course, Eliza now sleeping in the boys' room, Felix had been moved down to the kitchen, and toddler Daniel had moved into the girls' room. Lucky them, Felix thought as he trudged his way over to the pump, Eliza at his heels.
He easily pumped the handle up and down twice, filling the tea kettle with icy cold water. He set it on the stove for his aunt and crawled back into his creaky bed, the cot.
Eliza peered into the stove. "Felix, the fire has gone out." she told him.
"Well, then i'll have to go outside and get the wood." Felix muttered wearily from his sleepy position on the cot.
Eliza frowned, clearly wishing for her warm tea. "But two or three pieces of wood would be enough for a bit of tea." she said, wringing her cold hands together.
Felix sighed, exasperated. "Goodness, Great Aunt Eliza, I can't get any sleep around here. If you want the wood, well then you'll just have to go out and get it yourself." He said before he could catch his tongue. Eliza's eyes popped open wide. "Your parents will hear of this, Felix. " she said turning towards the stairs.
Felix jumped from the cot and quickly faced his petite aunt. "No, wait!" he said, "I'll get the wood."
Eliza nodded her approval. He quickly went outside, in the cold and the dark he got a few blocks of wood. He came in, shivering, and filled the stove. Then he made his way, again, to the cot.
"Thank-you, Felix." Eliza said cheerfully as she went upstairs to her room, with her hot, steaming tea in hand.
Felix looked up at her with the covers over his ears. "No problem." he yawned, and soon enough he drifted back into a peaceful, dreamless sleep.