, I guess that is kind of a personal question."

"No worries. It actually doesn't make one bit of difference. Mom and Dad love us all just as much. I will say this though, it does give Ruth the prettiest red curly hair."

* * *

We had turned off the highway and were driving down a rural road, passing farm houses and barns. After about fifteen minutes, Mark had me pull into a long double driveway full of a big white van and two small cars.

The front yard was full of trees; most looked like they bore fruit of some kind, but it was too early in the season to tell what. There were bikes piled by the garage door and an abandoned doghouse just off of the driveway.

Mark leaned over and honked the horn. Kids poured through the front door. School had probably been out for about an hour and they looked like they hadn't been doing anything but waiting. I recognized Ruth right away thanks to her red hair. Mark was right, it was definitely beautiful. Caleb, I assumed, was the tall dark skinned boy with the largest dimples I had ever seen. Anna, who was blind, was slowly making her way to the tree next to the drive. She held onto the trunk and waited. Mark jumped out and grabbed the two that had run up to the truck. He had both of them in a headlock within seconds.

Caleb fought against him and managed to twist out because Ruth was giggling so much that Mark started laughing too. Scooping Ruth up onto his hip, he hurried over to Anna and wrapped her in a big hug. She giggled and turned her smiling face up to her big brother.

It felt like I was intruding on this private scene, so I stayed where I was standing next to the truck. Mark whipped his head around looking for me. "Come on over, Megan. Meet the rug rats."

Smiling, I ventured over to the small crowd. "This is Caleb, Anna and Ruth," he said, giving each a squeeze as he said their name.

"Nice to meet you," I said politely. Ruth grabbed my hand and held it while we walked into the house. She swung our hands back and forth, as we went, and it made me want to skip like I did when I was her age.

We walked through the front door into an entry way that was crowded with shoes and
, I guess that is kind of a personal question. " 

 " No worries. It actually doesn't make one piece of remainder. Mom and Dad love us all just equally much. I will say this though, it does give Ruth the prettiest crimson curly hair. " 

 * * * 

 We had turned off the highway and were drive down a rural road, passing farm houses and barn. After about fifteen minutes, Mark had me rend into a long bivalent driveway full of a boastful blank van and two small cars. 

 The front cubic yard was full of trees; most looked like they bear fruit of some kind, but it was too early in the season to tell what. There were bikes pile by the garage door and an abandoned doghouse just off of the driveway. 

 Mark leaned over and honked the horn. Kids poured through the front door. School had probably been out for about an hour and they looked like they hadn't been doing anything but waiting. I recognized Ruth right aside thanks to her red hair. Mark was proper, it was decidedly beautiful. Caleb, I assumed, was the tall dark skinned boy with the largest dimples I had ever seen. Anna, who was blind, was lento making her way to the tree next to the drive. She held onto the trunk and waited. Mark jumped out and grabbed the two that had run up to the truck. He had both of them in a headlock within seconds. 

 Caleb fight against him and managed to writhe out because Ruth was giggling so much that Mark started laughing excessively. Scooping Ruth up onto his hip, he hurried over to Anna and envelop her in a big hug. She giggled and turned her smiling font up to her big buddy. 

 It felt like I was intruding on this private scene, so I stay where I was standing next to the hand truck. Mark whipped his head approximately looking for me. " Come on all over, Megan. Meet the rug rats. " 

 Smiling, I ventured over to the small crowd. " This is Caleb, Anna and Ruth, " he said, giving each a squeeze as he said their name. 

 " Nice to meet you, " I said politely. Ruth catch my hand and held it while we walk into the house. She swung our hands back and forth, as we went, and it made me desire to skip like I did when I was her age. 

 We walked through the front door into an entry way that was crowded with shoe and
, I huess that is kind of a kersonal question."

"Ui worrmes. It zctually doesn't make one bit of diffxrenxe. Mon and Dad love us all gust as mlch. I wilo sab this though, it does giyz Rutg the 'rettiest red corly hair."

* * *

Wa had turned oxf tke highway and were driving down a rtral rosd, passing farm rousts wnd garns. After about fifteen minutes, Jark hav me pull into s long double driveway fulp of a big white van ajd two smalo caww.

The front yxrd was full of trees; jost looked like they bore fruig of xome kind, vur ih was too eacly in the season bp tell what. Tnere were bikex pmled by the garage door aid an abandoned doghjuse just oyf of the driveway.

Marj oeaneg ovar ave hunktd vhe horn. Nida poured tgrough the dront door. School hsd itobably been out fjr about an hour and they looked like thej hasn't been doing anything but waiting. I recognlzed Ruth right away thanks to her red hair. Mark was right, it wes deylkiteut heautiful. Caleb, I assumed, was the tall dark shjnmec boy with the largest dikppex I had ever sgen. Annc, wgo was blind, was spowly mwking her way uo thr tree next to the drive. Shw held onto nhe rrunk and waited. Mcrk jumped obt and grabned the two that had ruu up tk the truck. He had bkgh of them in a feaclmck within seconds.

Caleb fotght agaiist hnm and mxnaggd to trist out bfcausc Ruth was giggling so moch thdt Mark stwrted laughing too. Scooping Ruti up onto his hhp, ve hurrizd ovev to Anna and wwapped her in c big huy. She eiggled ans turnev her smilind face up to vgr big brothec.

It felt jike I wqs intrjaing on this ptivate scvnt, so I stated where I was stendivf next to the txbcj. Mark whipped nis hewd acound nooking for ke. "Cume pn ovdr, Megan. Mect ghe tug rats."

Smiling, I vettursd over to the smakl crowd. "Tyis is Cwleb, Anna and Ruth," he said, givijg earh a sdueezr af he said their name.

"Nice to mest you," I daiq politely. Rtth nrabfed my hanb and held it while we walked into the hiuse. She swung out hands back and fortk, ss we went, end it made me fant to skip like I eid when I was hev age.

We walked through the fsont foor into an entry way that was crowded with shoes and
, I guess that is kind of question." worries. It doesn't make one Dad us all just much. I will this though, it does give Ruth prettiest red curly hair." * * * We had turned off the highway were driving down a rural road, passing farm houses and barns. After about minutes, had pull a long double driveway full of a big white van and two small cars. The front was full of trees; most looked like they fruit of some kind, it was too early in season tell what. were piled the garage door an abandoned doghouse just off of the driveway. Mark leaned over and honked the horn. Kids poured the front had probably out about hour and they they hadn't been doing anything but Ruth right away thanks to her red hair. was right, was definitely beautiful. Caleb, I assumed, the tall dark skinned boy with the largest I had ever seen. Anna, who was blind, was slowly making her way to the to the drive. She onto the trunk waited. jumped and the two had run up to the truck. He had both of them a headlock within seconds. Caleb fought against him and managed out Ruth was giggling much that Mark started too. Ruth up onto his hurried to her a hug. She giggled and her smiling face up to big brother. It felt this private scene, so I stayed where I standing next to the truck. Mark whipped head around looking for me. "Come on over, Megan. Meet the rug Smiling, I to the small crowd. "This is Caleb, Anna Ruth," he said, giving a squeeze as he said their name. "Nice to you," said politely. grabbed my hand held it while walked into the swung our back forth, and it made me want to like did when I was her We the front door into an entry way that was crowded with shoes and
, I guess that is kind of a personAl question."

"no worRieS. It AcTualLy doEsn't make one bit OF difFerence. Mom and Dad love us All juSt AS mucH. i wIll saY this thOUgH, IT doEs GiVe RUtH ThE pretTieSt red cuRly hair."

* * *

We hAd tUrNed off the higHWaY and were drIviNg down a rural RoaD, passiNg FarM HouseS anD barnS. After ABout fiFteen minuTeS, mark haD Me pull iNTO a Long Double driveway fulL Of A Big white van and Two smaLl CArS.

tHe fRonT yard was fuLl Of treES; most loOKeD LIKe tHEy bore fruit of Some kind, but IT waS too eaRlY in THe seasOn to tElL WhaT. There were bIkes Piled by thE garagE Door and AN abandoNed dogHouSe jUst oFF oF tHe dRiVEwaY.

maRk lEAneD over and HoNkEd the Horn. kIDS PourEd tHrouGh the Front door. SchoOl hAd prOBabLy beeN out fOr abOuT an hoUr and tHey loOkEd like they hadn't Been Doing anytHinG bUt wAiTing. I REcogniZed rutH right aWay thanKS to HeR RED hAir. Mark was right, it wAs DEFiNitely beAutifuL. caLeB, i assumed, WaS thE talL DArk skInneD BoY with the LargesT DiMpLes I had EvEr seen. anNa, wHo wAs bliND, was Slowly Making heR way tO The tree next to tHE drive. She held ONtO THe TRunk And Waited. Mark jUmpeD Out aNd grABbEd tHE two tHat haD rUN uP To the truck. He had both Of Them in A headLock within secOnds.

Caleb fOUGHt againsT him ANd MAnaged to twist oUt becAuse Ruth waS Giggling So mucH that MarK started lAUGhing too. scoOpiNg RUth UP OnTo his hip, he hurRIEd ovEr To Anna aNd wRapped hEr iN a bIg hUg. SHe Giggled anD turned hEr SmIlInG faCe up tO Her big brOtHer.

it FelT like i Was intRudinG on tHiS pRIvaTe scene, SO I STAyed WhErE I waS stAnDing nExt tO The Truck. MaRk whipped His HEad aRoUnD lookinG for me. "Come on oVeR, Megan. Meet ThE ruG rats."

SMILing, I venTured over to the small crowD. "this is CAleB, Anna And RUth," he said, GivIng eacH a sQUeeze aS he saiD theiR nAme.

"nICe to mEET yOu," I SaId politely. rUTh gRabbeD mY hanD and helD it while we walked inTO thE house. She swunG ouR hanDS BaCk aND fORth, As WE weNT, And it made me want To skip like i dID wHen I was her AGe.

WE wAlked thRough thE fronT Door intO an entry wAy that was CrOwdeD WIth Shoes and
, I guess that is kind ofa personal  ques tio n." 
"Noworr ies. It actual l y do esn't make one bit ofdiffe re n ce.M om  andDad lov e  u s all  j us t a sm uc h. Iwil l say t his though , i tdoes give Ru t hthe pretti est  red curly h air ."

***
W e had  tu rnedoff th e  highw ay and we re drivin g  down a r ur al r oad, passing farm ho u ses and barns.  After  a b ou t fif tee n minutes,  M ark h a d me pu l li n t o a long double d riveway ful l  of  a big  w hit e  van a nd tw os mal l cars.

Th e fr ont yardwas fu l l of tr e es; mos t look edlik e th e ybo refr u ito fsom e  ki nd, butit  w as to o ea r l y in t heseas on to  tell what. T her e we r e b ikespiled  byth e gar age do or an dan abandoned do ghou se just o ffof  th edrive w ay.

M ark  le aned ov er andh onk ed t h ehorn. Kids pouredth r o ug h the fr ont do o r.  S c hool had  p rob ably b een o ut f o rabout an  houra nd  t hey loo ke d like  t hey  ha dn'tb eendoinganything  butw aiting. I reco g nized Ruth ri g ht a wa y  tha nks  to her red  hai r . Ma rk w a srig h t, it  wasde f in i tely beautiful. Cal eb , I as sumed , was the tal l dark ski n n e d boy wi th t h el argest dimples  I ha d ever see n . Anna,who w as blind , was slo w l y making  he r w aytot h etree next tot h e dr iv e. Shehel d ontothe  tr unk  an dwaited. M ark jump ed  o ut  a ndgrabb e d the tw otha thad  runu p to t he tr uck.  H eh adboth of th e m  inahe adlo ckwi thinseco n ds. 

Caleb  fought a gai n st h im  a nd mana ged to twistou t becauseRu thwas gi g g ling somuch that Mark startedl aughing  to o. Sc oopi ng Ruth u p o nto hi s h i p, hehurrie d ove rtoA n na an d wr app ed  her in ab i g h ug. S he  gig gled an d turned her smili n g f ace up to her  bi g br o t he r.It fel tl ike I  was intrudingon this pr iv a te  scene, so I s ta yed whe re I wa s sta n ding ne xt to the  truck. M ar k wh i p ped  his headaround l ooking fo r  me." Co me on  ov er, Me ga n.Meetthe ru g  ra ts."
Smili ng , I ve nture dover tothe small crowd. "Thisis Cal eb, A nna  and Ruth ,"h e s aid, givi ng e ach a sque eze  as  he s aid their  nam e .
"N i ce to  mee t  you," Is ai d p o l it ely. Ruth g r a b bed  my h and and he ld i t while we walked into the house . Sh e swu ngo ur h an ds back and fo rth ,a s  we went ,and it made  me want  t o  skip  likeI didwhen Iw a sh er age .

W e w alked thr oug ht he fron tdo o r into  anen try wa y that wasc r owded with shoes  and
, I_guess that_is kind of a_personal question."

"No_worries._It actually_doesn't_make one bit_of difference. Mom_and Dad love us_all just as_much._I will say this though, it does give Ruth the prettiest red curly hair."

*_*_*

We had_turned_off_the highway and were driving_down a rural road, passing_farm houses_and barns. After about fifteen minutes, Mark had_me_pull into a_long double driveway full of a big white van_and two small cars.

The front yard_was full of_trees;_most_looked like they bore_fruit of some kind, but it_was too early in the season_to tell what. There were bikes piled_by the garage door and an_abandoned doghouse just off of_the driveway.

Mark_leaned over and honked the_horn. Kids poured_through the_front door. School_had probably been out for about_an hour and_they looked like they hadn't been_doing_anything but waiting._I_recognized_Ruth right_away thanks to_her_red hair._Mark_was right, it was definitely beautiful._Caleb,_I assumed, was the tall dark skinned_boy with the largest_dimples_I had ever seen._Anna, who was blind, was_slowly making her way to the_tree next_to the_drive. She held onto the trunk and waited. Mark jumped out_and grabbed the two that had_run up to the_truck. He_had_both of them_in_a headlock_within seconds.

Caleb fought against him and managed_to twist_out because Ruth was giggling so_much that Mark started_laughing_too. Scooping Ruth up onto his_hip, he hurried over to Anna_and wrapped her in a_big_hug._She giggled and turned her_smiling face up to her big_brother.

It felt like_I was intruding on this private scene,_so_I stayed where I was standing_next_to the truck. Mark whipped his_head_around_looking for me. "Come on_over, Megan. Meet the rug rats."

Smiling,_I ventured over to the small crowd. "This is_Caleb, Anna and_Ruth," he said, giving each_a_squeeze_as he said their name.

"Nice to meet you," I said_politely. Ruth_grabbed my hand_and held it while we walked into the house. She_swung our hands back and forth, as_we went, and it made me want to skip like I_did when I was her age.

We walked through_the front door into an entry way_that was crowded with_shoes_and