Late that afternoon, just as Danny and I were finishing up the very last board on the fence, Papa, Mama and Davey came riding up on the tractor, pulling the wagon full of bales behind it.
"We got it all done." shouted Papa over the tractor noise. "Now we can have some fun!"
Papa backed the wagon into the barn and he and Davey started unloading the hay bales.
Mama ran up to the house and Danny and I followed along, pulling my red wagon with the empty paint pail and painting equipment.
Two hours later, Papa and Davey had the cows all milked and put out for the night.
Mama had packed her picnic basket with fried chicken, potato salad, cold baked beans and chocolate cake.
Papa drove the tractor hooked to a small trailer up to the house. Davey threw in some wooden camp chairs and we all got into the trailer.
Papa drove the tractor across the fields and into the path in the woods. Soon we were at the pond. It never looked more beautiful to me, all lush and green and just waiting for us to jump in.
It was a beautiful evening. The sun was low in the sky and it had turned a little cooler. Papa set up the wooden chairs, while Mama set out a blanket and took the food out of the picnic basket.
"Last one in is a rotten egg," yelled Davey as he and Danny ran and jumped into the pond, clothes on and all.
I sat on the blanket with Mama and Papa and thought of what a wonderful day we all had. We had chores to do and we worked hard, but we did it all together, as a family. This land was ours, it always would be ours, as long as we worked and took care of it and kept it growing.
Family.
The most important part of my life. We were lucky and I'd rather swim in our nice grassy, cool pond, even with the occasional blood sucker, than any fancy cement hole in the back yard.
I listened to the sounds around me. Papa was laying on the blanket with his head on Mama's lap and they were laughing about something. Davey and Danny were making all kinds of racket, laughing and splashing in the pond.
Life was great, on the farm, with my family. Danny had worked hard right along with us. I guess tonight I could even allow Danny to be part of our family, he deserved it.