Summer Shadows by Killarney Traynor

sitting position and shook his head. Reality solidified, and the roaring became the sound of a fan at one end of the room. At the other end, light poured through a window, open so that he could hear a passing car honking its horn. Beyond the sound of the fan, he heard the clinking of dishes and someone humming. The scent of cinnamon and coffee mingled with the crisp smell of the grass, and the maudlin smell of slept-in covers.
    He wasn’t home, and Dad hadn’t taken them on a trip. He was in a dingy living room with Dana after moving to a little cottage for the summer. The humming woman wasn’t his mother, it was Aunt Julia. Mom and Dad weren’t there.
    He heard a squeal, and Aunt Julia said, “ Shhh , Jack. You don’t want to wake Ron and Dana, do you?”
    “Are we going to play today?” asked Jack.
    “Sure, but first we have to do some work. Eat your bun and don’t rub your fingers in your hair, okay?”
    Ron looked at his watch. To his dismay, it was nine o’clock. He had slept well past his alarm time of six-thirty, and it was Sunday, when they always went to Mass. They were going to be late. Aunt Julia was already up, and probably made breakfast. Ron prided himself on breakfast – it was one of the many responsibilities that he had taken off of Aunt Julia’s shoulders, and he hadn’t missed a one since his parents died.
    Until today, that is, he thought. It sounded like Aunt Julia and Jack were already eating. Perhaps he could still make it for himself and Dana.
    He began to scramble out of the tangle of sleeping bags, giving Dana a shove.
    “Wake up, Dana,” he said.
    She grimaced and turned away. He wriggled his way out of the sleeping bag and stood up in the middle of the living room.
    There was a nice breeze blowing in through the open windows. In the morning light, the peeling wallpaper was more stained than he remembered. Aunt Julia’s sleeping bag was rolled up and neatly tied in front of the couch, with Jack’s Yellow Teddy sitting jauntily on top. In a nearby basket, their clothes from yesterday sat in a folded stack with their shoes lined up in front. Ron collected his clothes and shoes and a dry towel, and gave his sister a shake.
    “ Dana, ” he said sharply. “Time to get up.”
    She moaned softly. He was about to give her another shake when he noticed Aunt Julia in the doorway. She was dressed in jeans and an old t-shirt with her hair pulled up tightly into a bun. In one hand she held an unfamiliar mug of hot tea. She’d been awake for hours.
    A wave of guilt hit Ron.
    You’re the man of the house while I’m gone, Ron. Take care of everything, will you? I’m depending on you.
    “Oh, you’re up.”
    Julia’s face showed no sign of disappointment. In fact, she seemed happy to see him.
    “Did you sleep well?” she asked.
    He nodded. “I’ll be dressed in a minute. Dana’s waking up now. I’ll shake her again.”
    To his surprise, Julia shook her head. “No, don’t wake her. I wanted you all to sleep in this morning, and it’s only nine. Come on – I just pulled some cinnamon buns out of the oven. You’d better eat them while they’re hot.” She saw the clothes in his hands and smiled. “You can get dressed after breakfast this morning.”
    “Cinnamon buns?” His mouth watered at the thought. He hadn’t had cinnamon buns in ages. Mom was always big on whole grains, and all-natural sugar substitutes in the morning.
    “Yep. Fresh from the can.” Julia’s eyes danced as she watched his delighted reaction.
    He looked around. “I don’t know where my robe is.”
    “Oh, don’t worry about the robe. It’s just us here. Come on. I’m just about to put the frosting on – they taste best when they’re hot.”
    She turned and went back into the kitchen. Ron watched her go with some astonishment. Eat breakfast… in his pajamas? At nine in the morning? Dad would have pitched a fit and Mom would have been just as bad. The rule in the Budd house was no meals without