The Ireentje Series

My Amazing Everyday Adventures, Chapter 1

“Hey, Robbie, let’s go play in the jungle,” five-year-old Ireentje shouted down the hallway to where her little brother was playing in the bedroom they shared.

Mommy blew her light brown hair out of her eyes. Her hands were immersed in sudsy dishwater. “I really don’t like you playing there. The grass is too long, and I can’t see you.”

There was a deep ditch at the back of the houses on the right side of Waddington Street in Brantford, Ontario. Men dug it to make room for a train track, but then the railway company ran out of money. Now, in 1953, the neighborhood kids played there. It was a fantastic pretend jungle.

“But Mommy,” Ireentje whined, “all our friends will be there. We planned it yesterday. We’re going to build a fort!”

Robbie, who’d just come into the kitchen, jumped up and down. “Yay! A fort!”

Mommy smiled as she gazed at the sparkle in her three-year-old’s sky-blue eyes. “Okay, but come home when you hear me call.”

“Yes, Mommy,” both children chorused, and they ran out of their red brick house.

Tatiana Sokolova, Raymon Kenton, and Benjoin Allard were waiting by a path into the jungle.

“Uh, I’ve never actually gone in here before,” Raymon scrubbed his hands over his black, tightly curled hair.

Ireentje put her hands on her hips. “Don’t be a scaredy cat. What could happen? Grass isn’t dangerous.”

“The snakes in the grass might be,” Benjoin offered.

Tatiana, the eldest of the group at six, snickered. She and Ireentje pushed the itchy grass aside and strode in. They didn’t even look to make sure the others were following them.

“Come on,” Robbie pulled his special friends Ben and Raymon by the hand.

The children crunched through the fragrant grass, each one following the path made by the one in front of them.

Once the children had gone far enough so that they couldn’t see the houses they left behind, Ireentje stopped. “Okay, everyone, flatten down the grass here. This will be our house.”

“No, it won’t. It’ll be a garage. We’re cars.” Ben answered. Raymon nodded.

“Umm, Tatiana and I are older than all of you. We make the rules.”

The boys sighed. It was never worth arguing with Ireentje. They joined in trampling the grass.

Once the house was big enough, Ireentje waved a hand at a slightly higher part of the ground. “This here is our couch.” She sat on it, and Tatiana joined her.

Now doing a desperate dance, Robbie asked, “Where’s the toilet?”

Tatiana snickered. “Over there.” She pointed to the far end of the clearing.

Robbie hurried over and watered the grass. Not wanting to be left out, Ben and Raymon did the same.

“Boys!” Tatiana rolled her dark-brown eyes.

“Come on, boys. It’s dinner time,” Ireentje said, offering them a handful of grass.

“Mommy gave me these, so we don’t have to pretend.” Raymon pulled some rather sticky peppermints out of his pocket.

Ben opened a bag of cookies he’d brought. Even though they were now mostly crumbs, Ireentje’s face lit up. “Great! Let’s eat!”

Suddenly, the children heard a loud voice with a very strong accent, trilling, “Irrreentje! Rrrrobbie! Come home now!”

Ireentje’s face flushed. “What? Why is Mommy calling? We’ve only been out for a few minutes!”

Robbie shuffled his feet. “Come on. We have to go home.”

“I’m not going.” Ireentje put her hands on her hips and stuck out her chin.

Ben, who’d quickly scooped some cookie crumbs into his mouth, scrambled to his feet. “My mommy said your mom’s voice is loud enough for everyone. I have to come when she calls,” he said, spraying crumbs as he spoke.

“So do I,” said Raymon.

“And me.” Tatiana brushed the crumbs off her lap and stood up.

Everyone left, so nobody heard Ireentje mutter, “Mommy is just being silly. I like it here, and I’m staying!”

She dropped back onto the couch but stood up in a hurry. Robbie might tell Mommy where she was! Ireentje frowned and quickly moved to a different part of the ditch where the grass was even longer. Mommy would never find her here!

Her mother’s voice grew louder and louder, but Ireentje lay back in the grass and watched the clouds sailing through the sky. After a while, she closed her eyes and listened to the birds singing and grass rustling, while enjoying the sun’s warmth on her face.

What? What was that rumble? Ireentje quickly stood up and looked around. The grass was too tall—she couldn’t see anything. It sounded like men’s voices, but she’d never known grown-ups to play in the jungle.

BANG! BANG!

Goosebumps formed on Ireentje’s arms, and her breath came fast. That bang could be thunder, but it wasn’t raining. It could be a giant walking, but Daddy said those aren’t real. Maybe it was a gun! Whatever it was, it sounded dangerous.

Ireentje nibbled on her thumbnail, and her forehead wrinkled. I should probably go home, she thought. She took a step but then dropped to her behind as another thought entered her head. Mommy will be pretty angry. After all, she’s been calling for a long time now.

BANG!

Ireentje jumped up, ran like the wind, and burst through the back door. Mommy, with tears on her cheeks, was waiting for her. She grabbed Ireentje and hugged her tight. Next, she hit her bottom and told her she should always obey. Then she hugged her again and sobbed out loud.

Ireentje pressed back to look at Mommy’s face. “Why are you acting so weird?”

Holding Ireentje’s shoulders, Mommy gave her a little shake. “There are wolves in the ditch!”

Ireentje pulled a face while twisting a lock of blond hair around her finger. “No, there aren’t. You’re just trying to scare me.”

“It’s the truth. Some wolves came down from the North looking for food and were spotted in the ditch.” Men came to each house in our neighborhood to tell parents to keep their children inside. They’re hunting the wolves. I was so worried about you. You could have been shot! Or eaten! Why didn’t you come home when I called?”

Ireentje wrapped her arms around her tummy and shuffled her feet. “Umm, I didn’t hear you.”

Robbie was sitting on the floor and picking his nose. “Not true. Everybody heard Mom calling.”

Ireentje’s eyes narrowed. “What would you know? You’re only three! And you’re a booger,” she muttered and then held her breath. Now, she’d get in even more trouble.

Mommy didn’t react to Ireentje. “Yes, Robbie. I know.” She grinned. “I do have a loud voice.” Then, she grew serious again. “Sweetheart, please remember. Even if it doesn’t make sense, it’s very important to do what I say. You don’t know everything. Now go and think about what you did.”

“You better stay here, Robbie,” Ireentje hissed before going to their room and throwing herself down on her bed.