13 chapter 13

Mary laughed,"Tenlong, you are so strong for your age or any age for that matter, that it is

absolutely unbelievable. I had always heard that the Gigantos were strong but I never seen one up close in person."

Tenlong smiled and spoke," I am still getting used to body. I am not used to being so strong."

Mary looked shocked at the wounds of the moose and the bear. The moose had been decapitated and the bear had it's head split in two.

Mary asks,"What on Violio happened to these beasts?"

Tenlong laughs which makes the young mother shutter.

He speaks," I ripped the moose's head off with my hands and I used the ax you gave me to kill the bear.

Mary did a spit take and was flabbergasted by what she was told.

She spoke,"Boy you are something else! The hunters in town would be jealous by how easily you can hunt! We will have food for all winter and most of the spring. We would not have to cure all these meats due to it getting close to freezing. Tenlong do you want to learn how to slaughter animal?"

The giant spoke,"Yes, I do!"

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Tenlong was slowly taught how to slaughter a bear and a moose. Mary was patient in teaching him since he was only four. It was a much slower than usually for Mary but Tenlong quickly picked it up after a while. The bear and the moose were both processed and carried into the house. He puts the meat on two huge hooks hanging from the ceiling.

Mary speaks," You have done too much today. I will cook dinner! You can go and play or go back to sleep in your bedding until dinner. You may be a Giganto but you are still a kid. You have done too much today!"

Tenlong smiled and went to his bedding in the next room. He fell right asleep.

He was dreaming about his mother and the good times they spent together. It was good

times until he dreams about his mother's death. He sees a dark figure with a dagger and the figure stabs the lad's mother over and over again. Tenlong's feet are covered in cement and he can not get out no matter what he does. He is completely helpless to save his mother.

He screams out,"Mother! Don't hurt my Momma! Stop it, now! Please don't!"

Tenlong awakes to himself with his chest completely wet due to his tears.

Mary and Jimmy comes running into the room out of concern.

The boy runs up to Tenlong and gives a huge hug.

Jimmy yells," What is wrong, Mister Tenlong?"

Mary comes running up with the kitchen towel still in her hands.

She speaks,"Tenlong, you were just having a nightmare. It is okay, now."

Mary is trying to calm Tenlong down while attempt to wipe the sweat off.

She speaks," I will get the bath ready for you so that you can clean up before supper.

Jimmy Sr liked to bathed in a huge metal barrel so Tenlong was told to get in after in warmed a little. A fire is being fed under him in the next room.

The fire is being fed by firewood that Tenlong had cut.

Mary yells," Is it hot enough?"

Tenlong bellows from the bathroom," No it is still cold."

Mary yells,"You are going to boil yourself!"

Tenlong yells,"It is hot enough! Thank you!

Mary speaks,"Clean clothes and towels are in there once you are down. Clean yourself good and take your time. Supper will ready when you get out."

Tenlong yells,"Okay, Thank you!"

He had finished his bath, dried himself with the towels and put on the clothes that Mary

had given him. They had fit better than the first set of clothes that she had given him. Tenlong exits the

bathroom and Jimmy comes running towards the large Gigantos. Mary's son was being lifted above the head of the tall Tenlong and pressed against the ceiling of the small home. Jimmy laughs as he is dragged gently across the ceiling. The two are laughing as they are playing together.

Mary comes into the room and says,"Boys stop your playing, because it is time for dinner!"

Jimmy is gently placed on the floor and the two ran into the humble kitchen. They sat at a makeshift dining room table. The three were getting ready to eat when Tenlong gasps out loud in surprise.

Tenlong spoke,"We got to pray before we eat. It is a must!"

Mary and Jimmy relented to the request of Tenlong and closed their eyes. They had wanted the lad to adjust as best as could be to his new found home.

Tenlong spoke," Thank you Lord, for what you have given us here today! Amen!"

The dinner was a stew made out of many vegetables and bear meat. It was very delicious and the three(mostly Tenlong) ate the entire pot. Tenlong's stomach was still rumbling but Mary was prepared and the moose meat ready on a large rotisserie. Tenlong had only ate twice in over a week and he had still needed to replenish his body's caloric reserves.

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Tenlong ate the moose with little help from Mary and Jimmy. The moose was bare bones

after Tenlong got done with it. Tenlong had grown sleepy and went right to bed. He fell right to sleep and Jimmy soon followed, and fell right asleep.

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Mary got everything in the kitchen clean up and after one hour she was already finished with the dishes. She sat in an old wooden chair and looked upon her son as he slept on bedding in the floor and smiled. A few tears escaped from her eyes and she begins to ponder what could have occurred if her

husband had still been alive.Mary speaks," That is a possibility that can never occur now. There is no sense dwelling on it now, because Jimmy needs to be raised the best I can raise him. Also, I have got to look after

Tenlong as well. He is not a burden but a blessing he has brought in more food and fire wood that I ever brought in since Jimmy died. He is so talented but he needs to be helped in some many different ways. He is only four years and I can not leave him to fend for himself. He needs to be in school as well as jimmy, who goes to five days a week. I will go speak to the school teacher tomorrow after I drop off my work to my clients. I owe the boy that much already and he is such a tender boy."

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Mary woke up early and fixed a pot of biscuits and gravy for everybody to eat. It was eaten very quickly and the dishes were washed. Jimmy got dressed and put on his winter coat and boots.

Tenlong asks," Where are you two going?"

Jimmy shouts," I am going to school! Duh! Where else would I be going on a school day?"

Tenlong speaks," You are go to school? You are so lucky because I have never been to school before. Momma was gonna to take me next year."

Tenlong then went silent for several seconds.

Jimmy and Mary hug Tenlong in a form of comfort to the large Tenlong. All three of them were crying and Tenlong's tears were creating a puddle in the wooden floor.

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Mary cleans up everybody and the floor from all the tears. Jimmy and his mother go into the village and Tenlong is left to his own devices back at the small home.

The two hold hands as they walk into the nearby village. Jimmy is lead into a small school house and Mary goes to her shop. She walks in her little shop and prepares to get ready for business. The villagers, including Mary never locks their doors except when the rare chance that bandits came

near the village. Bandits sometimes would come in and terrorize the small village.

It was business as usual for the sempstress until an old man enters the small store. The old man is very thin and a look of worry is on his face.

The old man speaks," What have you done, young lady? I have heard that you had left the village with some strange man. Some of the villagers had told me that a huge man had left with you a couple of days ago. Is that true?"