Dan and Nat cautiously peered around the big bush, spying on Nan and Bess who were busy plucking berries. “On the count of three, go,” Dan whispered, keeping a steady gaze on the two girls up ahead.

“One...Two...Three...” He counted in a loud whisper, pouncing forward at three. They’d been planning this little rendezvous ever since Nan and Bess had pulled a trick on them a few days before. Now after a long wait, it was finally time to try their ‘plan’ out...

“Mrs. Jo!” Nan shouted loudly from the front door. “Aunt Jo!” Bess wailed, looking down at her ruined dress.

Jo game galloping down the stairs, worry written all over her face. Seeing both girls were alive and seemingly well, she relaxed a bit.

“What happened to you two?” She asked, trying to hide the laugh that was about ready to slip and muffle her chuckle.

“Dan,” Bess muttered angrily, looking down her skirt disdainfully.

“And Nat,” Nan added, making sure neither one went without their deserved recognition.

“Dan and Nat happened to you two?” Jo asked teasingly, giving them a hard time.

“No, they did this to us.” Nan corrected, not in the mood for games. Bess furrowed her brows tightly, pursing her lips.

“Look at my dress, Aunt Jo. The stains will never come out!” She fumed, plopping onto the porch swing. “And all those beautiful berries were washed down the stream. They wasted them!”

“Berries? Stream? Wasted? Would two mind filling me in so maybe I could understand what you’re talking about?” Jo inquired, arching her brows in confusion.

“Dan and Nat were hidin’ behind a bush while we were pickin’ berries for the pie that Asia was gonna bake. She can’t make it now though, ‘cause all the berries went floatin’ down the stream..." Nan started mumbling, so Bess took up where she left off.

“They waited until we would least be expecting it and then jumped out waving their arms and shouting wildly. It scared us half to death, and not knowing it was only Nat and Dan, we started running back towards Plumfield. When we reached the stream to cross, our feet got stuck in the mud bank and we tripped dropping our buckets.” She frowned, balling her fists in her lap.

“The berries fell out and disappeared in a matter of seconds. They were so ripe and delicious, Aunt Jo!” The corners of Bess’ mouth curved into a frown as she furrowed her brows.

Nan, no longer muttering, finished for Bess. “Anyway, seein’ us all covered in mud, Dan and Nat blew their cover by hootin’ loudly and pointin’ their fingers at us.” She shrugged, slowly lifting her skirt for Jo to see.

“Don’t worry, I see. It’s all over your face, and the front of you dress. You both look a site!” She smiled, chuckling softly.

“But Aunt Jo, they shouldn’t have done it! They deserve to be punished.” Bess stated firmly. Nan nodded in agreement.

“That very well may be. But I remember two people we all know very well that were in a similar situation just a few days ago.” Jo reminded, placing her hands on her hips.

Both girls looked down, biting their lips sheepishly. “Ahh, well...We could have been hurt.” Bess informed, thinking it was a reasonable statement.

“Yeah, just takin’ their hats an’ hidin’ ‘em couldn’t and didn’t hurt them. We could have fallen and hit our heads or somethin’.” Nan added, shaking her head vigorously.

Jo gave a long, thoughtful sigh. “Wait here a minute. I have something I want to show you.” She disappeared inside and soon returned with her small, black leather bound Bible.

“I want to read you both Luke 6:31. It might help you understand why I’m not going to punish Dan and Nat.” As she expected, protests rose from both girls.

Jo took a seat in the chair across from them, carefully turning the thin, tissue like pages until found the verse she was looking for.

“‘Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.’ Either of you care to take a guess why I just read that to you?” Jo asked, looking expectantly at both girls as she slowly closed it.

Nan and Bess both turned their heads to look at each other. Yes, they understood all too well. “Yes, we understand, Aunt Jo.” Bess nodded, assuring her.

“Thanks for readin’ that to us, Mrs. Jo. We understand now.” Nan grinned, shaking her head along with Bess.

Jo looked at them both rather suspiciously for a moment, but then stood up. “Go and get cleaned up. Asia should have dinner ready any time.” She smiled, looking them over one last time.

Just then, they heard a loud crash upstairs, and someone running down the stairs.

“Mrs. Jo! Mrs. Jo!” Tommy shouted. “Come quick!” Jo turned, leaving her Bible on the small table by the doorway and quickly jumped up the stairs after Tommy.

“It's a shame,” Bess turned to Nan, who was thinking the same thing. “We'll just have to find something as equally kind to return their thoughtful gesture.”

“We got ‘em good,” Dan boasted proudly that evening as he and Nat finished their chores in the barn with Emil, Tommy, Meyers, Billy and Ned.

“Ya should have seen the look on Bess’ face,” Nat added with smile as he ran the small currycomb over Penny’s dusty copper coat.

“Yeah, it’s too bad we didn’t really know how to draw.” Dan snickered, putting the polished saddle back up on the rack.

“C’mon, Penny,” Nat clucked to the mare, leading her back into the newly cleaned stall. He removed the lead and bolted the stall door behind him. “We better get in for dinner. I can hear Asia callin’.”

The other boys agreed and they paraded up to the house, still talking loudly of the fast one they’d pulled on Bess and Nan.

“I still can’t believe they did that.” Bess commented with a touch of anger in her voice as she yanked the brush through her hair.

Nan sighed and pulled back her covers. “Well, now we get to do somethin’ to them. With Mrs. Jo’s approval.” She pointed out, jumping into her bed.

“That’s going to be completely wonderful.” Bess smiled, placing the brush back on the bureau. “I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces when we do...Do...Nan, what are we going to do to them?” She asked, sitting on her bed.

Nan rolled over on her side, facing Bess and rested on her elbow. “It needs to be somethin’ really, really good. Not just hidin’ their hats...Hmm...” She pursed her lips in thought, furrowing her brows.

Both sat in silence, deep in thought of what they could do to return Dan and Nat’s ‘kind’ gesture.

“Well could steal their boots and fill ‘em with mud, and place ‘em by their bed. Then, when they go to put them on, SQUISH, they’ll have mud squishing between their toes.” Nan grinned, giving her thought.

“So, what do ya think?” She asked, looking over at Bess.

“Sounds good.” A mischevious gleam came into her eye. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Race ya downstairs.” Nan giggled softly, jumped up and raced Bess to the door.

“Shhh, we have to be quiet or Mrs. Jo will catch us!” Bess cautioned, pressing a finger to her lips as she following Nan down the hall and to the kitchen. They snickered, covering their mouths to cover the sound.

“Oh, oh, oh, this is gonna be good!”

“Dan, Nat, why are you late?” Jo asked the next morning at breakfast.

“I, uh, we sort of...Uh,” Dan fumbled, flushing slightly. Nat gave a hesitant smile, slowly edging to where his seat was.

“We kind of, um...Uh, we took a walk.” Dan finally finished lamely, looking over at Nat.

“Uh, yeah, a walk. We took a walk.” Nat nodded vigorously, smiling big.

Jo narrowed her brows unbelievingly but let it pass. Nan and Bess giggled; quickly covering their mouths when Jo shot them a questioning look.

Dan and Nat took their seats, glaring at Nan and Bess through the whole meal.

Don’t ya worry, we’ll wipe those smiles off your faces...

“We gotta think of something really good.” Nat swung his legs over the edge of the loft, resting his chin in his hands.

Dan shifted, narrowing his brows tightly in thought. “Yeah, somethin’ really good. Like smearin’ honey all in Bess’ hair.”

“She’d get ya, and I’d make sure she knew it was you.” Nat assured him with a smile. “After all, we wouldn’t want you to go without the recognition you deserve,” he patted Dan’s shoulder nicely.

“So nice of you,” Dan replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes. “Arh, why can’t we think of anythin’?” He grumbled with mounting frustration. “Wait, I’ll be right back.” He jumped down the ladder, landing on the barn floor with a loud thud.

Nat leaned over, making sure he was all right but Dan was no where in site.

“Must be okay. If he wasn’t, he’d probably still be lyin’ there.” He concluded with a shrug. A minute later, Dan came racing back up with a jar of warms in his hand. Nat shook his head, before Dan said anything.

“Ahh, Dan...Don’t you think that’s just a little cruel?” He swallowed, gazing warily at the full jar of slimy ropes. “Bess would wake up the whole house, and tell Mrs. Jo. We’re really be in for it then.”

Dan shrugged a smile still on his face. “We dump these into their sheets right before they go to bed, and then wait for them to scream. Simple as that. What’s it matter she wakes up the whole house? We’ll just tell Mrs. Jo that they filled our boots with mud.”

“Ahh, Dan...” Nat poked his shoulder, making him turn around.

“Dan, what are ya doin’ with my worms?” Nick asked, peering up into the loft with a questioning look on his face. “You better not be plannin’ on dumpin’ those in Bess’ bed, ‘cause I already told Nan she could have ‘em.” He tipped his head, looking at Dan who smiled sheepishly, handing them over.

“Awe, come on. Me dump them in Bess’s bed? You know I wouldn’t do that, Nick.” He gave Nick his best smile.

“Yeah, sure, Dan. Like I’d believe that. The day I would is the day that the Pretty Kitty is no longer existent and it don’t look like that’s gonna happen anytime soon.” Nick gave him that usual “yeah-right” look, retrieving his jar of worms. He gave long sigh and climbed back down.

“Don’t worry, you’ll think of somethin’,” Nick assured them with a smile. When they looked down, hope written on their faces, he shook his head.

“Just not usin’ my worms.”

“We got them good, that time.” Bess giggled, covering her mouth. Nan shrugged, muffling a laugh.

“Did ya see the way they stood there when they first came in? All scrunched up like they had a rope around ‘em.”

They both laughed, almost falling off the bed. When Bess did, Jo came thundering up the stairs, swinging the door open loudly.

“What happened?” She demanded. Nan and Bess looked up, trying hard to laugh.

“W-we w-were t-talking a-and I-I f-fell o-off t-the b-bed.” Bess grasped her stomach, turning red in the face.

Jo pulled up her brows, resting hands on hips. “You fell off the bed?”

Bess shook her head as tears began to stream down her cheeks.

“What was so funny to make you laugh so hard?” She asked, trying not to laugh along with them.

“Ah, we were just talkin’ about, uh...” Nan looked around wildly, trying to think of something to say.

“Oh, I’m sure nothing that would interest you, Aunt Jo.” Bess smiled sweetly, picking up on Nan’s loss of words.

“Nothing that would interest me.” Jo gave a sly smile and slid over to sit by Nan on her bed. In one swift motion she reached over tickling Nan until she screamed loudly, disturbing everyone down the hall and downstairs.

Bess giggled, and Jo laughed, finally easing up on Nan who panted for breath. “W-why m-me?” was all she said, smiling.

Jo shrugged.

“You were sitting there, I was sitting here and you both were laughing.” She gave an evil grin, crouching over in a pouncing position again. Nan jumped from the bed and ran over to Bess’ empty one, playing along.

After laughing together for a few more minutes, Jo bid them goodnight and left, on her way to telling everyone else time for lights out. Nan left Bess’ bed and wondered back over to her bed, burying herself under the sheets.

“Night, Bess,” she called sleepily.

“Good night, Nan.”

“Shh!” Nat pressed a finger firmly to his lip, warning Dan to be quiet. “If we’re ever going to get away with this, you’ve got to be quiet.” He smiled, trying to muffle his own laughter.

“Sorry, Nat. I just can’t help it. Seein’ Bess’ face in the mornin’ is just gonna be too good.” Dan snorted, quickly covering his mouth. They tiptoed down the hallway toward the girls’ room, and quietly opened the door.

Both were sleeping, breathing softly.

“I can’t believe I actually let ya talk me into this.” Nat whispered from Nan’s bed, pulling out the jar of honey and berries.

“It was too good an offer to give it up,” Dan shrugged with a smile, unscrewing the lid of the jar holding the honey. “Here goes nothin’,” he bit his lip as he carefully poured the honey around Bess’ head, over her forehead and down to her feet, covering them in it.

Bess’ shifted, turning her head slightly with a small sigh. He pulled back, ducking low so if she opened an eye, she wouldn’t see him. When the coast was clear, Dan finished covering her and quickly screwed the jar back up.

Then, pulling out the small cloth with the berries, he scooped some up and then began sprinkling them over the honey so they stuck.

After putting on finishing their ‘finishing touches’, Dan and Nat gathered their things, and slowly crept out, returning to their rooms to hide the supplies.

Bess and Nan wouldn’t be smiling in the morning.

“Asia, have you seen Bess or Nan this morning? Or Dan and Nat?” Jo asked curiously, stepping into the kitchen.

Asia finished pouring herself a cup of coffee and then did the same for Jo before replying. “No, I haven’t seen them yet this mornin’. Are you sure they’re not out in the barn doin’ their chores?”

Jo took the warm mug from Asia’s outstretched hand and took a seat at the small table. “No, I doubt any of them would be out doing their chores right now.”

“I heard Nick givin’ orders to Dan and Nat just a few minutes ago. They must be out there, ‘cause Nick wouldn’t be talkin’ to the wind.” Asia commented, hiding a smile.

“Hmm...That’s rather peculiar. Dan and Nat are never out this early doing their chores. Unless—”

A blood-curdling scream rippled through the house, making both women jump.

“Bess!”

Bess curled her fists tightly, swallowing back the mortified tears that were close to coming.

“Nan, look what they did to us!” She said barely audible, looking over her honey and berry covered linens and nightgown.

Nan, not usually bothered by this kind of thing, wrinkled her nose and slowly held out her arms. “I can’t believe we didn’t feel them doin’ this last night! All we did was hide their hats and put mud in their boots – they cover us in mud and then drench us in honey.” She looked over at Bess and then down at herself.

“Bess, what happe...” Jo let her sentence fall as the sight of both girls covered in honey, sprinkled with crushed berries.

Asia pulled the hem of her apron to cover her mouth, turning to look down the hall.

Jo took a deep breath, suppressing a laugh and stepped into the room. “What happened this time? Don’t tell me a swarm of bees and bears decided to pay you a visit during the night and showered you with honey and berries.” She placed her hands firmly on her hips and looked directly at them both.

Before either could answer, two pairs of feet came storming up the stairs and down the hall loudly. Nat and Dan peeked in, but then quickly pulled out when they noticed Jo and Asia standing there.

“Dan and Nat, where do you think you’re going?”

Nick patted Comanche’s neck, bolting the stall door after letting himself out. “Berries and honey...I bet Nan and Bess were fit to be tied.” Chuckling, he pictured both girls again from earlier that morning.

He walked down the barn isle, stopping when he heard faint whispers in the loft above. Curiosity piqued, he quietly climbed the ladder.

“We’re gonna get them this time, once and for all and if has to be better than hidin’ their hats or puttin’ mud in their boots.” Nan proclaimed in a loud whisper, leaning close to Bess.

“Yes, something...” She paused momentarily. “Messy. We can’t let them go without the deserved return of kindness.”

Suddenly, Bess’ eyes lit up. “I’ve got the perfect thing.”

“What?” Nan asked insistently, wanting to know what Bess was cooking up.

But she didn’t answer. Putting on her ‘prim voice’, she hopped up from the hay bale, beckoning to Nan.

“Come Nan, we’ve a few things to borrow from Asia...”

Nat and Dan slowly walked up to Plumfield from the barn. “I guess you were right about Bess’ scream wakin’ everybody up.” Dan said slowly, striking up conversation.

“Did you really think it wouldn’t wake up the whole house?” Nat replied incredulously.

“Well, no...But it seemed like a good idea anyway.” He shrugged, looking over at Nat, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “She screamed loud enough for anyone to hear all the way to Boston.”

Nat cracked a smiled, looking at the ground. “Yeah, guess she did.”

“Dan, wait a minute!”

Dan stopped and looked up to the girls’ bedroom window where Bess was calling to him.

“What do you want?” He replied loudly with a touch of rudeness.

“Wait just a second. I want to speak with you. Don’t move, I’ll be right down.” Bess disappeared from the window, leaving both boys wallowing in a state of suspicion.

Bess pulled back from the window and out of view, retrieving the bucket that Nan was holding out towards her.

“Ready?” She asked, holding tightly to the small handle.

Nan nodded and replied, “yep, I’m ready.”

With evil grins they stepped up to the window and leaned out, turning the full buckets up side down. The thick, gooey substance poured out, showering both boys below.

“Hey, wh...” Dan opened his mouth to speak, looking up at their window with his fists tight.

“I forgot to mention to them that the honey and berries was your idea,” Nat said slowly, pulling his feet up out of the gooey puddle at his feet.

“This should teach you, Dan.” Bess smirked from the window.

Dan looked up again. “No!” He shouted, throwing up his hands to cover his head.

Adding a finishing touch, Nan and Bess waved burlap sacks watching as white feathers fell through the air, coating molasses covered Dan and Nat.

“We got ya this time!” Nan called triumphantly, sharing a high-five with Bess.

“Come on, let’s go.” She stepped down from the window. They hurried out the door and down the stairs, only to be stopped by a most curious Jo.

“What are you two in such a hurry for?” She asked with a smile, glancing at them in a peculiar way.

Both turned around, looking at Jo uncertainly. “Ah, we, uh...Were just on out way out to the barn?” Nan offered, saying the first thing that came to mind. Jo looked like she was about to buy it when Dan and Nat came tramping in. “Mrs. Jo!” Dan shouted loudly, not realizing she was there in the hall with them.

“Mrs. Jo...” Nat echoed Dan’s outburst, only, in a much quieter tone.

“Dan, Nat, what happened to you?” Jo demanded, hurrying to them. “You looked like you’ve been tarred and feathered...” She turned around, eyebrows pulled high and hands on hips.

“We were, only it was molasses.” Dan replied ruefully, glaring at Nan and Bess who were both down the hall, looking at them.

Facing the guilty pair, she gave a long sigh. “This has gone too far. Dan and Nat, get cleaned up and meet us in the parlor in fifteen minutes,” Jo commanded, pushing them towards the kitchen.

“It’s about time we had a little talk.”

“Anyone care to go first?” Jo asked calmly, folding her hands in her lap.

Nan swallowed, nodding. “I’ll go first,” she offered, seeing as no one else was going to.

“All right, then. Why did you and Bess continue on with playing tricks on Dan and Nat after I told you not to?”

“Oh, but you didn’t, Mrs. Jo.”

“I didn’t?” She asked, clearly surprised.

“Nope - You told us, ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ We did just as the verse said.” She informed.

“And how did you do as the verse said?” Jo asked, looking straight at her.

“We treated Dan and Nat like they were treating us. That is what you said to do.” Nan pointed out, quite serious.

The room was silent for a moment before Jo laughed out loud. All four jumped, startled at her sudden outburst.

“Oh, no,” she covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

“When I read you that verse, I didn’t think about the fact that you may interpret it that way.” Jo shook her head, straightening.

“What Luke 6:31 is saying is to think how you want others to act toward you before you act toward others. The way you treat them is going to affect how they treat you. If you would like to be treated with respect, than assume they want the same. Do you understand now?” She explained, tucking a loose tendril of brown hair behind her ear.

Dan, Nat, Bess and Nan all nodded in full understanding - Bess and Nan swallowing sheepishly.

“I guess we were kinda wrong.” She suggested quietly.

“Well, now that this is all cleared, up are you all ready to start anew?” Jo looked over them expectantly, standing up. All four students stood up to leave either to resume chores or begin cleaning the molasses and feather mess.

“Excuse me, Dan.” Bess said politely, trying to get past him.

“What?” He turned around knowing full well why she said that, and blocked the opening completely.

“If you could just scoot over a little bit and let me through...” She muttered, trying to keep a polite tone. “Dan, I’m trying to be nice. Could you please scoot over a little?”

“Why should I? Mrs. Jo never said they or we had to be nice in return,” Dan smiled enjoying Bess’ state of frustration as he crossed his arms.

Jo stood shaking her head as she watched the display, a long sigh escaping her lips. Well, there was no harm in hoping... Shrugging, she moved forward to settle the dispute.

Luke 6:31 might have been understood, although Jo knew better than to expect any changes - or any sudden changes. But what did it hurt to hope for a miracle? :)

Let me know what you think! Please leave all comments, constructive criticism, questions and any other sort of feedback at the LM forum... Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed. :)