PART 2
Rob took the top off of his box and pulled out a wooden train engine.
"See!" He rolled it around on the table making train sounds.
"Wow, Rob! Did Nick make that for you?" Asia smiled at the boy.
"Yeah. This morning he wanted me to help him sweep out the barn. I did such a good job that he made me this train. I helped to make it nice and smooth." Rob rubbed his hands on the train.
Asia stood and walked to the counter. "Would you like a cookie
"Yes, please," he answered, putting his train back in its box. Asia handed him a cookie and sent him outside so she could start fixing dinner.
Jo came back downstairs after helping Tommy clean up the flower vase he had knocked over. "I'm back, Rob," she said, entering the parlor. To her surprise, Rob wasn't sitting in the chair where she left him. "Honey," Jo called, checking the hallway. "That's strange," she murmured, hands on hips, "I was only gone for a few minutes."
Jo entered the kitchen. "Asia, have you seen Rob?"
"I just sent him outside," Asia replied.
"Great! Did you see where he went?" Jo started for the door, but stopped when she felt Asia's hand on her shoulder.
"Sit down, Jo." Asia pointed to a chair. Jo gave her a quizzical look. "Sit down."
Jo reluctantly pulled the chair away from the table and sat, placing her hands in front of her. Asia set a cup of coffee in front of Jo and poured one for herself. She sat in the chair opposite Jo and took a sip of her coffee.
"Asia, what's wrong?"
"Rob thinks that you forgot about him," Asia said.
"Tommy broke a vase upstairs. I was only gone a few minutes." Jo glanced at her watch. "Oh, I guess I was gone longer than I thought. It's been almost thirty minutes."
"Jo, I think you pay more attention to the older children than you do to Rob."
"Asia!" Jo couldn't believe Asia was accusing her of ignoring her son. "Do you really feel that way?"
"Yes." Asia watch Jo turn the coffee mug in her hands. "He just wants to be the focus of your attention for a little while."
"I guess you're right. Maybe I don't give Rob enough of my attention," she said, lowering her head, "I'll go find him." Jo stood up and left the kitchen, her half-filled coffee mug still on the table.
Rob wandered around outside looking for one of the other kids to play with. He saw Nat and Nan in the barn and ran toward them. "Do you want to see my new train?" he asked them.
"Maybe later Rob," Nat replied, handing Nan two fishing poles, "Nan and I are going fishing. Sorry."
"Can I come?" Rob pleaded.
"We'll take you next time." Nan patted the boy's head as she left the barn. "I promise!" Rob watched the two run toward the bridge.
Frustrated because no one wanted to play with him, Rob meandered back toward the house. When he got to the porch, he sat on the swing and placed his box next to him. He pulled his knees up to his chest and hugged them. Rob sighed as he put his chin on his knees and slowly rocked back and forth.
PART 3
