Gunner's Paradise

Reset 1.3

Welcome to my home Ralph said as he opened the door, this is small Sheldon thought as he walked in he couldn't help to survey the items that were scattered about in the house.

A strange-looking urn laid on the coffee table and it caught his eye, he was going to ask but he decided not to. Are we imposing he thought? Doesn't Mr. Ralph live here alone?  Sheldon's thoughts were shared with everyone else and as Ralph closed the door he seemed to read their shared expressions.

"My wife and child use to live here at one point as well we lost our child and My wife died two years ago from illness that had come on to her after the loss of our child. I had gotten accustomed to having all these things about as It reminded me of them. I guess that's my way of keeping them in my heart." "Now then let me show you where you guys would be sleeping."

"Look Sheldon what's this?" Natalya said loudly.

"It's a bed," Sheldon said trying to hold back himself from laughing.

"Wow!" Cindy exclaimed.

Sheldon look at it with amusement as well it was a long time since he saw or even touched something like it. It was like the finest luxury one could find before Ralph could finish they were all on the bed. He couldn't help but chuckle as these children valued so much of what he had taken for granted. As they were so captivated he then let them also know that there was running water in the bath and that they were... before another set of shock and amusements came out to greet him... free to use it.

Sheldon amusement made him behave in a way far different from how he would normally react but then everyone else was the same so he felt less awkward.

Ralph pulled out a book and looked at the three Children. " Can anyone here read and write? "

Sheldon raised his hands but the other two didn't.

Ralph nodded. "starting from tomorrow I shall teach you all with what little books I have here."

The day began with their first lesson it was hours of practice and trial and error before they were able to make some progress.

"Ahhh !"Natalya let out a frustrated noise as she tried to copy back the words that Ralph had shown her.

Cindy, on the other hand, seemed to grasp it quite well, her handwriting was as if she were a noble lady although with initial challenges she read perfectly, and even making Sheldon looked like he was a kinder garden student.

She was well able to observe and repeat in a quick way that even Ralph was amazed by her pace.

"You will get it eventually Natalya, Cindy is just an exceptional child it seems, I would never have thought that you didn't know how to read or write in the way in which you perform."

Ralph had chosen to use some very dry books for the kids and he figured that's what may be slowing Natalya's performance boring books about politics and history of what was before probably didn't have any interest to them all but to Cindy who seemed to listen very attentively. Even asking questions about what they read her questions were strange but they had a level of true innocence to them.

"Can we stop here for today? Mr. Ralph my brain is about to fry, I can't take too much more of this." Natalya asked.

"Yes, I guess this will be as far as we get for today?"  Ralph replied.

"Today?" Natalya responded, "You mean we have to do more of this."

"Don't worry Natalya I will help you," Sheldon said with conviction.

"Ahhhhh, must I know how to read and write," Natalya said.

"Yes, every young man and lady should especially if you want to move up in life..." Ralph drifted off.. "look at Cindy she would make a good example of someone that you can depend on."

"Me?" Cindy said looking shocked.

"Yes, you did a really good job," Ralph replied. "Now then I have to leave today, I have errands to run. There is only one key to this house so if you're leaving I won't be back home till late so just in case you leave and want to get back into the house."

"What is this?" Cindy pointed at it as she opened the weird door and the cold hit her.

"It's a fridge," Ralph replied with a grin.

"Ohhhh," she said, "it's really cool."

With that, Ralph bowed his head and left leaving them alone to themselves.

"Cindy you're so amazing!" Natalya exclaimed.

"Me uhhh I don't really think so," Cindy replied.

"But you could read and write so easily you made it look like cake," even Sheldon was fascinated isn't that right Sheldon?"

"Yeah, I guess it was amazing is that another gift?" Sheldon asked looking at her.

"I don't know, I don't think so it just seemed natural to me like I did it before but I just don't remember it," Cindy replied as she sat on the sofa.

"We can't get idle here though we have to start working on some more jobs I don't intend to be indebted to anyone. You to Cindy so let's get to planning come over here and let's talk out the details, I wonder if your gift could come in handy here." Sheldon said as he moved over closer to the two of them.

                                                                                #

Five months had passed since they came to stay here at Ralph. Sheldon in this time had made some form of payment to Ralph each week. Although Ralph had initially rejected the money, he realized what it meant to Sheldon and the children. Therefore, he decided that he would accept it just for that reason. He didn't ask where they got the money; he would rather not know and everyone deserved a secret or two and for every week he placed the money in the same place.

Cindy in this short time had developed completely reading almost all the material he had available. Her writing abilities and knowledge had expanded drastically. She was able to hold conversations on almost all of the topics that she read very fluently. He came to see her always with a book in her hand or sleeping next to one.

Natalya had also improved which he attuned to Cindy giving her extra attention. However, the difference was like night and day. It was more normal for what Natalya could do but still, a great improvement by those standards and Sheldon was well Sheldon. They had adjusted well to the environment and as he expected they were no longer amused. The girls were reasoning a lot more and the level of their conversations had changed. They seemed more interested in their surrounding areas and what it used to be. Natalya also had taken a strange interest in the pillow gift he had left for his child a long time ago; he found her sleeping with it from time to time.

Soon he would have to find a way to get more books; he couldn't see the ones that were there lasting another month. Everyone now had a key to the house as well; he couldn't take them waiting outside the house until he got home and he took that precaution just to be safe although no problems had ever occurred in his housing area.

"Mr. Ralph" as he was knocked out of his thoughts, how does this look on me. The dark hair gentleman asked.

"Fabulous, Sir would you need me to make any adjustments?" Ralph asked.

"Yes, if you could I would also like to place in an order for ten of these as he pointed over at a pair of clothes." The gentleman responded as he fixed himself.

"Of course Sir," Ralph replied.

"How is everything at home Mr. Ralph is there anything I can get you? He turned to face him and adjusted himself so his left ear would be able to hear him well."

"No, what you have given me is quite enough," Ralph responded, "How is your sister Liz?"

"She is fine still at that school for refugees," he paused, "Ralph You are a very  modest man..."

"Thank you Mr. Dalengo"