CALIFORNIA PARADISE
Chapter Thirty-Three

Jacob Thomas Dawson was born in late August, right on the day he was expected.

He was given a room across the hall from his amazed big sister. It had jungle animals painted from top to bottom on the walls, and the grand masterpiece was an African sunset painted on the wall directly in view from his crib.

He was a joyful child from day one; a mischievous glint in his eyes the second he opened them.

Jacob didn’t demand much. Just that he was comfy and loved. His parents adored the living daylights out of him, so he was never uncomfortable, and he was a naturally lovable child, so he was content almost every day.

*****

The years passed and the children grew. They learned to love and to share. They learned to rejoice and to mourn. They laughed when they were happy and drew their faces into perfect frowns when they weren’t. They went on picnics and to playgrounds. They were beautiful. They were loved. They never dreamed of asking for any more than that.

Chapter Thirty-Four
Stories