"I think you would be nicer." Bram muttered. Elijah was fun to be around. Bram was certain Elijah would let him play rather than work, and let him do what he liked and say what he liked and he would never get in trouble.

Elijah stayed knelt down to look at him eye to eye. "Well.. your father is a bit.. old fashion. And we are two very different people. Besides, he works very hard and always needs help. So sometimes he asks a lot and can be stressed and lets it out on you guys. But he loves you so much and he is your dad. But you know what? It doesn't matter.. Because I might not be your father, but you always have me around if you need me. You know that right?"

Those were too many words for Bram's short attention span to process. But he heard that his father loved him and that Elijah would always be there. "I mean when he goes to heaven, like mother."

Elijah's eyes widened and he shook his head. "I hope that doesn't happen for a long long time. It can happen to anyone at any time, and you know that really well.. unfortunately. But your father is a very tough man. I like to think he has quite a few years left, even if it gets harder to work, he'll be there."

"Oh... Well..." Bram thought. "You can be my uncle!"

Elijah seemed in thought and nodded. "Sure! Think of me as your uncle. I like that. You're already family to me."

"Bram!" came Alice's voice sharply. Alice was still in school as well, although she was older than Anne: just thirteen. She held out her hand. "What did father say?"

Bram looked back at his sister. "'e said: Go to school." he answered.

Elijah let him go. "Sorry, Alice. Let this go, Ben doesn't have to know. I don't want him in trouble and you don't either." He then put a gloved hand to his lips. "Sorry! I know I shouldn't talk to you guys."

Alice gave her brother an annoyed look. "Not this morning!"

Then she looked at Elijah and nodded quietly. "Come Bram. We have work to do."