The Event

      "Here you are, my girl," Anja whispered to her daughter, where they now stood to the side as the men took their positions. She pulled the flowers from the bucket and shook the water from their stems before gathering them together. Pulling a long white ribbon from her pocket, she tied them together in a neat bundle. She handed them to Ilona and looked at her fondly. Ilona had no doubt now that it was tears in her mother's eyes.

      "I hope you aren't too upset with me for leading you around on errands all day," Anja sighed, "But I had to get you ready and I had to keep you away while the men finished the last pieces of the plan."

      "I don't understand," Ilona shook her head. "When did you do all this? That walkway would have taken more than just a day to build."