Despite I'll save you

February 22, 2033

Tuesday

The ices begun to melt, grasses cherishly turning green and trees started to grow its leaves washed by snowstorms passed. Almost two months of cloud cover, the sun shined through. Its rays as is beautiful as I couldn't even resist staring. Cool breezes still pushes from east tantalizing a fresh feeling.

Yes! I stretched my arms and rolled my florid jacket's sleeves and gazed the field, and the barn and the pond and everything around us.

Kari had already started mopping the porch. She always does that. She loves it. She and Thomas joyously run back n forth on the rigid wooden slab.

I gazed Papa starting to check the fields with Joey's reigns on his hand and Arthur and Charlotte, foraging some frozen chives for herb butters near the glade just after the fields of washed daffodils and distant from the pond.

"Kyaahh!" I jumped as soon as I felt slimy thing clutched my foot, like a slithering slug in the grooves past the glade, really yucky.

Kari suddenly chuckled down on the porch. It was the rug drenched with oil.

"Kari!" I scorched. "Don't do that, that ain't funny..." she continued laughing. "You scared my hair out of me!"

"You should see your face though..." Kari chortled even more as she blushed really red.

I grabbed the rug and raised it towards Kari as she ran away.

"Why you! Come-"

"Good morning dear!"

I suddenly gazed towards the voice's direction.

It was a mid-age woman's voice. More like French accent than American.

"Aunt Marie!! You're here!!!" I smiled and quickly paced towards them. It was Aunt Marie and Uncle Peter with a cute little leopard colored kitten.

They rode a white furnished wagon with a bulky looking black spotted white horse. I actually named it Scallops and the kitten to Barnacles.

I love sea though. All from the sea; from seagulls that roam above it, to waves that surges through high cliffs, and fishes that swim around the reef. I actually had paintings of sea, kept... inside my bucket chest. When I was still like Kari now, Mama and I used to sit under the tree near the pond around noon time, and paint the sea.

Although I still haven't gone towards the sea, I painted it already. Mama did see it. I just imagined like it was the pond.

Aunt Marie climbed down the wagon as she struggled with her long working dress. She was beautiful as Mama. With her golden short curly hair, she dazzled when she was stroke by light like a diva.

"This place hadn't change at all."

Uncle Peter stretched his arms and takes a deep breath as he closed his eyelids to feel the cool breeze. His straight ear-leveled hair swayed like it isnt waxed at all. I almost chuckled by how Papa and Uncle Peter like those styles.

"I love this place."

"Huh?" I suddenly looked at the backseat of the wagon, it was a girl.

"MARICE!!!" My jaw dropped and exclaimed with excitement.

"Really?! Oh yeah!" Kari jumped from the porch and ran towards me.

"Didn't expect me to come here eh." Marice laughed.

She is the only child of Aunt Marie and Uncle Peter. A fair girl with the same age as mine, braided brown hair, roundish nose, thick eyebrows, plumpy cheeks. She's beautiful for me.

I like thick eyebrows and her eyes are really calm. I like her eyes the most, it was impeccable.

I looked Uncle Peter for amazement then smiled. "I thought you don't want to bring her here."

"That's what I thought too." Marice laughed as she grabbed her things and pulled out from the wagon.

"We realize that you two..." Uncle Peter glanced at Kari and I then continued... "have no friends at all to jam here."

"It's really lonely for sometimes." Kari said.

"Then we guess that, we should bring Marice too, besides we know she loved staying in this kind of place."

"Good thinking Dad." Marice smiled.

"Sara!!" We hugged each other and Kari. She got Barnacles and gave it to me.

"He missed you a lot." Aunt Marie said.

"Oh really. Did you miss me Barb? Huh?" I scrubbed his neck and he purred.

Kari ran towards Aunt Marie.

"Auntie..."

"What is it darling?" Auntie said while putting down the baggage. Uncle Peter took Scallops to the barn and fed him.

"Did you buy our favorite bisque?" Kari grabbed Aunt Marie's sleeve.

Aunt Marie suddenly lowered her eyebrows and held Kari's hand. "Oh. Sorry dear, we haven't got the chance to stop by, the town still shaken."

I suddenly stop scrubbing Barnacles.

"Huh? Still shaken? Why? What happened?"

Marice brought the things inside the house.

"Many fishes and swine had died this morning..." Aunt Marie continued putting out the remaining baggage. "...in the market barn." She looked at me

My eyes widened. "What? Wh-How did it happen?"

"No clue. People are still worried and the town seems really busy." She looked Kari. "Maybe next time dear. Okay?"

"Okay." Kari said.

"Poison." Uncle Peter got out of the barn.

"Poison?" I asked then put down Barnacles as he ran towards the porch.

"You heard it, ma fellas said that ain't no ordinary poison though." He made a long sigh and paced towards their white furnished wagon. He loves checking it.

He always brag that he used to be the butler of Prince Coutier Petrè just because of his beautiful wagon. Since then, he never failed to check his wain.

"They said - argh!" Aunt Marie paused while struggling to carry the baggage inside the house.

"Oh, sorry. lemme help you." Kari and I ran towards her and grabbed the luggages. We headed inside the house and put it to their rooms.

We had enough rooms for all of us, I intentionally chose Marice room right between my room and Kari's. We could actually play games all night, open the windows and stargazed, tell stories, and sing lullabies; we loved it, since Mama was still here. Many times, we have been scolded by Papa and Uncle Peter but still, can't help ourselves to discord.

"Would you like some drinks?" I offered to Aunt Marie right after she entered the house.

"Oh no dear, we don't have much time sitting around. Gilbert really needs us now." Aunt Marie refused as she walked in to her room.

Papa is a strict person. He wanted to finish all works within a day and Aunt Marie and Uncle Peter loves it, maybe that's because they have the same attitude. They all love farming, I love farming too. Planting apricots, blueberries and sprinkling daffodil seeds and plowing, not to mention that.

Past afternoon, Papa and the rest were back. Kari laughed so hard to see Charlotte's face covered with mud. They all covered with mud. We end the day with a feast outside the house just right next to the barn.

Days past and spring were almost over. The daffodils already grew its flower buds and starting to burst like bread in oven. The field had turned green while the breeze is as fresh as Mama's peppermint. It sways the leaves back n forth. I imagine that fairies are flying above it just like in MinkerDell. Lidia has the talent of fast-flying fairy that can bring winds.

+++

March 9, 2033

Papa had gone up before dawn when the morning dews shaped rounder as it should be while rolling above the cutin. I surmised that past few days, he woke and gone earlier than he used to.

I already asked Uncle and Auntie about and they just said -"well maybe his running some errand"..."he didn't said anything."

We also gone up and started our days. I just finished my day chores and stood right next to Thomas curling down the porch. I feel the breeze swayed my hair. I gazed the field, Auntie and Uncle plowing the last edge of the field near our house. I rolled my eyes even farther, I saw Frenzie. And Arthur on the pond.

He suddenly looked towards me and slightly cover his eyes been stroke by light.

"Sara!"... he shouted. And I raised my eyebrows then stared.

"Hey Sara!"

"I heard you!!" I circled my hands on my mouth while standing on the porch.

"..." He shouted. The cool breeze flapped my ears.

"What did you say?!!" I bent my back forward to jab some air. I paced few steps towards the ground after the porch. Kari came out of the barn holding basket of apples, probably for Betty and the others.

"What did you say?!!... I paused and caught some air. "Sorry. The wind caught my ears!!!" Still walking towards the ground.

I put on my woven slippers leaned beside the porch. Kari looked at me and rolled her eyes to Arthur and to somewhere.

Arthur opened his mouth...

"Where's Papa?" It was Kari's voice I heard. She was gazing left and right searching for Papa.

I looked at Kari and made a long sighed, absolutely controlling my patience.

"Hush, Kari. Can't you see we're having hard time here?" I pointed my hands towards Arthur still standing beside the pond and Frenzie; cow bugs circling above him.

"Oh sorry." Kari lowered her head then ran after Uncle Peter and Aunt Olivia who have been plowing the fields with Joey and Betty. I still heard what Kari said to them. Where is Papa?

"Hey! Sara!!" I was surprised. I almost forgot Arthur.

"Sorry. What is it again?!!!"

Arthur scratched his head. I can tell his already gone mad. He swept his sweat on his forehead with his sleeves.

"I said, tell Papa I got some bass."

"What about it? Just get it!!!"

"Its kinda small ya think. Let him know first!!!" He shouted even louder then he coughed.

"Alright! Just a minute!" I quickly gazed Kari and the two standing right next to the fields.

"Aunt Marie..." I walked closer to them while I cover my eyes from sunlight.

It was hot indeed. It was in mid-spring already. Summer is coming. I can already hear chirps of cuckoos near the glade for sometimes. I always wanted to see that. I almost went mad to Mama when she scolded me not to go beyond the glade just to see it. She said the forest is dangerous. It was slippery and spiders are everywhere.

Aunt Marie looked at me then I continued.

"Did you see Papa?"

She made a long sigh.

"That's what Kari is asking me though. We don't know dear." She slowly shook her head.

Uncle Peter straightened his back from plowing and made a little groan. His back hurts a little I guess. Then he looked at me.

"I saw him earlier beside near that glade." He pointed the distant glade. It was shaded by dark clouds swaying towards us. Rain clouds, first time in spring.

"What for?"

"Mm-maybe... checking it or something..." uncle looked at me. "I don't know." Then bent again.

Kari crumped her face then let long sigh. "Charlotte is kinda sick though." She looked at me.

I was surprised and quickly gazed the barn then slowly paced in. "Really? How bad?"

Aunt Marie continued plowing.

"She often eats really fast and always plays around with Frenzie but now..." she cut as we enter the barn ... " look..." she pointed Charlotte.

A brown arabian-like cow slumped into hays and lonely staring the feeds. She raised her head a bit when she heard us. I walked towards her then pat her head. She blinked. I brushed her head. It was soft and smooth.

"I think she's not that hungry." I said and gazed Kari.

"Not hungry that she didn't eat her breakfast?"

My eyes widened. All of our animals eat a lot except for Joe. He's been spoiled since Mama. He didn't even want his paws be stinking with fish smell to even think that he loves fish so much.

"Just wait a bit. I'll call Daniel" He knows a lot when it comes to problem like this. That's why I loved him so much. Not to tell. His not my... yet... not really... - sighed.

Past eleven, Marice got out of the house then set up the table under the apple tree beside our house. She cover it with white red stripes cloth. She cooked everything for lunch this time.

"Lunch time!

Marice said on top of her lungs while gripping her hands on the silver plate soaking with buttery fish fillet and sauté baby bass.

"Mmmh. That smell." Kari ran beside her.

"Careful now. Its still hot." Uncle said while scooping fresh water from the well. Probably to clean our boots slicked with chocolaty mud from the fields.

"Are you okay, Uncle?" Arthur said. We were all surprised and quickly gazed Uncle.

"Yeah, you look pale honey." Auntie paced towards him while grabbing the towel. I told you to not force yourself.

"I'm alright." Uncle assured.

Kari, Arthur and I just looked at him clueless yet worried.

"Don't worry. He just caught some cold last week. Maybe I'll just boil some herbs later." Marice said while putting the last plate on the table.

"Nah. I'm fine, seriously. There's nothing to worry about."

Uncle said as he let go of the pail down the well.

"Come on, come on. The food will get cold. Oops. Where's your father? Call him." He pushed us on to the chair and sat.

"Okay, lets eat!" Auntie Marie said.

+++

Our lunch ended savory as we get to our works. Auntie and Uncle finished feeding Joey and Betty then resumed plowing the last plots just few paces beside our house, Arthur took Frenzies reign and got back to the pond and I got back to the barn and check the new born sheep.

March 9, 2033

5:13PM

Almost a week, clouds have been circling above the glade had moved towards us and at last poured his sorrows.

"A drizzle, huh?" Uncle raised his palm and felt the droplets.

It began to rain.

I guess I don't need to water the new bed later. I thought while stepping out the barn, closing my eyes and feeling how the tiny crystalline droplets pinch my face. I felt a burning flame on my chest. It pinches my heart and it . hurts.

Tch! I smirked as smiled. A smile while I'm feeling sad. Idiot. I mumbled. I don't really know why I remembered him though. Am I lonely? I let my face been smashed by tiny drops of water from the sky. Looks like everyone ended up leaving me. I sighed.

"Hey!!!"

I suddenly lifted my lids and saw Auntie been dragged by Betty. Joey started stomping too. My eyes widened.

Ahh. I'm not. I still have a family. And I smiled more like on a verge of crying.

They're like that when its raining. Were all like that. We used to be really excited about rain. Mama together with all our animals would run on the fields near the tree beside the pond and dance. Of course, we all join too; Arthur, Kari, Papa and I. We would play tag until one of us becomes the loser, and would be thrown on the shallow part of the pond. Our animals were no exception too.

"Come on, stop it, Betty." Auntie laughed while crawling up on the mud. Uncle just standing beside her laughing so hard.

"Good Betty. Drag her even more." And a loud laugh came from Uncle. Instead being mad about it, Auntie laughed too.

She tried to crawl up again but Betty was really persistent. She stomped the pool of mud and let it splash on Aunties face.

"My gosh!" Chocolaty syrup hugged her face. She was like a figurine dropped on chocolate ready for eating.

"HAHAHAHA!!!" Uncle almost sat down while laughing.

"Looks fun!" Kari exclaimed whom standing on the porch with Marice. We looked at each. She smiled until her lips reached her ears. I smiled too, same as her. She nodded. I nodded. Looks like we both have the same idea.

"WAAAHHHHH!" We both exclaimed and quickly ran towards Uncle and Auntie. My burning chest was filled with sorrow yet my heart aches no more.

Yes. They're still my happiness.

Auntie suddenly struggled to get up. She knows what comes next.

"Oh. No. No. No. That's a bad idea. N- Ahhhhhhhh!!!" She screamed while waving her hands back n forth.

"MUD CANON!!!" Muds splashed all over our bodies while the rain dripping down our heads. Kari rolled over me while laughing.

We all laughed.

Betty stomped even more mud and Joey smashed his head on Uncles bodies until he rolled over while Kari and I dragged Auntie down on her feet again.

"Hey! Marice, help me darling!" Uncle screamed while looking at Marice laughing on the porch together with Barnacles, Joe and the two dogs.

"Cannot!" She said. I think I know why. Girl Problem.

"No!!! Please help me. Ouch! Hey, Joey, that hurts!"

The rain continuously washed our chocolate colored faces yet we kept on splashing dirt on us. Nobody ain't stopping.

"Hey! No fair. Dont leave me behind!"

A shout from our dear brother from the pond. He was still with Frenzie. As always. He always so serious with his work.

"Come here! Where's Papa?" I said. "Hey. Kari, dont let Auntie get away." I was surprised when Auntie got on her feet and straddled away from.

"Hiyaah!!!" Kari laughed while clutching Aunties feet like a slimy slug.

"Woah! Ah! "Auntie stumbled. "How persistent." She laughed too.

"Wait for me! Ahaha." Arthur shouted while coming up from the pond. "Papa's still in the glade."

I was really enjoying myself. The rainclouds were still black and ready to pour his sorrow. The field were already soaking wet.

"Ah!" Auntie got up again. "Now here's my payback."

"Waah!" She dragged us down while Uncle still can't get up because of Betty.

"Brother! Reinforcement!" I screamed as my hand stretched towards my brothers direction while my bodys getting drowned on the mud. Marice cant stop laughing.

"Here I come! W-"

BANG!