Until May Third

Chapter Two: Hyacinth's Plan

Hello Readers!  

This is Chapter Two of Until May Third.  It's much shorter, because I realized after writing and publishing the last part that it was really REALLY long.  So instead of doing long chapters that are published weeks apart, I'll do short chapters about every few days.  Hope you like Chapter Two!

-Lottie

I got up early the next morning so that I could finish my chores and errands before school.  I had to stop at the Dawson Bakery in town to practice grammar and math with the baker's son, whom I was supposed to marry.  Our parents forced us to do this twice each week, since we didn't see each other anywhere else and it was a good way to get to know one another.

I stepped up to the porch, the old floorboards squeaking beneath my weight.  It was a hot day, and I was already beginning to sweat even though it was only 7:30 in the morning.  My knuckles hit the wood gently.

It was five minutes and three more knocks before the door opened, revealing a fat, red-headed boy with freckles that covered every inch of his body, just like every other kid in Carter County.

He was already frowning, but I tried to appear pleasant with a forced smile.  "Good day, Walter," I said through gritted teeth.

Walter grunted and moved so that I could enter the house.

"Is that Hyacinth, Walter?"  His mother called from the kitchen, where I could hear a tap running and glass clinking.

"Yes, Mama!"  Walter yelled back in a tone that I thought was overly loud.

He glanced at me without emotion and started to the back of the house.  "C'mon, then.  We can work at the table."

"Oh, hello, Hyacinth," Walter's mother cooed as she dried her beaten hands with a towel.

I nodded politely and smiled.  "Good morning, Mrs. Dawson."  Despite the dislike I felt for her son, Mrs. Dawson and I got along quite well.  We're both very imaginative, and I truly enjoyed seeing her.

Mrs. Dawson wiggled her finger at the round dining table.  "There are some freshly baked cookies there, made by Mr. Dawson, if you'd like some, Hyacinth."

The chocolate cookies did look good.  Mr. Dawson's always were.  "Thank you, I'll be sure to try at least one."

Mrs. Dawson smiled and walked over to her son, who was already at the table, head buried in his math.  I knew Walter hated math, he was just making a show of how much he hated my guts by doing his homework instead of interacting with me.  His mother patted his back and looked between us.  "Do you two need anything else?"

I shook my head and Walter managed a grumble of a 'no'.  Mrs. Dawson left the room, but paused at the doorway to look at us with a soft expression.  It took everything in me not to gag.  She was obviously thinking about our future.  Together.  Then she was gone, outside to hang the laundry.

I shifted in my seat and cleared my throat.  "So, wanna do grammar today?"  I stared at Walter's math worksheet that had been due last month, only half of the problems completed.  He doodled in the corner of the paper.  I think it was a truck, although I couldn't quite tell.

"You can stop now," he said without looking at me.

"Stop what?"  I took a big bite of the chocolate chip cookie, spilling crumbs everywhere.  Maybe I couldn't enjoy my time with Walter Dawson, but I could at least enjoy the chocolate chip cookies at his house.

Walter glowered at me.  "Stop putting on the show.  Also, you could be a little bit more lady-like."

His words bothered me.  Quite a bit.  I chewed more obnoxiously.  "I don't know what 'show' you're talking about," I said, making a 'show' of the cookie in my mouth.

Walter shook his head, as if he were trying to explain the abc's to a baby.  "Let's just work independently."

"We've been doing that for the past month, and based on what I can see on that math sheet, it hasn't been going very well for you."  I pointed out.

The red-head scowled and shoved the paper into the trash can, not even bothering to save his truck doodle. 

I looked down at my grammar.  "Don't worry, I feel the same way."

*****

The morning passed slowly.  Our tiny school sat at the edge of town, by the library.  Sometimes, if I had time, I went in and fetched a book I probably wouldn't get the chance to read.

Today was not one of those days.  The second the bell rang for dismissal, I was out the door, flying through town and back to the jail.

Good, I thought, coming down the hill into the valley where my home was located.  I could tell that neither of the police horses were here, because they weren't in the pasture or tied up to the jail's railing.  Deputy Hitchenson was gone again.  I stood for a bit to catch my breath.  

Last night, when my father got home, I didn't tell him about the deputy's absence, in case I needed to talk to Stacey again.  Turned out that that was a good call.

I hurried down the hill, surprised to find that I was actually excited to see him despite the cold way he ended our meeting yesterday.  I guessed I just liked feeling useful.  Plus, it was a change in my boring schedule of running errands and cleaning and going to school.

I threw my book bag onto the desk chair in the lobby and took a breath before entering the cell room.  Nothing had changed.  Same prisoners, same sad faces.  I hurried past them and to the little nook at the back, where Stacey sat in his cell, staring at the cinder block wall.

The way his eyes lit up when he saw me made me smile.

"Hyacinth!"  He moved towards the bars of the cell as I sat on the cold ground outside of them.  "It's such a relief to see you.  I've gotten so lonely I've started to name the cinder blocks."

I giggled.  "It's nice to see you too, Stacey."

Stacey grinned, but the happiness faltered into curiosity mixed with suspicion.  "Why did you come back?"

"I think I know how to help you."

I could almost see his breath catch, but doubt still clouded his eyes.  "Really?  How?"

"Listen, just tell me where your school is.  I can investigate, and prove you innocent.  Ask around.  Find witnesses.  I can get you out of here!"

He didn't get excited.  He didn't look at me.  "Yeah, yeah..."

"What's wrong?"

"It's just...nothing.  It's a great idea, Hyacinth."  He smiled at me, but I could see sadness for some reason.

I smiled back, but something was obviously wrong.  "Wonderful.  Where's your school, then?"

"Maple Road.  Just outside of town on the East side.  You should be able to find it if you know the town well."

I nodded.  "Thanks... Stacey?"

"Yeah?"  He replied, all hesitance and sadness gone. 

"Could you play your violin?"

Stacey grinned.  "Sure thing."

I spent the next few minutes enjoying the sound of Stacey's violin, the way the sound flowed through my body and brought happiness to my heart. When he finished, I clapped enthusiastically, and Stacey soaked up the applause with a bow.

"That was so beautiful, Stacey.  No wonder you went to that school for music."