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Rose had nearly picked the cherry tree clean today, but she knew when she returned tomorrow, that fresh cherries would be ready to pick. She always used the cherries she picked to put in a pie. Charlie always looked forward to Rose's cherry pies. Even Avonmora seemed to like them (well, she never complained when Rose made them).
By the time she had stopped picking cherries, Rose noticed that the sun was starting to set. She panicked and quickly ran home. She didn't mean to lose track of time. Oh dear, she just hoped that Charlie wasn't being punished for her mistakes.
Honkers was just returning from a refreshing swim in the nearby lake. "This is the best lake in all of the forest!" He wasn't aware that the sun had nearly set and Rose was way past her curfew, so he panicked when she had picked him up suddenly. He honked, flapped his wings, and a few of his feathers fell to the ground. "Rose! Are you nuts!?"
"It's sundown, Honkers"
Honkers did a double take when he saw the sunset. "Good golly, how long was I in that lake?"
"Do you think Avonmora punished Charlie because of me?" Rose cringed, not even wanting to think of what she might have done to him.
"You know the worst she ever gives Charlie are extra chores, and makes him skip a meal. Besides, she hates you more" Honkers said it without thinking, but it still hurt Rose to hear it. Honkers winced when he realized what he had said. "Sorry, Rose"
Rose gave him a weak smile. "It's okay, Honkers. You're just speaking the truth"
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The sunset was gone and the sky had gone completely dark, with the exception of the illuminating light of the moon and the stars, by the time Rose had gone home. Rose had entered the cottage. She could see the flickering light of the fireplace, and the silhouette of Avonmora's shadow on the wall.
Rose put Honkers down on the floor. "Go check on Charlie" She whispered to him. Honkers looked up at Rose, feeling worried and scared for her, before waddling his way down to the basement.
