Becoming More _ Snufkin X OC Tilly

Chapter 4 - Snufkin

Tilly was used to staying in families' homes during her winter travels, but during the warmer months she often preferred to stay outside. Moominpappa was more than happy to lend a hand in taking the hammock from the living room, and she had walked it a ways from the house into some trees. She half hung a tarp nearby that she could rig up quickly in case of rain, but opted for a bed beneath the stars. She always felt like a little girl doing this as she remembered the nights spent with her father far from their cabin. Her mother always opted to sleep in a bed, but whenever their work took them further than a quick walk from their home, her and her other family would camp together and watch the sky. Tilly worked to finish setting up camp, she figured she would visit with the Moomins long after nightfall and didn't want to be caught trying to organize her things in the dark. 

She had just finished creating a ring for her firepit when she heard a rude noise behind her. "Oh!" a boy's voice said. Tilly turned, it was someone she hadn't seen before. Maybe a neighbor?  The boy stared at her. 

"Um, hello. I'm Tilly, I'm staying with the Moomins." There was an awkward silence broken only by the boy's stammers. "And you are?" she prodded. 

"I'm - I'm Sniff," he finally got out. "I was on my way to see the Moomins just now." 

Tilly turned back to her work on the pit, disappointed there was none left to do. "Well they have just finished eating so I'm sure Moomin will be out soon." 

"Thanks." He stood next to Tilly and she kept her eyes down, uncomfortably adjusting the rocks from places they didn't need adjusting. "Okay bye!" he blurted before running off. She rolled her eyes. He acted like he had never seen a girl before. Tilly wasn't exactly beautiful either, so that sort of attention felt as odd as it was unwelcomed. It's not that she thought herself better than other girls for not putting as much emphasis on looks and boys, she cared very much about being pretty and thought romance was wonderful. She just felt like he had no business making a fool out of himself and embarrassing her like that. She hoped he wasn't too good of friends with Moomin or she knew she would wind up having another painful bout of no conversation like that one. 

                                                            *****

Tilly wiped her hands dry on the apron Moominmamma had insisted on letting her use and hung it up. "Thank you for the help, dear." Mamma told her, putting the last of the dishes into the cupboard. "It was very nice waking up to a nice breakfast and now having someone to help around the house." The kind woman smiled and Tilly felt a warmth for her. 

"Of course, I have been living in your house without asking you first, not to mention my eating your jelly while you slept." 

"Oh not a problem dear, come midsummer the berry bushes along the stream will be ripe and I'll can some new jellies."

Tilly perked up at that, "I would very much like to help you with that, Moominmamma. I quite enjoy canning, many of the medicines in my pack are canned and I usually have to return home if I'm to make more."

"I should quite like to see your collection some time, I make my remedies fresh every time but it would be nice to know how to store them should I ever be the one to get sick," Mamma said. "But yes, you are quite welcome to make all your medicines here this summer."

"I would like that." Tilly watched her go out the back door to tend to her roses. She thought her and Moominmamma would get on just fine. She walked to the front area to find the girl Snorkmaiden when Moomin came rushing down the stairs. 

"Snufkin!" he shouted. "I hear his harmonica!" 

"Snufkin?" Tilly asked, turning to Snorkmaiden and Little My who sat drinking punch at the table.