Another Fahey Fabrikator

Chapter 2

      Zinaida never thought about running away. It was Jesper who had all the ideas.
      When Zinaida was 6, Jesper had woken her up and signed to her: We should run away
      Actually his signing was more like: Run-Off-Me-You!

      At the time she didn't understand what running away meant. But she trusted her brother dearly for her to understand. So when Zinaida nodded her head he scooped her in his arms to leave the cabin, she didn't understand why Jesper had carried her out. But now that she's older she believes it was because of her 'loud footsteps'. They had only gone a couple of steps away from the cottage before Jesper had turned his head around to look at their home.

      He said something, something that let sorrow paint across his face. At that time Zinaida didn't learn how to lip read, but from her guess it looked as if he was saying goodbye to their home. She wondered why. She pulled at his hand with a consufing look and signed: What are we doing?

      He let go of her hand and signed back:Running Away Z.
      Why?
      He paused at her question and thought about his answer. He tightened his jaw and fidgeted with his lanky fingers before he answered: It is not the same here. Without...ma.
     
      Zinaida couldn't think about the pain Jesper was going through. From what Da had told her, he was the most closest to Ma than she was. Maybe it was because of how young she was when her Ma passed that she didn't spend time with her?

      But the look Zinadia gave Jesper quickly made him change his mind about running away. The two slipped back into the cabin and into their beds like nothing had happened.

     And so when she packed she thought about what would happen if she did not question Jesper. Would the two go north of Novyi Zem? Travel across seas to Kerch and live the life of the barrel? Change their names and go to Ravka?

      Though this time she didn't have Jesper to question. Only her gut. It kept on picking at her intestines and screaming if she should do this or not. But her brain would not dare to listen to her fool-y gut.

     She thought about her deafness. How it could effect her and her journey. Her da was more protective over her due to her lost of hearing. Even now when they shop in town her da would never let her off on her own.

      What would her da say if he saw her right now? Packing a bag and taking food from the cabinets? Stuffing an extra jacket or two for her to wear when she travels across seas.

      He'd scowled her most likely. At least that's what she thought. But just like when she was 6, she went out in the night and turned her heel towards her cabin.

      She gave the cabin, and the cherry tree of her ma a blow of a kiss before she traveled to the harbor.