Dickinson: continued

Chapter 3: "The bee is not afraid of me-"

Emily's heart belonged to nature, besides Sue of course. And every Sunday the Dickinson family looked through this heart of hers. They would visit these hills nearby- lush and green and full of life!

Emily sometimes went out here alone. Shenever climbed the hills but she sat at the foot of it- beside a brook.Sparkling and tinkling, clear and calm like a saint reincarnated. It didn'tmake any noise which was perfect, for Emily sat there and often read or wrote. Thewater cut through the rocks: it looked as if the rocks were stunned by theentrance of the royal highness- with her long flowy cape and a spirit full of vigor. The rocks chattering among themselves- whispering as the queen passesby.

There was an arch of rock before you could enter the actual forest, like a portal open to a new world. The arch was pretty low so Emily, Sue, Lavinia and Austin got through easily. But Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson with their puny backs had a hard time. The family walked past Emily's brook and at the left saw a field with pieces of land dug out- not too deep- filled with cow dung possibly for manure and stacks of hay were laid down every now and then. They made their way through the field and finally began towards the slope. The hill had very narrow pack tracks throughout- all of them surrounded by greenery and trees that were not too tall and twigs, branches and dried, yellow and red leaves.

"Oh dear!" Mr. Dickinson had stumbled and almost tripped over a rock.

The road was tedious and a stretch.

"Okay, lets take break right here kids!" Mrs. Dickinson said with enthusiasm. She seemed more excited to stop than what she was when they had to wake up at six in the morning for this. One would think that they were used to this route and wouldn't have such a hard time making it through, considering the fact that they did this every Sunday. But no, every time was the same- the kids were always well prepared and full of energy and the adults always ended up sighing about a dozen of "Oh dears!" in the first five minutes.

"Oh, c'mon mom! We have just begun." Emily shouted. She was practically leading them. Too fast, never slowing down.

"She's right Mrs. Dickinson. Let's tread on a bit longer and stop at that rock." Mr. Dickinson chimed in. He didn't sound like he meant that though.

The family went on. The sunlight shining through the trees, the warmth of it felt like infinity. Emily always thought that summers warmth could never be replaced. Light up a thousand candles, turn up the heater on the coldest days, but giving warmth on an already hot day is something that only summer can do. Its as if the season says: I know you are okay, but still, let me make you feel better. Let me hold you a bit longer...let me make your June into a loving noon.

The family after another ten minutes reached the long-awaited rock. Mrs. Dickinson slumped onto the rock. The rock was huge, like a boulder. Standing on the rock you could see the entire forest. Stretches of it- never ending. One of a kind, one you wouldn't mind getting lost in. A forest where one would pretend to find a way out when lost, but really you are just looking forward to losing yourself even more. A place where one would go crazy but the kind of crazy others would yearn to be. You could see the sun, wild but serene. Making the green greener and love lovelier. Emily realized that that is just about how Susan made her feel.

"Come on people! Let's move." Austin said. Finally revived and full of vigor again.

"Umm...Sue and I will stay here for a while. You guys move on."

And so, they went on leaving Emily and Susan alone on that rock.

"What'd you do that for, Emily?" Susan asked.

"Just you and I for a while."

Susan did not question Emily further. Why would she? Her love and the sun, all at once. Questions and doubts couldn't exist at a place so sure, so precise.

Emily couldn't help but look at Susan and think: When you look at the sun only think of me, only think of me. The sun and I will only think of you, only of you...sweet Sue.