The Aureate Crook

Rosemary

As I woke up I realized my body felt ten times better than last night, maybe moms juice did actually work? Or maybe I hit my head hard enough to believe that. I tore the covers off and hopped out of bed, I looked at the clock and it was 10! I felt shocked since I'm an early bird, I usually never sleep in this late ever. I walked over to my door and opened it. My stomach growled meaning it was time for breakfast. I entered the kitchen to see blueberry pancakes, eggs, and toast with jam. The aroma from the food enchanted me to sit down. I wiped the drool from my mouth away. Next to the oven was Mama cleaning the dirty dishes, she turned around when she heard me pull out a chair to sit down.

"Looks like you're finally awake Fern, how do you feel?" Mama asked putting the clean dishes into the drying rack.

"100 times better!" I blurted out shoving a slice of toast into my mouth like an animal. Jam smeared all over my face, but I continued eating ravenously.

"Told you my juice works." She snickered while finishing up the cleaning.

"As if!" I remarked picking my fork up so I could start digging into these blueberry pancakes sent from heaven.

"Well, now that you feel better do you think you could do something for me?" Mama said drying her wet hands off with a towel.

"Oh sure, what is it?" I mumbled mid chewing.

Mama took out a list from her aprons back pocket and put it on the table in front of me.

"I need some things from the market, and it'll be good for you to get outside." She said pulling out a chair to sit down.

I set down my fork and picked up the list of things.

LIST

- Herbs from Dr.Blanche

-Fresh Fruit from the farmers stand

After I finished up my breakfast I began getting ready to head out. I braided my hair and put on my boots. I headed to the door and put the list into my belt bag, as I opened the front door I called out.

"BYEEEE MOOOOM!"

I shut the door and made my way into the shopping area of our village. I have lived in this village my entire life, and it's the type of place where everyone knows each other. I think I could go house to house and name who lives where, you'll never not have someone to talk to here. I made my way down the path that led to the center of the village where the farmers market, boutiques, and medical facilities were held. Based on my list I wouldn't have to get much, just some herbs from Dr. Blanche and fresh fruit. As I was walking I suddenly got pushed to the ground from behind. When I looked behind me it was a boy tall and lean, with a small stubble on his chin.

"I am so sorry – I wasn't looking, and I'm not from around here.." He said out of breath. He put his hand out so I could pull myself up back onto my feet.

"It's alright, and it's obvious you're not from around here." I said brushing the dirt off my knees. He held the back of his head with his right arm as sweat trickled down his forehead.

"Heh, is it that obvious?" He remarked.

"Yes, I've never seen you before, and I know everybody in this village." I responded looking more closely at him. He was tan with brown curly hair and, I noticed his bag had maps sticking out of it.

"Are you looking for something? I could help." I offered.

"Actually yeah I'm looking for Dr Blanche?" He said in a confused tone, obviously lost.

"Oh actually i'm going there right now, come i'll show you." I said what a coincidence. His eyes lit up as he finally rested his hand down to his sides.

"Oh thank you, I'm so grateful I thought I was lost for sure." He said gratitude in his voice.

Together we walked into town, Dr Blanches shop was on the right side of town. As we headed down I realized something, and turned my attention onto the lost boy.

"Hey, I just realized something. I never got your name." I commented as we continued walking through to the right side of the village.

"Well I never got yours either now did I?" He challenged my question. I looked at him with frustration. Who was this guy?

"Good point, my name is Fern Blossom and who do I owe the honor to?" I remarked.

"The names Robin Westwood." He said grinning till I realized we almost walked by Dr.Blanches store, so much for knowing the village by heart. Robin kept walking so I grabbed him by his hood.

"We're here now Robin." I said holding his hood almost as if it was his scruff. I pulled Robin by his hood into the shop, no one was at the counter so we just looked around. I grabbed some jars filled with different types of herbs, mainly ones I knew Mama liked to cook with. I turned around to find Robin browsing the selection more.

"What are you looking for Robin?" I asked, wandering over to where he stood. He was bent down due to the shelfs being shorter than him, he turned his head up at me.

"My sister says she wants Rosemary, but the section that says it should have it is out." He said going back to searching.

"Let me just ask Dr.Blanche or Holly for you." I responded turning to the counter on it was a golden bell. I tapped on it one - ding - nothing. Twice -ding- nothing third times the charm-

"S-sorry! I was grabbing something from the back." Came Holly rushing from the back, her hands full with supplies. Guilt pricked me for tapping the golden bell so many times now.

"No need to be sorry Holly, my friend back here is looking for rosemary, but it seems like you're all out." I said pointing at Robin who was on the floor looking at the bottom of the shelf. Robin embarrassedly got up and turned around to greet Holly.

"Uh – erm hello! I wasn't on the floor like a weirdo or anything, the shelves are just super short, and um im tall." Robin remarked awkwardly, I looked at him confused. Where was the Robin I was talking to 2 seconds ago? Holly shyly smiled as she looked at him.

"Oh no worries we need to get t-taller shelves anyway, I can just grab you some rosemary from the back." Holly said as she turned around she ran into Dr.Blanche. Or should I say Holly's mother?

"Alright enough flirting out you unknown boy, I will grab your rosemary" Dr. Blanche said giving a fierce look to Robin, oh man he was in for it. You didn't want to get on Dr.Blanches' bad side or mess with her beloved daughter, as fragile as Holly was, you'd never expect her mother to be like this. I think Holly inherited more from her dad like her hair color, eyes, and shy personality. I looked at Robin and I think he was getting my 'back off from mama bear' brain waves. He quickly grabbed the jar of rosemary and gave a restful bow before leaving swiftly, I waved goodbye to Holly and Dr.Blanche before I followed.

"So do you have anywhere else you have to go Robin?" I questioned as we walked away from Dr.Blanches shop. My bag felt heavy with the amount of jars I had bought.

"Nope I think this is the end of our shopping trip, but it was nice meeting you Fern."

"Oh well it was nice meeting you too Robin, don't go knocking into any other ladies now." I remarked as he waved at me before walking away I wondered if I would ever meet Robin Westwood again.

After splitting up with Robin I began walking to the fruit stands the one next to Mr. Koi's bakery always sells the juiciest apples. As I headed over to the stand from afar standing next to the stand I saw them. The one I vowed to never chase after again.

The Aureate Crook