The Brooch

An Odd Encounter

"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace."
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Maple would soon face all those seasons. And it would be in her 25th year...

That year, was the year, that it was the worst snowstorm they had ever faced. In fact, Daddy Woods insurance company had him stuck up in Herbsville longer than he or anyone could have ever anticipated.
Unfortunately, because of the blizzard, the roads were closed and there was no way home.

But Mama Woods took in comfort that at least he was with Clarence. And she was with Maple and a full pantry of course, that could last them a few weeks. And Maple? Well found she was alone with her thoughts. And she didn't know if that was such a jazzy idea.

For the next couple weeks, so many things from her past invaded her mind. One that was from the not so far past, was the last time she encountered Mrs. Crowder. For it was a strange one indeed.  She wondered why Mrs. Crowder chased her in the store like a lunatic off their meds. And why she was so eager to talk with her? To simply harass her, as she always did, since she hadn't seen her since she had first left Ponchas? Could it be about Tator? She pondered did she even want to know? Would she even care? A part of Maple, the curious part, regretted running away. But the other part, the annoyed part, wanted to hold onto her sanity. Even if it was for only a little while longer.

Fortunately for Maple, she had Mama Woods, who always found many ways to keep them entertained and far from losing their minds till the storm subsided. Course Maple was able to leave the house on foot on occasion, but not far. And definitely without Mama Woods knowing.

Maple would always put on her trusty snow boots and her daddy's extra winter coat. From there she would patiently wait for her mama to be snoring away. And on the tips of her toes, she would sneak out in the late hours as she did in Aurelia. She didn't get far, per the roads being covered in ice and snow. But she always managed to carefully trudge through the feet of snow to the same spot.

Contented, she'd sit on a vacant snowy hill not too far from home. It was pleasant for Maple in that solitude of that tranquility. And she would just stare out at serene atmosphere and the enchanted moon. But her thoughts always did invade.

Nonetheless, she faithfully did that till at least till worst of it was gone as she prayed for it to dwindle.

And one day it did. The sun returned. And so did Daddy Woods.

When the snow fully melted and spring was on the tips of cavorting in, like clockwork, Maple once again returned to the woods to search for her brooch. But this time she had company...

"Thought I'd find ya here."

Maple gasped in utter surprise!

"Josephine!" She screeched!

"Miss me?" Josephine bubbly said, as she and Maple stood for a long embrace.

"When did you get back ta town?"

"Well I wuz in Aurelia with Leslie Anne, when that snowstorm hit." Josephine said. "So me and junior were there longer than we expected. Three weeks." She heavily sighed.