The Brooch

Hi...

Maple could feel her heart beating out of her chest...

She knew this day would come when she had to come face to face with Tator. But nothing could prepare her for all the feelings that surged like a typhoon in her mind upon seeing him once again.

And it didn't help matters that Tator was as mute and stiff as a statue standing right before her.

All she could think to herself was...

MAPLE: "Don't faint! Just breathe Maple!"

It had been nearly seven years since she last saw him. And the last thing she ever said to him was... "why are you here?" As she stomped away in ire from him and Andrew's scuffle that day on the hill during the trial. He had left after that. And yes, he briefly came back. Bringing his great gram, aka Mrs. Lexington, who with her testimony alone ended the trial. Nonetheless, Maple never spoke to him afterwards. And that was also the next day where he wanted to ask for her hand. But life seemed to have had handed them a sour apple when it came to their relationship.

Near seven years... could there still be anything left between the two of them? At the time she last saw and spoke to him, she was nineteen and he near twenty two. And now they were twenty five and a half and twenty eight years old. Nearly eleven years since their very first encounter by the well... And now they were once again standing before each other...

How would it end? One didn't know. But I can tell you how the conversation began...

"Hi..." Maple nervously uttered finally breaking the ice.

Suddenly she began to ramble out of control in a high pitched tone...

"Okay... umm... so here's the thang, umm.. I didn't break in. The doe was already open. And see my uncle, my uncle Jeffy... well umm he thought um it would be good for us both if I came out here? And and and I talked to you? And well he wuz supposed to be by my side, the jive turkey! But umm I can't seem to find him.. ha! And I thought we'll he wuz in here! Cause, cause, cause, he was ahead of me. And I lost him. So I thought maybe he was waitin in here or some em. Cause you see the doe wuz open... And I heard a rustling outside. And you know I don't like noises. So I came in here. See.." She nervously spoke. "I wasn't breaking in. My uncle..."

"Someone say my name?"

"Uncle Jeffy?" Maple said floored.

Right at that moment, uncle Jeffy had came suspiciously from around the kitchen with another sandwich he had just made. This time it was pastrami on rye. Maple couldn't believe her eyes.

She looked at him as she could feel her nostrils flaring as she and Tator both looked on at him stunned.

"Well hey Tator, when'd you get back?" He coyly grinned. But before Tator could answer, uncle Jeffy kept on. "You don't mind if we made ourselves comfortable do ya. You always said I was welcome here. And well here we are. And I thought while we were waitin on ya, I'd take my time and make me a sandwich ta go." He said winking at Maple with the most mischievous grin.

Maple wanted to right then and there wanted to so desperately fly him to the moon and slap him silly! But all she could do was stare.

"You don't mind that I brought her do ya Tator? Sides she wonted to see where I was plannin on movin in the near future with Cornelia and Ava that is. I didn't thank you'd mind if she saw the place. Seein as we will be nearby neighbors and all. Course I thank I will have a skylight in the middle of the roof so Cornelia and I kin see the stars..."

Both an annoyed Maple and a stupefied Tator, neither said not a word...

"Welp! I best be on my way..." Uncle Tator shrugged.