The Way of the Sea

Chapter Four: The Promise Fredric Made

"Alright, let's go get some shopping done, what do you say, Alanna?" Merida said as she smiled at the kids.

"Yes!" Alanna exclaimed, clasping her small hands together.

Eden smiled, entered the small store and headed straight for the fruit aisle after picking up a basket. As she selected several apples and placed them inside, the door jingled and an elderly lady walked in, greeting the cashier with a friendly smile. Her gaze fell on Eden and the smile disappeared as quickly as it had come.

Eden ignored the lady's hostile demeanor and continued collecting food items until she was sure she had everything. She quickly found herself a spot in line behind the elderly lady at the check out counter. Something pulled sharply on the back of her head, and she realized that her mother's old barrette was slipping. Juggling the groceries in one hand, she adjusted the clip with the other.

The door opened once again and three teenagers, two girls and one boy, walked inside, laughing loudly. One of the girls, a blonde in a navy blue polka-dot dress and the taller of the two, stopped walking and gasped in horror when she saw Eden. The boy and the other girl nearly ran into the blonde.

"Watch it, Delaney," the shorter girl said with a frown.

Delaney turned around and faced her. "Finley, that's Edith O'Darby!" she exclaimed seriously.

Out of the corner of her eye, Eden saw as Finley looked around Delaney and wrinkled her button nose. Her auburn curls bounced as she moved.

"Her name's Ellen O'Donelly, you eejit." Finley grabbed the hand of the boy, who was a whole head taller than her, and said, "Come on, Declan." She led the trio past the counter, creating a wide, dramatic arc around Eden. They disappeared behind a row of shelves labeled "Vegetables".

Eden stood still and looked straight ahead, clenching her teeth.

Just ignore them, she told herself. Focus on something else—anything else!

Her eyes scanned the counter before her. A poster on the wall behind the cashier depicted a man with a rake in one hand and a basket of fresh fruits and vegitables in the other. He walked confidently through a small garden. Across the top was the slogan: 'Dig on for victory!'

Eden swallowed hard and looked away. She didn't want to think about the war any more than she wanted to think about the teenagers three aisles away.

The lady ahead of her finished at the counter and Eden took a step forward. With a shaky hand, she placed the groceries on the counter and pulled out some cash from her pocket.

"Ration card, please," said the cashier, drumming his fingers on the counter.

Eden pulled out the card and laid it on the counter. The cashier eyed her collection of food. "Ye've got three apples, there, darlin'. Ye can only take one, for now."

Eden's eyes widened. "Oh! I—I didn't know," she mumbled, setting aside the other apples. The cashier bagged the groceries and stamped her ration book. Eden was more than happy to walk out of the store and wait for Merida on the steps of the Manor House walkway.

Not a minute later, Merida came into sight, holding Alanna's hand on one side and a bag on the other. Darin carried another shopping bag.

"Let's go, kids," Merida said, adjusting her grip on the shopping bag and glancing at Eden's. "Eden, did you get the cheese?"

Eden gasped. "No! I completely forgot." She threw her head back in frustration. "I'm sorry, Madam Clarke. I'll go back and get a block."

"Thank you, dearie," Merida replied.