Frida watched out the window. The sun was barely a tiny point of light covered by the gray clouds, the surrounding trees stood proud while the leaves danced to the rhythm of the wind. It wouldn't take long for the rain to fall. Yet so gray, the day was beautiful. Days like that had a particular beauty, they were strange and beautiful in their own strangeness. Most people on this side of the world preferred sunny days because there were more plenty of cloudy ones, but she was fine with this weather, it was cozy. Plus, everything around her was cozy.
Frida returned to reality and observed the details of the worn window. The house had some details, nothing that couldn't be repaired immediately, it was vintage and cute, neither too small nor too big, but the perfect size. Frida turned around and caught Benny chatting with a guy, the new vet, Charles. Benny spoke very fluently, he had a talent for dialogue and persuasion. He was so smart and insightful that he managed to find a vet in no time.
Frida let them chat in peace and began to walk slowly around the perimeter of the house with her arms crossed to continue discovering the place. As agreed, they met at Benny's place at twelve to drive from there to the country house, not before stopping at a fast food restaurant to pick an order Benny set earlier. The place was one hour away at most, outside the city among infinite green paths. Frida got totally amazed as soon as the first signs of the house appeared on their way, it was ever more imposing and grand physically than on pictures.
"Lot of things need to be fixed still, but we're already on it. It'll be perfect soon." Benny had told her then. But her personal opinion was different; it was perfect with all and its imperfections.
The chatting was left behind as a distant incomprehensible sound as she walked through the halls. The walls were painted soft yellow and there was furniture protected with plastic and more already settled. Benny explained that most of the covered stuff would be donated since those weren't of his liking. That's why they were partly here, among other things.
Frida found a back door. Earlier Benny had already given her a quick tour of the house, so if she remembered correctly that door took her to the back garden and the stables. She crossed the frame and instantly the cool air embraced her. The smell of nature was pure and penetrating, it reminded her of her childhood. Frida adjusted the beige scarf around her neck and advanced to nowhere in particular. The aura this place emanated was comforting, the wind played with her hair and she breathed deeply; eyes closed, arms crossed. Drinking and tattooing this moment in her memory, just when a memory came to light:
Flashback...
"Anni-Frid! Be careful, please!"
"I almost get it, mormor! Look at me!" Little Frida, under the intense and worried gaze of her grandmother, stretched a little further to reach the apple. She was stubborn but brave, too brave for a 10 year old girl. That day, like every weekend, she and her grandmother had gone out to the field to pick fruit, it was an activity that they both liked but she enjoyed it the most. From oranges, peaches, apples and pears, the baskets came back home full. But there was something she liked more than eating fresh fruit, it was the adrenaline. Anni-Frid climbed trees to reach the largest fruits, it was a challenge that she imposed on herself and that made her grandmother age ten years more due to the worry.
"I'm looking at you, darling.... careful with that branch."
Anni-Frid had her goal in her sights. She stretched a little more, just a little more... and she got it. "I got it Mormor! I got it!" She giggled in celebration and hurried down.
Agny breathed normally again, her heart was a horse riding at ferocious speed. "Great, that's great. Now go down slow and carefully. That's it."
"Catch me, mormor!"
