Sunshine

More then I would believe

I kneeled on the ground, my finger dug into the dirt and I ripped the weed's from the garden. I wiped the sweat from my forehead. It was hot. The summer sun was high in the sky as I pushed off the ground and dusted my hands off. I picked the weeds that I had just finished pulling. I tossed them into the wood's and then went over to the well, pulling the bucket up. I drank some of the water and then washed my hands.

I grabbed the basket full of the ripe vegetables from the garden today and headed up the path back to the house. I met Kito at the bottom of the path. He was sweaty and covered in dirt.

I raised a brow at him, "Gosh Kito, did you fight the pigs today?" I asked, stepping away from realizing he smelled pretty bad from his work on the farm.

He looked at me tired but laughed a little. "Not too far off, honest, this morning the gate was open to the barn! All the damn animal's got loose; I had to chase them all down! A few are still missing and I found two dead cow's." He shook his head. "I have no idea how it happened." He looked worried. No doubt losing two cows and other animals was a huge loss.

"That is strange; are you sure you closed the gate last night?" I asked him, bewildered.

He looked at me a bit annoyed, "The gate closes and locks on its own. Remember? It is usually annoying because you have to keep opening it every time." He grumbled as he started up the hill.

I followed after him; he was right. The few times I had come to help at the barn, I was helping carry hay into the barn and was annoyed that I had to keep opening the damn door. I walked beside him up the hill thinking, "So then someone opened it? Or maybe it is finally getting stuck?"

He shook his head, "I checked the door; it is working fine. I don't know what I am going to tell my grandfather—we can't afford the loss of the animals. Plus, we are the main supplies of meat and milk for the village." He said it, running a hand through his hair.

I frowned and looked back over the farm toward the barn. I looked back at him. "I'm so sorry, Kito. I'm sure we can come up with something." I told him. I was trying to be supportive.

As we reached the top of the hill, he looked at me tired and said, "See you around, Mori... If I don't see you tomorrow, Grandfather has killed me." He tried to joke before heading down the road to his home.

I looked after him and shook my head, I walked home in thought. He was right, the loss was devastating. The only explanation would be that someone or something opened the door.

"Welcome home, Mori." Gina welcomed me at the door.

I smiled at her warmly, " Thank you, Gina... Is Master Ren home yet?" I asked it and pulled my shoes off at the door, then walked with her to the kitchen to store the vegetables.

"Not yet; he is a little late." She actually looked a little worried. Gina was known for being eerily calm most of the time. I was convinced she would just stare blankly into the face of death.

I nodded in agreement and started to help her with dinner. We ate rice with fresh vegetables and pork. I sat crossed-legged on the floor eating, thinking as I ate pork from my bowl. Pork that I only had because of that farm.

Gina looked at me and said, "You are not his child... but as you grow, you start to resemble him." Her words surprised me, drawing me from my mind.

I looked at her, "Master Ren?" I asked surprised, me and him? I pictured Master Ren with beautiful flowing hair shining red in the sun and how beautiful he was or perhaps it was the mannerisms I had picked up from him? Well, I never sat like this before.

She got up and started to clean up. "Hmm." She didn't say much more as she did it.

I went back to my thought, knowing she had said all she wanted. "There is a town that breed's cow's a few towns over, correct?" I asked, looking out the window.