Strawberries And Crows (Canceled, For Now)

Part 4- Garden plan and Dress making

" This way. " I say, letting go of Elizabeth's hand, pointing out to the garden.

" Wow! " She exclaims.

" I know right! " I laugh.

She runs up to the garden beds, stroking the leaves of some plants. " Mint, " she points to one, " Strawberries! " She squeals, running up to the middle garden bed, the one I care for, the Strawberries. " Those are mine. " I explain " They are the reason I had dirt on my face at the dinner. "

I pluck a strawberry off it's stem and pop it into my mouth. " Yum. " I groan.

" Hey! " A voice yells from behind us, " You can't be here-- " He stops. " Oh it's just you Kalese, and... " Tom says.

" El-- " Elizabeth starts, but Tom cuts her off,

" Elizabeth, I'm aware. It's a pleasure to meet you. " He turns to pluck a beetle from a head of lettuce.

" Elizabeth has something she wants to ask, I believe. " I say. " Though I'm not sure what. "

" I heard from Kalese tha you like crows- When they aren't eating the plants of course- So why don't we create a bird feeder! " She smiles, " It could go over near that tree there, that way the birds won't eat the plants but I'll still get to see them!! "

Tom side eyes Elizabeth. " You're pretty bold. " I elbow him in his gut. (Tom's one of the only people I know who are taller than me.) " But, I admire that. " He coughs, side eyeing me now.

" I'm sure I can arrange that. " he sighs,
" Though that is our picnic tree... "

" The birds know we won't hurt them, if they don't want to be near us then they'll have to wait until we finish our picnic to have some bird seed. " I hiss.

Elizabeth thinks for a moment. " Y know, I think I have some shiny ribbons and rocks in my bag. Crows like shiny things, correct? "

" They sure do. " I say.

Elizabeth smiles. " Well, thank you for hearing me out, Tom. You have a magnificent garden. "

I smile, waving back at him as the two of us walk away.

We walk an chat as we make our way back to my room.

Asi open the door, I see Alice seeing together the green fabric. " Oh! Back so soon! " She blushes. " i- uh... I had a vision for his green dress, and I wanted to try and execute it before the party tonight. " She pauses. " do you have a dress for the party yet? "

" Not one specific but... " She trials off,
" Oh my god! You want me to wear this dress at the party! " Elizabeth exclaims.

" Yes that was my vision... " Alice smiles.

" I would love that! " She beams.

" Perfect, because it's about time I fit this to you! " Alice days, leading Elizabeth to stand up on the platform.

By now I've plopped down on the bed, and I'm staring up at the intricate painting on my roof.

" So, how was Tom? " Alice asks.

" Good. " I say, " Though he gave us a fright when he yelled at us. "

Alice laughs, " Thought you were some strangers again? "

I nod, and Elizabeth speaks, " I didn't imagine him to be our age! " She says,
" And he runs the garden all by himself? Well, with the help of Kalese, of course. " I smile, but my eyes are struggling to stay open. It's only the morning still, but I know it'll be a late night with the party, so I just let myself sleep.

" Wow, This is just what I imagined! " I hear when I wake up.

" Oh, Kalese is awake! " Alice says.

I yawn, stretching my limbs. Sometime while I was asleep, someone draped a blanket over me. I kick it off and sit up.

" Good morning, sleepy head. " Elizabeth says, doing a spin to show of her dress.

" Wow, it's beautiful! " I say. Even though Elizabeth is nearly five inches shorter than me, she looks like she is much taller in this dress.

A small blush fills my cheeks.

" How long was I out? "

" Around four hours. "

" What! " I yell, leaping out of bed. I stand, digging through my closet.

(End of part 4)