FLOWER

CHAPTER 1.3

I take a deep breath in and slowly let the air out of my lungs. I leave the car with the shopping bags. I jump over the gate to then walk slowly through the scrub. Something is constantly tickling or scratching my calves, my ankles. I catch sight of a wide board toppled as close to the wall as possible. I walk up to it and drop it with my foot. It falls to the grass. A hole appears to us with my father. I put everything down and look into it. It's not so small inside. Even a big dog will fit in here if it pushes its four letters through the hole.

 - Nasturcja was right it is a hovel.

Time to finally get to know the inside. I take back the nets, walk up to the entrance, pull the handle. After opening the door, the first thing that hits my nose is the smell of stale air and dust. Ventilating still doesn't help. The floor is lined with light wood. Scraped and scratched from use. There is wainscoting on the walls. In places you can see cracks or larger gaps and protruding nails. And even a spider with its own small hole at the ceiling. He steps forward. How it creaks. One more. It will be very difficult to pass without informing everyone around me. I place the shopping nets on a stool by the entrance. Dad and I pull off our shoes. The creaking sound is a tad quieter. 

-Do you hear? -It seems that just walking tortures this floor.

- Little Flower, it's an old wooden floor. And surprisingly you can barely hear it anyway.

- It's what it usually sounds like. 

I go deeper. I deepen the ordeal for my ears. The hovel is bright and airy, with a high ceiling and large windows. The living room has a large sofa, armchairs and a table. The kitchen, small but functional, houses a large tiled cooker in the corner that heats the whole room. The sleeping rooms differed little except in size. The cohesion of the interior of the shed was given by the light wood. It was found literally everywhere, even on the furniture. Along with all kinds of flaws. I must admit reluctantly. The shed looked surprisingly good from the inside. It has been kept in better condition than from the outside. It still doesn't impress, but the rural atmosphere blows here. Dad suddenly says.

- I knew you would like it.

- You are wrong, I only tolerate this hovel.

- This room is yours, Nasturtcja has dibs on a bigger one.- Replies Mum.

- What's taking so long, where's the food?

- Near the entrance.

- Let's go eat.

Another look at my new unwanted room. Even behind the curtain of night, I can see the marsh beyond the window. What a beautiful landscape I will enjoy every day. A clump of scrub behind the fence moves a few branches. Beautifully there is probably still game here.

I finally manage to follow the family, who are already seated with their food at a small table. We sit down and I take the last bundle.

 - Little flower had an unsuccessful hunt. 

 Thanks Dad, as always you can be counted on. I wonder if you'd laugh if I had his number in my phone after all. Guess not. I'd probably be grounded from boys for the rest of my life. 

- You're twisting everything again.

- If it's not him, it's someone else. Don't worry. - Failure happens to everyone. Mum tries to comfort me.

- It's not like that.

- She was staring at him like a picture. She bravely endures failure. -She glares at my father.

- We'll talk when you've cooled down.

- What kind of cool down. I already want to know.-Sister demands.

- Another time.

- I've wiped the dust off you, we're vacuuming the floor, the mattress and you won't tell me anything.

- Exactly.

- I'll smother you with a pillow at night.

- I'll lock the room.

- Exactly, we sleep together. My mattress smells like something died in it.

- Take the cover off and put it in the washing machine.

- It's too big.

- You can do it.

Her face speaks for itself. I'm not getting rid of the parasite. Where is any justice at all. She has a bigger room and still demands to sleep in mine. I need to buy something to clean the mattresses. It will still settle permanently in my room.

I lay in bed wrapped in a quilt. I am blissfully drifting off into sleep. When the door to my room opens. The floor creaks mercilessly. Someone comes up and plucks a pillow from under my head. And hangs it over me.

- And now you're going to tell me everything.-What have I got with this woman.

- You have one second to explain yourself.-I say through a yawn.

- Me! Don't even try to play dumb. Talk better about the guy in the shop. You won't get away from me anymore.

- He chatted me up and took a caramel coffee from my trolley without permission.

- You're making it up.

- Why would I do that. Let me sleep.- I retrieve my pillow. I arrange it under my head.

- Monster. We'll find you a better one.

 And burrows under the duvet like a mole under the ground. To take up seventy percent of the bed after a few seconds.

- I have recovered the coffee.

- Where it is.

- In the car, we need to find a hiding place. And now good night.

- Good night.

I close my eyes. Inhale, exhale. I won't fall asleep again. She woke me up. And I still have to jerk the duvet away from her. Who would have thought there is so much strength in such a body. I manage to regain a scrap. While the sister next to me snores.