THIS ODD & PECULIAR ASSORTMENT

Spring • 1 • 4 The Stefnies

Josie's school was situated in the city of Lordfield's Crossing, and she had to take a bus ride of about twenty minutes to reach her hometown. They soon left the outskirts of the city behind, and the scenery turned into open countryside. At the times when the dense forest opened up to the sky, Josie watched the vast, open fields interspersed with clusters of trees, but her thoughts had returned to the cat. She hadn't been able to get a good look at it during her mad dash away, but she really hoped it was okay. Maybe she could try to get away tomorrow during recess? Josie decided to check at home for something the cat could eat, determined to help. She couldn't just ignore its presence. Something already pulled her back to the small park area. Even if the cat didn't want a friend, it still needed sustenance, at least, the girl considered.

Her thoughts lost in her plans to feed the stray, Josie didn't notice the three girls sitting a few rows in front of her. They were of the same age as her and had been watching the girl with interest since she had entered the bus. Meanwhile, Josie was still concerned for the cat and wondered about the contents of Veilwood's kitchen. What did cats eat, other than canned cat food? Josie herself ate very little meat in general; she just didn't enjoy the taste, the texture - well, everything about it, to be honest. There also was the gruesome factor of how it became meat. Turning her thoughts back to the more pressing topic, she made a mental note to check for bread. If the cat stole sandwiches, maybe it would accept that at least. With a sigh, Josie resolved to settle this at home, as she had to check what was available before being able to make a decision.

To pass the time of the bus ride, she took out the book she had been reading before the boys had interrupted. This one had turned out to be rich in detail, feeding her mind and imagination. She loved it - but then, she loved most books, didn't she? They always introduced her to new amazing words - like "mellifluous" or "perspicacious" for example. Josie's most recent acquisition was "serendipitous". What a great word. Words like these felt a bit like code because so few people were aware of them, but Josie loved words in general and languages fascinated and came easy to her. She almost found words to be like little treasures, to be sought after, found, and then cherished. They all held a unique shape, caused their singular sound, had their own meaning. Some sounded even like the meaning they used to convey, and nice words, like "soft" or "gentle" caressed one's senses - while others were sharp and jagged, like "scold" or spite", and possessed the inherent ability to tear at others. "Ugly" was another good example, as the word itself was already not very elegant and one of the actual few Josie disliked. There was beauty to be found in almost anything if one cared to look close enough, so she avoided using it at all if she could.

It always made her sad to hear unfriendly words being flung about, cutting through the air and lingering long like a bad aftertaste - worst for those they were hurled against. Why would anyone choose words that hurt over all the beautiful ones that could be shared? She had also noticed how some words, full of potential for greatness, could be twisted into something rude if the speaker wanted to do so. Being treated like this - being used to hurt others - was as if the words lost their shine, their possible magic, and Josie wondered why people didn't realize this. Couldn't they feel the unkindness spreading from them to everyone else and the world around them when they said things that made others sad? Josie held on to the dear wish that others could see or hear words like she did - a trove to use for creating rather than breaking. But, as much as she cherished words, when it came to herself, they sometimes seemed to escape Josie when she needed them most. It was curious, really, that was.

In her head, they danced about to arrange themselves into neat little sentences, ready to be given to someone else, almost like a present. But when she'd try to speak to other children, they all seemed to vanish into thin air as soon as she opened her mouth. Having been sure to be able to say something interesting, nice, or funny, she would be left abandoned by her own words, or what she did manage to say would come out all wrong. Sometimes she wondered if her own words were shy, hiding away when a moment arrived for them to be spoken. It was a peculiar fact that made her feel like she was on the outside of something she couldn't quite comprehend; as if everyone else had a map to the right things to say, and she was left to wander about without it. So, Josie carried her books, preferring them over cold and lifeless e-books on an electronic device. They were her companions, and also, one couldn't hide behind a small screen if one needed to. Books didn't mind if she didn't have all the right words at all times and still offered her new ones with eternal patience, each like a small bauble to be tucked away. And when she found a particularly delightful one, like "effervescent", it was like discovering a hidden gem, something rare and precious, something that somehow only she could appreciate.