The Weathervane

Chapter VI - Living

I ‘learn’ about horse care and how to lead a horse, Peter and Enoch teach me and although it is slightly serious they make it fun and interesting, helping me along in the study of Enoch’s world I have four teachers and I have fun learning everything I can about his world and culture.  His culture is vastly different from ours, the weapons are based on energy, a science we have not discovered yet.  Their materials are purer and can be used for almost anything.  The metal that is used for swords is used for armor and is lighter than our steel or bronze.  The animals while being the same are a little different as well, they can defy gravity better than the people on his planet. 

“Here, this will help you in greetings, stand up, when you meet someone.  You don’t shake hands and you don’t kiss cheeks like the Europeans.  You do this.”  Enoch stand and puts his fist to his chest, over his heart and then extends it, I do the same and he grips my forearm, I do the same. 

“This is how you greet each other?”  I ask looking at our arms. 

“That is how to greet a stranger, a friend you can hug or put your arm on their shoulder.  Because you will be posing as a man you will put your arm on their shoulder.  You cannot touch a woman, especially if she is a stranger.  Never speak to a woman you don’t know unless you have a reason.  You can make up a reason, but if she has a tattoo on her face do not speak to her unless she is accompanied by a man with the same tattoo.  The tattoos are a special marriage tattoo, they happen biologically, right after a ceremony much like the ones here.  The tattoo is a small one under her eye, right here.”  He says and puts his finger on my cheek.  Leaving he searches through a desk until he come across a pen, bringing it back he draws under my eye and once done he takes me to the bathroom.  The mirror shows a beautiful and intricate tattoo of  a symbol, the symbol is unlike any earthly one.  I touch it and smile, the pattern changes colors and then is gone. 

“Enoch, what happened, it’s gone!”  I turn and look at him. 

“This pen is a special one, the symbol can come back, but only if you get married, and if you do decide to get married, it will become clear on the second day of your marriage.  The pen put the pattern into your skin.  It is much like a tattoo on this earth, but it is natural and will never go away or sag with your skin, it will be perfect until you somehow find a way to erase it.  You will both have the same tattoo though, they are passed down generation to generation.”  He walks away with the pen and I look once more, but the tattoo is still gone. 

I almost bump into Peter as I head out of the bathroom. 

“Come, it’s time for dinner.”  He says and we walk to dinner together. 

The food smells wonderful and as we get to the kitchen the table comes into view.  Rolls, mashed potatoes, turkey, gravy, and blueberries are on the table.  As I sit I wonder what the all the food is for. 

“This food is to symbolize or celebrate when the rebellion started, twenty long years ago.  This feast is only a portion of what they would be doing in my hometown.”  Enoch says as we all sit down. 

The food is all good and we eat, my new family alongside me.  The turkey is flavorful and moist, the mashed potatoes are thick and creamy.  The rolls with butter melt in my mouth and the blueberries are ripe and plump.  I eat the food and wonder if this time next year I will still be in Enoch’s world, or will I be home with my family wishing I could celebrate this day. 

After dinner is a fun time as well, the children teach me games that their parents taught them and after that they each give gifts to each other and to me.  My gifts are; a pair of black leather boots made by Mathew, the father and husband to Elizabeth.  The next is a small carving of a soldier with my features done by the oldest son.  The oldest daughter made me a necklace with a turtle, I tie it around my neck and thank them.