The Able Sisters

Chapter 27

The next year and a half could not have been more well-suited for Sable. She spent her days caring for Mabel, of course, but also working hard to stitch and sew. She was getting closer and closer every day to being on par with her parents.

Mabel was now five and was able to help Sable out with little work projects, like grabbing different colored cloths or even very carefully sewing with Sable's immense help. 

Mabel did not speak of Label much, nor their parents. She assumed her memories of their parents had become fuzzy, though she still remembered Label well enough. The concept of death was finally settling into her little sister's mind, and Sable guessed she finally realized their parents would not be coming back at all.

But despite this dark aspect, the two got along well. At times Mabel would throw a fit, but she was growing more and more every day, and Sable couldn't be prouder. Sable felt immense love radiating from her sister, and Sable reciprocated the same familial love.

Label had not said a word since her departure to the city. Sable sometimes still thought of her and considered a city trip one day, but it had been nearly two years now, and she supposed that if the city life was what Label really wanted, she should just leave her alone.

Then, there was Tom. Sable had grown incredibly close with the raccoon over the past year. It had started with little visits here and there, but she realized how alike they were. She admired his passion to live out his dreams (even if it did include the city in it). 

They spent their days together when the shop was closed, and he even helped care for Mabel as well. Mabel took quite a liking to Tom and was glad to have someone else to play with. They were like a small and happy family. 

One day late in November, shortly after Sable's fifteenth birthday had passed, she was awoken by Mabel shoving against her side.

"Wake up! Wake up!" she screeched.

"What is it?" Sable groaned and rolled to the side. She and her sister still shared the same room, with Mabel sleeping in Label's bed now. Sable was beginning to wish for more privacy now though after being annoyed with unwanted wake-ups.

"The Harvest Festival!" Mabel screeched.

Sable grinned and sat up. The shop would be closed today while they spent the whole day celebrating. Sable thought back to that day a couple years ago when it was the most food she and her siblings had gotten in a while. Sable was able to afford a good meal now, but she still enjoyed the festival each year.

"All right. All right. I'll get ready," Sable grumbled, sitting up.

After breakfast was served and they were ready for the day, Sable headed out the door with her younger sister, hand-in-hand. Tom was waiting for them outside the shop. He grinned at the two, then held out a bouquet of flowers for Sable.

"For you," he said, grinning widely.

"Oh, t-thanks," Sable stammered, blushing a little. "Let me set them inside."

"What are the plans for today, then?" Tom asked as she rejoined him moments later.

"I guess whatever Mabel is down for," she said, glancing down at the blue hedgehog.

"Pick mushrooms!" Mabel exclaimed, pointing to the white mushrooms sticking up from the ground.

"Well, I can't say it's the most exciting thing ever," Sable said apologetically to Tom.

"Oh, it'll be fun," he assured her.

Leading up to the festival that afternoon, they paraded around town picking fresh mushrooms and chasing dragonflies.

Tortimer then happily began the feast. Sable loaded up her sister's plate with all kinds of food and sat with Tom.

"I always look forward to the Harvest Festival," he said happily, shoving an array of food into his mouth.

Sable giggled and took a bite of some potatoes. "Me too."

"It's a shame they won't have this when I go to the city someday though. I'll miss it," Tom explained, taking another bite.

"They don't...celebrate the Harvest Festival in the city?" Sable asked.

Tom shook his head. "A shame, huh?"

Sable nodded, her mind wandering. She wondered what the holiday season was even like for Label. What did she do for Toy Day?

"You okay?" Tom asked.

"Yeah, sorry."

"Cut for me?" Mabel asked, pointing to her potatoes. Sable grinned and began cutting her food, but her mind was still focused on Label. She hadn't thought this much of her sister in a long time. She felt...sad for Label in a way, but then those feelings of anger returned, and Sable instead focused on cutting the food for her family sitting right in front of her.

"How is everything?" Tortimer asked, stopping by their table.

"Delicious!" Tom exclaimed, mouth full of food. 

The tortoise chuckled in response. "Well, I'm glad you're enjoying the food, Tom. You girls, eat more. We've got plenty of food."

"I'm already getting full," Sable honestly replied.

"I'll go get pie," Tom suggested, walking away. He returned moments later with three huge slabs of apple pie.

"Tom! How are we going to eat all of that?!" Sable exclaimed.

"Yes, pie!" Mabel exclaimed, reaching her fork forward.

"Don't eat yourself sick," Sable warned her sister before shoving the piece in front of her.

Sable's stomach was already at her limit, but she ate a few bites of pie before shoving it aside. Meanwhile, Tom was nearly halfway through his piece.

"That's all your eating?!"

"I'm so full," Sable groaned.

"Sable, get ahold of yourself. This is the last piece of excellent Harvest Festival pie you'll be having in a long time. Come on, you've got to have one more bite."

"I don't think I can."

"Here, I'll feed it to you," he said, whisking her plate away. He stuck the fork into the pie and held it out.

"Tom, no!" Sable replied, giggling.

"Come on!"

She hesitantly opened her mouth and chewed the bite. Her stomach felt as if it were about to explode, but she had to admit, it was good pie.

"See?" Tom said as she happily chewed.

She nodded and glanced at her sister, who was close to finishing off her piece.

"That's enough," she said, taking the plate away.

"Awww..." Mabel complained.

"Maybe we'll make our own homemade apple pie," she promised.

It was getting dark as the three headed back. Tom walked the two back slowly, all of them having trouble moving after a long feast.

"Well, until next year's Harvest Festival," he said as he dropped them off at the shop's door.

"See you, Tom."

"I'll see you guys tomorrow," he said, waving as he took off.

Sable grinned and led her sister back inside, tucking her in so she was all comfortable. Mabel let out a big yawn and shut her eyes as Sable kissed the top of her forehead.

"Good night," she said.

But it seemed like the hedgehog was already fast asleep. Sable grinned and turned, just as Mabel slipped out the faintest of words: "Label..."

Sable spun around, thinking perhaps she had misheard her sister. She was fast asleep, but there was no doubt she had whispered her other sister's name. Sable frowned, assuming Mabel had forgotten about Label as much as Sable had, but even then, Sable guessed she could never stop the hope Mabel had that Label would one day return.