When We Fall

Chapter 8

                                                                              J u n e

Mr. Marlow hadn't been getting better. His cough seemed to get louder, his legs started giving out. Every once and a while he would have to stop what he was doing just to take a rest, even if it was as simple as putting on a hat. He and Ida tried to hide it from the girls, though, and whenever he started coughing he would flee to another room to avoid them. Both the girls were suspicious, but they didn't think it could be so serious. How could it be, when they never discussed it? 

Summer heated up. The air outside was sweltering hot, even at nighttime. Trips to the lake became more and more common, and as the heat rose people started complaining of it. In the papers, there was always a warning for heat stroke, and the only talk in the town was about the boiling weather. It wouldn't be rare to go to the market and hear someone exclaim how much they hated the heat. But everyone knew once winter came around, they would miss it. 

Henry and Kitty would take walks and talk every day, usually not including Leigh on their endeavors. Kitty would try and tell Leigh that they were discussing "adult things" she wouldn't understand. Leigh began to resent time with her sister, as all she would ever talk about was Henry or her plans for the future. She seemed to lose sight of all that was currently happening, lost in her little world of bliss. It hurt Leigh to see her sister grow into a completely different person. She spent forever in her room getting ready each day, and she spent most of her free time learning how to cook with her mother or practicing her cross-stitch, rather than playing with Leigh. She said it was because she had to sharpen her house-wife skills before the time came. 

Leigh's point of view on marriage exceeded rapidly into disgust as she watched her sister. Is this all there is to life?  she asked herself. Inside it felt like she was losing her sister, no matter what people told her, like "you're not losing a sister, you're gaining a brother!" or something stupid. Soon she would have her own kids and would never have time for her real family. Soon, Kitty wouldn't be the same girl anymore. 

~

Kitty, Henry, and Leigh walked into town one Saturday morning that June, sweating from the excessive heat and fanning themselves. They looked all around them at the busy people running around as they entered. People were at stands and carts selling food, others stood outside their stores and beckoned people in for sale prices. The kids only went to pick up some eggs and bread for dinner, but the oldest two started to have ideas of their own. 

"Maybe we should get ourselves a treat, for walking all that way in the heat," Henry said, grinning at Kitty. Leigh looked up at the two in confusion. She had clearly heard her mother say only to get the eggs and bread, and not to stray from the task. Leigh was never truly a rule-follower, but she didn't like Henry leading the mischief. That was her job. 

"Ah, yes! Something cold." Kitty chimed in, then pointed at a cart selling flavored ice. A cherry man was handing out paper cones full of bright-colored ice shavings. "That looks amazing!" Kitty moaned, wiping the beads of sweat off her forehead. Leigh planted her heel in the ground, furrowing her eyebrows at them. 

"Mother said we're only here for eggs and bread - no straying!" She scolded them, crossing her arms. As soon as she crossed her arms, though, she felt even hotter and she quickly set them back down. Henry laughed and slapped her shoulder, to which Leigh stepped away from him. 

"It's fine, Leigh. A little ice won't hurt anyone. I'll pay." He said as he began to pull his money out from his pocket, Leigh grabbed his wrist. 

"No! My mother said no." She argued. "And I'll tell on the both of you." This time she crossed her arms and kept them like that, staring down - or up - the two misbehaviors in front of her. Kitty and Henry glanced at each other, then they smirked.