The Wilting Rose

Chapter 4- Solie's Worst Fear

The next day, when I was looking for it, I saw so many things I would have never seen at home. For one, there were no men here at all. Why the heck was that? Was it because they had to work so hard they didn’t get home until late? Or a different reason? And it was natural for kids to bicker over who gets a cool stone or piece of candy, but how about food? Or warm clothes? I’d never noticed how worn down everything was. At my house, we had it new, or we didn’t have it at all! But here, everything you asked a kid about was her mom’s or grandma’s when they were little. Cloths were patched, faded, and ripped in so many places you couldn’t count.

But people here were happy. Even if they had 5 kids and only a small farm to support them with, (Dittle’s family), they were happy. It was amazing how content they were with so little. They played, and laughed, and joked around as if nothing was the matter with this place. Then it hit me. They had never been outside of this town. They didn’t know what they were missing.

That night, James said nothing was the matter. So I kept my observations to myself, but I wanted to know why we were here. I wanted to leave.

The next morning I stated dropping hints as unsubtlety as I could. Of course, even if I did drop them subtlety, Solie would pick up on it right away. She looked at me across the breakfast table and slowly raised one eyebrow. “Rose,” she said, with a slow intensity, “if there is something you wish to say, you may say it now.” I must have turned scarlet; because she bent her head back down, and continued with her breakfast. “What I’m saying is, I want to know how much longer we’ll be here.” Solie raised her head again.

“You are very lucky I do not take offense easily.” She was speaking in a way I had never heard her speak before. Like I was stupid, and she was thinking about dumping me off to lighten her load. “We are here until news comes.” I glared at her, hoping she would look away. She did not. “Waiting about news? What kind of news?” She shook her head, still keeping one eyebrow locked in a firm arch. “Not here, Rose. I’ll tell you when I get it.” I was tired of deciphering her riddles. 

“How long will we be here? Kids here have jobs, and school, and-” She cut me off. I was surprised she was this temperamental, when she was normally so collected. “If it’s a job that your heart ever so desires, I shall find you one. But school, well, you make a good point, I’ll sign you up tomorrow morning.” I rolled my eyes. “Okay, mom.” Her eyes were dangerous now. “Excuse me?” I shook my head, afraid to repeat. She stood up, and took a deep breath before gliding, not stalking, like I would have done, out the door.

James came down a couple minutes after, and gobbled up the small omelet Solie had saved for him. “Where is Solie?” he asked between mouthfuls. “I don’t know, she was gone when I woke up.” I lied, unwilling to share what I had said. James accepted this, and he, too, was out the door in a couple minutes. I rolled my eyes, and followed him. I wanted to be with somebody, even if they didn't want to be with me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Solie walk into the mountains she told me were too dangerous to explore.

I ran after her, trying to be as quiet and stealthy. We walked for 30 minutes, before she paused, and crept into a small house. It was bigger than all the other houses around, but run down with weeds, and laden with dirt. I followed her inside, seeing a group of children talking and whispering. They all looked similar. They had black, brushed out hair, spun carefully into a bun. They all wore the same cloths, a greenish dress, that was light and misty almost. The chatter stopped when Solie came in and everybody sat down. I just stood there until Solie noticed me.

“It appears our new student just couldn’t stay away!” She looked at me, and motioned me to go back outside.  I did, sorry I intruded on this obviously personal aspect of her life. She was smiling again but her eyes were not happy. “Take out your books, please. I’ll be right back.”