In a Forest, Under a Tree Where Many Plans Were Made

Chapter Two

🌲Many Plans are Made🌲

Jack looked empty. He simply stood there for a second, before bowing and unclasped the beautiful necklace. He had tears in his eyes, as did Summer. "Father, please!" she begged. "I love Jack!" And she began to weep. Summers father, whose name was Carlos, remained indifferent.

"Mr. Bennett, I beg you to reconsider..." began Jack, but was interrupted by a roar from Mr Bennett.

"It is not your place to tell me whether or not to reconsider boy!" He yelled. "My daughter will not be marrying a ruffian like you! She will marry a good fellow like that Oliver, who has a stable job and some money!"

By now, everyone except the drunkest at the party had turned to listen. Similar scenes happened all over the place. A distraught young man and woman, being yelled at by an angry father. Luckily, Ju stepped in. "Perhaps, mr Bennett, you should reconsider..." she said. Summer almost shook her head. Only brave, yet incredibly stubborn Ju would see sense in confronting a grown up. And a man at that! You must remember reader, in Kryston, men ruled.

"You see sir, I know Summer and Jack love each other dearly. And they would soon save enough for a decent cottage too, I can tell from how hard Jack has been working."

You are probably expecting now, that mr Bennett will indeed reconsider, and thanks to Ju, Summer and Jack will live happily ever after in a dear old cottage.

But that does not make for a very good story.

"Absolutely not!" yelled mr Bennett again. "No way on earth is my daughter marrying that worthless miner. She wouldn't have a thing to cook."

The phrase, 'she wouldn't have a thing to cook' is commonly used in Kryston. It means that the woman's husband would be so poor, that when he got home from work the woman would have no food for him. So mr Bennett is saying here that Jack is too poor.

"But father, I know that Jack can hunt. He could catch rabbit or deer." pleaded Summer.

"No daughter of mine is going to be eating wild rabbit! No, I absolutely refuse and that's final!"

Summer burst into tears again and ran away from the party. Jack cautiously bowed to mr Bennett then ran after her. Mr Bennett shrugged. "Let them have their last few days together. I've already arranged for her to marry Oliver Kundird." Then he too walked off.

The party quickly dispersed after the host and hostess had both left. And I suppose you are wondering about Summers mother? She's dead. Died many years ago in a fire, as did half the population. There used to be many more people in Kryston before The Great Fire.

***

Meanwhile, Jack was making soothing noises while Summers body shook as raspy sobs escaped her. "Why? Oh Jack, I won't be able to live without you!"

Jack nodded. "Me either. You know what we have to do?"

Summer shook her head.

"Tonight," he said urgently, grabbing her shoulders. "Under that big tree in the forest we used to play under. The one with the hole in the trunk we his thing in. You remember? Good. Meet me there at midnight. And wear your dimmest clothes, and carry as much as you can without being suspicious. Understand?"

Summer nodded. "Good." And Jack let go. He kissed her lightly on the cheek, then left. Summer got straight to work. It was only 9:30, but she'd need time.

First, she grabbed a small satchel. It wasn't ideal, preferably she'd have taken her large back pack, but she couldn't look suspicious, that was what Jack said. She suspected they were going to run away together, so she packed: