Over Cross

Chapter 6

Six

 

Toby, Sam, and Sam's siblings were doing about their business in the fields (reaping, sowing, ploughing and whatnot) when someone riding a horse galloped at the scene, his robes fluttering in the wind.

"Hey," Toby whispered to Sam, "Who's the formally-dressed weirdo on the horse?"

"That's the Bailiff."

"Ohhh, okay. " A bailiff was a person who manages the affairs of the manors.

"Hear ye, hear ye," he announced. "Good day to you all. As you all know a few days ago, Your Majesty King Henry expected visitors to arrive at his palace and therefore has asked you all to provide him enough supplies to last their entire visit." murmurs rose in the crowd.

"Now, the king wishes to announce to you all that the desired amount of supplies has been accomplished in an earlier period of time than expected, and therefore the King decides to declare today, and the following days, a public holiday. You may compile the remaining hays and stock, and you can all take the day off." A cheer rose in the crowd. "Carry on. Hiya!" He left with his horse.

Later, the crowd gathered together.  "So, the holiday's a week off, anyone would like to suggest anything to do?"

"Yea, go home, take a bath, sleep, and make love to our wives." Laughter echoed in the crowd.

"Shh!" an elderly scolded them. "There are kids here!"

"Alright, alright. On a more serious note, I'd like to suggest that we hold a party. Tonight, at the village square." Murmurs rose, the Revee, their leader tried to calm them down.  "I know, I know it's a bit short notice, but it doesn't have to be super extravagant. What matters is that there's food, music, and campfire, and we're all settled."

"All in favor, say aye!" Almost everyone in the crowd said Aye, and dispersed.

Sam and Toby watched them leave.

"You guys have parties?"

"Of course," Sam snorted "What'd you think we did, work all day and slept all night? That would have been a boring life, you know." He shoved Toby, "We know how to have fun, too you know."

Toby made a mental note. Note to self, consult and reevaluate history records.

Sam pulled Toby, "Come on, we have to help mum make her world-famous chicken pot-pie!"

**********

That night, when everyone gathered at the circle, they were all awestruck at the improvement of the place,. There were tables everywhere, waiting for the food to be placed. Banderitas gave color to the places. There were torches in lots of places, lighting up the square. And the local band is in corner, waiting for whoever dares to start the party.

Toby, Sam, and everyone else lost themselves in the party. Music was in the air, and everyone was just in high spirits. Almost everyone danced from the Morris to the Quadrille, and the Longways. Toby was only able to join during the Jig dance, where they all skipped and jumped and clapped their hands.

Toby sat down to take a break. As he drank punch, he looked at his surroundings. There were people who bought their own instruments and played along with the band. Some were stuffing themselves at the buffet. Some people in a corner who talked all sorts of things. And the rest? All on the dance floor. It was such a happy time. But in the midst of all of it, he suddenly felt sad. When he saw Sam coming towards him, he gestured him away from the circle. The two walked in silence around the village.

Most of the houses and shops were closed, seeing as everyone was in the party. A gentle wind breezed through. "Some party, eh?" Sam remarked a drink in hand. Toby nodded. "What's wrong, man?" Toby stopped walking and bowed his head. Sam swore he saw tears trickle down his face. "Man, I-I don't know." Toby slumped down the pavement. Sam sat down next to him, completely confused. "I forgot what it felt like to be around people you love you know? I've always been so accustomed to sleeping alone, playing games along, studying alone, eating alone..just being alone. It's just, I-I haven't felt this happy. I missed it. A lot." Toby wiped his face, chuckling. "I-I'm sorry for being like this. I'm sorry too man. For a whole lot of things."

"It's cool, man." Sam patted him on the back. "It's all cool."

**********

"You know, I never really had a friend before," Sam remarked.

"Really? Shoot. You seem to be the friendliest kid around here. I'd always thought you're the most popular kid in the kingdom." Toby munched an apple.

"Yea, but, whenever I approach them, they'd just start teasing me, you know? That I'm an alien or something." He blew straw hair off his face, "And it's because of this yellow hair. I'm the only yellow-haired person in the entire kingdom, you know?"

"A blonde?" Toby said.

"A what?"

"Blonde. B-L-O-N-D-E. It's what we call someone with yellow hair."

"And it just sucks, you know? I try so, so hard to make friends and be nice and all, but in the end, they'd still judge me, ridicule me because of how I look. It's frustrating!!"

"Well, why still be friendly? Ignore them then. Don't talk to them. Who cares about what they think?"

Why aren't you like me? Always pushed away.

Sam shook his head. "Oh no, I'm not like that. My mom told me a thousand times that it's never nice to turn your back on people. Or be mean to them. At some point you got to keep reaching out to people you care about the most. Even if they shove you even further, it does not mean you'll stop."

Sam stared at the campfire. "Oh, it's hard. Really hard. Because people need time. But it'll all be worth it in the end." Sam forced a smile. "That's how I got Harvey."

"Who's Harvey?"

"A very dear friend of mine."

"And you say you didn't have a friend.” Toby chuckled. “ Where does he live in the village?"

Sam kept quiet for a while. The crackling of the campfire was the only noise they heard.

“Sam?”

"He died. Of a sickness."

Toby's eyes widened. "I-I'm so sorry. I d-didn't know." His hands were waving frantically.

Sam smiled, "Yea, it's cool. Now, I’ve made new friends. Awesome friends." he looked at Toby. "And there’s you, freak. I'm sure glad to have you as a friend."