House of Mia Terceo

Sixth Chapter

Saturday. The only day of the week which we had to ourselves and today Alfred had asked me to accompany him to the big city Chysa. He had saved up money for years, with the intention of buying a ring for Shelda, his wife, since they have already been married and ringless, for four years.

Rarely it is only the two of us alone, since he usually came for dinner and went his way again, back to Shelda.

My father was once gifted a car by Lord Vega, when he was his foreman and caretaker. From then on my father has lended out the car between us sinblings and also those who don't own a car.

It is one of the older cheaper models, where you can max be three people seated and behind, is the trunk where we load our gorceries and even extra passengers, or animals if they needed to be moved to a new area or sold.

Going through my old jewlry box, which had been touched by many hands throughout the era's and handed down to the youngest daughter for many generations. The age of the jewelry box is now unknown, the markings of names and fainted flowers, the only indicator. In here I saved a hair barrette and two rings, along with a sad amount of money, the little that didn't go to my family.

It was not much but hopefully enough to buy something in Chysa.

I took out coins and put them in my coin purse that fitted in my small pocket.

Altough I prefered going barefeet, Chysa was not a city to do that in. The cold sidewalks with smashed glass would prove to be a desperately impossible task to avoid. Fancy rich folks strolling around for their midday chit chat, with their four layers of clothes and with bambus umbrellas protecting them from the sun, would surely frown upon seeing us, -even with shoes on.

Being ready I walked into the living and sat next to my mother, who knitted a shawl with the most sedulous care.

In her silence I noticed all the years of working weighting down on her small plump form. Wrinkles around her forehead and dusted her cheeks. The thick hair, I'd inherited from her, was almost completely silver. The hands who had cared for many children, were beginning to slow down and struggle in their work, due to arthritis eating up her hands. Tired eyes, looked upon her work with tender. She looked years older than she was. Why had I never noticed?

Flowers are born, and they wither...

I leaned up against her and layed my head on her shoulder, following her process with the soft pink yarn.
"A darker pink at the edge would look lovely," a nice transition, I thought.

"Perhaps so. Would you wear it then?" Mother asked.
I almost don't even remember the last time I had used anything of her knitted clothing, apart from when I was very little and she used to knit sweaters for the winthers, way too big for me.

"I think so," I drawled, knowing I problebly would not use it. My mother gave a "hmm" in response, sounding unconvinced.

There was no knock on the door before Alfred appeared at the entrance just a hair taller than the door, smiling to us in greeting, showing off the space between his front teeth.
He was taller than most of the men here in the village and mother only stood to his biceps.

"Greetings," he looked us over and dangled the keys in his hand, "-You ready?"

I hastly kissed my mothers cheek and jumped up from my seat and strode my way towards Alfred.

I smiled, "Indeed."

"Bye," we said in union and made our way to the car.
I hopped into the car and closed the creaky door. When I was next to Alfred, a big smile snailed it's way on my face "Are you exited?" I asked, clapping my hands, barely supressing my excitement.

He turned on the car and took a strong right turn.
"Yeah I am. I've waited years to buy her a ring, so you better not tell Shelda. She doesn't know I'm buying her a ring, I told her we were running earands," he looked at me with his stern blue eyes.

"What, you think I am a blabbermouth? No, I am nearly as excited as you, brother," I spoke, "Do you know what kind of ring she wants?" I added.

He pondered, "A silver ring, I think. She prefers silver," he agreed with himself.

Looking out the window there was an open landscabe with thriving green bushes scattered around and train tracks that snaked acroos the open terrain, leading to Chysa. The land around here was rather dry, so we were met with a lot of humity, dust and dried grass.

The rest of the one hour drive, was filled with minor chatter and small laughs. Alfred was a quiet man, he always had been. It is my favourite trait of his, easy and calm energy surrounded him and those around him, creating immediate kinship.

Once I had bickered with Alfred all day, as I alledgially ruined his playdate with this girl he liked, by telling her Alfred loved her, and then followed them around all day.
When she went home, he turned his fury towards me and hit me right in my eye and left me crying there, as he stomped home with closed fists.
My eye was swollen for a week and he was guilt driven the whole time. That was the last and only time we ever fought. Today I know that he is a man with a hot temper, but softer than any bloomed flower.

The number of houses drastically increased as we neared Chysa. The outer part of the city was poor, which stood clear when you watched the unkept brick houses and people littering the streets in old clothes and busy workers littering the narrow streets. Nearing the center and richer part of the city, trees began to bloom and tall clean buildings stood proud, with butiques bustleing with nonchalant costumers.

I sat plastered to the window, my goggled eyes are going from one thing to another, a fountain, cars with colors of the rainbow and people slauntering on the streets with no more than four dogs.

How much had he saved up if he could affort buying a ring in this part of the city?

Alfred parked on sidewalk next to a shiny green car. We exited our plain grey car with old wooden planks.

I followed Alfred's lead and walked across the busy street. People walked in a long bow around us and only spared us one look of dispprovel before they fled.

Blush crept up my cheeks and Alfred straightend himself. Me and Alfred stuck out like a sore thumb and we both knew it. Suddenly I wished I had dressed myself more proper, but truth to be told, this was my most proper set of clothes.

We hurried into the jewelry shop, away from their prying eyes.

The floor was plain white that suited well with the rich dark counters, neatly packed with jewelry. The saleswoman didn't look up when we arrived and was on the telephone. Her hair was styled in a bob, which I heard was the newest fashion.

Following Alfred, he carefully sweept over every single piece of jewelry, before landing on a particular piece.

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