Against the Stars

Chapter 5

It was a few days before Ginny got the chance to see Ben again. Her family was still adjusting to the new life, and adjusting took times. Finally, Mother gave Ginny a break. “Go see a friend. I know you haven’t seen any since the Everharts left.” Ginny was going to visit a friend, but not the one Mother thought she would.

Once she was outside it was all Ginny could do not to run. Over the last three months she had forgotten what it was like to have a friend.

Ginny managed to walk at a reasonable pace though. Her fake smile turned into a real one when she approached the general store.

She pushed opened the door, and sighed at the amount of people in the store. She wished that sometimes there would only be a handful of people, making it easier to find Ben. Scanning the store, she saw he was nowhere to be found. Sighing, she approached the counter.

A boy of probably seventeen was standing at the counter, whistling as he wiped it down. He was an older version of Ben, with blue eyes and blonde hair. Ginny knocked on the counter, getting the boy’s attention.

“Good day miss, what can I do to help you?” The boy asked.

“Do you know where I can find Ben Eby? He told me to meet him here.”

“Ah, my brother’s up to something? I’m Nicholas, Ben’s older brother by the way. If you wait right here I’ll go and fetch him.”

“Thank you sir,” Ginny replied.

“Ah, just call me Nicholas,” he said leaving.

Well Nicholas went to find Ben, Ginny roamed the store. She found everything a person could ever want. Spices, cloth, fruits, everything. Everything but tea.

Ginny found that odd, but keep her pondering to herself. She continued roaming the store, until Nicholas brought Ben out, dragging him by his ear.

“See I told you, someone wanted to see you,” Nicholas said.

“All right, I believe you now! Please let go of my ear Nick!” Ben cried, as Nicholas walked away laughing.

“Hey Ginny, sorry about that.”

“Oh its quite all right Ben, I don’t mind waiting,” Ginny said, running her hand over some cloth.

“Hey Ginny, would you like to see something amazing?” Ben asked, his face lighting up with a smile. Ginny could tell from that smile he had something planned. She wanted to learn what that was.

“Why not?”

“Father! I’m going out with Ginny!” Ben called, towards the back of the store.

“All right, be back before dark!” Robert Eby called from the store room.

“Come on Ginny,” Ben said motioning for her to follow him outside.

Ginny followed Ben, wondering what he could have planned. Once they were outside, Ben quicken his pace. Soon he was in a full out run. Ginny gathered her petticoats in her hand and tried  her best to keep up. She swore Ben did this on purpose.

Ben dashed off the street and towards a wide field. Ginny tried to follow, but it had rained the night before, and she slipped in the mud.

Ben turned back and ran to help Ginny, laughing hysterically. He grabbed Ginny’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “Oh my mother is going to kill me,” Ginny muttered.

“No she won’t. just tell her a rude American boy knocked you over.”

“But that would be a lie, and I can’t tell a lie to save my life.”