Okay, so I am back again with another story. I'm trying something completely new here, both story wise and in writing technique, so tell me if it's shit.
The thing here is that we're going back in time. Like far back in time. Before electricity, before cars, before school for everybody… Yeah, you get the memo, it's nearly a couple hundred years, without me saying exact when. That's not important anyway.
The other thing is that I'm going to put a lot of quotes and dribbles I've collected from authors or things I've seen on tumblr to wove into what I'm writing. So basically, I don't own the characters nor a lot of what I'm writing, but what I do own, is the way I've put it together though, so that's something...
I know a lot of you want a sequel to Straight forward, and we're lost at sea, and I'm thinking about it. That's all I can say :)
The authors I've taken some of the words from in this chapter is Charles Bukowski and e e cummings. Cudos if you spot it. It's not literally quoted, nor will the following be, but I need to manipulate it to fit. Hope you like this.
Chapter 1: The map that leads to you
Two figures in worn out shoes moved along the highway. The dust from their footsteps swiveled in the air in their wake. With first eye glance you would think it was two boys walking alongside each other, chatting, laughing and playfully bumping into each other. The slighter smaller one had short, rich hair, while the one who looked a bit butchier had shorter sandy hair and a wild laughter that one probably could hear for miles. He was wearing a stylish hat on top of it, and had dressed his somewhat dirty white shirt with a brown vest over his broad shoulders. The smaller hadn't dressed up with such, but had a half-decent jacket over a cleaner shirt, a bit too big. And they were both wearing brown trousers, a bit too high around the ankles.
If you gave them a second look though, you would see that the smaller one had more feminine traits about her, than masculine. It was actually a boy and a girl, walking the deserted road, taking corners around groups of trees as they went on. But those who knew them, would never look twice at their similar manners, despite they being of different genders.
"So what do you think Cook, gonna be as eventful as last year?" the girl peered over to the boy, noticed the glint in his eye at the question.
"Heck yes, I hope so Blondie! New faces has to mean farce." the boy chuckled, took off his hat and ruffled his scruffy hair, before placing the piece of felt back on top of it.
"You're probably right. You looking forward to going back up?" she asked. She already kind of knew the answer, but was curious about if the inn had grown so much on him that maybe he would rather spend the summer there with the rentals.
The boy picked a straw from the edge of the road, placed it in his mouth and peered at the sun. "Yeah, I kind of miss the pasture when it's been so long. Miss the stillness and the independency."
"As much stillness it can be with so many people cramped in a small cabin." the girl huffed, kicked a bit of gravel.
"Aah, don't pout of the coziness in the hut." the boy slung an arm around the girl's shoulders, "I feel good about this summer, this day. Yes, it's pregnant." The girl couldn't help to laugh at this. "And don't try to tell me that you don't miss your quiet afternoons under that tree of yours?"
The boy was right, she did actually miss those couple of hours under that tree each day. It wasn't such an hardship as she would have it be.
"I sure do, Cook."
Soon, they arrived at their goal, greeted by a slim brunette sitting on the fence of one of the entrances to the farm. She had long, curly hair, and it had been that way for as long as the girl could remember, along with her knowing smirk. She was, as always, dressed in a fine fitting dress.
It was a prosperous family owning the farm, the Stonems. They had a great deal of animals, and such numbers needed occasionally the extra hand with the work. Some of their horses were currently walking in the enclosed area behind the shape on the fence.
"Hi Eff. The others here yet?" the girl asked Elizabeth.
"Yeah, they're at the back. Just arrived." Elizabeth smirked, skipping the greetings as usual.
"So how are they like?" James plunged straight in, leaned over the fence to see if he could catch a glimpse of them.
"There's one boy and two girls. Sisters." She answered him, but kept her eyes on the girl as she did. "So we're going to be in the profits this year, Naomi."
Naomi shrugged at the comment. "It's not like girls are any worse at the work than the boys."
"Too true, Blondie, but you're only saying that cause you're halfway man anyway." James laughed, having turned around on the fence to face her.
"Hey!" Naomi yelled, offended. "Take that back, you big pig." she shot back, joyfully. James only grinned. It was what they did, really. Insulted each other. But it wasn't unheard of, as they were basically brother and sister after all these years.
"Kids." Elizabeth said calmingly after Naomi had swatted James over the head.
"Alright alright." James surrendered. "Eff, is the wagon ready to go? Did you get all the stuff Gina sent over yesterday?"
"Yes, it's all packed and ready." Elizabeth reassured. Naomi felt her shoulders loosen up a bit at that. The only tension left was meeting these new people that would accommodate them for the next months.
"So who are those kids anyway? Someone we know?" James inquired. The town they lived on the outskirts of wasn't too big for it to be unlikely.
"Some rich mans children from the upper class in town."
"What? Why are they here then? Don't they use their summer vacation on playing clarinet or traveling Europe?" Naomi said sullenly. It was no secret that she was opposed to what the wealthier part of the population could manage with a little extra money here and there.
"Don't know." Elizabeth shrugged.
"This is going to be interesting." James said as he started swaggering towards the main houses on the farm, the two girls close behind. And that statement, that was the truth.
It was necessary to lead the Stonems' livestock up on the mountain every summer so they could eat protein rich grass. But since that's what they were, sheep and goats, they still needed care and protection. So each year a group of young adults saw them up the mountain and stayed for the summer, since the Stonems' had other matters to attend down on the farm. That's why always one of their kids accompanied the others, and with Anthony having moved to another part of the country, it was Elizabeth who handled it now.
The boy and two girls ambled around the corner of the main house, and saw the newcomers standing with the wagon they were bringing along for the ride up. Anthea called the lot over, for proper greetings.
"Here are the experienced kids that will lead you up the mountain and show you how to do things up there. This is my daughter, Elizabeth, and these are her friends Naomi Campbell and James Cook." Anthea introduced.
"Just call me Cook." James said.
Naomi glanced over the three other kids. They were all dressed in clean clothes, not exactly fitted for the task at hand.
"And this is Jonah Jeremiah Jones and the twins, Katherine and Emily Fitch."
"JJ for short is okay." Jonah said quickly, scratching his curls.
Naomi's sight shifted to the twin, obviously Katherine, and saw her confident stance, the straightness of her back and figured she was not one of those you should be doing any funny business with. Her eyes raked quickly over her face, her deep eyes and her long dark hair which was tied up. Sizing her up. Katherine Fitch seemed like one fearless woman.
And then Naomi looked towards the twin that was standing slightly behind her sister, Emily. And as soon as their eyes met, Naomi's breath hitched, of unknown reasons. Emily quickly averted her gaze to her feet, looking unsure and like she didn't own half the boldness Katherine obviously sported. Naomi slowly dragged her eyes over her posture, noticed that she was skinnier and more fragile looking than the twin, and greatly noticeably so. Her dress was nice, though. Brownish with patches of white, and it didn't cover her long, smooth neck. Her brown hair was also tied up, but there was a sad pout to her mouth. That slight frown made Naomi ache on the inside. Suddenly Emily's warm, brown eyes shifted back to Naomi, holding her gaze. It was intense, coming from such a small girl, and it told another tale completely than the rest of her body did. Her eyes were big and attentive, perfect to drink in everything around her. Naomi realized that she looked like a girl, but soon came to find that she likely were a flame. A flame so bright she'd burn your eyes if you looked too long. Naomi looked the other way.
Naomi looked to James instead, noticed that he didn't look too impressed with their company for the summer. Wondered if that was because they looked like wimps, all three. Couldn't ask while everyone was listening.
After the pleasantries, they made the wagon ready, saddled two donkeys that was going to drag it, and secured the load in the back of it. It was mostly food and the belongings of the youngsters.
Effy was to ride the wagon, steer it up the mountain road behind all the animals. James was walking in the front, and they brought two dogs with them to keep the animals on the right track. Naomi and Jonah carried some of the stuff that wasn't room for in the wagon, and the twins had just the task of getting themselves to the goal. Their garbs weren't made for the walking but it would have to work.
As James had signaled for them to move, and had got the whole of the herd in motion, Elizabeth started the donkeys for the wagon to go, and the rest of them idly followed, waving goodbye to Jim and Anthea who stood with the back gate to the mountains, seeing them off.
They moved through a region of forest first, a clear path between the trees have been made from the years of animals drifting through here. Katherine had managed to talk herself into sitting next to Elizabeth on the wagon, which was a great relief for Naomi, so she didn't have to listen to her complaints. Emily and Jonah had been walking next to each other for the most part of the trip, Naomi walking a bit further back, not keen on forcing a conversation with them. But when Jonah moved to walk beside the wagon and started asking Elizabeth about what seemed like details of what was in store, Naomi saw her opening and purposefully fell in stride with the smaller twin.
She hadn't exactly heard her voice before, just small murmuring when she talked to Jonah, indicating that her voice was low.
"So, are you looking forward to a summer up on the mountain?" Naomi asked kindly. Emily's eyes met hers again, and that burning sensation returned, along with another sensation.
"Sure." Emily shrugged, looking at Naomi for a few more seconds before settling them back on the slope she was walking on.
And despite the noncommittal answer, Naomi recognized the second sensation. It was one she'd had before, a long time ago, when she met James. It was a click. A click that signalized that this person would come to be important for you, in one way or another. It was that undeniable, special feeling you got when you were in their presence. Emily Fitch would be more to Naomi than just another worker alongside her up on the mountain, because there had been a click. And maybe because she had never seen such eyes like those belonging to her. They were remarkable. The voice of them deeper than all roses.
And this had Naomi tongue tied for the rest of the long trip, the knowledge that Emily meant more to her than she should.
By the evening and after the last sunbeams had travelled over the hills, they reached the small cabin situated in a high, wide valley. The livestock were finally free to roam the fields outside and rest after their travel. Everybody worked together to get all the cargo into the house before the night. The cellar was filled up with food, mostly grains, and their belongings was taken into the living room. Elizabeth took control of placing everybody in rooms, stating that she and the twins would be sharing one, and Naomi with the boys in another room. Each room had one double and one big single bed, and since Naomi and James were basically siblings, it wasn't a problem for them to share. Jonah looked a bit apprehensive of the arrangements, but stayed silent about the issue. Elizabeth sent Katherine to get wooden logs so they could fire up the stove, warm some water to make tea. The rest of the lot tidied up the cabin that had been vacated since last summer, and arranged their sleeping situations.
Finally they settle down in the living room, huddled around the small table there where they had lighted an oil lamp. James did, as always, take the silence as a challenge and started asking questions and talking about the fields around the cabin where the livestock would graze. Jonah was especially interested, and it came to the point that James found an old map, settling it over the kitchen table and the two boys stood hooded over it for a long time. Katherine and Elizabeth also seemed to get along, talking about each others outfits and hair and girly stuff. Naomi was actually a bit surprised that Katherine seemed to bring out an actual interest from the brunette, even though the twin did most of the talking.
And whilst all this happened, the flies walked up and down the windows and Naomi and Emily drank their tea and pretended to not look at each other.