Chapter One: Getting to Know Me

Fresh air, smelling lightly of freshly-baked bread, wafted up, hitting my half-asleep self and caressing my face. My eyes blinked once, twice, and finally registered where I was. I was sitting at my desk, drawing a picture of a cat pawing the air. I picked up the worn pencil, and wondered where to resume the sketch. I stared for a few minutes, then turned and looked out the equally worn windowsill. A bird was chattering noisily on a large tree limb hanging close to the house. Its brilliant yellow feathers were fluffed up, and its bright orange claws gripped the wood. I walked over to my soft twin sized bed, and plopped down on the handmade pink coverlet.

"Hello, bird. Are you singing for a mate?" After all, spring was the season for love, or so they said. The bird flew away, probably frightened off by the small vase that was knocked off the sill by my energetic bounce. My mother was forever telling me to take my time, and to walk like a lady, but bouncing was too fun to give up, just for the sake of becoming an adult. Adulthood, I thought, was a very boring thing to aspire to become. It's not that I would have liked to stay a kid forever; it's just that kids get to run around, get dirty and laugh loudly. Secretly, deep down, I loved playing house.

"Popuri, come here, please!" My mom's voice reverberated up the stairs. Sighing, I flipped my light rose-colored hair off of my face, and made my way down the stairs. Lillia, my mother, was waiting for me. I looked a lot like her, inheriting her sweet cotton candy hair, and her bright red eyes. She looked very tired, which was my constant worry.

"Popuri, I sent Rick to the store, so I need you to take this basket of eggs to Manna. Will you do this for me, sweetie?"

"Yes, but don't expect me back too soon! Manna nearly talked me to death last time. She must practice talking so fast in the mirror." Mom smiled gently, and put the basket in my arms. The woven straw held a round cushion, and twelve perfectly white eggs, from our many chickens.

I started out the door, but stopped as it slammed, to appreciate the sun that was shining down on my face. Summer was not far away, but it did not make much difference to me. Every season blended together, sweet and sour, full of laughter, and, strangely, a sense of loss. What did everyone else have that I didn't? I puzzled over this as I slowly walked up the street. Claire, the new girl at the farm, was entering the blacksmith's, her long blonde hair swinging jovially.

Claire was a nice girl, but she kept mostly to herself, down on her farm. She rarely came to the Poultry Farm, except to buy the occasional animal medicine, or some feed. I couldn't imagine running a farm all by myself! I asked her once, if she was having fun, and she sort of laughed, tiredly. I continued up the road, swinging the basket slightly, and humming a cheerful, staccato tune. I came to the door of the Aja Winery, waved to Duke, and pushed it open.

Manna was inside, pacing the floor. She stopped when she saw me, and walked quickly over.

"Popuri, dear, how nice it is to see you! You're such a good girl, to bring me these eggs. How is your mother? Is she well? How is Rick? I saw him this morning, going to the Supermarket, with that Karen. He looks quite the man, doesn't he? Ahahaha, of course he does! These eggs look so delicious. I was actually thinking of making Duke some mushroom rice tonight, so I appreciate these greatly. Does your mother still make that delicious cheesecake? I have asked her so many times to give me that recipe but she still refuses! Oh, but that's Lillia for you! She's always been so proud of her cooking. Now, you run along, and tell her I said hi, okay? Bye now!"

I was thrust out the door as she finished this huge monologue. I was also perturbed at the fact that she said that I was a "good girl". Everyone in the whole town called me pet names, such as "child", "baby", "sweetheart", "girlie", or "Hon". The only person I liked to call me by a pet name was my big brother, Rick. He called me Poppy, and I didn't mind. Everybody else had better stick to Popuri.

I walked up the cobblestone road, skipping slightly. I heard voices, and ducked behind a bush, and then thought that this might be construed childish. The voices were moving closer, and it was too late to come out of hiding, so I stayed put. I recognized the voices, and instantly grew hot. It was none other than Rick and Karen. They just strolled past me, with their eyes fixed on each other, hands softly touching as they walked. I glared at them all the way down the road, until they turned the bend. You know, there is nothing more uncomfortable and irritating than seeing your best friend flirt with your brother. I take that back, there is something worse. It's seeing your brother actually enjoy it! It disgusted me, and I flounced out of my hiding place, and up the road, heading nowhere in particular.

I ended up at the Clinic. Elli was always nice to me, which I appreciated. I opened the door, and walked over to her desk.

"Hello, Elli." I grumped. She looked up and laughed, which irritated me further.

"Why, Popuri, what's the matter? You look like you could attack something."

"I'm not grouchy." I wouldn't have been surprised to see my nose grow, like Pinocchio's did, when he was telling a whopper of a lie.

"I can tell. If you want to talk, I'm here, but I need to study these forms that Tim gave me." There it went again, shoving me out. Just excusing me from the conversation, like putting the cat outside! I meandered on down the road further, and ended up running home, to snap a "shut up you!" at poor old Rick. He caught my arm as I was going inside.

"Hey, what did I do, Poppy?" I whirled around on my heels.

"Nothing is wrong! I'm perfectly and wonderfully happy, thank you, and the world would be grateful if you would stay out of my business once in a while! Gosh!" He just stood there, like a kicked puppy, until I stomped inside and slammed the door. Then Mom jumped in on the act.

"Popuri, please don't slam the door. Why are you scowling like that? Did something happen?" Geez, what did a woman have to do to get some peace around here? I replied with a breezy excuse about…allergies…or something to that effect. Fortunately for me, she swallowed it, or let it go. I swung up the stairs, flew into my room and shut the door behind me. Sitting down at my desk, I noticed my sketch that was still not finished. I seized the pencil and, in a swift motion, drew a tiny tongue sticking out at me.

Footsteps thumped up the stairs, and Rick knocked on my door. I opened it a crack and peeked out.

"Yes?" He looked questioningly at me.

"I just wanted to make sure that you were okay. It's not a boy, is it?" I snorted. Rick constantly questioned me about the various boys in town. I did not particularly care for any of them. I guess that I was just waiting for the right one. Rick gave me the eye, then gave me a hug, and retired to his room.

The sun was setting behind the old tree, and I watched it, until it was completely dark, and I went to bed.