Lunch was nothing exciting, fruit from the supermarket in town and Deer meat. It was nice but typical. Maybe I should go hunting for some different game, that's my job now I suppose, bring back the bacon. Literal bacon. I guess I could be worse off, I at least enjoy hunting, and when Meredith is a little older, I will be able to teach her like dad did with me. I'll spend some nice time with her. It will be fun.
"Alright, Val." My dad started. It was business time. "I already have a job, which I am currently only working half time on, so, what I what to happen is for you to start hunting and camping out in the woods for food, and I will begin working full time. That way we can have money and food flowing in." I nodded. Sounds like a reasonable plan. He has a pretty good job, and job hunting for me out here won't be easy. "Things are looking up."
"Yea, they are." and I meant it. A steady flow of cash, will be a great help here. Over the years, we will have more and more cash, we won't be struggling. I won't let that happen. I won't let Meredith bear this weight.
We ate in silence for a while. Enjoying our lunch and filling our bellies. When we had finished, I gathered up the plates to wash.
"No, no, darling. Let ya mother and sister do that. I want to train you up a little before I let you be on your way." I shrugged and neatly piled the plates by the sink and followed my dad out the door.
Outside, dad picked up the two sticks lying on the ground which Meredith and I would use as pretend swords when playing pirates. "This here, is a rifle, right?"
"Right."
"Now what can you do with this rifle?"
Where was he going with this..."Shot...game."
"Correct. But what other uses are there?"
I had a hunch where he might be going with this, but I thought to play dumb just to see if I'm right.
Shrugging, he answered his question. "Blocks. Protect yourself. Use it as a shield if you like." I knew it. "Now, I hope you would never need these skills, but you most likely will, so, I have have duty to prepare you." He proudly stood, leaning on the stick, or rifle, for a moment before swinging it up into his other hand. "For a melee attack, you must stand strong and square. Now, the animal, possibly wolf, or bear so on, will be stronger, faster and bigger than you. Running is no good. Not when they are there and charging at you. What you need to do is stand strong, hold your ground. Now when the animal is coming at you, it will be most likely coming at you with its jaws. With your rifle here, or a long knife, or strong stick, whatever is in your hands, your want to hold in front of you like this."
I followed his position, standing wide and square. Grasping the stick at either ends out in front of me. He went on explaining further of how to hold my ground. The predator would be using its weight against me, and me, being on the smaller scale, couldn't win that way. Dad taught me how to dodge and turn, sneak my way out of the predators weight from crashing me. Instead of charging and tearing at the enemy, my strength was to jump and duck, and even though a wolf would be quick on its feet, I still had a chance if I stuck to weaving past its jumping attacks.
"That's my girl!" Dad and I were now at the stage of wrestling and tackling each other down. It was exhausting, but I won't stop trying yet. In real life, I don't think you could ask your predator for a two minute break so you could rest up for more fighting.
"Now, I think," dad heaved in heavy breaths as he talked, "I may need to sit down."
I laughed. "Old man, the predator ain't going to let you do that."
"Well, I won't be the one with them." Of course, it's all on me. "I'll be at work. You will be the one watching your back!" I rolled my eyes. "But with all seriousness. This is important, and I really hope you don't need any of this, but I want you to have the best fighting chance for if you do." I understood. "But, if you are careful, and remember everything I have taught you about knowing if you're being tracked or how not to be tracked, then you will have a much better chance and hopefully won't need any of this training."
I hoped so too. To be attacked and potentially killed was not on my to-dos list.
"Now, I want you to start doing more exercise. You're not strong enough. I'm an old man and you can hardly take me down."
"Ha. Ha. I took you down about three times. I don't think thats a 'hardly take down.' But yes, I know I won't be strong enough to take down a wolf or bear at any rate."
"Good. So, I want you to start chopping and sawing wood for the winter wood stock. Not only will you get stronger, but once winter settles in strong, we will be eating through them in a blink of an eye."
So it was settled. I would hunt and gather wood.
Tomorrow was a school day for me, so my job was to fill out a leaving application. As much as I didn't want to, it had to be done. I went to bed earlier than usual that night, but sleep wasn't easy to come by.
The night was restless. A full moon was up tonight and poured into my room. I would never close the curtains so the moon could wash over me. It was comforting, and it felt like there was at least one person out there, looking out for me. Though that thought normally made me feel guilty. Nobody was there. I didn't need anybody. I am the one looking out for others. My mum, and even dad. And especially Meredith. She was just so precious. I loved her with all of my heart. If anything was to happen to her, I would do anything to protect her. I was prepared to do anything.
()()()()()()()()()()()
Morning was chilly as usual. But I was used to it. It was refreshing and calming. The sun had not rose yet and the moon had not sunk yet. Looking at my alarm clock, it read 0436. It is set for five, but lately I have been beating the time.
Stretching out my limbs, I heaved to an upright position and rotated my neck. The pleasurable popping in my bones allowed movement in my neck. Getting up and trudging towards the bathroom, I washed my face, clearing away the remaining grogginess and waking me up more. I heard rustling in the kitchen. Probably dad. He gets up early as well, so he can take me to school. There were no buses out here, and it would take maybe two-three hours to trudge all the way into town. I couldn't drive myself because we only have a shabby ute, and dad needs it for work. There was no point in getting another. It was very expensive to run, let only keep. There is petrol, and tires, which cost about 300 each, and the warranty which is to be renewed every year. We don't really need another anyway. The only other place we really go in into the forest, and no way you could take a car in without crashing it.
Feeling lighter and brighter now, I strode into the kitchen, and of course, there is dad with toast on a plate beside him and his rifle in front of him in pieces. He, as usual was polishing it. He takes pride in a clean shinny gun.
"Morning." I mumbled as a tiptoed past to the counter to prepare my own toast.
"Morning, Valley." It was his morning thing to call me by my first name. Valley. Everyone just calls me Val. Some people find my name odd, but calling me, Val, could pass for a more 'normal' name like Valentine or Valerie. But what is 'normal.'? If you say a name over and over, it doesn't sound right. So what is the definition or 'normal'. It's just a name anyhow.
After a quiet breakfast, I dressed into my nicer clothes for school, just because my hunting clothes were apparently inappropriate, and hoped into the ute for the trip to school.
()()()()()()()()()()()
Stepping through the school doors, I was greeted back a wave of warmth. Nice loving warmth, yet it felt odd. Being outside and living in a cold house has felt right and normal. This warmth was fairly overpowering, but still nice in some sense.
The school day was brief. It was odd. Nothing happened. Nobody had exciting news to share, no surprise tests. Honestly, having a bit of the surprise or dread makes the day interesting, but nothing.
The final bell went and I made my way to the office.
Walking over to the office slowly, I put a fake smile on my face and asked innocently. "Good morning Mrs Patterson. I was wondering if you have a copy of the student leaving application?" I didn't want her to worry about me leaving and gossip about it. But it was going to happen anyway. I just hope I can leave before it gets bad.
"Why Ms Hunter!" Yes my last name is Hunter. Ironic, I know. "What's the matter, are you planning on dropping out, but you're such a good student. It would be such a shame to see you leave. No! Wait, don't tell me. You're moving! That's it. You wouldn't drop out, what was I thinking. Where are you moving to?"
"Well, actually, I'm not moving. I am dropping out. Now please, Mrs Patterson. The application." I was surprisingly finding this harder than I thought. I didn't love it here. But nor did I hate it. I guess I just don't like the idea of the high school drop out reputation.
"Well! This is such a pity seeing you leave. Is something happening at home?"
There is two things about Mrs Patterson. She loves gossiping and clawing into people for information, yet she does actually have general concern for people. The two traits together don't go well at all. Soon she will have the entire staff worrying about one tiny thing she discovered. But I supposed this isn't just a tiny thing.
"Oh, no. Nothing is happening. Everything is perfectly fine." I tried to look as reassuring as possible, smiling kindly.
"Well, are you sure, because if there is something wrong, you can always come to me." Yea, sure I can Mrs Blabber Mouth.
"I know I can. Thank you." Yet again I smile, trying to get her to drop it.
"Well..." She looked skeptical, but fished out the application from a large binder, spilling out with an over flowing amount of papers. "Here you go. But you need to think seriously about what you are doing. Your future is at stake. The principal will want to see you also."
"Understood. Thank you." And with that I left her and stepped out the door and walked home.
The journey was very long. I would sometimes walk home. It takes a long time, but at this time of day, I can also hitchhike, which I frequently did. I know about stranger danger, but nobody here really does that kind of thing. Not that I heard of anyway.
It started snowing lightly, the wind picked up a little. The gravel was being powered with while fluff. It was pretty. The scenery around me looked almost like it would in a movie. I haven't seen many movies, but when it snowed in movies it always looked so magical. The snowflakes were large and fluffy, and when they landed, it create a soft, thin blanket. Winter is here.
It seems as if there is maybe three to four months where it is not winter. But that's alright. I like the winter. It feels magical.
()()()()()()()()()()()
By the time I got home, it was dinner time. After dinner I filled in the application. My parents signed it. But there was a line I left blank.
When I was leaving.
I would like to stay till christmas, and that was the plan, but I think this family needs me now, and the longer I'm at school, the less I am available and the harder things become.
"Mum?"
"Yes, Darling." Mum replied from the sink, washing the pots and pans.
"Can I-can I leave school now?"
Mum stopped what she was doing. I knew she would hate the idea. But they need me now. There was no point in staying at school.
"I know what you are thinking mum. But, there is no point, winter is coming fast and the I longer I am stuck at school, the less I can hunt and help round. By the time christmas holidays come, it will be too hard to catch up on all the work. Things could get bad."
"This isn't how a normal child should grow up. You shouldn't be leaving school in the first place. I am so sorry things are this way, but it's your last few months being normal. Being young."
"I know, I know. But, staying at school isn't going to do anyone any favors. I may not be able to stay at school, but I promise you this. I will do everything in my power to allow Meredith to grow up well, with school, with no worries about food or money. I will make sure Meredith gets the childhood I couldn't get."
"I know you will. I believe you. But think about yourself for a change. Don't you want to be carefree for a little longer?"
"I can't. That simply won't happen. Things are the way they are. Nothing can be changed about the past, but the future, we can change that."
Mum carries on with the dishes. I know she wants different for me, but it is what it is.
"Then you better get ready for your hunting trips." Harsh, but it was her allowing me to leave school.
Again it was a restless night, but I felt good about leaving school. Things will change for the better.