A Talk At Home
I checked after I posted the last chapter. I still don't own Charlotte's Web.
Fern raced all the way home without stopping. Once there, she yanked open the door and ran into the house, completely out of breath. Once she caught her breath, she called "Mom? Dad?" "In here." Mr. and Mrs. Arable called at the same time, Mrs. Arable in the kitchen preparing supper and Mr. Arable in the living room reading the newspaper. "I need to talk to you both." Fern said, walking into the living room and sat beside her father. Mrs. Arable came out from the kitchen. Noticing the upset expression on her daughter's face, as well as the red, puffy eyes and tearstains, she sat down, wrapped her arms around her daughter and asked, "Darling, what's wrong?"
"I heard Wilbur was going to be killed this Christmas." Fern blurted out then began to cry again. "Please tell me this isn't true." Mr. and Mrs. Arable exchanged shocked looks. "Fern…" Mr. Arable said, a guilty expression on his face. The look in his eyes was answer enough for Fern, who buried her face in her arms and sobbed. "We didn't want you to know this soon, sweetheart." Mr. Arable continued. "I know you're hurting, but this is the way things work on a farm." "But I love Wilbur!" Fern cried. "Please, please don't do this!" "Fern, honey, sometimes this is the way things have to be. It's the circle of life. These pigs are for food. You just have to learn to live with it. Someday, you'll understand." "I don't think I ever will." Fern sobbed, running upstairs to her bedroom.
Mr. and Mrs. Arable looked at each other with sad expressions. "I feel so bad." Mr. Arable confessed. "I know, honey." Mrs. Arable replied. "I don't like seeing Fern upset any more than you do, but she needs to understand that that's just the way things work on a farm."
Fern came down at suppertime, pale, with her eyes swollen from so much crying. She ate all of her vegetables and potatoes but didn't touch any of her meat. She spoke only when spoken to and didn't meet anyone's eyes. Mr. and Mrs. Arable exchanged worried looks, but did not press her. She left immediately after and went up to her room.
She was still quiet at breakfast the next morning, and avoided the bacon and sausage, eating her eggs and toast. She gave her parents a hug, but left the house without saying anything. Even Avery seemed a little worried by her behavior.
When Fern reached the barn, Charlotte was awake, but Wilbur was still asleep. "Did it.." Charlotte asked, then stopped, knowing the answer. "No." Fern cried. Charlotte lowered herself to Fern's level. "Don't cry and don't worry." she said soothingly. "I'll come up with something. I promise."
Hope you guys like this chapter. I promise I am not bashing Fern's parents. I am just showing that they have two separate points of view and are of course not as attached to Willbur as Fern is. I am also not trying to push vegetarianism on anyone as I am not a vegetarian myself. I am going to have Fern be one however due to her experiences.