Chapter Four: Flowers
Howl and I sat in the flower filled meadow just outside of town. Howl had fallen asleep moments ago. The day after I heard the news that Howl will be leaving with his uncle, I had told Howl about it. He tried to convince his father not to let him go but that didn't work. His uncle will be arriving any day now to pick up Howl. We've been spending as much time as possible before his uncle came. I made a small bouquet of flowers while Howl slept. I soon sat next to him. He looks so peaceful when he is sleeping. I start smiling when I get an idea. I take one flower at a time from my bouquet and placed each flower in his hair (I got this idea from a picture I saw on Google Images) and around his face. When I placed the last flower next to his left ear, I looked at how funny Howl looked a burst out laughing. My laughing, however, ended up waking up Howl and making him sit up. He was surprised when flowers started falling in front of his face. This just made me laugh harder.
"If you keep this up, I might just have to get you your own flower shop," Howl joked. I laughed.
"I don't think I would be all that bad in it," Sophie played along.
"Then it is settled, I am getting you a flower shop when we get older." Thinking of the future made me think of Howl's uncle and how Howl will have to leave. Howl knew what I was thinking. "I promise that I will see you again Sophie. It will just be a while." We hugged again. When we pulled away, I saw Howl look behind me and tighten his grip around my shoulders a little bit more. I turned my head expecting to see Howl's uncle. Instead, I saw the two bullies. Howl was still watching the bullies come towards us as he spoke. "I know a little yard close to here. They have honey and chickens there. It is also pretty close to my house." I smiled, already knowing what his plan is. I nod and we both get up and start running in the opposite direction of the bullies. The bullies started running too. We ran until we got close to the fence. Howl ran ahead of me so he could lock his and give me a boost over the fence. He then climbed over it too. In the yard was a pond on honey, very odd I must say, and chickens roamed everywhere. Howl grabbed my hand and pulled me to the other side of the honey pond. We stood there and waited for the bullies come over the fence. They were very slow in doing so but they finally did. They apparently didn't take a look at their surroundings because when they finally saw us, they started running and fell right into the Honey pond. Howl and I ran over to the over side of the yard.
"Um, Howl?" I ask.
"What is it Sophie"
"Why did you chose this particular yard?"
"Because these chickens are crazy about honey." Suddenly there is screaming behind us. I turn around to find the two bullies being attacked by a flock of chickens. I start laughing until Howl grabbed my hand again and we started running to the fence. Howl helped me over again before he went over himself. We ran into one of the connected back alleys. A few minutes later, we made it to Howls house. He started running to his room and I followed. "Hi mom," Howl called as he ran passed his mom.
"Hi ma'am," I said while running passed her as well. We lean against the door and slide to the floor (I made a rhyme). We were silent for about two seconds before we both started laughing at the two bullies being attacked by, and later covered by their feathers, chickens.
"Sophie, would you like to stay for dinner?" Howl's mom asked.
"Yes please," I reply to the best of my ability. I think she already knew about the bullies chasing us at least once a week. She is a really nice lady. I looked over to Howl and noticed that the last flower I had put next to his ear was still there. I pulled the flower out of his hair. "Forget me not," I said.
"What?" Howl asked. I looked over to him.
"That is what kind of flower this is. It's called a 'Forget-Me-Not'," I explained to him. Howl got up and grabbed on of our favorite books 'Odd Warlock Out' (I literally just looked at my mom's book shelf and randomly picked a book. I couldn't decide which book to chose on my own book shelf) and opened it to the middle of the book. He grabbed the flower out of my hand and put it on the page in the book that was open. He then closed the book with the flower in it. I looked at him with confusion.
"This way," he says as he held the book up, "the flower will keep it's color and I'll be able to have it forever," Howl explained. I smiled at him.
"Dinner's ready!" Howl's mom called. Howl helped me up off the floor and we walked down to the dining room together.