Remember: they're like nine in this setting so no romance.
Astrid was lucky enough to have her own little room in her house. She had her own bed and her own chest for clothes and toys in that little room. She loved it very much.
She woke up one morning to breakfast being made and she quickly got dressed.
It was Friday, which meant it was baking day. Astrid's favorite day. She got to help her mother bake things on Friday and sometimes Henry was allowed over to help (his mother didn't bake on Fridays).
"Good morning, bunny." Her father said cheerfully from the table. Apparently, she was as bouncy as a rabbit when she was little and the somewhat embarrassing nickname had stuck.
"Good morning," Astrid replied.
"Sit down, Astrid, breakfast is almost ready." her mother said, and Astrid sat down at the table.
Not long after, she had pancakes and sausage and syrup and she didn't say a single word after she thanked her mother. Children were to be seen and not heard at meals, she knew that.
After breakfast, Astrid's father headed into town to purchase something Astrid hadn't caught the name of. After helping wash the dishes, Astrid questioned if she might go and get Henry.
"I'm afraid not, Astrid. He's sick."
"He's always sick." Astrid reminded her mother. He hadn't been well the previous day, he'd been asleep when Astrid had come to ask if he could play, but he was usually better in a day.
"No, dear, this is different." her mother said gently, drying her hands on her apron. "He's very sick. He's come down with a fever, a right bad one at that. He needs to rest, my love."
"But he'll get better." Astrid said firmly. She knew what fevers could do. They could settle in someone's eyes and make them blind or do even worse damage. She was worried for her friend. He was already weak.
"We can pray that he will get better. I'm certain a few extra prayers would help. His parents are very upset over him."
Astrid nodded. She usually never knew what to pray for at night or at church. It was always something along the lines of "Thank you for todayand please help me be a good girl always. God bless Mama and Papa and Father Benjamin and Doctor Stevens and Henry's mama and papa and Henry and everyone else. Even all the bad people. Even Mama's mean cat. Amen." Now she really had something to ask for.
Astrid helped her mother in silence that morning. She didn't say a peep.
At lunch, when her father came home, he brought news of Henry.
"I saw his father in town and the boy's gotten worse. Only wakes up for a few minutes at a time, delirious, it seems. His mother makes him drink water when he's awake, but he doesn't seem to notice she's there."
"Poor dear," Astrid's mother commented sadly.
Astrid stared into her food sadly. She hardly ate. Her mother turned her outdoors for the afternoon and usually she'd run and get Henry, but that day she was all alone. Most of the children lived on the other side of town and most of them were older than her and wouldn't let her play with them anyway.
She made her way into the little clearing where she and Henry had seen the Indian children. They had gone back several times, but had never met the children again.
When Astrid got to the clearing, she found a small cluster of beads on a piece of cloth. Was this trade happening again? She walked around the clearing but saw no signs that anyone had been there recently.
She took the leather cord out of her pocket and untied the knot she put four of the eight beads on the cord and pocketed the other four. For Henry, when he got better. She made another flower chain and left it where she found the heads before going back home.
There wasn't much she could do without her best friend. Except for maybe make new ones.
Religion was rather important on the Frontier in some areas, so I chose to include that.
Poor Henry is sick and Astrid is sad and lonely. What will this cause? A friendship with those Indian children? We'll see.
Let me know what you thought about this one.
See you guys and gals next time!
~Pink