I do not own Carnival.
Still love Ben tho.
Ben and Sofie
The Magic Valley
They make it clear out of the dust bowl.
All the way to Tennessee.
The first time it really hits him, Ben stops the truck with jerk that wakes Sofie up from her jostling lull.
"What, Ben? What is it?"
But he's gone, he's out of the truck.
Staring in awe.
Like he's looking at Heaven.
She comes to stand beside him, trying to see what's stopped him so.
His voice is a whisper, hoarse and dry from the road.
"Look at that, Sof. I ain't never seen so much green."
It is beautiful.
And green.
The locals call it "The Magic Valley". Even though these wonderstruck newcomers don't know it yet.
Rolling hills. Green fields.
Vast acres of strong, hardy, green-leaved trees.
Clean, sparkling streams.
"Let's go."
"Where are we going?"
"Down there."
"Okay."
The water is so cool and clear.
Refreshing and relaxing.
"Hey, look what I've got."
Anyone would have thought it was a bar of gold she'd snuck out of Lila's belongings.
And it was a bar.
Of sorts.
Ben looks at the sliver in her hand.
And grins in amusement.
"Really?"
She nods, pleased and vastly proud of herself.
"Yep."
He catches a whiff of it even through the smell of their body oder.
"What is that?"
She raises a mischievous eyebrow.
"Lavender, I think. Wanna try it?"
He shrugs.
"Sure. We can take turns."
And watches her secret smile.
"Actually, I was thinking together."
And he can feel his own smile and blush breaking out all over his face.
"Yeah. That'd be good too."
No cottonmouths in the rushes.
No leeches in the pond water.
"I brought fresh clothes. You don't mind taking a break from the overalls, do you?"
He shakes his head.
"Nope."
Fresh clothes are set carefully on the grass a ways up.
There's no one around for miles and miles, they think.
As they ease . . .
"Ooooh, it's cold."
"Yeah. Feels great."
. . . into the water.
They paddle around a while, usually grim Ben actually playfully retaliating a little to Sofie's mischievous splashing.
Dunk their heads, scrub out their hair.
Then Sofie retrieves the precious soap sliver.
"Hey. Come here."
For a few glorious moments, Ben considers them, Sofie rubs the weariness out of his shoulders, wafting lavender.
"That feels good, Sofie. Thank you."
"You're welcome, Ben."
Then it's her turn.
"Ooh, you're right that does feel good."
"You feel good."
He kisses her freckled shoulders . . .
"Mmm . . ."
. . . and other . . .
"Hey, come here."
"What?"
"Nothin' I just want to try somethin'."
"Oh."
. . . washed things.
"Ohhhh . . ."
They lay in the grass for a while.
Letting the summer sun dry their slightly cleaner bodies.
"Well, I guess we ought get goin'."
"Not so fast, sunbather."
"Oh."
And end up needing a wash all over again.
He stops the truck, engine idling.
Sunlight glinting off the dirty windshield.
And stares out the driver's window at the dirtpath curving away into the distance.
Sofie looks and sees nothing.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
Ben shakes his head, slow.
"Nothin'. I just got this feelin' we should go down this road."
She thinks.
"Is it bad? Is it a bad thing?"
He chews his lower lip.
"I'm not sure. But I feel like we should go."
He looks back at her and she nods.
"Okay. I'm with you."
He shoves the truck into gear.
And turns the wheel.
I lived here once. And it was really pretty just like this. :)