Misty dips her rag into the bucket of warm, sudsy water a few times before wringing it out and beginning to scrub the porch of the Plantation House. She got in trouble by the Mistress when she had arrived that morning, for not showing up the previous day. All Misty could say was that she had a delay, and couldn't even get the watering done. Mistress showed great displeasure, but gave Misty a break. She was almost done with the front half, but still had the back and side to do. Mama was back in the kitchen that morning. Misty couldn't help but worry about her. She felt so responsible for everything. Dipping her rag in the water once more, someone comes out the door only a few feet behind her. It was Master Ash. He smiles when he sees Misty kneeling on the wooden floor, looking back at him. He starts to walk towards her and Misty holds her hand up in protest but it was already too late. Ash had slipped on the wet floor and crashed on his bottom, sliding a little bit. Misty covers her mouth with a hand as she sees Mistress exit the house as well. She notices her son on the floor and her chin drops.
"How ridiculous!" She yells. "I would never have…Ah! You could have at least warned my boy, Misty, I'm very surprised at you."
"Mother, it's alright." Ash stands up slowly, rubbing his side. "I didn't know that the floor was slippery."
"You would have if she had told you!"
"I didn't ask, Mother, and it happened all to quickly. She tried to warn me, but I didn't listen." Ash replies. Misty was so confused! Even Ash said that he would be treating her like shit in front of his parents. Yet, here he was, telling his mother that it was all his fault.
Mistress's face gets pulled up with the little fury she could muster. Being such a kind woman, it must have been hard to get that mad. "Alright. I'll let it go. But just this once, Ash. I don't understand what has gotten into you this morning."
"I'm just fine."
"Good." Mistress sighs and walks back into the house, mumbling to herself about something to do with new soap.
Misty quietly goes back to her cleaning, doing it slightly faster then usual. She tries her hardest not to notice Ash as he bends down to her level, trying to get her attention. He takes a handkerchief out of his pocket and dips it in the bucket of water and starts to scrub the floor himself.
"What do you think you are doing?!" Misty asked in surprise.
Ash laughs a little. "I knew that would get your attention."
"Please, I don't want any trouble." Misty says.
"You think I'm trouble?" Ash cocks his head.
"For all it's worth, you may end up being a nuisance to me someday if this keeps up." Misty says, avoiding his eyes. "I don't want any trouble."
"So, I'm bugging you." Ash leans back on his heals and tucks the wet hanky back into his back pocket. "Well, Misty…what I said last night…"
"Shh." Misty hushes, her eyes getting watery again. "I don't want --."
"I meant it."
Misty throws her rag down on the floor as hard as she could and covers her face with her wet hands. "Those are the words I didn't want to hear!"
Misty parts her fingers and sees Ash's face in front of hers again. "Why?"
"Because…it was all too good to be true." Misty sniffs. "When I was little, all the neighbor kids said I was so gullible. Too gullible at that. I'd believe anything they told me, most anything."
"And you don't believe me?" Ash asks. "Misty, you are not gullible. You are the exact opposite. You like getting the information before taking the test. You measure before you dive. It's a very good quality."
"But—."
"If you were gullible, you'd believe all the shit I said about your Lord. You'd be going around telling your Mama to go the hell, or something like that. No offense meant by saying that." Ash quickly adds at the end. "I mean, you're a damn genius!"
Misty finds herself laughing. "Thank you , Ash."
"Now, do you still want to go with me?" Ash asks.
"I'm worried." Misty replies.
"Don't be." Ash assures. "And I'll find a way for your Mama to get out as well. It's a promise, Misty." Ash takes Misty's face and turns it towards him. "Look at me. It's a promise. Now, promise you'll trust me. That's all I need from you at this point."
Misty smiles. "I trust you, Master."
Ash puts his hand to his ear. "What was that?"
"I trust you, Master Ash." Misty corrects.
Ash smiles and laughs, patting Misty on the shoulder. "That's my girl. Now, meet me behind the house at lunch time. I'll give you some food for your Mama and yourself, as well as the plans."
"Okay," Misty agrees.
"See you then, Misty." Ash said and walks off towards the fields.
Misty continues to clean the floor, smiling and humming to herself. "It's a promise." She says softly.