Chapter Two
Morning A Death
The next morning Nárie woke up early in hopes to rise before her mother, knowing that she would be in an extra frightful mood after the previous night. Glancing at her father's form still on her bed, she stood soundlessly. She had been forced to sleep on the floor in the corner of the room because there were no extra beds; they never had any guests. As she was about to open the door a booming voice stopped her,
"Where do you think you are going?" her mother hollered.
"Just out for a walk and some fresh air," Nárie lied, knowing that she could not fool her mother.
"You lie," the woman, said as she hobbled toward the door, "You still have shores to do today. Don't think that after last night I'm just going to let you waltz around her like it's a holiday."
"I never get a holiday break," Nárie whispered to herself.
"What was that?" her mother screamed, "I will have none of that. You should be in tears, morning his death," she cried as she motioned toward the still man, "I know you had something to do with his death."
"What?" Nárie cried, "But…how could I have…"
"Don't start with me," her mother cut in, "It had something to do with that tea you gave him. You knew it would kill him and you were happy to be rid of him."
"But I would never…" Nárie started.
"No more from you. Get to work. As soon as your chores are done you will be digging a grave to honor your father. After that you will prepare him for the burial. I expect him in his best clothes, and clean-shaven. There is more after that so you better hurry along." Bowing in bewilderment, Nárie hurried out of the house.
"I have to get out of here," she said desperately to herself, "But how?"
Through the day, Nárie worked hard to get her work done. First feeding the chickens and tending to the garden, next cleaning the cottage from top to bottom. Once the daily work was done, she found a small shovel and began with the digging. She started the hole at the side of the house, where her parents had buried their only child. Nárie could still remember the day when her mother had told her that she would have a baby sister. How her mother knew it was a girl was a mystery, but all the same. Knowing a baby sister would bring more work, Nárie had just nodded silently. But, when the say came for the arrival, a twisted form came instead. Indeed it was a girl, but her body was so disfigured, you could barely tell what it was, a stillborn. For weeks her mother had wept, never leaving the bed, forcing Nárie to burry the child herself.
As she was just finishing up, her mother stormed out of the house, "What do you think you are doing?" she demanded.
"I am digging the grave like you requested," Nárie responded hesitantly.
"Why are you doing it back here?" her mother asked again.
"I thought you would want to put him with…" Nárie began.
"Do you not wish to honor your father?" she cried, "Hiding him in back, like you're ashamed of him or something. He must be put in the front, where all can see."
"Why would you want all to see?"
"Do not question me!" the woman screamed, her face growing a deep red, her voice beginning to quiver with rage.
"There is no one to even see anything. We live so far from everything. No one comes to visit. I have never, in my entire twenty years here, seen even a bird fly over," Nárie defended, her temper about to snap.
But that was it for her mother. Reaching her hand out in a flash, she struck Nárie on the face. It was unexpected and Nárie was thrown to the ground. The freshly piled dirt covering her clothes as she landed with a soft thud. Staring in shock at her mother, her mouth dropped open. Standing quickly, she brushed herself off.
"You will cover this hole and dig a new one in the front," her mother said, starting to clam from her rage.
"NO," Nárie said sternly. The line had been crossed, "I will do no more." Without another word or even a glance at her home, she took off toward the great river.
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Well you're in luck, I am starting the third chapter right now. I didn't think I would finish this one that quickly, not that it is long. I just am really busy, I thought it would be at least a week. Oh well, at this rate, I might even have the next chapter up a little later tonight. Reviews are always encouraging, so would you please?