Chapter 2
A Day For Estella
Estella bounced out of her bed as she knew today was going to be a special day, her birthday!
She quickly rushed to her dressing table and pulled off her nightshirt and tossed it to the floor. Grabbing her everyday dress, she rushed to put it on. Struggling with the buttons and the tie, she managed to fasten the dress. She found her crisp white apron and began to pull her arms through the shoulder straps and reached behind her to tie it. Opening her door, she headed to the kitchen where she knew her mother would already be up making the morning breakfast.
Rosamunda greeted her daughter with a hug and a delightful "Good morning!"
"But it's just not a good morning, Mama! It's my birthday! You haven't forgotten have you?" said Estella with a bit of a pout.
Rosamunda giggled at seeing her daughter's slight disappointment. "Now how could a mother ever forget her child's birthday! Come, see! I have your birthday cake all ready and waiting for you!"
Estella's eyes widened at seeing her wonderful birthday cake sitting on the countertop. It was a small round white-foam frosted cake with tiny strawberries circling around the edge of the cake.
Estella touched her small little finger to the sticky frosting and brought it to her lips. The sweet texture of the cake made her lick her lips and smiled up at her mother. "Yum, that tastes just wonderful! I can not wait to eat my birthday cake!"
Rosamunda giggled again and looked a bit stern at her daughter. "You'll have to wait until this afternoon when your party will begin. I've invited a few young lasses from Hobbiton all about your age to attend your party. It'll be a small little party, but a party none the less!"
Estella jumped up and down with excitement. "Oh, Mama! Thankee! It sounds so wonderful!" Estella returned to her cake and imagined how much fun she was going to have on this day.
Rosamunda returned to her cook stove and flipped the sausages as they sizzled and hissed in the pan. "It'll be wonderful, if you keep your little fingers off the cake!"
Estella giggled at her mother, as she knew better not to touch it.
Fredegar sat next to his sister and watched her from the side of his eyes. He smiled seeing how happy his little sister was. Her eyes sparkled and danced with anticipation for the party to begin.
~*~
Odovacar Bolger, Estella's father, set the tables outside on their front lawn just under the shade tree. The early afternoon was becoming very hot and humid and looked to be another unbearable day. While, Rosamunda hung painted paper lanterns from the tree. She placed little gift bags that she made for each girl and put her best homemade candy in each bag. The cake sat in the middle of the table.
Estella came out from the front door and twirled around in excitement. She felt so grown up in the fine soft texture and laces of her party dress. Fredegar greeted her with a warm hug. "You look so beautiful, Estella!"
Estella smiled sweetly up at her brother and hugged him again. "Today is going to be such a fine day!"
Odovacar looked up at the clear blue sky and only notice one little white fluffy cloud over head. "My joints has been a aching and I'm betting it will rain sometime today, but seeing only one little cloud I would hardly believe it would rain!"
Estella and Fredegar looked up into to sky and knew they needed the rain, but just like every other day, it was surely to be another very hot day.
Mothers and daughters began to arrive and Rosemunda greeted them when she opened the gate to their front-yard. Odovacar set out the last of the chairs in the house so the ladies would have a comfortable place to sit.
Rosamunda welcomed her sister-in-law with a hug. Hilbella Took was married her dear brother Ferdinand. She brought their younger daughter, Bella who had just turned four years old to the party. She also had a son who was closer to Estella's age and Fredibrand came reluctantly to her party.
Angelica Proudfoots was her best friend even though she was a few years old than herself. Angelica was a wonderful friend and such a kind and gentle soul.
There were other girls from families of the Chub-Baggins and the Goodbody sisters.
The young girls raced over to Estella to give her their warm birthday wishes.
By the time Rosamunda brought the sweet meats and seasoned fried tatters for their guests to eat, Rosamunda noticed that the cake was beginning to melt. The strawberry began to slowly drip down the side of the cake. The heat became too uncomfortable for the guests as the women folk took out their fans and began to wave them in front of themselves. Trickles of sweat began to fall from each brow and their appetites were lost in the heat.
Even Estella began to pull at her pretty dress that grew uncomfortable. She wished she had worn her summer dress instead. She could feel the sweat slowly dripping down her back. The conversation turned dull and the weather was the top of their conversation.
The girls opened their bags after they had a few bites of their party luncheon. However, when they reached into their bag, the candy was melted and stuck against the delicate paper bags that Rosamunda had made for her daughter's party.
Rosamunda gazed at her daughter with sad eyes seeing how the heat of the day had caused her party to be ruined. She silently cursed the weather.
Fredibrand saw how miserable everyone was and he remembered his invitation to go swimming. "The pond by Bywater is only a few miles from here, It'd be much cooler if'n we packed everything and headed over there!" Everyone looked with anticipation at their host.
Rosamunda eyes shifted towards her daughter and saw her excitement in her face. "That sounds like a wonderful idea. We could make it a birthday picnic!" Estella jumped for joy and ran into the house to change her clothes to her summer dress. Everyone was excited except Fredegar. His eyes shifted from side to side and worried how he was going to get out of going to the pond.
Odovacar went indoors and gathered a stack of picnic blankets, while his wife packed up the sweet meats and season tatters so they could snack on them once everyone was cooled enough. She asked her husband to get a keg of ale from the cellar so everyone could have something cool to drink. She packed some small tea bags to make the children some chilled tea.
Once the basket was packed Odovacar loaded them into his flatbed cart and hitched his pony to it. The guests all climbed up into the cart and sat down looking so forward to spending the hot afternoon swimming and soaking their feet in the cool water. Estella noticed that her brother had not come out of his bedroom, so she ran back in to get him.
"Freddy!" called Estella. "The cart is ready, you must hurry!"
Fredegar looked down at the floor and shuffled his feet trying to think what he was going to tell his sister. "I'm not going, Estella. I just would not feel comfortable."
Estella's face fell to sadness feeling so badly. "Please Freddy! It would not even feel like my birthday if you were not there sharing my special day."
Fredegar looked that the disappointment in her face, and he changed his mind. For her, he would risk anything to make her happy. "Okay, Estella! I'll go!"
Fredegar walked his little sister to the cart and sat next to her as their father snapped the reins to head the pony to the pond.
~*~
The pond area was packed full of hobbits from Hobbiton and Bagshot Row. Blankets after blankets lined the grassy area by the pond and there was picnic basket on each blanket.
The younger hobbits sat in the cool water next to the shoreline while the tweens were out further in the waist high water. They all laughed as they ran around the pond, splashing each other. They could hear the girls squealing and giggling, as the boys would splash at them.
The Older hobbits sat on the dock area and dangled their feet in the water. The ladies had their skirts wrapped up around their knees, sitting together gossiping with each other.
Odovacar commented when he pulled his pony to a stop. "Looks like everyone had the same idea we have."
Fredibrand helped the girls down from the cart while Fredegar grabbed the baskets and followed his mother so she could pick out a spot for them to have their picnic.
Estella grabbed Angelica's hand and giggled walking shyly to the pond. They stuck their toes into the water and felt it coolness. The Chubb-Baggins girls squealed when they ran into the water and jumped down to soak themselves all at once. They splashed Estella and Angelica to get them wet so they would join them.
Fredegar was relieved to see Samwise Gamgee sitting at the end of the dock with his father, the Gaffer. He decided to join him. When he greeted Sam, it was not long until Frodo, Merry and his cousin Pippin swam over to join them.
"Come on in, Sam and Freddy!" shouted Frodo with excitement. The water is only waist high!"
Both Sam and Fredegar shook their head at the same time. "I'd sooner face wolves or snakes than getting my trousers soaking wet. If you understand me, Mr. Frodo, begging your pardon and all," said Sam.
Fredegar nodded in agreement with Sam. The Gaffer took his pipe from his mouth and looked towards Frodo. "It be queer and all for folk soaking themselves and acting like fish."
Frodo laughed openly at the Gaffer and his opinions he had on everything. "You're right, Gaffer. However, the sun being as hot as it is, being a fish is to my liking!"
Fredegar relaxed and felt comfortable sitting with the Gaffer and Sam.
Lotho, hearing this, called out from behind Frodo. "Never mind those two, Frodo! They're just scared ninny-hammers of the water!"
Sam snarled at Lotho and commented back to him. "I'll be telling you, Lotho. You come out of that water and I'll be showing you whose a scared ninny-hammer or not!"
Lotho cringed knowing that Sam could easily back up what he was saying as he had felt Sam's knuckle sandwich a time or two. He backed away and swam back to his friend Ted Sandyman.
Fredegar admired Sam and thought the world of him. He knew he was safe being with him. He continued to watch his sister laughing and playing in the water with her friends. He was so happy for her.
When everyone had enough swimming and felt cool enough they headed back to the blanket to dry off in the heat of the late afternoon. Fredegar invited the Gaffer and Sam to eat with his family. He also waved for Frodo, Merry and Pippin to join them.
Rosamunda was thankful she over packed her basket as she had plenty to share with everyone. She accepted many complements of her fine cooking and smiled seeing everyone enjoying themselves. She knew Estella was having the time of her life at her party.
When the meal ended, Rosamunda took out her present and handed it to her daughter. She had it wrapping in soft tissue paper and tied her prettiest ribbon around it. She giggled seeing how excited her daughter was as she unwrapped it. Seeing the doll that she had admire for months, she squealed with delight and hugged the small doll in her arms. The other girls all asked to hold it and Estella passed it around to her friends.
Fredegar pulled the small tissue wrapped gift from his vest pocket and handed it to his sister. He smiled as he watched her carefully open his gift. When Estella pulled the bracelet with the four-leaf clover from the tissue she ran to her brother and hugged him. "Oh, Freddy! I've never had such a fine gift! Our four-leaf clover! It's beautiful and now we'll have it forever!"
Estella almost cried as Fredegar placed it on her small wrist and clasped it closed. She turned it over and stared at the four-leaf clover. "Thank you, Freddy! Every time I look at this clover, I'll always remember the day we found this and remember just how much I love you!"
Fredegar smiled seeing her admire his gift. "You're welcome, Estella! Happy Birthday! I love you too!"
All the hobbits joined in to cheer Estella's birthday.
A shade began to appear overhead and the hobbits looked up towards the sky. One single fluffy cloud hung in the sky and seemed to grow bigger. It was the most beautiful cloud. There was nothing like it that they had ever seen. It seemed to explode in size as it grew bigger and thicker before their eyes.
Everyone commented on the wondrous colors of deep reds, bright sunshiny yellows and soft velvet gray or silver. There were 'oohs' and 'ahs' as if they were watching skyrockets going off from Gandalf's firework that he would bring with him when he would visit.
Soon the cloud seemed as tall as a floating mountain of splendid colors over their heads. Rosamunda stood up, as she wanted to get a better look of it. She walked backward staring up in the sky so amazed at what she saw.
Suddenly, she tripped over a rock buried in the ground. Rosamunda screamed out in pain as she fell upon her ankle.
Odovacar ran to his wife's side and held her. She cried and sobbed while he held her. "I think I broken my ankle!"
Odovacar kissed his wife's brow to comfort her. "Don't worry my dear, I'll get you to the healer to tend you poor ankle! Fredegar! Come here and help me!"
Fredegar and Sam with his father's help lifted his mother into the cart.
Odovacar called over his shoulder to his son. "Fredegar, take your little sister home, we'll be there as soon as the healer has bandaged your mother's foot!"
Fredegar took Estella's hand and waved to the hobbits their good-byes. Estella held on to her doll and cuddled it next to her as she walked beside her brother. "This has been the best birthday that I have ever had!"
She turned the bracelet over and looked at the shiny four-leaf clover. "I just love my new bracelet, Freddy! I have an idea, why don't we go to the clover patch and see if we can find another one!"
Fredegar chuckled at his sister, but since it was still early enough he did not think nothing wrong with it. He knew their house would be so hot just to sit and wait. "That would be great and besides, I'd love to watch the beautiful cloud some more!" said Fredegar.
They sat on the small patch of clover and stared up at the cloud. They noticed it had lost it beautiful color and became blacken gray. Thunder cracked in the thickness of the cloud that now covered the entire sky. It became suddenly cool as the wind began to pick up rapidly. Sprinkles began to fall and they shouted with delight. "It's finally raining! Yay!" They danced in the coolness of the late afternoon. The wind blew their hair about them and became damped with the raindrops.
Fredegar looked at the cloud again and it seemed to hang low in the sky that looked like huge biscuits. The wind seemed to swirl in a circle motion and they could feel the wind sucking them upward.
Fredegar had never seem such a sight and he became fearful. His eyes widened in fear and grabbed his little sister's arm firmly. Dragging her against the wind that was all about them, he forced her to climb the low hanging tree.
"Hold on tightly!" He shouted against the roar of the wind that was pulling at them. Even the tree seemed to bend toward the low swirling cloud over their heads.
Estella began to cry from fear when she felt her legs being pulled upwards into the swirling cloud. Fredegar wanted to get a better hold on his sister and tried to get around her. He took one step on the branch that was next to her and he felt it break under his weight. He lost his grip in the high wind and felt himself falling downward. He hit the ground hard and rolled down the small hill and into a gully.
Fredegar heard his sister's screaming and looked up as he lay on his back. He saw his sister's legs being sucked into the swirling cloud as if she was floating in the air. The branch broke off from the tree that she had a hold of and within a second she was gone inside the cloud.
Fredegar screamed in horror and disbelief as the low swirling cloud suddenly pulled upward into the sky and whisked away to the north by the force of the strong wind.
Suddenly it was calm and the wind had stopped.
Fredegar stood in shock as he stared blankly into the sky.
A Day For Estella
Estella bounced out of her bed as she knew today was going to be a special day, her birthday!
She quickly rushed to her dressing table and pulled off her nightshirt and tossed it to the floor. Grabbing her everyday dress, she rushed to put it on. Struggling with the buttons and the tie, she managed to fasten the dress. She found her crisp white apron and began to pull her arms through the shoulder straps and reached behind her to tie it. Opening her door, she headed to the kitchen where she knew her mother would already be up making the morning breakfast.
Rosamunda greeted her daughter with a hug and a delightful "Good morning!"
"But it's just not a good morning, Mama! It's my birthday! You haven't forgotten have you?" said Estella with a bit of a pout.
Rosamunda giggled at seeing her daughter's slight disappointment. "Now how could a mother ever forget her child's birthday! Come, see! I have your birthday cake all ready and waiting for you!"
Estella's eyes widened at seeing her wonderful birthday cake sitting on the countertop. It was a small round white-foam frosted cake with tiny strawberries circling around the edge of the cake.
Estella touched her small little finger to the sticky frosting and brought it to her lips. The sweet texture of the cake made her lick her lips and smiled up at her mother. "Yum, that tastes just wonderful! I can not wait to eat my birthday cake!"
Rosamunda giggled again and looked a bit stern at her daughter. "You'll have to wait until this afternoon when your party will begin. I've invited a few young lasses from Hobbiton all about your age to attend your party. It'll be a small little party, but a party none the less!"
Estella jumped up and down with excitement. "Oh, Mama! Thankee! It sounds so wonderful!" Estella returned to her cake and imagined how much fun she was going to have on this day.
Rosamunda returned to her cook stove and flipped the sausages as they sizzled and hissed in the pan. "It'll be wonderful, if you keep your little fingers off the cake!"
Estella giggled at her mother, as she knew better not to touch it.
Fredegar sat next to his sister and watched her from the side of his eyes. He smiled seeing how happy his little sister was. Her eyes sparkled and danced with anticipation for the party to begin.
~*~
Odovacar Bolger, Estella's father, set the tables outside on their front lawn just under the shade tree. The early afternoon was becoming very hot and humid and looked to be another unbearable day. While, Rosamunda hung painted paper lanterns from the tree. She placed little gift bags that she made for each girl and put her best homemade candy in each bag. The cake sat in the middle of the table.
Estella came out from the front door and twirled around in excitement. She felt so grown up in the fine soft texture and laces of her party dress. Fredegar greeted her with a warm hug. "You look so beautiful, Estella!"
Estella smiled sweetly up at her brother and hugged him again. "Today is going to be such a fine day!"
Odovacar looked up at the clear blue sky and only notice one little white fluffy cloud over head. "My joints has been a aching and I'm betting it will rain sometime today, but seeing only one little cloud I would hardly believe it would rain!"
Estella and Fredegar looked up into to sky and knew they needed the rain, but just like every other day, it was surely to be another very hot day.
Mothers and daughters began to arrive and Rosemunda greeted them when she opened the gate to their front-yard. Odovacar set out the last of the chairs in the house so the ladies would have a comfortable place to sit.
Rosamunda welcomed her sister-in-law with a hug. Hilbella Took was married her dear brother Ferdinand. She brought their younger daughter, Bella who had just turned four years old to the party. She also had a son who was closer to Estella's age and Fredibrand came reluctantly to her party.
Angelica Proudfoots was her best friend even though she was a few years old than herself. Angelica was a wonderful friend and such a kind and gentle soul.
There were other girls from families of the Chub-Baggins and the Goodbody sisters.
The young girls raced over to Estella to give her their warm birthday wishes.
By the time Rosamunda brought the sweet meats and seasoned fried tatters for their guests to eat, Rosamunda noticed that the cake was beginning to melt. The strawberry began to slowly drip down the side of the cake. The heat became too uncomfortable for the guests as the women folk took out their fans and began to wave them in front of themselves. Trickles of sweat began to fall from each brow and their appetites were lost in the heat.
Even Estella began to pull at her pretty dress that grew uncomfortable. She wished she had worn her summer dress instead. She could feel the sweat slowly dripping down her back. The conversation turned dull and the weather was the top of their conversation.
The girls opened their bags after they had a few bites of their party luncheon. However, when they reached into their bag, the candy was melted and stuck against the delicate paper bags that Rosamunda had made for her daughter's party.
Rosamunda gazed at her daughter with sad eyes seeing how the heat of the day had caused her party to be ruined. She silently cursed the weather.
Fredibrand saw how miserable everyone was and he remembered his invitation to go swimming. "The pond by Bywater is only a few miles from here, It'd be much cooler if'n we packed everything and headed over there!" Everyone looked with anticipation at their host.
Rosamunda eyes shifted towards her daughter and saw her excitement in her face. "That sounds like a wonderful idea. We could make it a birthday picnic!" Estella jumped for joy and ran into the house to change her clothes to her summer dress. Everyone was excited except Fredegar. His eyes shifted from side to side and worried how he was going to get out of going to the pond.
Odovacar went indoors and gathered a stack of picnic blankets, while his wife packed up the sweet meats and season tatters so they could snack on them once everyone was cooled enough. She asked her husband to get a keg of ale from the cellar so everyone could have something cool to drink. She packed some small tea bags to make the children some chilled tea.
Once the basket was packed Odovacar loaded them into his flatbed cart and hitched his pony to it. The guests all climbed up into the cart and sat down looking so forward to spending the hot afternoon swimming and soaking their feet in the cool water. Estella noticed that her brother had not come out of his bedroom, so she ran back in to get him.
"Freddy!" called Estella. "The cart is ready, you must hurry!"
Fredegar looked down at the floor and shuffled his feet trying to think what he was going to tell his sister. "I'm not going, Estella. I just would not feel comfortable."
Estella's face fell to sadness feeling so badly. "Please Freddy! It would not even feel like my birthday if you were not there sharing my special day."
Fredegar looked that the disappointment in her face, and he changed his mind. For her, he would risk anything to make her happy. "Okay, Estella! I'll go!"
Fredegar walked his little sister to the cart and sat next to her as their father snapped the reins to head the pony to the pond.
~*~
The pond area was packed full of hobbits from Hobbiton and Bagshot Row. Blankets after blankets lined the grassy area by the pond and there was picnic basket on each blanket.
The younger hobbits sat in the cool water next to the shoreline while the tweens were out further in the waist high water. They all laughed as they ran around the pond, splashing each other. They could hear the girls squealing and giggling, as the boys would splash at them.
The Older hobbits sat on the dock area and dangled their feet in the water. The ladies had their skirts wrapped up around their knees, sitting together gossiping with each other.
Odovacar commented when he pulled his pony to a stop. "Looks like everyone had the same idea we have."
Fredibrand helped the girls down from the cart while Fredegar grabbed the baskets and followed his mother so she could pick out a spot for them to have their picnic.
Estella grabbed Angelica's hand and giggled walking shyly to the pond. They stuck their toes into the water and felt it coolness. The Chubb-Baggins girls squealed when they ran into the water and jumped down to soak themselves all at once. They splashed Estella and Angelica to get them wet so they would join them.
Fredegar was relieved to see Samwise Gamgee sitting at the end of the dock with his father, the Gaffer. He decided to join him. When he greeted Sam, it was not long until Frodo, Merry and his cousin Pippin swam over to join them.
"Come on in, Sam and Freddy!" shouted Frodo with excitement. The water is only waist high!"
Both Sam and Fredegar shook their head at the same time. "I'd sooner face wolves or snakes than getting my trousers soaking wet. If you understand me, Mr. Frodo, begging your pardon and all," said Sam.
Fredegar nodded in agreement with Sam. The Gaffer took his pipe from his mouth and looked towards Frodo. "It be queer and all for folk soaking themselves and acting like fish."
Frodo laughed openly at the Gaffer and his opinions he had on everything. "You're right, Gaffer. However, the sun being as hot as it is, being a fish is to my liking!"
Fredegar relaxed and felt comfortable sitting with the Gaffer and Sam.
Lotho, hearing this, called out from behind Frodo. "Never mind those two, Frodo! They're just scared ninny-hammers of the water!"
Sam snarled at Lotho and commented back to him. "I'll be telling you, Lotho. You come out of that water and I'll be showing you whose a scared ninny-hammer or not!"
Lotho cringed knowing that Sam could easily back up what he was saying as he had felt Sam's knuckle sandwich a time or two. He backed away and swam back to his friend Ted Sandyman.
Fredegar admired Sam and thought the world of him. He knew he was safe being with him. He continued to watch his sister laughing and playing in the water with her friends. He was so happy for her.
When everyone had enough swimming and felt cool enough they headed back to the blanket to dry off in the heat of the late afternoon. Fredegar invited the Gaffer and Sam to eat with his family. He also waved for Frodo, Merry and Pippin to join them.
Rosamunda was thankful she over packed her basket as she had plenty to share with everyone. She accepted many complements of her fine cooking and smiled seeing everyone enjoying themselves. She knew Estella was having the time of her life at her party.
When the meal ended, Rosamunda took out her present and handed it to her daughter. She had it wrapping in soft tissue paper and tied her prettiest ribbon around it. She giggled seeing how excited her daughter was as she unwrapped it. Seeing the doll that she had admire for months, she squealed with delight and hugged the small doll in her arms. The other girls all asked to hold it and Estella passed it around to her friends.
Fredegar pulled the small tissue wrapped gift from his vest pocket and handed it to his sister. He smiled as he watched her carefully open his gift. When Estella pulled the bracelet with the four-leaf clover from the tissue she ran to her brother and hugged him. "Oh, Freddy! I've never had such a fine gift! Our four-leaf clover! It's beautiful and now we'll have it forever!"
Estella almost cried as Fredegar placed it on her small wrist and clasped it closed. She turned it over and stared at the four-leaf clover. "Thank you, Freddy! Every time I look at this clover, I'll always remember the day we found this and remember just how much I love you!"
Fredegar smiled seeing her admire his gift. "You're welcome, Estella! Happy Birthday! I love you too!"
All the hobbits joined in to cheer Estella's birthday.
A shade began to appear overhead and the hobbits looked up towards the sky. One single fluffy cloud hung in the sky and seemed to grow bigger. It was the most beautiful cloud. There was nothing like it that they had ever seen. It seemed to explode in size as it grew bigger and thicker before their eyes.
Everyone commented on the wondrous colors of deep reds, bright sunshiny yellows and soft velvet gray or silver. There were 'oohs' and 'ahs' as if they were watching skyrockets going off from Gandalf's firework that he would bring with him when he would visit.
Soon the cloud seemed as tall as a floating mountain of splendid colors over their heads. Rosamunda stood up, as she wanted to get a better look of it. She walked backward staring up in the sky so amazed at what she saw.
Suddenly, she tripped over a rock buried in the ground. Rosamunda screamed out in pain as she fell upon her ankle.
Odovacar ran to his wife's side and held her. She cried and sobbed while he held her. "I think I broken my ankle!"
Odovacar kissed his wife's brow to comfort her. "Don't worry my dear, I'll get you to the healer to tend you poor ankle! Fredegar! Come here and help me!"
Fredegar and Sam with his father's help lifted his mother into the cart.
Odovacar called over his shoulder to his son. "Fredegar, take your little sister home, we'll be there as soon as the healer has bandaged your mother's foot!"
Fredegar took Estella's hand and waved to the hobbits their good-byes. Estella held on to her doll and cuddled it next to her as she walked beside her brother. "This has been the best birthday that I have ever had!"
She turned the bracelet over and looked at the shiny four-leaf clover. "I just love my new bracelet, Freddy! I have an idea, why don't we go to the clover patch and see if we can find another one!"
Fredegar chuckled at his sister, but since it was still early enough he did not think nothing wrong with it. He knew their house would be so hot just to sit and wait. "That would be great and besides, I'd love to watch the beautiful cloud some more!" said Fredegar.
They sat on the small patch of clover and stared up at the cloud. They noticed it had lost it beautiful color and became blacken gray. Thunder cracked in the thickness of the cloud that now covered the entire sky. It became suddenly cool as the wind began to pick up rapidly. Sprinkles began to fall and they shouted with delight. "It's finally raining! Yay!" They danced in the coolness of the late afternoon. The wind blew their hair about them and became damped with the raindrops.
Fredegar looked at the cloud again and it seemed to hang low in the sky that looked like huge biscuits. The wind seemed to swirl in a circle motion and they could feel the wind sucking them upward.
Fredegar had never seem such a sight and he became fearful. His eyes widened in fear and grabbed his little sister's arm firmly. Dragging her against the wind that was all about them, he forced her to climb the low hanging tree.
"Hold on tightly!" He shouted against the roar of the wind that was pulling at them. Even the tree seemed to bend toward the low swirling cloud over their heads.
Estella began to cry from fear when she felt her legs being pulled upwards into the swirling cloud. Fredegar wanted to get a better hold on his sister and tried to get around her. He took one step on the branch that was next to her and he felt it break under his weight. He lost his grip in the high wind and felt himself falling downward. He hit the ground hard and rolled down the small hill and into a gully.
Fredegar heard his sister's screaming and looked up as he lay on his back. He saw his sister's legs being sucked into the swirling cloud as if she was floating in the air. The branch broke off from the tree that she had a hold of and within a second she was gone inside the cloud.
Fredegar screamed in horror and disbelief as the low swirling cloud suddenly pulled upward into the sky and whisked away to the north by the force of the strong wind.
Suddenly it was calm and the wind had stopped.
Fredegar stood in shock as he stared blankly into the sky.