Since my last chapter was so short I thought I would write this one. I
hadn't planned on it, and I hope the spelling and such are not too
atrocious. Who is the girl? I am not sure yet, she has a first name and a
potential last name, I have some ideas. do you?
This chapter was an attempt at comic relief. Hope someone laughs.
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No one would ever have noticed them against the white of the snow, bundled up in their white jackets, scarves, and hats. That was the way they wanted it. It was the way it had to be, for now at least. But though they could not be recognized they could be seen, it was so cold, that their every breathe was visible like steam in the ice cold air.
Shirley muttered under his breathe, "the poor blighter," not exactly sure in particular who exactly he was referring too. But his exclamation was sufficiently loud enough to startle the blonde girl leaning against him, sketching. "Oh, Shirley, did you have to move? You nearly beheaded the swan I was drawing." Shirley smirked at the girl, "Swan. The pond is nearly frozen over. You can't be talking about that poor brown duck swimming around in circles trying to stay warm." The girl moved to hit him, but was caught in the embrace of his arms.
"I just received a letter from Walter. It appears that he has finally decided to enlist, although I think he has yet to tell my parents. It will be hard for mum to bear it. She always did dote on Walter. But the strangest thing about it all, is that he seems to have decided to enlist after receiving a letter from Una of all people." Shirley again muttered something unintelligable. The girl next to him sighed loudly, bringing his attention back to her, with a look of contrition in his eyes. "I would have sworn that if he did decide to fight it would be to win over Faith - not Una."
"And now he says," he paused unsure of why he felt such rage against his own brother, "he says he has 'finally seen Una'. Her letter 'lit up her soul like a star does a wintry night'. But the end," he turns to look at his companion, "the end is the best part. He says he really believes, I, Una and I 'would be swell together'."
"Swell? I did not realize that was a word approved by Keating or Wordsworth or Burns or, well any poet for that matter!" the girl's laughter ringing out into the otherwise silent air. "I know! Who would have believed big brother Walter even knew of the existence of such a singularly un-poetic word," Shirley joked.
"But it does rhyme with dwell, and don't poets write of lands where faeries dwell?" Not to be outdone, Shirley began, "And it rhymes with smell, like the smell of your hair is sweet as May's first flowers." They looked at each other and began laughing. But the blonde girl could not help herself from asking, "Why is it that he seems to think there is something between you and Una?"
"Una and I are chums. We understand each other. It is strange to think that we are unrelated and yet so very similar. And Walter and I, we are so very different."
"Oh, I don't know that it is so very strange," she taunted him, "after all you both do have a way with words." Shirley smiled and pulled her closer to him. As he did, she felt her heart skip a beat. He really was very handsome. He did not have Walter's movie star good looks or Jem's collegiate appeal. But he was hers with his warm chocolate brown eyes and a smile meant for her alone. A smile, that if were used more often, she was sure would entrance over half her female class. She could feel his lips move against her hair, as he spoke more seriously, "She is like a sister to me. And it is that fool brother of mine that she is in love with. Except he is too blind to notice anyone or anything, always making eyes at Faith, all the while knowing she is Jem's girl." Shirley paused after his uncharacteristically long statement.
"You really do love her, don't you?" she whispered. "Yes, and I know you will too. If only there were a way to introduce you."
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No one would ever have noticed them against the white of the snow, bundled up in their white jackets, scarves, and hats. That was the way they wanted it. It was the way it had to be, for now at least. But though they could not be recognized they could be seen, it was so cold, that their every breathe was visible like steam in the ice cold air.
Shirley muttered under his breathe, "the poor blighter," not exactly sure in particular who exactly he was referring too. But his exclamation was sufficiently loud enough to startle the blonde girl leaning against him, sketching. "Oh, Shirley, did you have to move? You nearly beheaded the swan I was drawing." Shirley smirked at the girl, "Swan. The pond is nearly frozen over. You can't be talking about that poor brown duck swimming around in circles trying to stay warm." The girl moved to hit him, but was caught in the embrace of his arms.
"I just received a letter from Walter. It appears that he has finally decided to enlist, although I think he has yet to tell my parents. It will be hard for mum to bear it. She always did dote on Walter. But the strangest thing about it all, is that he seems to have decided to enlist after receiving a letter from Una of all people." Shirley again muttered something unintelligable. The girl next to him sighed loudly, bringing his attention back to her, with a look of contrition in his eyes. "I would have sworn that if he did decide to fight it would be to win over Faith - not Una."
"And now he says," he paused unsure of why he felt such rage against his own brother, "he says he has 'finally seen Una'. Her letter 'lit up her soul like a star does a wintry night'. But the end," he turns to look at his companion, "the end is the best part. He says he really believes, I, Una and I 'would be swell together'."
"Swell? I did not realize that was a word approved by Keating or Wordsworth or Burns or, well any poet for that matter!" the girl's laughter ringing out into the otherwise silent air. "I know! Who would have believed big brother Walter even knew of the existence of such a singularly un-poetic word," Shirley joked.
"But it does rhyme with dwell, and don't poets write of lands where faeries dwell?" Not to be outdone, Shirley began, "And it rhymes with smell, like the smell of your hair is sweet as May's first flowers." They looked at each other and began laughing. But the blonde girl could not help herself from asking, "Why is it that he seems to think there is something between you and Una?"
"Una and I are chums. We understand each other. It is strange to think that we are unrelated and yet so very similar. And Walter and I, we are so very different."
"Oh, I don't know that it is so very strange," she taunted him, "after all you both do have a way with words." Shirley smiled and pulled her closer to him. As he did, she felt her heart skip a beat. He really was very handsome. He did not have Walter's movie star good looks or Jem's collegiate appeal. But he was hers with his warm chocolate brown eyes and a smile meant for her alone. A smile, that if were used more often, she was sure would entrance over half her female class. She could feel his lips move against her hair, as he spoke more seriously, "She is like a sister to me. And it is that fool brother of mine that she is in love with. Except he is too blind to notice anyone or anything, always making eyes at Faith, all the while knowing she is Jem's girl." Shirley paused after his uncharacteristically long statement.
"You really do love her, don't you?" she whispered. "Yes, and I know you will too. If only there were a way to introduce you."