Bonus Chapter: The Beach
~Some Weeks Later
It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon on a small beach just south of the port capital of Leiden. The beach was packed with families, as the last of the soldiers finally returned home from their stationed garrisons in occupied territory. The air was filled with joy as kites flew high, and the laughter of children playing in the sand, and the ocean echoed about.
As for C.H postal crew, Claudia was already in the water with Benedict, and Erica while Iris lounged under the sun. While Cattleya dug through her bag for a special purchase she made for Violet.
…
Violet fidgeted on the warm sand, shifting her weight from foot to foot. Standing there nervously in the onepiece that her adoptive parents got for her. Cattleya finally finding what she was looking for presented a package of waterproof covers for prosthetics which were ever so in demand after the war. "See Violet with these you can go swimming with us with no problems" Cattleya said with a smile, opening the package; stretching each cover over the girls prosthetic arms.
The young girls nervous expression however remained which worried the woman.
"Violet are you alright dear" Cattleya cooed while rubbing the girls back listening for a response.
…
"Um mommy I really dont wanna have to swimsopleasedon….. "
Violet mumbled as her voice trailed off.
…
"C'mon sweetie you're being silly it's just the ocean it's no big deal!" Cattleya said now applying the cold sunblock to Violets exposed neck and back. The girl winced slightly as the cold gel was spread evenly on her skin.
"All done"
Cattleya began gently pulling Violet towards the water, and the rest of the C.H postal family.
Going silent the young girl was lead to the water. Violet had a pained expression on her face as the soft crash of the waves hit her ankles.
…
"Violet whats wrong?" Cattleya asked as Violet was resisting being lead into the shallows.
"I cant…"the young girl said with a shaky voice. Her eyes looking at the ankle deep swell of salty blue water.
...
Coming to a strong realisation Cattleya smiled "Ohh no sweetie its ok… its ok, I never asked you if you could swim did I? Sorry i'll slow it down a bit but really you don't need to worry…. Papa, and I are here we will teach you."
…
However the girls head didn't rise, so Cattleya placed her hand softly on her golden lockes and crouched in the water so she could be eye level with the young girl. As she noticed further panic spread across her face.
"I c-cant" Violet repeated softly with horror spreading across her face. As her facial muscles tightened into a grimace.
…
Cattleya began to think to herself what terrible events made the young girl fear going into the ocean. Turning her head to see Claudia slowly wading his way to them from the deeper area.
"Hey what's wrong sweetie" Claudia said crouching next to Cattleya.
…
"I dont want to be a burden anymore, they've doon so much for me so I have to do this….."
Violet thought to herself, building up her courage, looking up at the adults as to signal she was ready to go a bit deeper in the water.
…
Standing on both sides of the girl she was slowly led until the flowing waves reached her stomach. Claudia, and Cattleyas worried conversation with each other didnt reach the young girl as she wanted to freeze up but was using all her willpower to stay calm.
…
"Hey Violet" Claudia said shaking the girls by her shoulders lightly to get her dazed attention. "The first thing we're gonna have to teach you is how to float properly." Cattleya took Violets hands into her own. "Alright sweetie take you legs off the ground and gently kick them. Violet yelped as her mom pulled her forward but she did as she was told and kicked her legs back and forth under the water. This along with the starting help of Claudia holding her mid section ,and Cattleya holding her front; kept the girl afloat.
…
With every passing second the young girl gained more confidence as a smile spread across her face. "Aww good job your doing so well!, move on a little bit" Claudia said smiling. Leading the girl away from Cattleya. "Ok now your just gonna do what you just did put now your gonna also use your arms" Violets new papa instructed. "I'll hold you to make sure you don't do under so just do your best to swim to mommy ok?" Violet nodded happily and began to sloppily swim and kick over to Cattleya with Claudia close to her side.
…
"Yess Violet your doing great" Cattleya hoised Violet up after the young girl reached her. "I made it over, I did it mommy!" the girl said happily. "Hehe yes you did" Claudia congratulated her.
…
The day progressed onward, and after eating lunch they wanted to have Violet go underwater. But after hearing their suggestion the girl refused. Freezing up again the girl shook her head "no-no-no I dont wanna!" Violet tried backing up but ended up walking into Cattleya who embraced her. "Violet hunny its alright we know you scared but please trust us, please put these on" Cattleya revealed a pair of goggles. "Ill go down with you Violet" Claudia said putting on his own. "Ill be right there so you dont need to worry." The young girl nodded her head slightly and put on the goggles, shooting the woman a nervous glance. "You'll be already sweetie, are you ready? Just take a deep breath and hold papa's hands."
…
Violet took a breath, and went underwater. She became paralized with fear unable to open her eyes. Then a playful poke pressed against her cheek. Opening her eyes slightly she saw her papa there smiling and pointing to a colorful school of small bright blue fish that were swimming close by. In wonder the girl looked all around her, she looked down at the sand seeing shells, and small critters wandering about. And then to the distance where she saw the beginnings of green seaweed and the various schools of larger fish. But soon running out of breath she returned to the surface.
...Re-emerging with a deep breath "Euwah" Violet had a big smile on her face excitingly explaining everything she saw to Cattleya. "I-saw I-saw a big group of these blue fish and all the big mama, and papa ones swam on the edges and the little babies were are huddled…. And then there was these-" As Violet continued to quickly rambled on walking with her parents through the water back to the sandy shore. Drowsiness began to overtake the young girl, noticing this Cattleya had Violet take a seat on a towel in the shade next to a sleeping Iris. "Here Violet drink this and rest for a little while ok?" Cattleya said handing Violet water.
"Hmm wonder where Erica, and Benedict are Claudia said to himself. While ruffling through a bag to get a towel.
…
Violet couldn't help but feel drowsy, and she could barely keep her eyes open laying there. At some point she must have fallen asleep as the next thing she knew she was being gently shaken awake by Cattleya who was holding something in her hand.
…
It took a moment for the girl to escape the drowsiness. And take in what the woman was saying. "Here Violet have some ice cream, one of the vendors at the boardwalk had a cart set up." Looking puzzled staring at the cold treat now in her hands, "whats ice cream?" Cattleya giggled "you eat it silly, go on try yours." Violet used the spoon given to her and cautiously tried a bite, trying to keep the cold away from her teeth and instead let it rest on her tongue. The sweet vanilla flavor took over her taste buds. After the first bite Violet was addicted quickly eating the rest of the delicious treat. "Hey Violet hmp- " Claudia laughed "you might want to slow down or you'll get a brain freeze." As if on cue the young girl grimaced holding the back of her head. She began exhaling hot air rapidly to try and counter this freezing feeling before now more cautiously enjoying her treat taking time in between bites to say thank you.
…
With the rest of the day in a haze of falling in and out of sleep. With Iris waking up, Erica, and Benedict returning the group began to back up their belongings. With a groggy, and tired albeit happy Violet, being almost carried home by her parents. On the ride back Violet nuzzled between her parents seemed to be at bliss.
End of Bonus Chapter