Chapter 5, At the Goddess' Pond
I headed towards my kitchen. I was hungry.
"What should I make?" I muttered to myself. I looked at my recipe book and the first thing that met my eye was 'Curry'.
"Ok then, Curry it is!"
While I was preparing it, I coudn't help remember my parents. It was my mom who showed me how to cook. I remembered how hard I cried when I heard that they had died in a car crash. I was only 13.
When I finished eating my dinner, I still had some left over. I saved it in my rucksack to give for my dog the next morning for breakfast.
I walked over to my record player; I was tired of the same old tune. I searched through my records to find one. Wait a minute. I searched through them again. One was missing! Of course! Steiner must of taken one. So he did steal something. But still, why was he looking at me?
I gazed at the clock. It was 7:30. I decided to write in my diary; I haven't in a long time.
Dear Diary,
I am so confused. I think I like Steiner. Only problem is that he's a thief! I have no idea what to do. I can't date or marry a thief! Yeah, as if he likes me! How can I get him to like me? As if it matters; I wouldn't be able to be his girlfriend or anything. What would the villagers think? Today's Summer 6, 8:00PM
-Tessa
After rereading my entry, I reluctantly closed my diary.
Later that evening, I tried to go to sleep. But I couldn't. I decided to take another night stroll; who knows what I'll see?
I slid on my rucksack (just in case I see a rare herb or something) and set off. My animals were asleep so I tiptoed quietly out of my property. I set out toward the Goddess's Pond. It looks so really nice there at night.
I saw Lumina standing at the edge of the pond. She really is a nice girl.
"Hey, Lumina!" I said walking over to her.
"Hey Tessa. What are you doing this late at night?"
"Nothing really. I couldn't sleep. You?"
"The same." She sighed. "Ever since that robbery…"
"Oh yeah," I muttered. "What did he steal, by the way?"
"Just some cheap jewelry."
"Funny." I said. She gave me a weird look. "No, not funny as in something funny! I just mean strange. I heard that he's a skilled thief; he'd know the difference between cheap and real jewelry, right?"
"Ya...you're right," she said, thinking.
"So you can't sleep because…?" I asked.
"That same reason you said was funny. I've heard all about him. He was just…strange. Of what he steals and how he acts. You heard what he said to me?"
"Ya, I heard it. Actually, he's the reason I haven't been able to sleep either."
"No kidding?"
"Nope."
We started talking about all sorts of things. We both can be like that. Once we start talking, we can't stop. After a long time, Lumina yawned.
"I'm going to head back home. It's 11:00PM already! Hey, thanks for chatting with me."
"No problem, Lumina," I responded smiling. As Lumina left I looked up into the sky. It was a cloudy night. I sat down and leaned against the rock wall.
Then, I saw something move to my right. I turned my head and saw him. Steiner.
"Fancy seeing you here this late at night," he said. "You always up this late?"
I didn't respond. Instead, I stood up. He might jump me and take my rucksack or something, so standing up would make me more prepared in defending myself.
"Silent maiden, huh?" he said. "I haven't gotten to know your name."
"Tessa," I answered a bit coldly. Maybe I could get some info outta him. "I suppose you're up this late at night, being a thief and all." Steiner grinned.
"Yup," he said, almost proudly.
Then, I heard a stomach growl. It wasn't mine, and it was coming from the man standing across from me. He looked down to the ground and frowned. I then remembered something: I had some curry in my rucksack. Not being sure what to do, I slid my rucksack off my shoulders.
He looked up. I hesitated. I glanced up as well and met his eyes. I made up my mind. I set the rucksack on the ground and began to rummage through it. Finally I found the curry in a small bowl with a plastic wrap around it. I stood up and slowly walked to the man.
His eyes were fixed on the bowl but when I got close he looked up.
"Here," I said offering it to him. "Have some; I made it today." I could tell he was surprised.
"You're giving food to a mean, evil, thief?" he said teasingly after a few moments. I smiled. He started eating the curry. I could tell he loved it.
"Yes, I'm giving food to a mean, evil, record stealing thief." He stopped.
"Oh ya…um about that…" He grinned slyly. "Finders keepers, just for this time?"
"I see. You desperately need that record, did you?" I said raising an eyebrow. Then I smiled.
"It's ok I guess. Keep it," I said. Maybe I could make him softer?
"Thanks, but it's not like I'd give it back," he said grinning. I folded my arms.
"Well, see you around; hopefully not at the scene of a crime again," I answered. I took my rucksack and headed for home.
"Hey!" I heard from behind me. I turned around.
"Thanks for the curry," he called. I blushed, smiled a bit, and ran home.