A Flower In The Rain
1
"1 2 3~ I bet you can't hide me~!"
A small girl played in the woods. Staying at a rustic cabin that held the face of a warm old man.
" Hana?"
"Coming Grampa~!"
"Hurry on then, Hana." the old man smiled ringing a triangle to signify it's dinner time. Hana's grandfather was a tender old soul...
Young Hana always had a special bond with nature. She seemed to be one with flowers...and often talked to the trees. And sometimes in the whispers of the wind...even back then, she could swear that they talked back...
But Those Were Happier Times...
XXXXX
And for you...
My very special grandaughter...
I leave for you this sealed envelope.
"Don't open it yet..."
He spoke these words in a dying breath.
"A time will come when you will feel crushed by the burden of Modern Life..."
He said...
"That bright spirit of yours will fade before a growing emptiness...And when that happens...Then...you will be ready for this gift."
xxx
Her blue eyes opened slowly to the passing scenery through the window of the bus.
Am I sure about this?
She thought to herself.
I haven't been back there once since Grandpa...
Hana sighed. She still couldn't believe he was gone...couldn't bring herself to accept it...
"...He was all I had left..." she said to herself softly, "Without Grampa Chester...I..."
There was a harsh sputter of the bus- it was old and raggedy and seemed to be just barely running on fumes.
I just hope this old hunk of junk will get me there otherwise I might be joining Grandpa sooner than aniticipated!
XXXXX
If you're reading this now, dear child, I can't help but think you may be feeling lost with me gone...
That feeling was shared by me long ago...
I lost sight of what mattered most in life.
Real connections with real people...and with nature.
I dropped my old life...and moved somewhere I truly belonged.
That old farm of mine you have come to love. I feel no other in the world could share the love for it as you do, my dear. In this envelope I have enclosed the deed to that old farm...once mine now entrusted to you. I know you will take good care of it...so start your new life, and find your light once again.
Good luck,
Grandpa.
The ginger haired girl beside gasped softly, as though waking from a deep sleep, from the final memory she held of her Granfather who had now passed on...
I see I was spacing out again...
She thought to herself as she stepped off of the Bus. It seemed the machine had finally broke down...
At least she had made it to her destination first...but by the looks of it, she had better come to love it here, because with the bus in this state...she won't be able to go anywhere else for a long time...
Ever since her grandfather passed...Hana hadn't been the same.
She was quiet now...
Distant.
Lost.
Empty.
The light of life she once had within her was now gone...
"Hello! You must be Hana!" a ginger haired woman met them at the station.
"Yes, that's me..." Hana said softly.
She had always been a little bit...socially awkward...
"Thank goodness!" the woman chuckled, "I'm Robin. The local Carpenter." she stated, "I have a son about your age~" she giggled, which brought about an awkward smile on Hana.
"Anyway, Mayor Lewis sent me here to fetch you and show you the way to your new home..." she said, "That old cabin in the woods." she blinked, "He's supposibly tidying up the place for you, follow me."
A gasp sounded from the girl as Robin led her to that old rustic cabin in the woods. What was once a place of joy and light for Hana was now an over grown mess of emptiness that held distant memories...
"What's the matter?" Robin blinked, "Sure it's a bit over grown...but there's some good soil here." she grinned, "I'm sure you will have it fixed up in no time!"
Out of the rickety door walked an old and familiar face.
"Hey, it's old man Lewis!" Hana said softly with a smile.
"My, how you have grown." he chuckled as he walked down the worn steps, "It's a great pleasure to see you again...should you need anything be sure to let me know." he stated, "After all, I am the Mayor of Pelican Town." His eyes rested on Hana and narrowed sadly.
"You know..." he said softly, "The whole town has been asking about you." he chuckled, "They're so excited to meet you." he stated as he softened his voice, "Dear sweet little Hana...I am so terribly sorry for your loss." he said softly, "Chester was a good man...and he loved you very much." he smiled, "I remember back when this good old house had life to it." he chuckled, "Chester would be rocking in that old chair of his, while sweet little Hana would play in the trees of these old woods." he blinked, "Happier times." he smiled and looked back to the girl whose blue eyes glassed over in sadness.
"I know you will care for the place as well as he did." he smiled, "Now surely you must be tired from your journey." said Lewis, "Go on in now...you should get some rest." he smiled, "Perhaps tomorrow...you can explore the old town a bit and see if it's changed any... Maybe introduce yourself to the Towns people...what do you think?" he asked softly, "That would be nice...right Hana?"
"...Yeah." said Hana, "...That would be nice."
To Be Continued