Ma and Pa Consider the Situation
The late afternoon sun streamed in crystal purity through the dining room window. Dust motes didn't dare interrupt sunlight in Ma's home.
Pa stood, arms crossed, head down in deep thought like a brooding Atlas. His blond hair, touched here and there with gray, hung softly to his shoulders. Before him Ma sat, lips pursed, pensively tapping a finger on the table. Her gaze was piercing and distant, as if she saw something other than the tall, Clemsy proof cupboard against the wall.
"I can't see no way 'round this, Pa," she said. "He's the only one'll fit through, dang the boy." That Ma would come anywhere close to the approximation of a swear word gave evidence of the situation's gravity. Pa looked up and nodded. Neither of them wondered why this should be. They both had the talent of knowing and this they knew for sure: The responsibility was their's and Clemsy was the only tool for the job. Their son. They didn't like it, but the world was like that. Likes and dislikes were just distractions.
"Jes like poundin a nail in a board," Pa grumbled. "Might split the grain, might not. Sometimes a guide hole is what y'need if it's the only board y'have. We can't crack that board, Ma. Some gambles are jes plain crazy and this'd be one a that type. No question. It's him or the risk."
Ma sat back and sighed. The maple tree outside replied in a warm breeze. "Well, his talent'll get him through. It'll lead him whether he knows or not. That girl, now..." Ma shook her head. " I can't see her clear-like. She's there, but..." She stared into the table as if she could see straight through to the bedrock below the foundation and shook her head again. "No good. There's deep water in there rippling the Light. I don't feel any Dark, though Dark can hide Itself pretty good," She squinted her eyes, "...if It's got the mind to."
"Half Abo, that one." Pa's voice was calm and certain. "Interestin. If she has a role in this, I can't see it."
"That right there could be proof enough that she does."
They looked at each other. Pa nodded his head once. Ma relaxed, closed her eyes a moment and let out a slow breath. "Well," she said getting up, "it's been set in motion. All we can do is watch and maybe nudge a bit here and there. In the meantime..."
"...Somethin's worryin' the horses," Pa interrupted.
One of the farm hands ran by the window holding on to his hat.
Pa stood, arms crossed, head down in deep thought like a brooding Atlas. His blond hair, touched here and there with gray, hung softly to his shoulders. Before him Ma sat, lips pursed, pensively tapping a finger on the table. Her gaze was piercing and distant, as if she saw something other than the tall, Clemsy proof cupboard against the wall.
"I can't see no way 'round this, Pa," she said. "He's the only one'll fit through, dang the boy." That Ma would come anywhere close to the approximation of a swear word gave evidence of the situation's gravity. Pa looked up and nodded. Neither of them wondered why this should be. They both had the talent of knowing and this they knew for sure: The responsibility was their's and Clemsy was the only tool for the job. Their son. They didn't like it, but the world was like that. Likes and dislikes were just distractions.
"Jes like poundin a nail in a board," Pa grumbled. "Might split the grain, might not. Sometimes a guide hole is what y'need if it's the only board y'have. We can't crack that board, Ma. Some gambles are jes plain crazy and this'd be one a that type. No question. It's him or the risk."
Ma sat back and sighed. The maple tree outside replied in a warm breeze. "Well, his talent'll get him through. It'll lead him whether he knows or not. That girl, now..." Ma shook her head. " I can't see her clear-like. She's there, but..." She stared into the table as if she could see straight through to the bedrock below the foundation and shook her head again. "No good. There's deep water in there rippling the Light. I don't feel any Dark, though Dark can hide Itself pretty good," She squinted her eyes, "...if It's got the mind to."
"Half Abo, that one." Pa's voice was calm and certain. "Interestin. If she has a role in this, I can't see it."
"That right there could be proof enough that she does."
They looked at each other. Pa nodded his head once. Ma relaxed, closed her eyes a moment and let out a slow breath. "Well," she said getting up, "it's been set in motion. All we can do is watch and maybe nudge a bit here and there. In the meantime..."
"...Somethin's worryin' the horses," Pa interrupted.
One of the farm hands ran by the window holding on to his hat.
Once a week may not be enough!!
ReplyDeleteFor me too! Right now I'm keeping far too many plates spinning, but as soon as summer break starts I'll dive in head first.
ReplyDelete