In less time than it takes to tell about the mountains of
pancakes; the sweet, sticky syrup; and the fresh, creamy butter Gwenn had made that
morning, it had all been eaten and the cousins set out on
their visit.
The sun was
proclaiming itself to the world that morning, and patches of light illuminated
the grass where it filtered through the trees. The twins each wore a light
shawl on their heads, one green and the other blue. Aaron was very glad they had
chosen different colors for he was often confused as to which girl was which.
“Where are
we going?” he asked Lindsay as they wound their way up the steep path that cut
steadily up the mountain.
“Grandma
Rowanna lives up on the mountain in that little cottage,” she replied pointing
to the wisp of smoke that was the only sign so far of her chimney.
They
continued to climb until a perfect sea of wildflowers stretched out before them.
Rising out of the flowers as if it had been planted there, stood the cottage. Its
windows looked back at them like two bright, happy eyes watching as they made
progress through the sea. A small dog rushed towards them and jumped happily
around, barking as loudly as he possibly could.
The door
opened just as they reached the porch and an old woman said with a bright
smile, “Hello girls! And Aaron, how good to see you! Come in everyone, and
don’t let Cinnamon get you absolutely muddy. She loves hunting in the marsh
these days.”
Following
her bidding, Aaron and the girls found themselves in a cozy sitting room and
kitchen. The walls were painted in the cheery colors of spring, and flowers
from the field were arranged in various vases all around the room. Aaron
couldn’t help but wonder if this house knew any other season besides spring; and it did seem that the little old lady with her happy talk and light step
couldn’t fit into any other time.
Gwenn set
down her basket on the kitchen table and drew out a jar of jam and a jar of
butter. “These are for you, Mother sent them,” she said in her quiet way and
held them out to the admiring lady.
“Thank you
very much, dear girl. Please be sure to thank your mother for me,” Grandma
Rowanna said holding the jar up to the light streaming in through the windows
and admiring its deep purple color.
She
gestured them over to a little sitting room she had set up across from the
kitchen, and the girls seated themselves on the couch beside her. Aaron took a
place on the rug where he tussled playfully with the dog and only half-listened
to their conversation. His ears perked up when Lindsay said, “Grandma, I went
to read the Book of Dreams last
week.”
What do you think? Would you like to see more excerpts from this story or any of the others?
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