![Spring’s Arrival [memories] (Friday Fiction)](https://saraharricharan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/410031-R1-25-0A.jpg)
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With the door open, I
could now see the newcomers clearly.
Author’s Ramblings: This is a bit of a runoff from a short piece I did some time ago, titled “Spring’s Arrival” featuring the seasons personified as four unique individuals. If you haven’t read it before, click here to see how this story starts and where Kevin–the narrator–begins to find himself slowly caught into this magical world. This week’s story is a tale of two of the four arriving at the Season’s End B&B and a short memory of young Spring, learning how to use her gifts to coax things out for springtime and not to resort to other methods. Do enjoy!
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| (c) Sara Harricharan : Green Willow and Sky in Spring |
I don’t remember when
the others showed up. I know we’d had Spring around for awhile and she was
pretty cool even when she didn’t really seem to do much, but I kinda liked her
and she was always nice.
the others showed up. I know we’d had Spring around for awhile and she was
pretty cool even when she didn’t really seem to do much, but I kinda liked her
and she was always nice.
Nicer than Mystica, at
least.
least.
My older sister kept a pretty
obvious distance from Spring herself and the perpetual warmth that seemed to
surround her. I couldn’t understand what she could possibly have against her.
Mom was always careful around her, but she wasn’t like Mystica—she was nice. I
think Spring liked her a little, because Mom would let her experiment in the
kitchen. Mystica rarely set foot in the kitchen. I guess it was another thing
they didn’t have in common.
obvious distance from Spring herself and the perpetual warmth that seemed to
surround her. I couldn’t understand what she could possibly have against her.
Mom was always careful around her, but she wasn’t like Mystica—she was nice. I
think Spring liked her a little, because Mom would let her experiment in the
kitchen. Mystica rarely set foot in the kitchen. I guess it was another thing
they didn’t have in common.
Girls. I sure couldn’t
understand them.
understand them.
“Kevin, want some
lunch?” Spring stuck her head through the back door, her hair less tangled
today, now wrapped in series of loose strands meant to imitate a braid. She had
a colorful circlet of flowers, her face was flushed and happy with the effort
of her latest creation. “I made sandwiches with cream cheese and spinach, your
Mother showed me how to-”
lunch?” Spring stuck her head through the back door, her hair less tangled
today, now wrapped in series of loose strands meant to imitate a braid. She had
a colorful circlet of flowers, her face was flushed and happy with the effort
of her latest creation. “I made sandwiches with cream cheese and spinach, your
Mother showed me how to-”
“Spinach, ew!” Mystica
rolled her eyes as she edged past Spring to step outside onto the back porch. “He
doesn’t like spinach and I don’t either. It’s like stewed brains dipped in-”
rolled her eyes as she edged past Spring to step outside onto the back porch. “He
doesn’t like spinach and I don’t either. It’s like stewed brains dipped in-”
Something hot rushed to
my head and I shot to my feet. Spring was biting her lip, the happy expression
wavering. It wasn’t her fault that she didn’t know. “I am sorry. I did not know
that—i-if you’d still like to try it then I shall leave it on the-”
my head and I shot to my feet. Spring was biting her lip, the happy expression
wavering. It wasn’t her fault that she didn’t know. “I am sorry. I did not know
that—i-if you’d still like to try it then I shall leave it on the-”
“I’d love to try it!” I
blurted out, surprising myself, Spring and even Mystica who tripped down the
last step onto the back lawn. “The cream cheese probably makes it taste better,
right?”
blurted out, surprising myself, Spring and even Mystica who tripped down the
last step onto the back lawn. “The cream cheese probably makes it taste better,
right?”
“I do not know.” Spring
shrugged, her smile returning to full bloom. “I have never had this cream
cheese thing before, but it tastes wonderful by itself.” She steepled her
fingers together. “I also made some strawberry lemonade, perhaps you would like
to try that as well?”
shrugged, her smile returning to full bloom. “I have never had this cream
cheese thing before, but it tastes wonderful by itself.” She steepled her
fingers together. “I also made some strawberry lemonade, perhaps you would like
to try that as well?”
“Strawberry lemonade?
Sure.” I followed her to the kitchen where crustless sandwiches were arranged
on an oval serving tray, with a thin layer of lovely, lime-green filling
between them. To the left of the ceramic platter was a fluted glass mug filled
to the brim with a cheery pink liquid, various fruit slices trapped beneath the
thick layer of ice bobbling on the surface. It looked incredibly inviting. Spring
retrieved two glasses from the cupboard and began to fill them. I tried to keep
my face straight as I took the first bite of the sandwich.
Sure.” I followed her to the kitchen where crustless sandwiches were arranged
on an oval serving tray, with a thin layer of lovely, lime-green filling
between them. To the left of the ceramic platter was a fluted glass mug filled
to the brim with a cheery pink liquid, various fruit slices trapped beneath the
thick layer of ice bobbling on the surface. It looked incredibly inviting. Spring
retrieved two glasses from the cupboard and began to fill them. I tried to keep
my face straight as I took the first bite of the sandwich.
It was wonderful.
Spring’s face lit up
even brighter as she looked at my face. “Isn’t it wonderful?” She exclaimed. “I
think it tastes wonderful, spinach and all.” She slid one glass across the
counter towards me. “Try it with this.”
even brighter as she looked at my face. “Isn’t it wonderful?” She exclaimed. “I
think it tastes wonderful, spinach and all.” She slid one glass across the
counter towards me. “Try it with this.”
“Tastes gouf.” I
mumbled, stuffing my mouth. It didn’t taste like spinach at all. Grabbing the
glass, I took a swig of the pink stuff. It was heavenly. I swallowed another
half-sandwich, taking another generous gulp of the strawberry lemonade. “Really
gud.”
mumbled, stuffing my mouth. It didn’t taste like spinach at all. Grabbing the
glass, I took a swig of the pink stuff. It was heavenly. I swallowed another
half-sandwich, taking another generous gulp of the strawberry lemonade. “Really
gud.”
Spring merely smiled as
she went about the business of clearing up the kitchen. I was happy to sit
there and watch her work, because she was fast, efficient and very pretty to
look at. Her hair streamed out in shiny waves as she swirled from the counter
to the sink. In the time she’d been with us, she’d learned quickly of new
things like appliances and computers, though she viewed the latter as
troublesome, I didn’t think much of it at all.
she went about the business of clearing up the kitchen. I was happy to sit
there and watch her work, because she was fast, efficient and very pretty to
look at. Her hair streamed out in shiny waves as she swirled from the counter
to the sink. In the time she’d been with us, she’d learned quickly of new
things like appliances and computers, though she viewed the latter as
troublesome, I didn’t think much of it at all.
Instead, our little
patch of the world seemed to a little warmer for all of her presence, even
though the seasons were about to change. There were still vegetables coming in
from the garden, under Spring’s expert care and flowers to grace the table
every day.
patch of the world seemed to a little warmer for all of her presence, even
though the seasons were about to change. There were still vegetables coming in
from the garden, under Spring’s expert care and flowers to grace the table
every day.
My dad found more time
to spend with us as a family when he wasn’t out checking fences, balancing
checkbooks and doing other ranch-ly things. My mom thought Spring was a
blessing in disguise because she didn’t shirk at the thought of hard labor and
worked fairly well at nearly everything she put her hands to. If Spring wasn’t
outdoors, then she was in the kitchen.
to spend with us as a family when he wasn’t out checking fences, balancing
checkbooks and doing other ranch-ly things. My mom thought Spring was a
blessing in disguise because she didn’t shirk at the thought of hard labor and
worked fairly well at nearly everything she put her hands to. If Spring wasn’t
outdoors, then she was in the kitchen.
Her cheerfulness was
infectious to the point that I started to enjoy our project of restoring the
bed and breakfast. Spring just had a way of making it seem like an adventure,
rather than an expensive chore that continued endlessly. I waited while she
stacked the newly washed dishes in the plastic-coated dishrack.
infectious to the point that I started to enjoy our project of restoring the
bed and breakfast. Spring just had a way of making it seem like an adventure,
rather than an expensive chore that continued endlessly. I waited while she
stacked the newly washed dishes in the plastic-coated dishrack.
“Are we painting
today?” I took in her paint-covered smock and a borrowed pair of Mom’s old
sneakers. Spring liked to be barefoot, but Mom had convinced her that walking
about barefoot during construction wasn’t a very good idea. Spring had
reluctantly accepted the sneakers as a temporary thing.
today?” I took in her paint-covered smock and a borrowed pair of Mom’s old
sneakers. Spring liked to be barefoot, but Mom had convinced her that walking
about barefoot during construction wasn’t a very good idea. Spring had
reluctantly accepted the sneakers as a temporary thing.
“Painting?” She paused
in mid-rinse. “I don’t think so.” She said, slowly. “It should be all done.
Yes, I think it’s all done.”
in mid-rinse. “I don’t think so.” She said, slowly. “It should be all done.
Yes, I think it’s all done.”
“But we just started
yesterday.” I wolfed down the last sandwich and carried the plate over to her
by the sink. “There was the whole floor left to paint. Here.”
yesterday.” I wolfed down the last sandwich and carried the plate over to her
by the sink. “There was the whole floor left to paint. Here.”
She merely turned with
the sunny smile that always said more than her mouth would have. “You worry too
much, Kevin. It’s done. I finished it, remember?” She took the plate from my
hand and began to scrub it with the soapy sponge.
the sunny smile that always said more than her mouth would have. “You worry too
much, Kevin. It’s done. I finished it, remember?” She took the plate from my
hand and began to scrub it with the soapy sponge.
I didn’t remember, but
I couldn’t find the heart to contradict her either. If she said it was
finished, then the possibility remained that it was indeed finished.
I couldn’t find the heart to contradict her either. If she said it was
finished, then the possibility remained that it was indeed finished.
“Go see for yourself.”
She nudged me with an elbow. “I can wash dishes by myself, if you don’t believe
me.”
She nudged me with an elbow. “I can wash dishes by myself, if you don’t believe
me.”
I didn’t believe her,
but I couldn’t say that aloud. I ducked my head and darted for the stairs. On
the second floor, the scent of fresh paint greeted me and I checked in the
first few rooms where we’d started yesterday.
but I couldn’t say that aloud. I ducked my head and darted for the stairs. On
the second floor, the scent of fresh paint greeted me and I checked in the
first few rooms where we’d started yesterday.
They were complete.
And so were the rest.
That had been far more
than just a week’s worth of work. At this rate, the construction would end
early—as per Spring’s hopes.
than just a week’s worth of work. At this rate, the construction would end
early—as per Spring’s hopes.
I couldn’t believe it. I
stood in the middle of one empty room, staring as I turned in a slow circle at
the immaculately painted room, with only the hint of fresh paint smell to show
that it had recently been worked upon. Very, very recently.
stood in the middle of one empty room, staring as I turned in a slow circle at
the immaculately painted room, with only the hint of fresh paint smell to show
that it had recently been worked upon. Very, very recently.
The sound of new voices
floated through the opened window and I hurried over to see. A rush of cooler
wind made me wince, but I stuck my head out anyway and squinted down.
floated through the opened window and I hurried over to see. A rush of cooler
wind made me wince, but I stuck my head out anyway and squinted down.
It was two men, both in
coats, and one laughing and talking, the other one merely nodding. I stared at
them, trying to place them and not doing a very good job. One had snowy white
hair and a long black coat, like something a rich person would wear, while the
other had a tanned, leather jacket that hung open around his skinny shoulders,
setting off his two-toned hair. It seemed like an odd father-son duo, but who
was I to judge?
coats, and one laughing and talking, the other one merely nodding. I stared at
them, trying to place them and not doing a very good job. One had snowy white
hair and a long black coat, like something a rich person would wear, while the
other had a tanned, leather jacket that hung open around his skinny shoulders,
setting off his two-toned hair. It seemed like an odd father-son duo, but who
was I to judge?
They were speaking
between themselves and neither of them had made an effort to ring the doorbell.
I wondered why when the white-haired fellow suddenly looked up, with the
brightest pair of blue eyes I’d ever seen. His face was scowling and I was
suddenly struck by the fact that having such a fierce scowl sent in my
direction didn’t leave a good feeling at all. It made my stomach drop the way
it usually did when my Dad was about to yell at me for something I really shouldn’t have done.
between themselves and neither of them had made an effort to ring the doorbell.
I wondered why when the white-haired fellow suddenly looked up, with the
brightest pair of blue eyes I’d ever seen. His face was scowling and I was
suddenly struck by the fact that having such a fierce scowl sent in my
direction didn’t leave a good feeling at all. It made my stomach drop the way
it usually did when my Dad was about to yell at me for something I really shouldn’t have done.
“Oi, you up there, where
are your manners, kid? Are you going to keep staring or will you come open the
door?” His accent was off-key and I couldn’t place it outright.
are your manners, kid? Are you going to keep staring or will you come open the
door?” His accent was off-key and I couldn’t place it outright.
The young man next to
him looked up as well and flashed a smile that seemed rather familiar. “Hello,
your family is expecting us.” He gave a slight wave. “Is Spring here already?”
him looked up as well and flashed a smile that seemed rather familiar. “Hello,
your family is expecting us.” He gave a slight wave. “Is Spring here already?”
Spring?
They know Spring? I ducked back inside the window trying
to process what I’d seen with what I knew.
They know Spring? I ducked back inside the window trying
to process what I’d seen with what I knew.
I didn’t know anything
at all.
at all.
I scrambled down from
the room and flew down the stairs. I nearly crashed into Spring who dodged
backwards with a bucket of soapy water.
the room and flew down the stairs. I nearly crashed into Spring who dodged
backwards with a bucket of soapy water.
“Kevin!” There was a
slight tone of disapproval, but it was said with a smile as she twirled in a quick
circle to keep the water from sloshing out of the bucket without losing her
balance. It was a fun, yet strange sight, but then again, Spring was always
whirling and dancing about somewhere. “Please be more careful.”
slight tone of disapproval, but it was said with a smile as she twirled in a quick
circle to keep the water from sloshing out of the bucket without losing her
balance. It was a fun, yet strange sight, but then again, Spring was always
whirling and dancing about somewhere. “Please be more careful.”
“Sorry, sorry.” I
skidded to a stop, hesitating between helping her carry the bucket upstairs and
the folks I knew were on the other side of the door. “um, hey, have you seen
Mom anywhere?”
skidded to a stop, hesitating between helping her carry the bucket upstairs and
the folks I knew were on the other side of the door. “um, hey, have you seen
Mom anywhere?”
Spring was already
halfway up the stairs. “Your mother?” She paused. “I think she was in the
garage downstairs, something about a yard sale?” Her forehead puckered in
puzzlement. “I did not think that one could sell a yard without their home
involved, but-”
halfway up the stairs. “Your mother?” She paused. “I think she was in the
garage downstairs, something about a yard sale?” Her forehead puckered in
puzzlement. “I did not think that one could sell a yard without their home
involved, but-”
“Ask me later!” I
turned towards the kitchen and the garage door. “Mom!”
turned towards the kitchen and the garage door. “Mom!”
“Kevin!” Spring called
after me, now at the top of the stairs. “Would you please open the front door?”
after me, now at the top of the stairs. “Would you please open the front door?”
“Huh?”
She was already
starting down the second-floor hallway and her voice was faint. “Let in the one
with the pretty hair and tell the grumpy old man to stay outside until he finds
his manners.”
starting down the second-floor hallway and her voice was faint. “Let in the one
with the pretty hair and tell the grumpy old man to stay outside until he finds
his manners.”
“You know them?”
There was no answer.
Another gust of cold
wind swept through the house, enough to raise an army of goosebumps along my
arm. I shuffled towards the front door. If Spring knew them, then there was
probably nothing wrong with letting them in. Then again, the one with the
two-toned hair had mentioned we were expecting them. I wondered which family
meeting I’d missed with that bit of information.
wind swept through the house, enough to raise an army of goosebumps along my
arm. I shuffled towards the front door. If Spring knew them, then there was
probably nothing wrong with letting them in. Then again, the one with the
two-toned hair had mentioned we were expecting them. I wondered which family
meeting I’d missed with that bit of information.
My hand hesitated on
the doorknob and when I finally turned it, my fingers nearly froze. It was that
cold. I ended up wrapping the end of my sleeve around the knob to turn it. That
was odd.
the doorknob and when I finally turned it, my fingers nearly froze. It was that
cold. I ended up wrapping the end of my sleeve around the knob to turn it. That
was odd.
With the door open, I
could now see the newcomers clearly.
The old man really
wasn’t old at all, but he did seem to be very grumpy. His hair was a pure, snow
white and his eyes were a piercing dark blue. His skin was very white, very pale
and very smooth. His scowl hadn’t changed. He wore a cream-colored
turtle-necked sweater under a black, full length wool coat and equally dark
jeans. His boots were scuffed and dark shade of brown, the same as his battered
knapsack that accompanied him.
wasn’t old at all, but he did seem to be very grumpy. His hair was a pure, snow
white and his eyes were a piercing dark blue. His skin was very white, very pale
and very smooth. His scowl hadn’t changed. He wore a cream-colored
turtle-necked sweater under a black, full length wool coat and equally dark
jeans. His boots were scuffed and dark shade of brown, the same as his battered
knapsack that accompanied him.
“Looking at something,
kid?” He grunted, pushing past without a single nod of acknowledgement.
kid?” He grunted, pushing past without a single nod of acknowledgement.
“Hey!” I turned after
him, only to feel a new hand on my shoulder.
him, only to feel a new hand on my shoulder.
“Please don’t worry
about Winter, he’s having a bit of a hard time adjusting.” The young man who
spoke had a voice and smile vaguely reminiscent of Spring. His hair was two-toned,
the shade of auburn with brown and golden tips and streaks throughout. “Hello,
you must be-”
about Winter, he’s having a bit of a hard time adjusting.” The young man who
spoke had a voice and smile vaguely reminiscent of Spring. His hair was two-toned,
the shade of auburn with brown and golden tips and streaks throughout. “Hello,
you must be-”
“Kevin.” Spring’s voice
floated down the hallway. “Do let the man in. It’s freezing out there or
rather, should I say it’s frozen in here?”
floated down the hallway. “Do let the man in. It’s freezing out there or
rather, should I say it’s frozen in here?”
It was the first hint
of sarcasm I’d ever heard from her.
of sarcasm I’d ever heard from her.
That’s when Mom’s
conversation clicked, the one I shouldn’t have overheard last week in the
laundry room.
conversation clicked, the one I shouldn’t have overheard last week in the
laundry room.
Spring. Winter. The
charming fellow in front of me could only be Autumn.
charming fellow in front of me could only be Autumn.
Oh great. Now there
were three of the four seasons rooming inside our under-construction bed and
breakfast. A shiver nipped through the air and I tried to ignore it. This was
certainly going to be a strange year to remember.
were three of the four seasons rooming inside our under-construction bed and
breakfast. A shiver nipped through the air and I tried to ignore it. This was
certainly going to be a strange year to remember.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Spring smiled to herself, watching the disgruntled Winter putter about and Autumn’s care attention and answers to the questions of their young host. She knew he’d get on well with Kevin, it was just a matter of convincing her favorite brother not to freeze the poor thing solid.
A smile leapt to her face and she found herself remembering an old memory from years before. They had been closer then and the memory had been…interesting.
“You kicked it?” Her father fairly shrieked. “Of all the things on our
Good Lord’s green earth, child, whatever possessed you to do that?” He tugged handfuls of his great white hair as his green eyes grew wild with panic. “You’re sure they didn’t follow you?”
Spring merely shrugged, turning her hands, palm up to the sky. “They
were sleeping and all quiet and it’s supposed to be my time. They won’t bite.”
Good Lord’s green earth, child, whatever possessed you to do that?” He tugged handfuls of his great white hair as his green eyes grew wild with panic. “You’re sure they didn’t follow you?”
Spring merely shrugged, turning her hands, palm up to the sky. “They
were sleeping and all quiet and it’s supposed to be my time. They won’t bite.”
“Sting.” He corrected, mildly.
“Fine. Sting. They won’t. I told ’em not to.” She
shifted her chubby freckled hands to rest on her hips. “And I was being
nice! I wasn’t gonna freeze ‘em like Winter! He would’ve killed them!” She exclaimed. “I just wanted them to wake up and make
the flowers all pretty and everything.”
“I wasn’t gonna freeze ‘em, Spree.” Winter sauntered over, his hands
shoved into the pockets of his brown fur vest. He patted her curly head, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth. “I don’t go around killing things, I just put them to sleep for a bit. Your job is to wake them up and you’ve got air for
brains, flowerhead. Nobody kicks a beehive and lives to tell it.” His
silvery brows knitted together. “You told them you were Spring, didn’t
you?”
The guilty child immediately looked away.
“You’re not supposed to tell them that!” He exclaimed, exasperated. “Really! Does everything I say go in one ear and right out the other like-“
“If she doesn’t want to listen, she isn’t going to.” Summer chuckled. “Just let her alone for now. Perhaps one of them might be daring enough to sting her.”
“After a seasonal declaration?” Winter rolled his eyes. “Hardly.” He muttered and stomped off. “A beehive.” He muttered. “Of all the things on…”
(c) Sara Harricharan