Met at John & Sheila's ten of us on a relatively milder day accompanied by rain.
Wide range of stories Brian kicked it off with a story of ghosts in a pub. Sheila children playing and a puppy named Dennis. Joan retold our day in Cadnam when it snowed. I told of my fears of heights. John a holiday in Argentine at the time when Malvinas was in the news. Pat wondered does it really matter. Rosemary a story 2000 years old.Sally a doggy story.
Sue and Ann had equal votes.
Next month Uncomfortable clarity.
Ann's story first
Uneasy Feeling
Marian was looking forward to her evening with her friends. They had met while working at an insurance office in town many years ago and had all become great pals. Three of them were widowed like herself, one had never married and one was much younger. It had been her first job and Marian had taken her under her wing and helped her with any problems she encountered. The six of them met up once a month for a meal in town usually at a cosy little restaurant in a side street off the main shopping area. Occasionally they would treat themselves to visit to the theatre or to the cinema to see a much-acclaimed film. They usually met early in the evening, as none of them were keen to be out too late.
This evening they were going to their usual place. The food was nothing exotic or fancy, but was well cooked, with good portions and at a very reasonable price, something they were very conscious about now most were retired. Being regular customers they were always greeted like long lost friends, well looked after and given a table in a corner.
As the weather had been quite nice, Marian decided to go into town a little early and do a bit of window-shopping before meeting the others. While waiting for the bus she started thinking how convenient it was to have her bus pass now. All this talk about doing away with the free bus passes for pensioners was quite upsetting. After all they had earned them having worked and paid taxes all their lives. Maybe when these jumped up young things that are suggesting these moves get to retirement age, they will appreciate that they do enable one to keep some sort of social life and independence. Arriving in town, she went to the main shopping mall and into one of the large stores. She enjoyed browsing and eventually ended up at the clearance and sale corner. These were the most enjoyable shelves and racks, as you never knew what you might find hidden away there. On this occasion she discovered a lovely, soft, chunky jumper in her size and favourite colour. She examined it carefully and it seemed to be in good condition, but best of all it was reduced to less than half price. She hesitated and after a little deliberation decided to treat herself. Looking along the rack further, she unearthed a pair of smart trousers. These would go well with the jumper and as they were also her size and had already been reduced twice, were a bargain not to be missed. Feeling very pleased with her buys, she wandered around the shops making her way slowly to her destination. The friends met up in ones and twos and settled down to a good natter and meal. They exchanged their news over the past month
and had a good laugh. It was a good evening and as they made their way back to the town centre Marian felt a warm feeling from the friendship they all had. They said their goodbyes and left as they had arrived, in ones and twos. Marian was the only one going in her direction, so left to catch her bus alone. It soon arrived and she settled down mulling over the evenings happenings.
When she arrived at her stop, she gathered up her bags and made her way off the bus. As she started walking along the road, she heard a voice calling out "Stop, please". She glanced round and saw a man limping along the path towards her, waving. Suddenly she had an uneasy feeling and hurried along. Crossing the road towards the corner store, she decided to go in and see what he did. She picked up an evening paper and some milk and went to the counter to pay. As she was going to get her purse out of her bag, he came into the shop. "I think this belongs to you," he said as he held her purse out. "You must have dropped it as you got off the bus. I did call you, but you couldn't have heard me". Marian looked at him. His clothes were old, but clean and well looked after and he spoke in a soft, but well educated manner. Feeling decidedly chastened, she thanked him and took the offered purse Paying for her purchases, she noticed that everything was intact and felt even guiltier. Asking the shopkeeper if he knew who the young man was, she learned he was from the hostel for the homeless a mile or so along the road. With the sudden realisation that he must have got off the bus before his stop to catch her and return the purse she hastily left the shop and started hurrying after him. She wasn't as nimble as she used to be, but with luck she would catch him up. "Stop, please", she called as she made her way up the road.
UNEASY FEELING
Louis was my salvation on that fateful day when my village was destroyed by the men in blue. He brought Two Feathers and me up to his cabin to recover from our ordeal, then made the journey down to the trading post in the valley below, to seek word of my people. He returned the following day with the terrible news that no-one else had survived. He offered to take me to the next valley in search of another of my people’s villages. I had an uneasy feeling about this, as I knew these people would make me a slave until a brave needed a wife to keep his lodge. I did not wish to expose Two Feathers to such an uncertain future.
Happily, I was saved from telling Louis this the next morning. When I rose from my place by the hearth, where I had spent the night snuggled into a warm blanket with Two Feathers, I peered out of the window and discovered a white world spread before me. It had begun to snow heavily and we were marooned in our isolated cabin.
The door opened suddenly on a blast of icy air and swirling snow, and Louis came in swiftly, closing the door behind him with difficulty. “Well, we won’t be taking you to the next valley for a while yet, I’m afraid”, he said and, as the days passed, we fell into a routine, where I cooked and cleaned while he hunted and chopped firewood to keep us warm.
One evening he returned to the cabin with a small fir tree which he had planted in one of the old water buckets. He explained that in his country this was a time of celebration called Christmas and we must decorate the little fir tree and have a special festive meal the next day. He went to the wooden chest in the corner, rummaged around in it, and finally raised a sparkly thing aloft. “Ha, I knew I had kept it – a reminder of my old life!” It was a silver shape, like the stars in the clear sky above, and he placed this on the top of the tree.
That evening, as we sat before the fire with Two Feathers drowsing in my arms, he told me the story of the Christ Child and the significance of the Star of Bethlehem. I laid Two Feathers in the new bed Louis had made for him and returned to the fire, heaving a sigh of contentment. Louis, hearing this, asked me if I was happy here with him and I hung my head shyly as I tried to put into words the feelings I had for this man, who had taken me and my child into his home and fed and cared for us ever since.
I eventually broke the silence which hung between us and said simply, “My world is here. You and Two Feathers, and this place, are all I desire.” Louis sat with his head bowed for so long I began to feel I had spoken too openly of my feelings, as squaws do not speak so. When Louis eventually raised his head, I saw with amazement there were tears in his eyes, one of which rolled slowly down his cheek and disappeared into his dark beard. He fell to his knees before me, took my hands between his calloused palms, and said brokenly, “Once the Spring comes, I could take you to your people if you like, but my dearest wish is that you stay here with me and we become a real family. We could go down to the settlement and be married properly when the preacher visits next year.” My dawning smile was all the answer he needed.
That Christmas was such a time of celebration. Louis had killed a deer and we had a real feast. He also showed me how his mother decorated the tree with oddments of fabric and made cookies to hang on it. Two Feathers thought this was great fun and tried to crawl over and snatch them off the tree, while we laughingly gathered him up and gave him his very own cookie to chew on.
Now it is Spring and we are setting off on the journey down the mountain to the settlement to be married. I am very proud that I can now speak enough of Louis’ language to make myself understood. I had been fearful of how his people would think of me, an Indian squaw with a child, but Louis has calmed my fears.
We arrive at the settlement, a huddled collection of cabins much like our own. One of the larger ones is the general store and Two Feathers and I stare in amazement at all the things on display. Sacks of grain and flour line the walls, tools and utensils of all kinds hang from the ceiling, clothing all ready for men and women to wear is hung in one corner and piles of furs are in another, where they have been placed in exchange for goods. Louis tosses his furs on this heap once he and the storekeeper have exchanged greetings, I have been introduced and welcomed, and they have decided how much Louis can have in exchange.
Two Feathers has escaped and is staggering towards the counter, stretching out his chubby arms to a jar in which he espies his favourite food – cookies. Louis laughs, lifts him easily and takes one of the cookies out of the jar, placing it in his eager grasp. We all laugh together and I say goodbye at last to that uneasy feeling as I follow Louis’ pointing finger towards another large building, which he explains is the church.
