A gentle breeze passed over the quite valley hill. Upon it laid a young girl who basked in the warmth of the sunshine as it broke through the leaves from the old willow tree near her. She sprawled her arms and legs out feeling the course dirt under her fingertips. With each sway if the branches she drifted further into her mind. As she sunk further a loud thunderous clap struck throughout the sky jolting her up and out of her daydreaming. Then the sound of her mother frantically ringing the super bell had her on her feet faster than a well-trained gazelle.
She ran on the tips of her feet with glee, cutting through the valley with skill. Moments later she broke through the tall valley grasses and saw her home within sight, off to her left and right she could catch the glimpse of her siblings also darting on home. In the doorway still ringing the bell stood their mother. Their father had yet to return from the market, which was quite normal on most days.
They all stumbled through the door and rushed to the table with eager. She plopped down hard looking at her brothers as she waited along with them.
"William! Wayne and Willow! Go wash your hands! Look at all cacked in mud. Did I not teach you three manners?!" Their mother, strong and stern, stood in the kitchen doorway with one fist on her hip and her other hand pointing towards the bathroom. "And I want you three to wash your hands properly, I don't want to see a speck of mud left!" With a huff she turned and started to set up the table as she watches us all slip away to the bathroom.
After what seemed like eons to Willow, they all finished washing their hands and promptly sat back down at the table, their stomachs announcing their hunger to everyone who could hear it. After they all sat and said their grace, they begun to eat, all except Willow. She slowly picked at her plate a question playing at the tip of her tongue.
"Willow?" her mother questioned in confusion, "What's the matter honey?"
"Mom, do you remember Dolly? One of the girls I used to hang out with often. I was wondering if this Saturday if I could take her on a picnic?"
"Dolly? You mean your little friend with the red curly hair? I thought you two weren't friends no more. Did y'all finally make up? If so, then that's wonderful! What kind of a picnic are you two doing? Do you need me to make anything for you two or would you like to do it?"
Willow nodded, "Yes ma'am we did have a moment when we fought but we've made up since then. I do believe that she's bringing something that's baked good, but I had planned on making so sandwiches if that was fine?"
As they spoke her brothers had already consumed their plates and made their stealthy escape to their room. Her mother nodded as she finished her plate as well. "Help yourself to packing the leftovers as well for then if you'd like honey." Willow smiled and nodded as she cleaned up the table and begun to pack up a small basket with goodies.
That night Willow hardly slept as the thought of seeing Dolly in the morning kept her wide awake and giddy. Soon enough though sleep did capture her and lulled her to sleep immediately.
The bright sun beamed through her bedroom window jostling her awake. She groggily sat up and rubbed her eyes before peeling the sheets off of her body. She dragged foggy mine towards the bathroom before splashing some water on her face shocking her awake.
She walked out of the bathroom and headed back to her room to change. Outside her window she could hear her brothers playing pirates, screaming and shouting at the top of their lungs. The dull yet loud thudding of wood being chopped let her know her father was back. She quickly got dressed and tied her dirty blonde wavy hair into a braided ponytail as she walked into the kitchen. Her mother had set aside a small plate of bacon, eggs, bread and a bowl of grits for her to eat. Willow grind and gave her mother a small peck on her cheek as a thank you then sat down to dig in. With a happy little dance as she ate, she glanced around taking in the room, "Momma, how come you and Daddy got married?" as fast as it left her mouth, she knew she regrated asking it from the look on her mother's face.
"Hmmmmm why you ask? Well, it's because I love him. I know that sound corny but one day you'll understand what I mean. One day you'll meet someone who makes your world stop but also seem to move still. Every time you'll look at them the room will light up and only, they will seem to be the only one to exist in a crowd of people. Once that happens to you, I guess you'll understand what I mean my love."