Thump… hahaha
Hehehe
The laughter of children filled the evening. Warm breeze flowed through leaves and bent branches. Bright sunlight pierced through those gaps and fell upon soft green grass.
Under the tree sat a woman. Her skin was pale like a freshly cut marble. Her long dark hairs flowed gently with the wind. Her blue eyes felt warm as gently caressed her husband's head on her lap.
Her soft fingers ran through his bright white hairs. Eyes fixed on his peacefully sleeping face. There were no words between them yet they both conversed. They both listened to the same melody created by the crackling of leaves.
"You are cheating" came a voice from the front.
"Liar. When did I ch..cheat?" two boys seemed to have an argument.
"You cheated, i..i already caught you Arthur" the first kid replied firmly for a conversation between 5 years olds.
"No you didn't, Ned. I jumped an..and now I am safe"
"I did"
"You didn't"
"I did I did"
"You didn't you didn't you didn't"
Neither Arthur nor Ned backed down from their claim, both were equally stubborn.
"Let's ask mom, she would have seen it" said Arthur running off to the shed under tree
"Ok" Ned also took off after him
"Mom, mom did you see Ned catching me? He didn't catch me right?" Arthur spoke first even before reaching his mother and fell to the ground gasping for air.
"Yes huff huff… tell, tell aunty cecile huff huff… cough.. I did catch him. Didn't I " Ned spoke out of breath as he fell to the ground.
Her fingers reached for her mouth as she left out a soft chuckle hearing both boys' statements.
"Calm down both of you and tell me who wants to eat ice cream"
Hearing the word ice cream both forgot the game and jumped together shouting.
"I…I want ice cream"
"I want to eat ice cream"
Their eyes shone together and their argument disappeared in thin air.
Amidst this chaos a heavy yet soft voice came from Cecile's laps "Me too. I will take some ice cream too."
"Ohh.. did we wake you up" cecile spoke softly with a smile.
"Who can sleep when these two monkeys are dancing around" Rayhart said, getting up on one hand.
"Chuckle…. All right everyone wait here and I will bring ice cream for everyone" Cecile stood up to make ice cream in house just 20 steps away.
"Do you need some help dear?" Ray stood up too catching up to her.
"Who will watch the kids then" Cecile replies asking Rayhart to go back and watch the kids.
"Oh, they are not going anywhere. Right kids" Ray spoke turning towards kids behind him.
"Yes" both boys understood the signal and spoke up in sync.
"Oh ray, then can you help me fetch fresh water from the well" Cecile spoke softly, tossing a large jar to Rayhart.
Ray didn't say anything, a smile touched his lips as he catches the jar and walks to a well just beside the house. He drops a tied bucket it and pours the water into small water jar.
"Here cecile" Ray spoke handing the jar over.
"Thank youu, now go and watch the kids" cecile spoke as she took jar from one hand and pushed around Ray with other.
Sigh.. "I just don't know how to say no to you. Do I?"
He walked back to the kids. His long white and almost messy hair shined golden in soft sunlight.
As he reached the kids his footsteps suddenly halted, smile faded and eyes drifted to woods in the distance. Something or someone was lurking but they weren't concealing nor were they showing themselves.
Ray collects his thoughts back.
"Hey, who wants strawberries with their ice cream" Rayhart asked, looking at Arthur and Ned with a smile.
"Meee"
"Me too"
Both kids sang together. Hurriedly standing on their knees.
"Okay so be good boys and stay here till your mother comes. I will secretly go and collect strawberries for everyone" Ray spoke softly, gesturing with his finger to keep quiet.
"Okay" both boys understood the secret and spoke together.
Listening to their answer, Rayhart slowly walked away toward the woods. As he approached the woods his face looked grim. He takes out a small paper from his dress with a complex array drawn on it.
"Wow, we are having a super duper party today" Arthur spoke to Ned with a big stupid smile on his face.
"Shut up, we had grilled meat party just the day before yesterday" Ned replied reminding Arthur of delicious food they had a day ago.
"Hehe, but Ice cream is different and you know it."
Arthur spoke with the stupid smile which was getting even wider.
Sigh… "I guess you are right hehe" the same stupid smile was now transferred to ned's face. Truly stupidity is contagious.
"Hey, let's go to Village at foothill after eating Ice cream. I heard old grandpa Ham is opening a book store. He said there will be many story books and they will have pictures too." Ned spoke excitedly as he remembered the date of the opening ceremony.
"What!! It will have pictures too?" Arthur was shocked as he had read story books but none had pictures in them. He too knew about book store but forgot it was opening today.
"Okay, okay let's go to grandpa's bookstore after ice cream" Arthur jumped excitedly and agreed before Ned said anything.
Both were making their plans when suddenly they saw a figure emerging from the woods.
"Papa!"
"Uncle Ray!" Both ran excitedly on their short legs towards Rayhart who was holding many strawberries in one hand covered in a white cloth.
"Haha, okay okay slow down both of you or all the berries will fall down" Ray spoke calmly while lifting Ned to his shoulders and holding Arthur in his other arm.
Just as they settled down. From the house Cecile came out holding four bowls of ice cream filled to brim.
"Ice cream!"
"Ice cream!!"
"Ice cream!!!"
All three exclaimed together at the sight of Sweet ice cream.
After a while…
"Wow, it was so cold"
"So, sweet"
Both Arthur and Ned laid on their back with their stomach full and immediately fell asleep. They were already tired from playing and after eating ice cream they just couldn't keep their eyes open.
Seeing the children asleep. Cecile finally asks softly as she collects all the bowls.
"Was it them?"
"Yes" Rayhart replies while continuing to look at dirty ice cream bowls.
"Did they call you?"
Rayhart sighed. He knew Cecile would have sensed it too.
"Yes" spoke Rayhart half heartedly.
Hearing yes, Cecile smiled gently though her eyes had a tint of sadness.
"do you plan to go?" Cecile asked lightly.
Silence covered the surrounding. The answer was uncertain but obvious at the same time.
His voice got heavy. Ray clenched his fist in confusion.
"Art and Ned are still so small. Believe me cecile, I never intended to go." spoke Ray after a deep thought.
Hearing Ray's words Cecile knew what his heart wanted. She smiled gently and looked her husband straight in the eyes.
"I believe you, dear. But you have to go. The past never buries itself. It haunts you at night with a big 'what if'. You might not have started this for people but you have to end it for them. You have to end it for us." Cecile spoke firmly looking directly into Ray's eyes.
Ray fell silent as if he always knew this day would come. As if he already knew the answer. As if it was stupid of him to think that Cecile would want otherwise.
"forgive me cecile. I thought maybe I could live rest of life peacefully but I still hear them I still hear voices of people who depended on me. I need to go back" Rayhart's voice was heavy but his eyes were determined.
Cecile gently placed her hand on top of rayhart's.
"I will be waiting dear. I will be waiting. I have a hunch that we will meet again and you know that my hunches are never wrong. Right?"
The small wooden house fell silent as if the house itself was mourning that night. As if the night itself was weeping.