Cricket walked alone toward the schoolhouse. Oh the others were with her mind you, or near enough. But the boys were running along ahead, stopping now and then to look at young boy fascinations. Kissie and Birch were a ways behind with Kissie going on about everything and nothing while Birch simply smiled that stupid smile of his. So for all purposes, Cricket was alone. And this suited her quite nicely.
Cricket was known to be quite an observer, at times. She was often found lost in her own thoughts; watching, listening, exploring; both oblivious and intrigued with everything surrounding her. Quiet in her own moments. It wasn’t that she was shy, though. She was usually happy to jump in and engage with others (excepting boys of course). She very much enjoyed the company of the adults she knew compared to those her own age. And she could definitely hold her own in a confrontation. Her momma used to say, “ Well… what Cricket lacks in strength, she more than makes up for in determination.” So shy she was not. It was just that she found herself more content to watch others on the periphery of her own imagination.
The walk to school seemed each day to be narrowing. As the spring had gotten warmer, the trees and underbrush had begun to green up. No longer were the naked trees allowing a view deep into their territory. Along the bench road there would soon be a wall of brush and vines protecting all the deep wood’s secrets. But if you knew where the gates of access stood, you could sneak in through briared tunnels. Navigated well, one was rewarded with the cool shade the trees had to offer. Cricket was one who knew these access paths well.
But today those paths would have to wait. The sound of other school children grew louder as they broke through to the little meadow where the schoolhouse sat. With it being spring no one was in a hurry to go inside. Everyone was trying to catch the last minutes of outside since it would be hours before they would get to enjoy it again. It really was too nice a day for being stuck indoors.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Ungh… “ that was all the acknowledgement Elbin had to offer the others at the mill who had offered their own hellos. He was here to work – not make friends. Elbin had his thoughts elsewhere, anyway. Why was that boy always coming round the house anymore? Oh…. Well sure he knew why. That Sterett kid was looking for a girl. The why Elbin was wanting to know was why HIS girl. Why did he have to set his mind on Kissie? Sure. She was a purty enough little thing. But she was still in school. She was still young. She didn’t need some fella coming filling her mind with romance and flirtations. And most important of all, Kissie was needed at the house. She was needed to take up with the keeping of whatever all her ma had kept. She definitely didn’t need some boy coming around taking her away from him. She was still under his roof. Elbin needed a sure fire way to put a stop to all this doing of odd chores that he himself could be doing, to all this visiting. He needed to nip this in the bud. And nip it fast.