Tuesdays...

are now my day off, it seems.

Her father warned her that the tests would not be easy. She wasn't worried, though. She hadn't expected them to be.

"Bring back the one with the most blood, my dearest girl, the freshest . Show us that you are truly of the age to become an adult."

Those words followed her as she set off into the woods, spear at her side and one rabbit already dangling from her belt. She knew she could find the beast that slept underneath her skin. It had been no small source of shame to her that she had not been born as one of the cherished few who knew themselves from birth, but it mattered little enough now. She had surpassed them all.

A scent dangling in the wind like a fish on a string caught her attention. She took a deep breath, knowing the scent, making it a part of her---and then let it go. That one was not large enough, not full of enough hot red life and death. Sure enough, a young doe startled from the brushes as she moved past. She moved out of the way just enough to let it by, but tugged a bit of white fluff out of the flying tail just because she could. Then she frowned. That was not behaviour appropriate for an adult. It was of little import, however. She must continue on and seek out more worthy prey.
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I think I've finally decided what to do when I run out of letters. This won't take long, as I've only got two more emotions after this.

Go and catch a falling star...

Stare outside at the rare white dust falling from the sky.
Think of the people and things that have waited for this.
Sit by the fire and think and dream and wonder about tomorrow.

Journal entry #44327:

There was a child named Peter in my store today. He and his sister Anna were in my shop buying things with their Christmas money from their grandparents. They were from Nebraska, but their parents spoke with German accents. The boy bought some toys and things, and then came to the counter and saw a package of playing cards in a style his sister liked. He had eighteen dollars left from his initial fifty, and had already planned out what he wanted to buy with it at another store. He pondered for a moment, and then said, "I could have that money for myself, but Christmas is the season of giving."

He bought those cards.

I tried to feel something like delight in that purchase. It was for a good reason, and he earned a little happiness for his sister and some respect from his parents for having grown up enough to understand that spirit.

I couldn't quite bring myself to do it, though. I could tell you why, but that would deprive you of the opportunity to think about it and decide yourself whether or not you would enjoy that little anecdote.

It wasn't kindness that found Lize scouring the pots for her cousin, it was necessity.