Chapter 11

8 Years Old

Harrison's farm was quite small really. Only about half the size of my backyard but the life and peacefulness surely made up for it.

My backyard was always loud with the clanging of our guards' armour as they patrolled the grounds for intruders or loud with the sounds of maids sobbing because their master - my father - had beat them. Whereas Harrison's farm was quiet, tranquil even. The crops grew silently and without much fault. The long, yellow grass swayed in the wind, only a slight whisper emitting from them and if you were to lay in them, you wouldn't be seen from any angle.

Harrison and I were laying in said grass at this moment, heads side by side but bodies laying in opposite directions.

We'd been laying like this for quite some time. We had originally been meaning to do some of his daily chores for he had been swamped over for a while now and I had volunteered to help him but we had gotten distracted by playing tag in the long grass. Eventually we grew tired of our game and collapsed with a laugh.

We huffed and caught our breath, not saying anything for a little while. We knew we still had to complete the chores but we also figured that it could wait for a little while longer.

"You know, we probably should do your jobs soon. It gets later by the minute," I chuckled, watching the clouds float over the sun.

Harrison hummed in agreement and I turned to see his eyes closed, smile on his face. I smiled too. It wasn't very often that I got to see my only friend smile but when I did, it always made my day just that little bit better.

He slowly opened his eyes and sighed, eyes flitting from cloud to cloud.

"Alright," he said eventually. "Let's do this."

He stood up a little too quickly for me to comprehend and then held his hand out for me to take. I accepted and put my softer hand into his worked and calloused one.

With one swift pull, I was on my feet and trying to get the leaves and grass out of my hair. He all but laughed at my foolish attempts.

"You are aware that your hair is very likely to get much dirtier when you're finished than when you start, right?" He chuckled, smiling at my frown of irritation.

"Come," he said, pulling me through the grass and back into the horses paddock.

One of Harrison's jobs was to feed the livestock and that included the horses. We ran through the field and over to the small barn by the side of Harrison's quaint little home.

I huffed and giggled, punching his shoulder slightly in jest. He mocked pain and then laughed with me.

After another few minutes of play we became serious, realising that if we didn't get to work soon then we never would.

So we got into it. We lugged a few bales of hay for the horses out into the field and fed them hand by hand to the animals who went through the food quickly and easily.

After that we mucked out the pig pen. Harrison had told me before that mucking out the pig pen was one of his worst and unfavourable chores and he was always much dirtier when he'd finished than before he'd started. He'd also told me that the smell and stains would stay on you and your clothes for weeks afterwards.

Lastly, we picked the vegetables from the patch. Everything from carrots, to tomatoes, to potatoes.

"Look at this one," I laughed, throwing a mouldy tomato at him. Harrison yelped as the rotting fruit collided with his face. My laughter grew as he tried to wipe the gross fluids from his face.

"Oh, you're going to get it now," he hissed jokingly, struggling as he tried to keep a straight face. He ran towards me and I screamed with laughter, running out into the field.

We chased each other for what seemed like hours, throwing the mouldy foods at each other and laughing when they hit their mark. I didn't think I had ever had as much fun as I was having right now.

"Got you!" Harrison screamed when I couldn't run anymore. He shoved my shoulder and I grinned, trying to catch my breath.

"You did," I agreed, squaring my shoulders. We grinned at each other in silence, watching each other carefully.

"I should, uh, probably go soon," I sighed regretfully. Harrison's smile fell and he also let out a long sigh.

"Yeah, I suppose you should," he agreed.

"I'll be back tomorrow though," I tried to cheer him up. "Mother and Father are going into town for the whole day!"

His grin was back and I smiled back at him. He started walking forward and I fell in line beside him. Slowly we walked back to the edge of his property where we would go our seperate ways. I would trudge up the hill and Harrison would go back to his house.

"I'll see you tomorrow then?" Harrison asked once we reached the familiar worn-in path. I nodded, gave him a small hug and began to trek up the hill as fast as I could.

"See you!" I called behind me. I heard a muffled reply but didn't stop to hear what he'd said.

(a/n: hey guys!! Have an update! Have a birthday update! Haha. Anyways, I've updated this is early because I've got a party on today and stuff (and it's my birthday so I'll be kinda busy) so enjoy!!)

Updated on the 20th of March, 2016.