Chapter 6

6 Years Old

There comes a day. Once every month. On this day, I am allowed to do almost anything I would like. I am allowed outside, I am allowed to eat, I am allowed to do pretty much anything you could think of. I have to have Mother's or Father's permission though. It is thanks to my Grandfather that I am allowed to have this day at all.

"Kyra. Today is your free day for this month. Now, as you know, I am not happy about this decision but your grandfather insists upon it. He says you will go feral if we coop you up so much," Mother said at breakfast. She was eating pancakes and berries, a cup of steaming tea to her lips as she sipped at the sweet liquid.

"I know, Mother. I will remember to ask you before I do anything or go anywhere," I answered, knowing that she was about to lecture me about how I need to ask her.

"Good," she took another sip.

My mother was a pretty woman although years of worry and stress had given her age lines and her skin sunk in places even though she was only in her mid-forties. She always looked presentable, even if there were no guests expected to show up for that day. She enjoyed the formality of her daily life. Some days I believe that I am adopted for I am like neither of my parents.

Mother watched me silently, eating in silence and occasionally drinking her tea.

"May I go outside, Mother? I would greatly appreciate it," I said, itching to get out of the prison where I lived.

"I suppose so. Where will you be going?" She answered, narrowing her eyes suspiciously at me, as if I was up to no good.

"Just for a walk. I would like some fresh air," I answered quickly, not giving her a chance to believe I was lying. Mother does not like it when people lie. Especially girls. She thinks it is unladylike and it is also a sin.

"You may," she sighed as if I was a burden that she had to bear.

"May I be permitted to take an apple?" I asked, standing from my seat and pushing my chair in.

She waved her hand, telling me that it was okay and to leave already. I almost laughed with joy but thought better of it. I walked from the dining room into the kitchen. On the table, a basket of apples sat as though they were waiting for me.

I picked up two. They both were a deep, rich red and they looked delicious. I all but ran to the door. I knew that mother expected me to be respectful and ladylike at all times and 'ladies do not run.' I opened the door, shot out a polite goodbye to my mother and stepped outside.

The door closed itself as I exited the doorway and I smiled, looking up at the sky.

It was cloudy and the sun was nowhere to be seen. It must be playing hide and seek. I took a large bite of my apple and I stepped down off the porch. The grass felt strange under my feet. It was not like the grass at my pond. The pond!

I took off running, feet barely touching the ground as I ran down the hill and into the forest. I disappeared from the view of the house. I jumped over logs and felled trees, the air seeming to shift around me.

The smells of the trees around me was pungent. There was a deep earthy smell that was mixed with a fresh, sweet scent that must have been either the blooming flowers or the air itself. I had not been out recently and the air in the house gets very stale. I do not know how mother stands it.

Harrison is waiting for me when I reach the pond. He was sitting on the log we had taken for a seat. He looked worried.

"I thought you weren't coming," he said, orange hair glinting in the sunlight, which had apparently reappeared from its game.

"Would I back out on a promise?" I asked, passing him his apple and sitting beside him.

He only shrugged, taking a bite out of the fruit and kicking a pebble into the water.

"I have the whole day today," I said excitedly.

"We can make adjustments and stuff to the pond," I added as an afterthought.

"That sounds fun," Harrison replied, smiling at me.

Over the last few weeks that Harrison and I have known each other, we have grown quite close. He was my only friend and I was his. We met whenever we could and I always brought food because I knew that he probably got fed less than I do. I had also been teaching him how to form proper sentences and how to read and write. He did not know how and I thought that it was unfair.

Overall, he had learnt quickly. Already his speech was better and he could read basic sentences now. It was quite remarkable and with his newfound education, he would be able to get better jobs. It felt good knowing that I was able to help someone so much.

"How has your week been?" I asked him, turning my attention back to the present.

"Well, thank you," he responded.

We spent most of the day in and around the pond. We broke and removed the extra branches that were starting to grow over the archway trees, which is what we called the entry to the pond. We found many large stones and we placed them around the small body of water so it made a sort of border.

By the end of the day, my clothes were dirty and ripped in some places. I knew mother would not be pleased but I had more clothes. What's one dress?

Slowly the sun made its way across the sky, taking the time we had and shortening it. Once the fiery ball was only half visible, I realised that I had to go. I didn't want to but I had to. Mother would want me home. In fact, I'd probably broken my curfew already.

"It's time I left. Mother will want me home," I said sadly to Harrison while we were in the top of one of the trees surrounding the pond. We were watching the sun and talking about Harrison's father, the cranky old farmer who was always drunk and yelling from his front porch at anyone who set foot anywhere near his front yard.

"Can't you stay?" He pleaded, shifting in his position on the branch.

"I cannot. I am sorry. We will spend time together soon," I promised, placing a hand on his shoulder to add sincerity to the statement.

"Okay."

I began clambering down the tree, trying to keep from damaging the dress any more than it had been already. I managed to get out of the tangled mess of wooden limbs unscathed.

"I'll be back in a few days," I called up into the trees. Just before I took off out of the grove, I heard a muffled reply. I didn't know what Harrison had said but it was getting later by the second and if I did not leave now, it would surely be in more trouble than I already was.

(a/n: hey guys. New chapter. Sunday is the day that this story will have new chapters posted (if I post them/have more to post). I hope you enjoyed this. Let me know what you think?)

Updated on Sunday the 14th of February, 2016.