Red's shoes walloped against the gravel. Small stones flew around her tiny ankles. The forest remained still, surrounding her in an eerie silence. The only sounds that echoed back were of her running footfalls .She cradled a whicker basket over her left arm. It swayed to an fro as she trotted along the ground. From the distance she could see him waiting. He was hiding something behind his back. Red smiled back at Bo, and waved.

"I brought the pastries. You're lucky I like you," she teased. ''they are just to good to share."

"Thanks Red," said Bo. "I have something for you too."

"You got me something. What, what is it," Red started to jump up and down.

She tried to take a peek, but whenever she tried, Bo would turn the other way.

"Come on, let me see."

Bo shook his head. "Not until you sing me a song."

Red's head tilted sideways, like a lost puppy dog.

"Sing."

"Meanie. Fine. My daddy used to sing me this one to sleep."

Red took in a deep breath.

"The moon,
she smiles.
The moon, she glows.
At the darkest hour,
she brightens our path.
If I could capture the moon from the sky. I would carry it my arms, and bring it to you,
my dear.
The endless hue,
could chase the monsters away.
The glow,
the glow, it would brighten your day.
I promise you my love,
that if one day I could hold the moon, that I would give it to you.
Yours to keep, forever yours.
The moon she smiles.
The moon she glows." Eyes closed, Red sang as well as she could. Her pitch resonated up and down at the perfect moments.

Bo clapped, and Red made a bow.

"Thank you, thank you.

Bo giggled back, and handed Red a long cape. His cheeks were flushed, almost as rouge as the cape itself.

"Its red, just like you," said Bo.

"Thanks, Bo. I love it.

The cape was a little to big for Red. The hood shielded most of her face. A train of red cloth followed her as she walked, and spun around. Despite being two times to big, the cape suited her. She gave Bo a tight embrace, which shocked him. His family wasn't really ever the hugging type. He didn't know what to do so he stood there stiffly. He snatched a pastry from Red's basket. After one bite the jelly inside erupted all over his face. He followed it with another, his face reading utter bliss.

"These are good," he said, before grabbing another one. A thick string of cheese attached his mouth to the pastry like gum on a shoe, on a hot day.

Red watched in silence, grinning.

"Told yah, they were good," she grabbed one herself and stuffed her face. "So what do you do out here," she said with a mouth full of food." For fun."

"Hunt,"Bo helped himself to another serving. "Fish, chop wood."

"Chopping wood... is fun?"

"Ma says it helps when your in a bad mood. I do feel better after."

"Your're ten right," Red asked.

"Yeah and you're eight..."

"I just don't know many ten year olds that enjoy , work."

"How many ten year old do you know."

"Two in the village. I don't know them very well though, I guess. Then there is a few who are nine. Then there is Drav. We both share eight yesrs, so he's my beau to be."

"Your Bo to be??" 

"You know, the man I will marry. It's spelled differently then your name."

"Ewww...," said Bo "and here I thought he was your pretend Bo when your at home." He scratched his head. "Your people are weird. Is Drav nice?"

Red shrugged. "Dunno, he ignores me. I don't exist to him."

"Well, maybe it because your too pretty."

Red blushed, matching her new cape.

"Your silly Bo."

"Can you swim,"asked Bo.

"No,'' answered Red.

"I can show you how. There is this dock close by. Pa threw me off. That's how I learned."

"That sounds...scary," Red said.

"Don't worry, I won't do that. I will show you how though. I will help. Its easy, follow me."

Bo took off, and Red trailed behind him. She kept up with his pace. Together they ran through a thicket of cedar and pine. The lavish smells of the wood filled the air. Light peeked through the tops of the trees as they moved forward. A blue jay watched from a branch, as he sang a melody. The woods became less dense, and a large river lied before them. The sunlight made the top of the water glisten. Bo kept going, as Red stopped. His legs thrust forward towards a long dock. without any hesitation he hopped off the edge and made a big splash. He disappeared underneath the water for about, thirty seconds. To Red, it felt like more. Her heart stalled, oh no. She made no haste. She stood at the edge of the dock, when his head popped out of the water.

"Jump in," said Bo, splashing water back at Red.

"No you won't," he said. "Its easy, look."

Bo started to swim around with a doggy paddle. He dove under once more. Red took another step closer. His head bobbed up.

"See...," said Bo. "Just jump, I won't let you drown."

Red looked hesitant.

'Trust me."

Red almost jumped, but stopped herself. She almost stumbled forward.

"On the count of three," Bo said.

"ONE."

"TWO"

"THREE"

Red sprang forward. Her body crashed against the cool liquid. She started to choke on some water, coughing it all back. her arms started to flap like mad, but she remained afloat. She splashed her arms more, and mimicked Bo's doggy paddle. She did it, she was swimming. It wasn't long before the fear washed away, and she forgot even thinking about drowning in the first place.

"See," said Bo. "Easy."

"This is fun," said Red. She now swam around more comfortably. She was a natural

Its the fear that holds us back, when sometimes all we have to do is take that plunge. A lesson she learned, without even realizing it. They swam around for a couple more hours. They splashed each other, chased each other around as they swam under the water. Bo made her feel safe enough to do so. An overcast made its way, blanketing the sun.

"I guess, I should head back. Have to be back in time to cook supper," said Red.

"Why, do you have to do that."

Bo shook his head. "She's so mean. You're so nice."

"I guess." she said

"No, really," said Bo. "You should tell her no."

"Yeah, good idea. Then I get whipped with a wooden spoon. After that I get locked away in my room, and don't get fed that night."

"She did that," said Bo, aghast

"I hate her," said Bo. He growled a little.

   ******************************

Red must have been late, because Yayha greeted her with a silent scowl. She didn't say anything, nor look up at her. Red went straight into the kitchen and started to skin some carrots. Yayha came behind her.

"What are you wearing. It looks hideous."Yayha spat.

Red didn't acknowledge her. She started to prep the salad.

"I am talking to you, young lady," Gramma continued to yell louder. Red still ignored her.

She grabbed Red's arm and squeezed, her grip like a vice. She forced Red to turn, so that she would face her.

"You don't ignore me," Yayha screamed back with a finger wagging in front of Red's face. "Understand."

Red, nodded back. "I got it from... a friend."

Yayha released her grip, leaving a solid red mark along Red's wrist. "Friend? Who the hell would be your friend." Her head tilted backwards. Yayha began to chuckle. "Don't lie. You probably found it in someone's trash. Whatever. It looks stupid anyways." Yayha shook her head and walked into the living room.

Red continued with the salad, then breaded the chicken cutlets. She placed them in the oven carefully. She had already burned herself a couple times. A couple times too many. She set the timer, and headed up to her room.

She looked back at the photographs. The one of her parents at their wedding, and the one with her and father. She hugged each picture then stared out the miniscule circular window. She placed her hand against the glass, almost covering it completely. Ten more years. Only ten more years. Gramma's earlier words did not bother her, but they harvested more hatred. Bo hated Yayha. Red despised Yayha. Yayha treated Red as if sinful blood could be contagious. Red grabbed a novel from her bag. One her dad had read, but said she was way too young for. It was filled with murder. It was filled with revenge. Red smiled as her eyes wandered over the pages. Ah, to feel that power. To be able to fight back, in cold blood. She knew she never would have the guts to go that far, but it was a nice thing to imagine.