Chapter 13: Winter’s Works

The cabin became very busy with people coming to bring supplies. It was clear to Sarah that the group of them were bedding down for the winter. Supplies lined shelves and the children sat in awe at the abundance in front of them. They were safe and secure in the cabin.

A tailor popped into the main room followed by a few young girls. With a giggle, the girls got out tape measures and placed it on their table. Scissors and thread followed and lined up on the table in proper order next to the measuring tape. The girls measured each child and the tailor, with a nod, produced material and the children chose their material. With a wave of his hand, the production of clothes began. Scissors seemed to know the lines to cut. The needles prepared to sew the materials together. The tailor ruled the room for a moment. Once finished, he left as fast as he came.

The children bathed and dressed in new clothes, sat down at the table for their dinner. The salty ham, potatoes and canned corn filled their plates with tasty pleasures. In the boarding school, meals like this were rare. Christmas perhaps? If they were lucky a meal like this would happen. Carefully they ate to not mess their clothes.

“We need to talk about school. It is obvious that you can not go to a public school. We need to be sure that you three are still educated.” said Mary.

The children shifted in their seats. Education has not been a good experience. They glanced side to side at each other. Chavo folded his arms over his chest with an expression of unwillingness to have the conversation. Sarah stared at Mary with a half chewed mouthful of food. Peter began to fervently write a note to Mary.

“Why should we do that? I mean seriously, why should we continue to learn?” The letters were heavy with anger on paper. Peter’s direct stare at Mary was blackened with the under tow of anger. The flames in the fire place began to sputter and the flames threw a orange glow across the loving room.

“First of all young man, close your eye and calm yourself before you set us on fire.” said Mary.

Peter folded his arms over his chest and glanced over to the fire. Another spurt of fire shot up the fire flue and shot a flame out of the chimney. With a smile, Peter leveled his eyes at Mary in a defiant manner. She walked up to him and laid her hand on his shoulder and drew him back to her for a moment.

“I can see that you do not wish to keep learning. However, it is important that you do. In this world, words drive one’s understanding. There are many secrets held in books and those books are in a library. Not to mention spells and teachings from other countries. Seeing that medicine men are being hunted, soon their knowledge, will have to be found from other sources until you can find your skill. I can see that fire is your skill, but have you ever wondered what good and bad one can do with it? Imagine, growing into a greater skill than frying us in the house. Now calm yourself before you boil us in your furry.” Mary steadied her gaze onto Peter.

Peter got up from his chair and walked to the fire. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The flames danced as Peter caused them to increase and decrease in size. Mary watched and noticed that Peter’s breathing was the fuel for the increase and decrease of flames. Inhaling caused the flames to decrease and exhaling caused them raise in intensity. After a moment, the flames just seemed to return to the normal state.

Markus walked into the house with wide eyes, “Good gravy. Why in heavens sake? Why did I see flames shooting out the chimney. They flew at least five foot high. It was an epic sight, but what in heavens sake happened?”

Mary leaned her head towards Peter, “Someone doesn’t want to continue to learn. He threw a fit, a bit.” Mary smiled over to Peter, “He just had a moment of anger to deal with.”

Markus rolled his eyes and walked over to Peter, “Son, there is so much you can do in life if you continue to learn. Learning is something one never should ever stops doing. No matter what stage in life you are, there is always something to learn. Mary loves to grow plants and use them for medicine. She has to read in order to give others medicine. Myself, I learn how to take care of the woods. Different trees have different benefits to man. Scientist are studying nature all the time. As I understand it, your ways deal with the way they all work together. As you read the new stuff available, the more you can grow your skill.”

The children sat at the table considering Markus’ words. Silence filled the room and the children shifted uncomfortingly in their chairs. Images danced in their heads of their classrooms. Desks were lined up and children sat in their desk dodging blows from nuns who were unhappy with them. Sarah’s hands covered her eyes and began to cry.

Markus rose from Peter’s side and walked over the Sarah. He picked her up and held her close and sat back down at the table. “My goodness little one, I don’t know what you have experienced but I can see that ‘school’ doesn’t bring good memories to you.” He lowered his gaze and focused on the sulking Chavo in the chair across from him.

******

Snowflakes were drifting through the air and Ralph sat in his spot watching the wind play with the flakes. The chickadees were jumping around the limbs of the great white pine tree without a care. Ralph smiled a toothlike grin. Large teeth and long fangs shown in an attempt to smile. His snout like nose gathered ridges together like rolling hills of flesh. His eyes shown bright with delight as he watched the birds play and dance in the tree. Their little chirps rang through the air and Ralph relished in the moment.

(Crack) rang from the valley and Ralph’s attention once again focused on the valley below. Jack and Jamison appeared and approached the cabin. Another cracking noise sounded, another group of people began to pop into the valley. Markus exited the cabin and greeted his friends at the door. After a moment, they all walked down a path to a clearing that Markus had cleared for them.

Logs were laying along the side of the trail. The limbs were cut up and placed in piles for kindling or burning. Jamison began to take action and began to use the fallen wood to construct a small cabin in the open space. Ralph watched from the top of the hill as the building took shape. Markus and Jack watched as each piece of lumber was put into place and they nailed them securly to the exposed wooden frame. After half a day had passed, the building was complete and the wood was stacked nearby for drying.

******

Smells of peppers, tomatoes, and onions cooking made Sarah’s stomach growl from hunger. Her hands and feet were so cold that she shivered inside her leather jacket. The mittens had balls of snow caked on them and what warmth her hands still had made the wool suck up the melting snow. She could feel the dampness of her gloves and knocked off the remaining snow from the fibers to prevent them from getting wetter. As she walked back to the cabin, she tucked her hands inside the pockets for extra warmth. Once again, her stomach beckoned the call for food and she wandered back to the cabin.

Inside, the men were gathered around the fire to warm themselves. Chavo and Peter sat in their room just talking and writing back and forth to each other. Mary and Verna were busy preparing the meal and setting the table and Sarah sat at the table watching the women.

“If I am a wind witch, what good will books do?” said Sarah. “Who studies and writes about wind?”

The two ladies paused from their task and considered the question. “Everything depends on air Sarah. Remember you are air. Everything breathes the air or produces air. Observe what the air does. Breathe to clear your mind. Focus of the needs around you and decide the best way to help others. After all, smudging one’s self allows you to be able to communicate with the spirits too. Or, so we are told. There are other things with this magic as well but we, are earth witches, so, we don’t know everything that the wind can offer. I guess we will learn as you do.”

The ladies announced that their dinner was ready and everyone was seated. Hot bowls of goulash and large rolls settled in front of them. The table watched the children lather their rolls with butter and honey with a smile. The men vented at their frustrations of the day and the ladies listened to them as they talked about the fireplace bricks flying around instead of laying where they were supposed to go. The children laughed in between bites as Jamison grumbled about the unruly bricks.

With full bellies, the children wandered off to their rooms. Sarah sat on her bed thinking about the wind as it pushed against her window pane. The wind can push things around. “I wonder,” she thought, “if I can push that chair.” She took a deep breath and thought, “Just will it.” She opened her eyes and looked at the chair and said, “Move.” Only an inch, the chair slid and Sarah was very dissatisfied with the results. “Some good that will do.” Sarah flopped down on her bed and fell asleep with all her clothes on. It was such a busy day.