Chrysanthemum

"Chrysanthemum..." a voice called softly, echoing through the breeze of a fine summer evening, the warm air that enraptured the field of flowers and the creatures nesting within the tall oak trees.

"Chrysanthemum, chrysanthemum..." the voice beckoned, almost as if it was calling a small toddler into it's wings to carry it on clouds up high, to give it joy and happiness.

Under the visage of a lingonberry bush, so rich and juicy in color that the dew sitting on them sparkled like gems, was a girl.

Her hair was dark brown like the outside of chestnuts, very silky and soft, yet messed by snapped twigs, and leaves that knotted in each perfect curl.

The leaves rustled above her as she came out with a whole pound of berries carried in her shirt, like a pouch.

She popped a berry into her mouth, and savored the flavor of bitterness with a hint of sweet.

Her friend, Roy Benjamin, felt revolted and stuck a tongue out in response.

"Do you hear that?" the girl whispered as she raised up. "I hear someone calling my name, who you think it ought to be?"

"Crissy, you have been hearing things all week. Those berries are making your brain twist in a bunch from how sour it is. NO ONE is calling you!"

"I really do hear someone calling me. A pretty woman, for certain..." She mused while wiping her hand on her side.

Roy squinted. "How do you know she's pretty? Her voice may be pretty but what if she is as ugly as Ms. Agatha?"

"Oh, please, Roy Benjamin. You only think Ms. Agatha is ugly because she and your parents have you do your homework before you leave the school."

"Right," he rolled his eyes. "What if she is a beast or a monster?"

"She can't be any more monstrous than you at supper time!" Chrysanthemum hollered with a loud laugh, followed by a snort.

"Speaking of supper, what is your father doing at the barn? He's been in there so much, lately..."

"Well, father says the landowner and him have business...he says since my mom went missing, the barn was left for me in her will...." Chrysanthemum exhaled. "And he's doing things adult do, business..."

Roy noticed his happy-go-lucky friend seemed very dejected, with an unnerved smile.

"Well, Chrysanthemum...don't feel bad!" He encouraged.

He grabbed some berries and squeezed them into juice, painting his cheeks red like a clown.

"Hahaha! Oh, Benny, you are hilarious!"

"Thanks," Roy blushed, unbeknownst to the girl as the red paint covered his cheeks.

Just then a light turned on in the boy's head.

"Let's hold a party in your mother's barn! We'll invite everyone across all of Oak Creek valley, we'll post papers everywhere. We can even send a stack to the lumber delivery man, George, he travels across the whole valley, anyway! He could help!"

Crissy felt thrilled.

"Of course!" She grabbed the hand of her raven haired friend and ran off with him back to the barn.

A cool chill hit their backs as they continued through the many tall oak trees, with a little guest watching them from the lingonberry's as they zoomed by.

"Chrysanthemum..."

Two hours later, the children sat within the barn hay, sprawled all over the piles of straw while the horses freely munched beside them.

"You know, Roy, I have a good feeling this plan will work. Surely, somehow someone will know what happened to my mother."

"I'm sure they will..." He yawned as he looked at the photo his friend held within his view.

"Your mom..." He sat up. "And hey, she's holding a cat."

"Yes...I noticed that, too. I wonder where it is?"

"Hey, kids." The loud voice of a grown man called, out coming from the kitchen with buttered toast and warm cocoa was a burly man with broad shoulders, and a curly mustache.

"Got you some snacks!" He stepped closer, inspecting the photo.

"Ah..." he sighed. "That was the day your mom bought her kitten, which was named Chrysanthemum...honestly, wonder where it went. This was just last year."

"It looks like she's in a garden...rather than an adoption kennel, father."

"Well, she loved nature. A LOT! Very much, like you Crissy...she tended each garden in all the valley here. I hope you'll like it here just as much as she did...despite the trouble."

"I'll be okay, father. I...never got to meet her, though...I just wonder what it's like having a mother. She always sent me letters, but yet I don't know her still."

The man knelt down and kissed his daughter's forehead. "Don't worry, everything will be okay. Play with Roy, before you know it she'll be found."

Chrysanthemum nodded as she turned to Roy. "We got our work cut out for us, don't we?"

Roy nodded.

"I don't mind, better than doing homework. This mystery is gonna teach me detective skills, homework will teach me how to be a square."

"Maybe you need to learn more about how to square rather than being a square, Roy," she laughed while heading upstairs with her friend to play board games.

About a whole five months had passed, November had come with it bringing a brutally cold winter.

All the field was blanketed in snow and frost. The lake froze over and the owls hoo'ed in response to the dark chill that slumbered amongst the sky.

Crissy was busy serving guests ginger ale and lingon berry tea while classical music blared throughout the barn.

"Man, Crissy!" Roy yelled over the music as he twirled and leaped. "This party is great, isn't it?"

"It is..." she said anxiously. "But did anyone mention a word about my mum?"

"Yeeeah-" He began.

Crissy furrowed her brows.

"No...nobody knows where she is but one woman here said that your mother always hung out every afternoon in the chrysanthemum garden. The gardener of that same place is actually going to be here!"

In walked into the barn, a quite tall and prominent woman with a stout nose, and stiff posture that warned others to stay in good behavior.

"There she is, that's my aunt..." Roy whined as the lady patted his head. "Your mother said it's bed for you Roy, head to the barn exit, go on-"

Roy huffed and ran off as Crissy looked at the woman.

"Could you tell me about my mother?"

"Oh, you're the child of Melissa. Why, you're as precious as her. She was a kind soul always helping around the garden. Her favorite flower was chrysanthemums, you know. They are sometimes called Mum flowers. Unfortunately, I don't know enough about her..."

Crissy's face fell as she slumped from the useless information. "Thanks, miss..."

She walked off, waving goodbye to all the people as the yellow light of the moon creeped through the red barn's window.

"Everyone is gone...they had their fun. But now, I'm here...alone."

"Chrysanthemum..." a voice whispered.

She turned around, noting the barn had been enveloped in a bright yellow vibrant light, a beam from the moon settling on the old barn floor.

There on the floor, as she brushed aside the hay, was a detailed etching of a chrysanthemum, a white chrysanthemum that glowed a fluorescent white.

"The woman of the barn, she is here. But you can not see, only hear. If you want to find her follow the path of moms...follow them, follow mum."

The voice grew closer as she turned around she noticed the cat from her mother's photograph. It was the kitten, Chrysanthemum.

Nobody was there, however.

"I can not follow my mum!" She screamed furiously in denial. "She is missing! And who is talking!?"

"It's me speaking..." the cat meowed as it's black body turned into a golden wisp of colors and light, zipping around the girl.

"W-What are you?" She whispered in shock.

"Your mother sent me here. I'm mum, you have to follow me."

"It's a riddle...these flowers are called moms...then they'll lead me to my mom?"

"Of course, they will. Just hold my hand and never look back."

As the girl followed the cat, it slowly guided her into a white and yellow fog, leaving behind the barn as it disappeared into thin air.

"You'll find peace...with me."