The Journey - Chapter 4

Spring was soon to past and the dry days of summer would be coming in hard on the heels of the passing rains. Always happened like that, one big thunder storm to announce the end of spring.

Rose went about her morning work with in the store, checking supplies, marking off on her list what items to order, what items not to stock as they where no longer need now that the winter snow has melted into clear cool streams. The bell rings atop the door as she turns to Walt and smiles. Walt’s been around the store for as long as she can remember. Her father hired him when she was just a child. Walt wasn’t much more then a boy himself when he started working at the store. A broad kind of child like smile came across Walt’s face when he said hello to her every morning. His smile could always brighten her day. Rose and Walt had always been friends’ buddies of sorts. She knew in her heart he would always be her “big brother”. At times she new he looked at her in a more loving nature, but nothing he would ever act upon. Walt simple knew a friend was all Rose really needed right now. Walt watched out for her, made sure no one did unkind to her. Walt’s major job was to keep the store clean and take care of all the heavy shipments when they came in. It was a shame Walt had been born slow. He was a good man and deserved a good life. “He is gifted”, Rose remembered her father telling him when she asked about Walt’s slow speech.

The soft sound of the bird in the coo coo clock reminded Rose of the hour. “Never good business to open your doors late,” words her mother spoke rang through her mind. Rose headed to the windows to open up the shutters. Rose was reminded of the other problem that got her burr every morning. Had to open the shutters just right or they would fall off. Latch them to the wall and pray that they stayed tell closing. Walt was a good helper around the store, but a handy man he would not be. Rose chuckles remembering the day he nailed the shutters to the wall and was so proud of himself for fixing them. She couldn’t tell him he made it worse. She simple popped out the nails and never said a word. Door bell started clanging again as another busy day at the store begins.

On a much needed break in the midst of the day, while cooling her tired feet in the silent brook that passed out back of the store. She thought to herself, “why do you keep this store’? Why don’t you sell it, it’s too much of a burden for a young lady, she could hear the towns people say. She never could honestly answer that question not to them nor to herself. It was if an unforeseen force or will, have you was always telling her to “stay, stay just a little bit longer”. So Rose stayed a little bit, and a little bit more, soon 5 years had past and she was still here waiting that little bit longer. Laying back on the soft, grassy bank leaving her feet in the cool soothing water Rose closed her eyes. Rose always could see him in her dreams a tall man, not wide at the shoulders like most, but handsomest then many she’s seen past. Eyes of deep blue, full of mystic and magic and a smile. A smile so loving and kind, so amazing was such a smile she always catch her breath and awake from her dream. It frustrated her at times not to see his face, but the mystery kept her captivated in her dreams. For the next time she closed her eyes and wished him there in dreams
Breathing in the scent of the grass and the warm summer wind. Rose puts on her shoes and returns to the store. With a small inner voice more male then female almost, whispered “just a little bit longer and you will see.”
CASHEW