Young Writers Society

“Come on! Let’s go already!” I said, still laughing. I reached forward and grabbed his shoulder, then shouted into his ear. “Go!”

Hopping and propelling him out the door with both hands on his shoulders, I directed him back the way I’d come. The road was a jumble of ruts and cobbled stone. I jiggled forward to grab Jale’s hand.

"When I use this," I smiled at him, twirling the blade clumsily. "I want you to be there."

"I don't want to be there." He declared, pulling his hand free and holding them in surrender. "I want to go to the glass castles my father always talks about."

"We could go there. Also?" I creased my brows at him.

He huffed a breath. "Alright, you win this one. Ah!" He stopped me just as I was about to dash away in victory. "You could finally learn to walk. Besides, we need to figure out where to find those pepper seeds in time for Old Dwinny's morning loaves."

It was my turn to puff at him as I scowled. "I thought we already decided on the bushes near the castle?" So we had always referred to the mayor's residence.

"So did I, but then that's too far away for today. It will be noon by the time we get to your mother's shop, and beyond that when we cut up that dumb wood of yours. By the time we reach the castle, it will be time for the Iggy." He aped the dance again.

"Well, you can get prakfuras in your legs and run to the castle for the peppers now if you like. And then come back and help saw the wood.” The words tumbled from me without second thought.

"Ha!" He laughed in my face. “Never! I prefer to take things easy. Why are we planning on taking fresh seeds anyway?”

I crumpled my face at him. “You said to take those. Besides, that’s the easiest place to get peppers. We don’t actually have to steal it from the spicers.”

“That’s interesting.” He put on a sagely face. “I never thought of that. Why didn’t I think of that? We could totally steal from the spicers!”

My hand came up, a finger outstretched. I put on Madam Dwinfer’s angry voice. “We are not totally going to steal anything from them, you rascal.”

He ducked the poke, and dashed down the road. I followed. He laughed when I panted up to my Mom’s shop door, leaning on the beams with his arms crossed over his chest. “Slowley! Slowley!” He mocked. I headbutted him onto the floor and hammered up the stairs, racing past my mother, intent on a piece of work

My hands reached for the large gnarl of wood standing by my straw. I winced as I recalled having to clean it out. Save that for later, knucklebrain. I told myself. I backed to the door and shouted. “Are you just going to lie on the floor or what?”

“Al, sweetheart, don’t holler through the cracks.” Mom spoke up, her eyes leaving the shirt she had been working on.

“If you can call this thing a crack!” I hollered, kicking the door planks. “Jale, hurry.”

“You’re always impatient.” He got up from the floor with exaggerated slowness. Mom laughed.

“Go on, Jale. Don’t tax her patience. You’re not the one living with her.” Mom had put down the shirt and was now helping Jale to his feet. She shoved him a little, towards the stairs. “Don’t make too much noise, I’m working.”

“Well Aley, you heard your mom. Don’t make too much noise. We need to put oil on the saw and go really slow.” He winked up at me as I glared down through the door. Then he held out his hands in apology as he climbed up the stairs.

“This.” I huffed, lugging the wood closer to where he stood. “And this.” I swivelled on my heels, my brows furrowed as I scanned the room. My face contorted in puzzlement. “Where did that unicorned saw get to.”

Jale rubbed his hands together gleefully. “A ghost took it.” He whispered mysteriously. Drawling out his words, he added. “Or maybe, just, maybe. Someone decided that children should not play with dangerous things. Huh?”

“Shut up. I’m thinking.” I pointed a knowing finger at him and shut my eyes. My mind whizzed through the past day and beyond, looking for the latest memory of the saw. Under the straw. I dropped to my knees and lifted up the pile. There was no saw. Instead, a small boxy brown package sat near the wall.

I gingerly lifted it up. It felt rather heavy in my hands. “Pretty saw.” Jale laughed at me. He had crossed the short distance to stand in front of me. His eyes were fixed on the object in my hand. “Well, aren’t you going to open it? Or do you feel the awe seeping from brown paper?”

My fingers tore off the wrapping. Inside, a small bronze figurine unveiled itself. It had two whip like tails, long protruding fangs. And eyes glossing with red paint. Jale and I locked our eyes, our jaws hanging open.