Country Mouse Chapter 1

I wake up, a feeling of excitement has set inside my innards.
What is today?
I lie awake and try to think.
Is it my birthday?
No, that's not it.
Is it Christmas?
No, wrong time of year.
Am I doing something special?
Yes, but that's not entirely it.

What am I doing today?
The sun isn't even up yet, it's completely dark out.
I lie wide awake and think.

"I am doing something. Something is happening. What am I doing?" I question myself.

I look towards my door, and I see the bag sitting beside it.
I remember what I am doing.
I am visiting my friend and her grandmother in the city!
I am leaving Turtle Creek for the first time in my life!

I pull on my clothes: a light, kneelength dress with blue, green and yellow flowers, and reach for my stiff new leather shoes. I put them on and a minute later take them back off. I've never worn shoes in my life; I don't like them much. I brush my hair and braid it into one long braid hanging down my back like a leash. Actually, people do sometimes use my braid as a leash.

I step over to the wall and look in the mirror. It's not a real mirror; it's a piece of glass I found when they built the train station. One of the windows broke and I was allowed to keep the biggest shard. I smile at my reflection friend, Ramat. That's Tamar spelled backwards. My deep auborn hair looks black in the dim light, and my blue eyes are staring deeply into the eyes of Ramat. Ramat has pretty eyes, deep blue around the edges, getting lighter near the center, and the pupil is lined in a thin ring of pale yellow. I rub my hand across my nose, wishing the freckles would disapear so that I could see my pale skin. I look down at my arms; they're so pale my skin looks like it's glowing in the dark. I look back at the pale, skinny little14 year old in the mirror and sigh.

I stop to think about when I first met Maleen. Pretty, tall, deep brown eyes and black hair, clear cream colored skinned Maleen. She and her grandmother were out for a ride in their automobile. They broke down near the Turtle Creek post office, where Abijah had gone to get the mail. He brought them home, and they stayed there overnight until they could catch a train and bring someone to fix the auto. We've been friends ever since and have written letters back and forth, until Maleen invited invited me to come stay with her for two weeks during the summer.

I shake myself out of my thoughts and slip downstairs and feed the chickens for the last time. I walk around the yard and then slip off along the wood's trail to visit my grandparents in their cabin. The sun is hardly risen, but I know that they will be up, and they might need help with the cows.

I see Grenpa standing by the shed, bucket in hand. "Grenpa, Grenpa! Let me help you!" I call out from across the woods.

He turns and looks at me, his deep set eyes smiling. "Tamar! It is good that you are here! I thought that you would leave before we could see you!" he calls back, shouting to be heard across the distance. I run up to him.

"Grenpa, let me milk them!" I say, taking the bucket from him. He takes the bucket back.

"No, my granddaughter, come inside and say goodbye to Grenma," he says.

After I leave my Grandparents' house, I run down the trail back home. I will miss my Grandparents, but I'm so excited to be leaving Turtle Creek! I've never been to the city before, in fact, I've never even been farther than the Turtle Creek and Wild Rose Co. Library, about five miles from my house!

"I'm ready to go, Mama," I say as I enter the house. "I already ate at Grenma's"

Mama looks at me for a long moment, taking in every detail of me with her gentle blue eyes. "Alright then, get Daisy May and Lavender saddled, and I'll go with you to the station." she says softly. I catch a hint of a tremble in her voice.

"Oh Mama, it's only for two weeks. I'll be back before you know it!" I reassure her. Even my mother's sadness at my leaving cannot dampen my high spirits.

I dance to the stable and saddle the two Appaloosas, Daisy May and Lavender. Daisy May is mine, Lavender is my sister Jerusalem's. Mama's mare, Daffodil, is about to foal. "Hey girl," I whisper to her. "Be good while I'm gone. Don't have the foal without me, ok?" I pat her gently as I speak.

I lead Daisy May and Lavender up to the house and leave them tied outside while I bring down my bag. I tie the bag to Daisy May's pack carrier. "I'm ready!" I call into the house.

Jerusalem comes out. "Mama's busy, she says for me to take you," she says. Jersusalem and I mount our horses and head out through the woods.

Jerusalem says goodbye to me at the Turtle Creek trainstation and turns back, leading Daisy May behind her.

I am waiting for the train when I hear a voice shouting my name.

"Tamar! Tamar! Don't go yet! I haven't said goodbye!" My friend Josiah shouts from across the street. A minute later, a tall figure with light hair reflecting the sun runs up to me and flings his arms around me. "I'll miss you," he whispers in my ear.

I return his hug. "I'll be gone for two weeks. It'll be over before you know it," I say. I smile up at him. "You'll be so busy you won't even know I'm gone. You'll be able to finish the dam for the swimming pool," I try to comfort him. We've been friends for so long, we don't really know what to do without each other.

"I can't. You're the one who can make it hold. I just do whatever you tell me," he reminds me.

"You can keep an eye on Daffodil. You know how well animals respond to you."

"She has your father and your seven brothers. They don't need me."

"You can help your mother weed the garden."

"I hate weeding gardens!"

"Well, I'm sure you'll think of something to do."

"Maybe, but unlikely. Promise me you'll write," he pleads, his light blue eyes looking into mine like an abandoned puppy.

I can't help but smile. "Of course I will," I promise him.

We hear the whistle of the train in the distance and give each other one more hug.

"Have fun," he says, stepping back away from the platform.

I step into the train and find a nice spot. I'm the only one in this lonely car. I look out the window and wave as we pull out.