Loves Unhealed Wounds

"Cow! Apple! Wagon wheel!" we shout out as the clouds float on bye. Sprawled out in the grass upon a hill. . The tingling long grass tickles beneath our legs, the scent of sweet breeze coming in swaying our hair every which way and dancing across our faces. It's just me and my darling Emily giggling innocently curled up next to me. her little hand squeezes my arm with each little laugh. Reveling her two missing teeth as she smiles. I love this time with her away from the busyness of the farm. The morning sun seems especially bright today as we lay in the grass staring at the sky. Clouds so white and puffy, like the cotton Papas laying seed for in the field. "Annabell!" I hear Momma hollering "Annabell Gains" "Yes Momma, I'm coming" pulling myself up and brushing off the grass from my new dress. And I use the word new very lightly, more like decent condition hand-me-down. However I'm not complaining, it's my favorite dress and the last one of Graces'. I remember the day Momma brought home the fabric, my eyes drawn to the deep blue, soft cotton with little embroidered roses. It was a present for Grace's 16th birthday. We had more money back then (not as many mouths to feed) and Momma loved spoiling her eldest daughter every chance she got. Being the second eldest daughter, naturally, everything was passed on to me. But luckily, Grace had a talent for finding the perfect pattern for any fabric. whether it'd be a pair of trousers for the boys or curtains for the house, she had an eye for it. She was completely enthralled with the fashion world. She had the design picked out months before her birthday. One that would flatter any women's figure, a simple A-line style skirt with cuffed up short sleeves with little embroidered roses. Grace had hand-sewn every button on the front. She had begged Charlie and promised to do his milking for a week, in exchange he carve out the buttons from the leftover wood of his widdling project. I never dreaded getting her seconds. In fact I'd wait and wonder how long it'd be until I'd get a dress of hers that I'd have my eye on. I love this dress, my final piece of hand-me-downs from her. Momma meets me halfway up the path to the house. Drying off her hands on an already soaked apron she asks "Annabell, did you weed the garden and feed Penny"?. Oops, I look down at the ground and fiddle with a button on my dress. I had intended on going to the garden to weed but was pulled away and distracted by Emily begging me to come and look at a cloud she noticed looking like a dog on a bike. I never could say no to her cute pudgy face. I never made it to the garden. "No ma'am, but I did feed Penny, she refused her porridge again but was more than happy to finish off the last of the canned peaches. I promise I'll weed the garden before school." Momma looks at me with a side-eye and sighs "Just head home quick after school, no lollygagging and get it done then, I don't need another note from your teacher regarding more tardiness. Now hurry up and catch up with your brothers before your late" "Yes Ma'am" I reply and quickly tie the laces on my brown leather shoes tighter and adjust my brace. Then race after the boys the best my hobbled knee will let me. "John, Charlie, Levi wait up!" I wave at them. But the only one to turn around and wait is my reliable Charlie. It doesn't take long for the boys to get to school, only about a half-hour walk for them. Me on the other hand, it takes me an extra 15 minutes due to my stubborn knee that was affected by having Polio as a child. I don't mind the troubles with it considering the alternative, death. There's a big age gap between me and Levi cause Momma lost a girl to it. We know not to mention Hannah. Papas made it clear not to upset Momma. I think it's why Charlie looks after me so closely. He will always walk with me even if it means he is late for school. "Go on ahead Charlie I'll be fine, I've got a pretty heavy lunch sack that I can use if I need to," I say all confident with my fist in a ball. "What about Jerry and his gang of no-goods"? He looks down at me concerned "I'll be fine, they're probably way ahead with how late of a start we've got" Reluctantly he agrees. "Alright, I'll see you at home for supper. I've got plans to meet up with Jenny down by the lake after school" and off he went. I continue on, watching his figure become smaller and smaller in the distance. I pull out my book when I see that he's gone and bury myself in the latest adventure and get lost in a world of pirates and damsels in distress. However, it doesn't last long. I never noticed them come out of Jerry's barn. I feel a clump of dirt hit the back of my head. "Gimpy Gaines" They all chant together and mock my hobble. "knock it off Jerry!" I try sounding authoritative "No, not until you agree to finish writing my essay for me" he replies entitled. His dad is the Mayor and you'd think he owned the world the way Jerry acted. "NO! Momma and Papa said if I ever did your homework for you again they'd sell all my books and send me to my Aunts for the Summer to watch her awful triplets" " You finish it or I'll drown you in the lake" He threatens moving closer to me. "finish this!" I say as I whirl my lunch sack around and hit him where it hurts. He falls to his knees and his buddies stand there and laugh while I take the opportunity to run away as fast as I can. I get in view of the school and know I am safe for the time being.