MOONS OF FRIDOLF

CHAPTER 3

v> “I met a Boy who said the woods were not safe!” She spat out when she came to face the

people that were her Family “you didn’t move an inch! All of you sat here and waited on me?”

She looked directly at her Mother “I’m your child mother!” Her Mother grabbed and clung to her

embrace “I’m sorry Becca, I didn’t know where to start looking” she hugged her Mother back,

feeling the terror in her as her body shook “I’m sorry, everything is weird and I couldn’t stand it”

she felt the arms around her grow tighter “don’t do it again, don’t you ever think of running away

Becca!” It was stupid to have ran away, she was never going to do it again, she would face her

fears and conquer them and that’s to start with whatever her entire Family, old and newly

acquired were hiding from her “will you tell me what’s happening?” She promised she was

strong enough to hear it “I want to have the proposed meeting tonight!” She broke away from

her mother and stood before the elderly woman who was her Grandmother “ Will you tell me

why we’re just getting to know you and this place?” She looked around the little crowd “who are

these people and why are they here?” Maybe her Father was alive, maybe her mother lied

about him too “this is the reason you’re here my child, to learn of your Family, of yourself!” Her

grandmother had a kind smile but it did nothing for Becca’s Head, her confusion was becoming

alarming, learn of herself? “What’s there to learn about myself?” She’s Rebecca and she turns

eighteen in a few days “I know myself so you can tell me about my Father” she grabbed the old

Woman’s hands and squeezed “is your son, My Father! Is Fridolf alive?” The woman shook her

head “Fridolf never left my Child” She would not be angry, she would love him regardless of his

absence, if he left their Family, it would be for a good reason and she would go all out in search

of him “tell him to come back! We’re grown now, we could be a big Family!” Her Grandmother’s

smile broadened “we’re all Fridolf Rebecca, you and me” the Boy was right then, all her Father

left her was his Family name, he was not coming back but she might finally see his grave and

take flowers like a normal child “come my child, come sit with me and when your Uncles return,

we all will gather and tell tales” Where had they gone to, how large is the family if persons are

still away “where are they returning from?” She said they went in search of her, that as her

mother raised her voice in surprise and fear her uncles had taken different routes into the woods

“they shouldn’t have bothered, I knew you’d find your way back home” she had the same

charming smile on her face “we don’t go missing in this Family, our eyes are torches and our

feets knows every path” she allowed her thoughts stray to how she ran through the trees and

never bumped into one “the woods recognizes their own” she looked around for her sister and

found her in the arms of a strange woman,a family member she supposed, she was sitted on a

chair and fast asleep with her head on the lady’s legs, if she could be half accepting as her elder

sister “I will come out when everyone else is here” she walked indoors accompanied by her

Mother.“Becca, they’re ready for you!” Her Mother spoke in whispers, she knew the lowered voice was

so Ruelle didn’t wake up “you could start a concert in here and she wouldn’t stir” her mother

laughed “be kind to your sister” she shook her head “when have I been mean?” She stood up

and walked towards her mother “ we’re going to have a whole meeting without Ruelle?” Her

mother nodded “I’ll explain it to her in the morning” she was right about her mother keeping

secrets after all “I suppose you know what will be discussed mother” the woman nodded feebly

“I do not know everything Becca, I did not have the stomach to hear all of it when your Father

Spoke” she burst into tears “I was a coward and I fled from him” her mother sank to her knees

and continued sobbing, Becca did not know how to react, in her seventeen years of life her

mother had only cried once, on a night after she tucked them in, Becca had heard sniffling and

followed the sound to the hallway where she found her mother on the floor in front of her

Father’s picture “don’t cry Mother, I’m sorry for bringing back unpleasant memories” her mother

held on to her and tried to stifle her sobs “don’t apologize baby, I’ve not been truthful to you and

your sister and I’m just glad it ends today” they held onto each other “Becca I love you both,

nothing will change that, I’m your Mother and I’ll protect you so whatever happens tonight,

whatever you hear you come to me okay?” She nodded slowly feeling a tension begin to build

“you shouldn’t be scared, you’re an intelligent, very compassionate child Becca and nothing will

change your personality baby!” Her Mother was freaking her out “I’m not going to change

mother, I’m me and I’ll stay like this so please don’t cry” she only made her Mother wail louder

and she couldn’t understand it, she shifted attention to her Sister who was beginning to toss and

turn “look, your crying will wake Ruelle up” she kissed the woman on the cheeks and tried to

stand her up “I want you to know I do not blame you for any of these drama, you raised us

yourself, took care of us, protected us” somehow she was saying the wrong things because her

mother tears intensified “you’re a great mother and we love you!” Her mother turned away from

her and held her lips with her fingers “I didn’t do all those things” it felt like she was gasping for

breath “not by myself, I didn’t do it by myself!” Becca walked towards her Mother but the door

flew open and an auntie poke a head inside “everyone is waiting for you outside”