Hello friends and fellow NaNo-ers. I've been trying to catch up this weekend. I did 5,000 words... that's pretty good. But I know I am 10,000 short of being on track. Yikes! You know, this is a lot more do-able in some ways and a lot harder in others. I think if I didn't write so much at work, or have a desk job, I would be much more content and focused at the computer. But as hard as it is to get myself to sit down, once I start writing its really fun to see the story taking shape. Thanks for all the encouragement. It really, truly helps and I appreciate it so much.
Okay, so some of you have been asking, so here's another bit of the story. It's the introduction of our next big character, and if you couldn't tell by this segment, our love interest! Enjoy!
“There’s our boys! It’s about time you got back!” Rose teased.
Three tall figures came out from behind the main work building, with big smiles shining under their caps. Rose jumped up like a school girl to give them all big hugs. She was so excited, Ana thought she just might knock them down.
“Ana, meet my boys.” They all smiled at her as she got up to say hello. By now she had learned to stop bowing at people and so she stuck her hand out awkwardly waiting for them to take in and shake it like the other people do.
“This is Henry, Luke and my son Flynn. They all grew up in these fields together, running about just like Hilda’s little ones do now.”
“Nice to meet you all. I’m Ana.”
“She’s new, just came from The City.” Rose explained. The boys (really it should be men) all tried to hide their look of surprise from their faces but it was hard to do. I guess by now she had shaken off the look of a City Ghost they all them here. But really, she never looked like the type of people that came over on the boat. She’s too frail to be a fighter and not rough around the edges to be a criminal. Plus with all this work outside her body was really changing too. She’s gotten stronger and her skin started changing color. Rose had to explain that the whole color thing was normal. Ana thought that her skin was going to come off!
“Glad to have you here,” Flynn was the first to speak. Ana noticed right away his bright shining eyes from under the brim of his hat. His wavy black hair peeked out over his ears. His smile was just as bright as his eyes too. He seemed very composed and statuesque. He must be the leader of this little band of friends. Ana guessed. It was an easy guess to get right. Flynn exuded that type of down to earth confidence that people here looked to. He reminded her of Lu Lu, but much more calm.
The three men joined them for lunch and quickly ate up the leftovers as they told their, “momma” how their journey went. They had made a trip out past the edges of the city, to the next piece of civilization over. Ana was amazed! First there’s this second city, outside of The City, which was the only thing she knew to exist. She always thought that in the Big War everything else was wiped out. But now she realizes that there was a lot she believed when maybe she shouldn’t have. Now there’s not only a second city, but a third… and who knows how much is out there! A whole world that she thought was lost now opened up to her. All those amazing things she had read in the books her grandmother had hidden for her. Those could be out there for her to learn about. Sure, they don’t have a lot of the stuff that they used to back then, like electricity and cars. Airplanes and computers. Oh, what she would give to see those things. But maybe there’s someplace out there that has them. What else is out there that has been hidden from them?
Anyways, back to the men’s story. The had to take a long journey out to the next city, which was at the other end of the bay, towards the bottom. They were very patient with all of Ana’s questions, which she couldn’t help but ask. They drew a picture in the sand of the shape of the bay, showing her where they are, THe City and this other place they call Morgan town.
“What’s this place where we live called?” Ana asked.
“We live in the Oak township” Flynn replied.
They went there to go get new seeds for crops. They had a good season and had extra seeds leftover and extra dried vegetable so they decided to go and trade. It took a couple of days to get there and so they stayed awhile, learning from the other town’s growers. Plus, they said, a fight broke out with two traveling gangs just outside of the town, so they thought it better to wait.
“Otherwise they might take all out new seeds and then the trip would be for nothing.” Flynn explained.
Everyone was excited to see and hear about the fascinating new plants and seeds the three travelers brought back. They even brought a tree, with a big cloth tied around the roots.
“This is very exciting!” Flynn said, “It’s a new nut tree called Almonds. Now we won’t just have walnuts and acorns we find in the woods. There’s lots we can make with them too. We had wonderful little cakes that their cooks made for us.” That sounded delicious to Ana!
Flynn glanced over at Ana and gave her a little smile. She felt her cheeks go red.
“Who wants to help me choose a spot to plant our special new tree?” he bent down to ask Nicolas and Victoria, who had been clambering up his legs the entire conversation. They jumped for joy at the question, knowing it was aimed just at them! The three went off into the grove of trees to make their very important decision.
Rose looked over at Ana, “Ah, it’s good to have my boys back home. And I’m glad they got a chance to meet you.”
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