Page 2 of Perfect Tragedy
“We’ll be fast.”
With one last look of longing next door, I carefully climb down the tree and run across the yard with my brother toward our barn. Our house, unlike the one next door is blue. We also have a large barn behind it, but it’s just a boring ‘ol white one - not at all as fun as red. We run past the large garden our mom and dad have spent hours tending, and then fly past our cherry trees too. Most kids likely hate their chores, but we don’t mind ours because our chores mean taking care of the animals we have on our property. Five horses, two goats, six chickens, two dogs, and one barn cat. She’s pregnant though and mom says it won’t be long and we’ll have a litter of kittens. At least for a while. Mom is already reminding us that we will not be able to keep them all.
Aside from harvesting our wheat field, which is no small feat, we sell the fruit from our trees at the local farmer’s market and sometimes mom will sell vegetables from our garden too. Even with lots of canning we grow more than we could ever consume alone so we add it to our wares for selling. We even have neighbor friends that will come by our house and pick them up because they don’t want to chance them getting sold out at market. Mom and dad give Jack and I money from our sales for our hard work helping and we usually take it and spend it at The Sweet Spot Bakery or the Twisted Sisters Ice Cream Shack.
When it’s time for our wheat to be harvested, sometimes my dad will let me sit on his lap while he drives the combine. It’s awesome watching the large machine reap, thresh and winnow all the wheat. It’s a big job and my favorite is when big trucks come to our property to pick up orders to help ship it out. Dad says it goes all over the United States and we like to spend time guessing and making up stories about where it’s headed after it’s picked up and all the things that it becomes.
In the summer, we also organize horseback riding trail rides and tours which are a big hit with tourists and locals alike. Some couples like to have what they call romantic date nights which is just gross, but mom says it’s the people that come during the summer months for some “country living” that really helps “butter our bread” - whatever that means.
Walking into the barn I head to the bag of chicken feed and scoop some into the tin cup. Walking it to the chicken pen to feed them, I laugh as they come running after hearing the feed hit against the tin cup.
Feeding all the animals takes a little longer that I’d like but I can’t help but visit with them a little while I take care of them. Finished, I’m just about to grab Jack so we can run back to the treehouse to continue our spy mission when I hear our mother calling for us.
Stepping out of the barn, I immediately see her walking toward me. Dressed in jeans and a blue t-shirt, she has her long dark hair pulled out of her face into a braid that hangs over her shoulder. Her doctor’s bag is clutched in her hand, making it clear she’s gotten a call that she needs to answer.
“Sienna,” she says my name again.
“What?” I ask impatiently, my mind already on wondering if the new neighbors have finally showed up yet.
“Manners, Sienna.”
“Sorry,” I mumble apologetically. “I meant to say, yes?”
Her mouth turns up at the corners as if she finds me amusing, “That’s better. I’m on my way to the Fox’s house. Jinxy, their cow, is about to give birth. Do you want to tag along?”
My nose wrinkles at the thought of watching the Fox’s cow give birth. I’ve seen a horror birth show before when one of our own barn cats, Snow White, had a litter of kittens. It’s really not an experience I care to repeat. In fact, I usually think twice about petting her now. Mom, our town’s veterinarian, kept calling it the “miracle of life,” but all I saw was a seriously gross situation I try to force out of my mind whenever I see her.
“No, thank you, mom. Jack and I are going to see what we can find out about our new neighbors,” I admit.
And that was a mistake.
Putting her hands on her hips she gives me a stern warning, “Don’t you two go over there being nosey. Moving is hard and busy enough, they don’t need a couple of kids getting in the way. I already told you that we’ll go over there together at some point, after they get settled a bit, and introduce ourselves, okay?”
“We won’t, mom, I promise. We’re just going to watch. From the treehouse.”
“Fine, but that’s as close as you get.”
“Promise,” I nod.
“Where’s your brother?”
“Here!” Jack yells popping his head out of the barn making it clear he was listening to our whole conversation. “Hi, mom.”
“Did you hear all that?” She’s no fool.
“Yes,” he admits.
“Alright then, stay out of trouble you two. Don’t be a nuisance to your father, either. He has a lot on his plate today, okay?”
“Okay,” we agree in chorus.
“I’ll be back in a little while,” she calls over her shoulder as she walks away.
Jack and I close up the barn and make sure all the animals are fine and then we dash back to the treehouse as soon as we’re finished. Looking up into the branches, I smile, excitement making my stomach flip.
Without a word Jack begins to climb. Once he’s up and inside, I follow, leaving the hatch open. I’ve concocted a plan to vacate quickly once we see their arrival and get first dibs. Jack is clueless. He’s already at the window looking across toward our neighbor’s house. Immediately, I grab the binoculars from their hiding place in my excitement forgetting that I’m going to have some explaining to do. As soon as Jack sees them he does a double take and emits a mixed sound of surprise and annoyance.
“You took those from my room without asking?”
