The early morning activities on Mr.Guthrie’s farm sounded like an orchestra five minutes before a large performance, un-synchronized and full of different tones and expressions. The mud covered cows groaned as Casper the Jack Russell chased them into the milking parlor, accompanied by the clonking of their hooves on the slippery manure filled concrete floor. A few words were uttered by the farmer that only Casper could understand as he partnered with old man Guthrie to try and achieve some sort of order.
Emily and Pamela were half way through their two week stay as part of a work training program for their studies. On leave from the nearby agricultural collage they had been given this opportunity to experience life on a real working dairy farm.. The two friends had learned a lot so far and especially about how not to stand behind a cow when it raises its tail. They liked Mr.Guthrie but they grew impatient of his plodding along and country-like ways. Neither of them could understand how he could keep the farm running by himself but he had promised his late wife that he would never give up and that had become his strength in his later years. Emily’s wellington boots had a hole in the right foot and she had grown frustrated with a soaking sock within the first few minutes of her daily routine. She was in need of a change, even a brief walk through the nearby fields would be a welcome break for her as she thought of ways of avoiding the daily task of scraping up the fresh steaming stinking manure.
After giving her excuse of a headache and needed to go to the local store for tablets, she quickly made her exit through the five bar gate that swung backwards and forwards as old man Guthrie had not got round to fixing it yet, three years after the hinge had fallen off.
Emily was inquisitive in some areas and fearful in others. As a young child, her fear of spiders prevented her from climbing a tree. Every time she saw one she would remember how she panicked as she almost grabbed one at the beginning of her climb and therefore had never got over the fear. Her reason for climbing was to see the wonderful view that was only visible from its branches high above, a view that her elder brother had dared her to see.
The sound of Casper’s barking disappeared into the distance as Emily made her way down the lane that led to the fields where the crows gathered. The morning sun was shining and a sense of peace began to consume her as she admired the brilliantness of the wild daffodils. A mixture of colors created a striking contrast of yellows and lush green of the grass and it made Emily feel like a young child in a overstocked sweet shop. Her senses had opened and she began to see more than she had seen before, the trees, the leaves, everything seemed to have more life and more texture as if seen from a new pair of eyes for the very first time. Past fields of rape seed plants and numerous bushes, Emily suddenly realized that she had forgotten the way she had come. Trying to imagine what she had seen as significant markers to find her way home it dawned on her that she was lost. Lost, and she was lost alone. Approaching a wooded area she was forced to accept the fact that she was getting a little scared. Being alone is one thing, but being alone in a forest is another.
The trees stood tall like soldiers on parade, the sunlight flickering between the trunks with an intensity that was new to her. In the hope of finding a way home Emily walked deeper into the forest.. Branches crackled and leaves rustled under her feet and the occasional mouse could be seen scurrying away with its tail swishing as it ran. Then suddenly as if the trees had joined forces against her the light vanished. Darkness lived in the middle of this forest and Emily was alone surrounded by it. However hard she tried be heard, there were no ears to listen, no body to help her, no-one to guide her. Emily was in a area that she didn’t know and had no idea of the way back to a safe place.
To be continued......
© Travelling Boy content belongs to Philip D Norris
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