I didn’t protest that, even in my heart. Maybe it was true. I didn't talk anymore for the rest of the dinner.
After dinner, I went back to my room. Lying on the bed, I thought about what my father said, and why laird betrayed on me. With so many depressing thoughts and doubts, I felt asleep on my bed.
I was woken by the squeak sound came from the stairs. I slowly opened my eyes and found my mother was beside my bed. She seems to have something weighing heavily on her mind, but she was trying to pretend to be normal.
“Mommy, are you alright?” I asked in a dry sound while trying to sit straight.
“Honey, Can we have a small conversation tomorrow?” She said in a gentle voice, which made me felt very awkward, because she never talked to me like that.
I said, “Sure”, but deep in my heart, I was a little nervous, because today I lied to her about flora had kicked the fence and got away.
“Good night, have a sweet dream.” My mother said. She went down the stair, and I could hear that my father asked her if I was alright or not. I smiled and closed my eyes, because my father still cared about me.
I woke early the next morning, feeling hungry; I went down the stair to grab something to eat. When I reach the dining room, I found my father sat on the couch with his Robinson Crusoe. He looked up to me, but he didn't say anything. He implied me to sit down beside him on the couch. My heart was beating rapidly, because he looks more serious than usual.
“Did you let Flora go?” He asked in a hard voice which made me very nervous and uncomfortable.
I looked down and said, “Yes dad. Sorry but…”
“It’s alright,” He pats me on the shoulder. ”you don't need to explain.” He said in a voice just like yesterday when he said I was just a girl. He stood up and walked away. On his way, He turned to me and said, “You can stay in the house today. Your mom has something to talk to you.”
After I had my breakfast, my mother called me to help her clean up the kitchen. I didn't want to do it, but I didn't deny, because I couldn’t handle to see my father skinned the foxes in the cellar or shoot the horses. I collected all the dishes and put it in the sink. I washed all the dishes with soap water, and I wiped down the table. Even though it is boring, but it is better to see my father slaughter. I was surprised that I would think that clean dishes are better than doing farm work with my father. I smiled and thought that maybe I became more mature.
“Honey, could you come with me?” my mother called me when I was reading a book.
“Sure,” I replied, and followed her to her room. I didn't feel very nervous now, because I found that my mother has changed her attitude towards me. She took out a small box from a drawer. The wooden box is old and unique, but always seemed very expensive in a way. She opened the case and there were a pair of gold earrings and a weird key like the one to open a jail gate.
She handed me the case and said, “Honey, this pair of earrings and this case were passed down from your grandmother and grand-grandmother. It only passed down alone the female line when a girl became full-grown.” I was astonished, and she said, “Honey, from today on, you can help me in the house to do housework, and you can go to a church school in the town to become educated. Your father also agreed, He thinks that you are a smart and bright girl. You can handle your roles right?”
“Yes mommy…” I said. I couldn't believe what I just heard. I am going to a school!
“In this world, “She continued, “We have our own roles to do to keep us survived, and keep this fox cycle goes well. From the time when I heard that you couldn't see Flora got killed, I have known that my girl has grown from a child into an adult. Take a great care of your own responsibility, and then our family would be more stable.”
