My Way To You

Flowers on his mother's ċhėst was not something he wanted to see, ever. "Me? You got dirty because of me?" Mrs. Thax asked gently. "No... I snuck away from big brother when he was checking on the pelts. Then I went up the flowery hill with the stream and worked on the wreath." Donte admitted.

"So you were being sneaky and scared your brother?" Mrs. Thax asked as she tried to sit up. Davion composed himself and moved to help his mother sit. "When he found me, I got scared. I knew I was gonna get a spanking, so I ran." Donte replied. Mrs. Thax let out a small laugh. Davion could feel his mood lighten when he heard the laugh.

She sounded so youthful and lively as she laughed but his eyes shifted to her right leg. "I accidently dropped your gift when I ran. So I turned around and tried to run back but I tripped." Donte said with a shaky voice. "Ahh." Mrs. Thax said calling Davion's attention. "So your brother probably panicked and jumped to protect you?" Mrs. Thax asked.

"We rolled down together and landed in the curvy part of the stream." Donte replied. "So that's what happened." Mrs. Thax said as she lifted the wreath and placed it on her head. "Was it worth it?" Mrs. Thax asked as she beamed towards her boys. "Oh y-fffff." Donte started but Davion covered his mouth.

"Ma you look beautiful but we know nothing is more important then the blessing garbs." Davion replied. "That's right." Mrs. Thax replied with a firm head nod. Davion removed his hand from Donte's mouth. "Davion, see if you can clean the blessing garbs. Don't get help from the others, they must not know what happened to the garbs." Mrs. Thax instructed.

"Yes ma." Davion said as he picked up Donte. "But ma, rest for now. I'll take care of everything and when it's time to go, I'll wake you up." Davion said as he looked at his mother's face. Her eyes shook but she still managed to smile. "Thank you." She replied. Davion pursed his lips and gave his mother one last look before leaving the room. 

"Let's take a bath. Maybe we can clean your garbs along with you." Davion said with a playful tone but Donte could only nod his head. "You okay little man?" Davion asked. Donte shook his head no. "Dad is late." Donte whispered. Davion tightened his grip on Donte, fear creeping into his heart. "It's okay... let's just focus on getting you clean." 

.....

"Go on now, go join your little friends." Davion said as he urged Donte to join the small group of 8 year olds all dressed in white garbs with gold threaded trim and embroideries. Donte shook his head no as he hung to his brother's arm. "They don't like me very much." Donte admitted quietly. Davion sighed as he bent down and looked his brother in the eyes. 

"So there isn't one kid there that you want to stand with?" He asked softly. Donte shook his head no. Davion glanced at the group and caught one of the girl's gazes. She looked worried as she placed her hands on her ċhėst and watched the two. "Are you sure?" Davion asked in a teasing tone.

Donte nodded his head vigorously. "I don't know..." Davion said with a giant grin. "It kinda, sorta, just maybe looks like Celily may be just a tiny bit worried about you not joining." He continued to say. Donte looked back and saw that Celily was looking at him. Her round face instantly turned red as her grey eyes slightly teared up. Donte smiled awkwardly and it caused her to turn away.

"No she doesn't." Donte pouted. Davion placed his hands on Donte's shoulder as he shook his head. "If mom was here she would tell you. 'Donte, how dare you not know what a friend looks like! Now stop with that silliness and go talk to her!'" Davion said as he tried to mimic a female pitched voice but it came out cracked and silly.

Donte laughed after he heard Davion's impression but the laugh was short lived. A sad expression replaced his smile and Donte could no longer met his brother's gaze. "Do you think she'll be okay?" Donte asked. Davion gave the biggest and brightest smile to his brother. "Of course! She just needs to sleep a little longer." 

Donte didn't look convinced. Davion stood and dusted his only pair of church pants. "Let's go talk to Celily together. Even if you don't want to walk with the group, you can still walk with a friend." Davion said as he held out his hand. Donte nodded his head. 

After a while Davion walked away feel pretty good about the situation. Celily was an extremely shy girl but she was brave enough to hold Donte's hand. Donte made a good friend today and won't be alone but then his thoughts went back home. More specifically to his mother's right leg. 

He had checked on her before they left and saw that she had broken out into a fever. He quickly put some herbs into their diffuser to help relieve the fever but there was nothing he could do about her leg. She was able to remove the prosthetic but the socket that cradled her knee was covered in blood and puss. 

Suddenly the fiddles and flutes started to play and it called Davion's thoughts back. The small parade of children started to head their way to the church. Davion quickly joined the group of parents who marched behind the band. They all marched from the village square up the main street while onlookers threw flower petals into the air as they all walked by. 

The walk didn't talk too long as they continued down the main street to the edge of the village, there the children waited for the musicians to move to the side and the parents to take their place beside their children. Once everyone was united the newly formed group would bow to the villagers before they made their way up to the church.

Davion held Donte's hand as the marched in a single line towards the church, They could hear the faint music of the fiddles and flutes as they walked up the dirt path through a lush green meadow.