It had been ages since Valentina had received a letter in the mail bearing that simple, near forgotten name. But the the content of that letter were such she left her home in a bustle of activity. Swift yet dignified, straight backed and straight laced, a hard nose and flint grey eyes sharp and fastidious as she walked the path.

Across the city, a similar scene played out at the house of Dorothy, who cackled in hideous fashion as she all but leapt into the air ready to whirl away across the township like the spitting image of the old broomsticks and crooked hats of fairy tales. by the time the old woman met up with her companion she was practically a shade of green from pushing her old bones so harshly.

It was written on old paper that smelled foul, the script shaky and uncertain, but the hand behind it all was unmistakable to them. To each of them it was like a treasure had been found once more. So they came as fast as they could. Valentina with her straight laces and clipped tone arrived at the house first, but even for the stone carved and outwardly cold woman, the was a moment of soft hesitation as she approached the door. pausing in thought as she glanced over her shoulder, and then groaned as the gangly round mess of Dorothy came a blazing down the path being cashed by some random assortment of stray animals and her voice practically hoarse from shouting. A goose honked as a pair of cats hissed at each other, and an old faithful hound simple starred at the surrounding chaos through tired lids.

"Leave me alone ye Beasties! Go on Shoo! Shove off, Scatter!" she cried as Valentina starred on in grim disapproval of the scene.

"Twenty one years and this is how I find you, mucking about with animals and fattened up like a Sabbath Roast." she clicked coldly. "And here I thought you'd start watching your figure some day." She stamped her cane and the street seemed to fill with a cold sharp force, like a sudden frost or the sound of a tree branch snapping under hailstones. The animals froze then scattered, toppling Dorothy as they fled between her ankles.

Dorothy sputtered and rose, wiping muck from her eye and sneering "You miserably old wretch you, cold enough to freeze a pond in spring time or summer. And no husband either, not even after all this time." she spat "I've seen boulders that weren't as stiff as you. I figured you'd freeze to death in your own house, away from the rest of us."

"Bite your Tongue! I'll not tolerate the ravings of a poultry thief and lout." Valentina retorted "You act as if nothing has happened, like I ought to be happy to be standing here, darken these streets with you and lollygagging about!"

Dorothy laughed "You haven't even said hello or Good Morning yet Vee, not too different from how I remember things. You always were trouble."

Valentina snorted in retort as Dorothy smiled "Oh yes, Miss Valentina, always the stern responsible one, except for when it came to Brion Bates at primary and desperately wanted to dance with him,"

" that has nothing to do with this, I was young and foolish." the stoic woman retorted. but Dorothy continued in a shrill mocking voice.

"Oh Yes, of course, but then there was the time when we all went to the river and she was the first to jump in, totally nak-" Valentina was a furious crimson as she turned to slap the larger woman in the face.

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"Never speak of that, Ever!" she cried like a banshee before settling herself "Its, Private. And I don't wish to talk about, that."

Dorothy hung her head "Yeah, especially what happened next. But it wasn't your fault! We didn't see the rock till she hit it and besides, we was kids then and-"

"Lord Be merciful, don't you ever stop talking?" Valentina snapped. The two of them stood in silence as the distance past clouded their minds like fog. It was a full minute before Dorothy broke the silence.

"You going to knock or should I?" she asked. Valentina sighed. "I hadn't decided yet."

They stood there a moment longer, silent as the grave.

"I'm going to knock." Valentina said. "No, Don't" Dorothy pleaded "I'm not ready."

"Oh stop you whining, honestly you are still such a child." She chided, tapping on the door with a few strong raps. Nothing.

"Maybe she's not at home." Dorothy offered. "Or maybe she doesn't live here? the address is so old."

"And you need to shut you mouth, be here all day with your belly aching."

She knocked again and they waited in silence, Dorothy fidgeting and biting her nails. "I hope she recognizes us." she muttered. Valentina tried not to groan or roll her eyes too hard. Valentina smoothed out her flat black dress and scowled at something.

"You've gotten mud on my dress." she scoffed. Dorothy looked down and shrugged "I got mud in my boots, doesn't bother me too bad."

"It's disgusting, what were you doing, wrestling a hog through manure?" disgust and repulsion dripping from Valentina's voice.

"I don't pick what them hogs dig into, I just feed them and send them to Jeb when they get fat." Dorothy replied nonplused.

"Jeb?" Valentina asked "Husband?"

"Butcher."

"Oh,"

The waited a bit longer before Valentina knocked again, a bit louder this time. But to no answer still, and so they waited a bit longer.

"Did you every find that missing brooch of yours?" Valentina asked, Dorothy looked up from her fingers "Huh? Oh, no. Sorry, Why do you ask?" the woman sighed "No reason I suppose, it was rather nice though." Dorothy smiled "Yeah it was, painted like a rose, I was pretty but I was too fond of it." Valencia crooked a eye at that "Really? you wore it almost everywhere." to which Dorothy shrugged "Its been years since I was young enough to care about such things. Lord that was so long ago, that, and uh, She gave it to me."

Valentina held a pained look on her face "I'm sorry I didn't know. I figured it was just-"

"Just what?"

Valentina steady herself "Never mind, I'm, Its just, Oh I shouldn't say this but-" desperate not to look in Dorothy's direction, blurted it out "I've missed you all terribly those first few years. And I'm just not sure I can face her, I-I feel so responsible for what happened." Valentina seemed to be turning pale, save for the rouge painted onto her cheeks. Dorothy touched her arm and then hugged her, which startled the woman.

"It'll be fine, I'm sure it'll be just like old times once she comes out. Just you see." Dorothy reassured, Valentina blinked, swallowed thickly, and tried to breath. "Dorothy." she said slowly "Yes?" was the rounder woman's answer . Valentina shuddered and spoke harshly "You are getting mud on my dress." the tender moment comes to an abrupt end as the separate from each other, fumbling over each other as Dorothy tries to brush the dirt of the other woman's clothes while Valentina tries to slap her away. As the scene is playing out, two old women bickering on a strangers doorstop. The Door open and the freeze in place.

The old women star at each other for a moment, the two in front of the door and the one behind it. the two pull away from each other, Valentina dusts herself off and hesitates for a moment. "Alice? We got your letter and we came as soon as we could I-" she pauses "Do you, remember us?"

The only response they got was an explosive shriek of panic and a the door slamming violently as they were rudely shut out.

Dorothy stood there agape for a moment before shrugging "I suppose she didn't recognize us." Only to be swatted on the shoulder by Valentina.