Chapter 11 Big Eyes

She turned and smiled her toothless smile at them. “They turned out just right.” Referring to the cookies, “All of you look fresh after your evening walk.”

“Not I,” said Ivan as he sat down and kicked off his boots. Rose mouthed his words while she habitually picked up his boots and put them by the fireplace. Unlike his fighting skills her Father was very predictable with his words. “I have been walking all day so I am not fresh at all.”

Elena gave Rose a mirthful glance as she hung up both their hoods. Grandmother, completely ignoring her son’s complaints glanced longingly at Elena’s white hood while stroking Rose’s hair. If only I could have duplicated that thread.”

“Oh Grandmother this thing is so old. It has been in my family for years. I just cannot part with it.” Quite naturally Elena had switched places with her and was getting the cookies to fall onto a plate.

“Ginger.” Rose wrinkled her nose.

“You love ginger.” Grandmother waved a hand to repel the nonsense that had just been thrown at her.

“Not since you told her that it will make her into a woman faster.” Ivan grunted.

Seeing Rose’s cheeks go red Elena shushed him.

“Well what is wrong with being a beautiful young woman? I miss it.” Grandmother chuckled and sat as Elena brought her cushy chair away from the loom and to the table.

“Ugh I will not be able to hunt or fight or catch anything if I must be a wife. I shall just get round and fat.” Rose grabbed three cookies, stuffing one into her pocket Grandmother grabbed one back with a reflex that still surprised Elena after so many years. “That is how you get fat my dear.”

“Oh I never get as heavy as the others.” Rose announced with youthful pride as Elena bit her lip and took the bread from Ivan setting it on the cutting board near the stove.

“That is because you exercise in the morning with your Father and walk here in the evenings with your mother.” She winked and reached out to hand back the cookie. Suddenly her face dropped as Rose leaned over the table to take the cookie from her.

“Your face, it looks more swollen than usual today.”

“Babushka, do not jest I told you I shall not get fat.” Rose reached again for the cookie that was being held just far enough away from her.

“Have you done any extra walking today child? Come across new flowers? When I look at you closely both your noses are awfully red.” Grandmother’s eyes narrowed as she looked back and forth between Elena and Rose.

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“As a matter of fact we were picking flowers.” Elena turned her back to the woman to put up the pan. The mortar and pestle fell over on the table.

“Hmm, bad luck I was crushing pepper.” Grandmother spat. Ivan took a pinch and threw it over his shoulder. “Where are the flowers? I would like to dry them.”

“Mother and I got to talking and we forgot them.” Rose piped in rather loudly.

“And what was so distracting that this poor old woman does not get flowers? Perhaps, your Mother was speaking to you of Sadko?”

Ivan’s fists clenched and Rose’s face turned red. Elena’s face could not be seen for she was still turned towards the cutting board near the oven slicing Grandmother’s bread.

“No,” Rose’s eyes turned, pleading she did not wish for her Grandmother to tell her Father she had driven through the edge of the woods with Sadko. Grandmother placed the mortar upright and waited for explanation.

“We spoke of Father Winter of the cold days.” Rose bit into a cookie quickly stuffing her mouth.

Elena quickly turned around, placing down Grandmother’s plate. “I told her how I despised Father Winter for taking everything from me”. She went around and placed a hand on Ivan’s shoulder. “I told her I did not miss it.” Grandmother watched the mortar and pestle carefully than nodded as it seemed the meal looked appetizing to her. She began eating it with her fingers.

“Yes, ugly enough that we must deal with the Frost. Such a being is terrible enough sneaking in upon our repose destroying our crops and gardens. You would do well to listen to your Mother and always fear winter.” Ivan spoke with a knowing eye on his child.

“It is the Frost who pains my bones and brings in this awful chill.” Grandmother agreed.

“Father did the new traps for the bear work today? The men did not say.” Rose was done with the subject and ready to move on to one of interest. Yet her Grandmother seemed to smile as if she had said something funny.

“No and the bear got away from me.” Ivan lit his pipe. “I am sorry Mother if it helps I have determined the cool pools where he could be feeding. It will not be long.”

“You killed nearly every bear in the forest, is one really doing so much harm?” Elena entreated.

“Your sympathy for that creature is misplaced wife. What do you think it was that dragged your parents away? A man eater is a man eater and needs to be destroyed.”

Elena said no more.

“Father let me help you catch the bear!” Rose poured some milk into a cup to finish her cookie.

“Absolutely not,” Ivan took the rest of the pitcher of milk from her and began to drink it down.

“I think it is a wonderful idea. Rose can lay traps so long as she only puts them in the garden.” Grandmother’s lips smacked as she spoke.

“And so long as she warns the children. You must tell them where you place the traps Rose.” Elena added and Ivan grunted.

“Does that mean Nina and Hilda too? They are not children.” Rose said with a wicked smile.

“Yes, Nina and Hilda, they are still the daughters of our neighbors even if they are no longer children to themselves...” Elena lectured smiling. Grandmother laughed and she looked at Rose proudly. “Come child help me to bed! You are after all after my own flesh and blood.” Elena went over and dotingly wiped her wrinkled face with a cloth.

Rose did as bid for she was old enough, taking pride in the job. She tucked Grandmother in and kissed her on the cheek. She smelled of burning hickory wood coals.

“What will we do tomorrow Babushka?” Rose whispered excitedly.

“Why tomorrow I will practice with you how to make a goodies basket. That way you can carry all your traps and trinkets back and forth. It will carry as much as you will need and nothing you do not.”

Rose hugged her. “One day I hope I grow to be just like you.”

As they waved goodbye Grandmother pulled up the covers and closed her eyes “Me too,”