The sky was blue and the sun was bright, just like any day. Emerald was sitting in the most beautiful, colorful vibrant tulip field.

She was thinking about a boy she saw at the train station the other day coming from her grandparent's home far away. Emerald touched the firm stem of a tulip, growing strong and tall taller than the rest of the flowers. The boy at the train station she remembered was the ticket master’s son.

Emerald doesn’t know much about him since she stays at her family’s farm and helps around. The boy was sitting on a bench reading a book, oh how much Emerald wanted to know what the boy was reading since she is obsessed with books.

She’s never seen a boy so engrossed in reading. Let alone a boy reading a book at all. Only in school when the teacher tells them to get their readers out and “go to chapter 11” he would say and everyone would read along. Or more should I say Emerald has never seen a boy read in his free time.

Emerald sat and stared at the flowers more colorful than candy and there were hundreds of them. Then Emerald had a thought.

She got up and ran. She had never run faster in her life. She had to hold onto her sun hat and her dress flowed behind her. That's how fast she was going. She's never run home faster in her life.

Emerald almost slammed the door open when she got home even though she was out of breath. The flower fields and her family’s farm are quite a walk. Emerald stood at the doorway. She grabbed her coat off the hanger next to the door.

Then she noticed a fresh basket of bread rolls in front of her. Emerald couldn’t resist. She grabbed a dinner roll out of the basket on the kitchen table.

Emerald started to open the door but her mom had come downstairs. “Em, where are you going?”

“Train station!” Emerald said, running out the door with her coat half on and her roll held in her mouth.

She knew she had to run out because her mom would disapprove of her going to the train station. Emerald realized that the train station is about a three-hour walk only if you were walking quickly though. Emerald looked to the left. The horse stables! She thought to herself. That would make the trip a lot quicker.

She ran over and put her coat fully on. She saw a lantern with matches on a hay bail next to her. Do I need it? Emerald procrastinated. Emerald grabbed it just in case and placed it in the horse's satchel. Hopped on the horse named Stallion even though the horse is a girl and left.

Stallion was going so fast her hair became undone, and Emerald’s hands were shaking as well. But I don’t know why she was going so fast. Was it because she was excited to know the book or the boy? Or maybe she wanted to see the book and come back home quickly. I don't think Emerald even knows.

…

Out of focus Emerald hit her head on a tree branch poking outward. She pulled on the reins too hard. Stallion stopped so suddenly that Emerald fell off.

The dirty gravel got all up in her dress and stockings and pebbles in her shoes. Emerald sighed, got herself up, and brushed off the dirt from her dress. She goes over to Stallion and brushes her hand across her mane.

“Luckily neither of us got hurt, let’s slow down the pace for now not much longer.” Emerald brushes her hand through her hair and pats it down. Her beautiful deep ginger hair. She hopped back onto Stallion and they just went to a canter.

…

The train station was small yet many people used it. It was practically empty since the last train of the day had just left a moment ago. There was no one there besides the ticket master and his son. The ticket master was inside the train station organizing something under the counter. The boy was outside on a bench reading, turning page, turning page after one another.

Emerald got off her Stallion and walked up the two stairs to a deck since the train station was elevated from the ground. Her shoes made a clicky sound when she walked on the wood. Emerald stood there next to the boy but he was oblivious to her presence.

“Hello there, may I ask what book you are reading?” Emerald said with her back straight, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. and looking down at him.

The boy has a slight jump scare when he looks up at her. “I…I, uh,” he turned the book to look at the cover, “Dracula.” “And may I ask why are you asking this question?” He folds the page, shuts the book, and leaves it on his lap. He put both of his hands on the book. He had smooth brown hair that had slight curls at the end, his eyes being brown too, with his light skin.

“I'm Emerald, I was just curious about your book because I have never seen a boy so interested in reading.” The boy took a deep breath for unknown reasons.

“I'm Kasen, I can see why you've never seen a boy read in his free time since none of the boys, not even my father, read.” Kasen… Emerald thought. She had read that name in a name book(yes she reads name books) his name meant pure, and keeper of…. Emerald had forgotten the last part; all she knew was that his name meant keeper of something.

“KASEN! If we don’t go now we are going to be late for dinner!” Kasen’s father yelled.

“Well, I should get going if I want to have food tonight.” Kasen grasps his book.

“I should too, my parents would be mad if I only came home after dark.” Emerald turns around but her hand brushes Kasen’s elbow that was on the arm of the brench. They disappear.

Complete darkness

Emerald would normally speak but she was too afraid. She stretched out her arms to the sides and she felt someone to the left of her. She looked to her left and nobody was there. She could feel the person but not see them. She felt the person's upper arm and used both her hands to squeeze it. She did it without any thought. “OW!” She recognized the voice, it was Kasen. She let go of his arm and held his hand. Out of fear. Kasen slightly squeezed her hand out of fear.

Ring… Ring… Ring…

Church bells.

It became so bright they had to close their eyes. Once Emerald's eyes adjusted, she looked to her side. She could see Kasen, whose eyes were still adjusting. She let go of his hand and looked in front of them. A wedding.

She saw to the left of her rows and rows of pews filled with people. Then the back of a groom with a priest to the right of him. The groom was looking at his bride in her wonderful white gown. Holding a bouquet of white roses. But then Emerald realized she couldn’t see her face because it was covered by her veil.

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Kasen looked in awe, nothing to say, no response, no questions. The bride and groom kissed and walked down the aisle. Still haven't seen their faces. Who are these people? Kasen felt a firm hand start shaking him. “Son? Son? We need to get home.” He heard his father's voice. The married couple left the church through the grand church doors.

The train station. They were back. The ticket master was shaking his son. “Kasen? What’s the matter with you?” Emerald glanced to her left and Kasen was standing there.

But- but Emerald pondered. He was just to my left sitting down. Kasen snapped back to reality. He acknowledged his father was there with his hand on Kasen’s shoulder.

“Sorry Father…” Kasen puts his hand on his father’s elbow, “ I just got lost in my thoughts for a moment.” “Okay. Just don’t do it again.” His father said while proceeding inside the train station to grab the cloth that carried their lunch. Emerald and Kasen didn’t speak a single word. Emerald just took off to her steed and Kasen passed over to his father.

Emerald didn't know what that had been, or if it had even actually happened. Her family was always telling her that she was lost in her thoughts too much. She had never believed them, but maybe they were right. Maybe she was starting to see and hear things that didn't exist, without being able to tell between what was real and what wasn't. The thought scared her, so she stopped thinking about it for now. She had to get home anyway.

With a jolt, she realized that she had been standing there next to her horse doing nothing for a few minutes. She quickly started her horse at a trot and soon sped up to a canter. She would have gone faster, but she didn't want to run into a tree again. It would be terrible if I ran into a tree and got knocked out. When she was a little more than three-quarters home the sun started setting. She urged Stallion on a bit faster.

As she rode the sky turned orange, then pink. Every time her thoughts went to the strange wedding she forced them away. When the sky had deepened to a dark shade of violet and it was almost dark she finally reached the stable. She hurried to get Stallion situated and settled in for the night. Looking towards the horse satchel she hesitated. “Ah, I will empty it tomorrow.” She had already taken it off her horse, so it was ok if she left it for the night. Then she rushed to her house, running fast but not as fast as she had earlier.

When Emerald got to the house she barely remembered not to slam open the door. She opened it slowly and walked in, hanging her coat on the rack. At the table sat her brothers, Ruben and James. Ruben was her older brother and worked in the field. He was nineteen years old and very tall, like, six feet tall. James was her younger brother. He was nine and his mouth was full of the buns from earlier.

“Hi, Em,” he greeted. “I saved you a bun,” Ruben said nothing. He was usually tired at the end of the day.

“Hello,” Emerald said back. She walked over to the table and picked up the single bun left in the basket. She was hungry from the horse ride.

“You missed dinner,” Ruben said. Emerald slumped. “Mom left you a bowl. It's in the kitchen.”

Emerald saw a small ember on the floor where Ruben had moved a chair to sit next to. “Is father home?” Emerald asked while walking over to Ruben, who was in the kitchen.

“Why? Need to talk to him.” Ruben says not answering the question but Emerald got her answer.

“He’s still on the farm,” James exclaimed, taking a bun out of his mouth to speak, “the harvest season is taking over him.”

Emerald grabs the bowl of cold chicken soup. Probably the coldest she’s ever had. “Just like last year….” Emerald says under her breath replying to what James had said. She sits at the dinner table next to the fireplace.

“You better put that out, father would be furious if he saw you using the fireplace without him.” She takes a sip of her soup, grabs her bun, dips it in her soup, and finishes off the bun.

“So what? I’m an adult now.” Ruben puts his hands behind his head and leans in his chair.

“Yeah so? Dad won’t take that as a reason they still treat you like a child.” Emerald takes a sip of her soup.

Their father arrives home. Ruben didn’t put out the fire. He takes off his boots and places his sun hat on the table. He goes over to the water pump to wash his hands. “Hello, father!” James exclaims.

“Ruben, you’re on outhouse duty.” Emerald’s father says.

“Ugh. Why?” He places his head between his knees.

“Because you made a fire without my supervision, I still don’t trust you.” Ruben takes his time leaving the house to the outhouse.

…

Home Kasen opened the door to his small home. He saw his younger siblings run after each other while he heard his mother sing and make dinner in the kitchen.

Kasen turned to his father while they were entering the house. “Father, I have a question.”

Kasen’s father put his hand on Kasen's shoulder and replied, “How about you ask me at dinner, okay?” He walked down the narrow hallway to the kitchen.

Kaden headed upstairs but his siblings stopped him. “No entry,” said Ruth. Spreading her arms out to block off the stairwell. She constantly acted like she had ten cups of coffee, even though she's never had coffee.

“You need a passcode,” said Allen, crossing his arms and giving a pouty face. Allen is five and is very whiny.

“Yeah!” Velma says, trying to add something. Velma is eight and takes after Ruth a lot but she is much calmer.

“Oh really?” Kasen puts his hands on his hips. He puts his Dracula book under his armpit, picks up Ruth, and moves her out of the way.

“Ah! Put me down, Kasen!” Ruth cries out while flapping her arms and flicking her legs. Kasen places her down away from the stairs, and she doesn't dare to block him again. Same with Velma and Allen who stand there beside the stairs. Passing by them Kaden tickles both of their stomachs and they both giggle.

As Kasen walks up the stairs, Ruth wails “Hey! No fair!” Kasen turns around and walks up the stairs backward. “Yes, it is not fair. I'm sorry you’re frustrated.” He turns back around, “But life is not fair also!” Kasen says finishing what he calls ‘Kasen's words of knowledge.’ Ruth hates it when Kasen speaks of ‘wisdom’.

…

Clink, clank

The sounds of metal spoons hitting the bowls were all that could be heard at the dinner table. The silence was deafening. Kasen takes another spoonful of his chowder before asking the question he was going to ask his father before.

“Father, I was going to ask you earlier if I could go to school.” Kasen places his hands in his lap. “You know since I don't do much and I think school will at least help me.”

His father took a deep breath in. He exhales and says, “As long as you take your siblings to school I approve.” “Thank you, Father,” Kasen says. “You can start tomorrow.” His mother says. Kasen smiles.

Kasen lays in his bed the wind howls and he stares at his window near his bed. Kasen never really thought about going to school. But there is a high chance Emerald goes to school. So maybe he can figure out what happened earlier today. He falls asleep pleased, and curious about today.

…

Emerald flops onto her bed after finishing her cold soup. Kasen, like why did that happen? Where did we go?

Things looked different as well like she saw things she's never seen before. Someone was holding an object that was a rectangle-like shape and the things on it were moving. So strange.

But Emerald was more focused on how she couldn't see the bride's face. Why? She hears Ruben groan and slams his bedroom door after cleaning the outhouse.

“Serves him right,” Emerald says under her breath, Emerald moves to stare at the ceiling. But then her bedroom door opens. “Em?”

It was James.

“Is everything alright James?” Emerald says getting up from her bed.

“The wind is making sounds and it's scary.” His arms are on his chest and he is shaking.

“Aren't you a little too old to be scared?” Emerald says.

“No…” James says, “That's only when you turn ten.”

“Well, how can I help you overcome your fear?” The wind howls. James jumps out of fear.

“Come here,” Emerald says, waving her hand at James. He comes over and sits next to her on the bed. Emerald lights a candle for some light.

“Thanks,” James says calmly while crossing his arms and hugging his stomach. They both lay down on their backs on the wrong side of the bed. Emerald waits for James to fall asleep. He snores loudly. Emerald puts out the candle and goes to bed.

…

The next morning Emerald woke up early, like always. James was still in her bed. I should let him sleep. She had chores to do every day, but James only did them on alternating days. Because he wasn't even ten yet, or so her parents said.

She went downstairs and into the chicken coop, where she gathered the eggs and refilled their feeder. Then she dropped the eggs off inside before going to the stables. There she refilled the horses’ food and changed the hay. Then she went home.

Inside her mom was cooking some of the eggs that Emerald had gathered, and the rest of the family was sitting at the table. James had two stacks of books and small chalkboards, by his chair. They were both tied with some rope. “I got yours for you!” He said. Emerald's mom walked in with the eggs and some toast.

“James,” she said sternly, “you were not supposed to eat all those buns yesterday! They were supposed to last us for at least three days.” He grinned sheepishly but said nothing. Then she turned to Emerald.

“And you were out far too late last night. You missed dinner!”

“Sorry,” Emerald muttered.

“From now on, I want you to be home before dinner. And needless to say, you need to tell where you are going, and wait for me to give you permission.” She looked at Emerald pointedly.

“Sorry,” she said again. The rest of the family had gotten very quiet during this and was looking at their laps. They ate breakfast with only a little talking and afterward, Ruben and her dad headed out to the fields, and James and Emerald started off to school.