[Annunfuiniel]

Rosco stood on the edge of the steadily emptying town-square. Motionless like a stone statue cloaked in grey no-one took notice of him. And he liked it that way.

“Where on earth have you been? I’ve looked for you everywhere! How could you miss this meeting? I…It was so terrible and…” Mausi’s voice carried a multitude of different tones clearly reflecting her state of mind. Rosco, now brought back from the depths of thought to the present, tried to form a reassuring smile on his face. Then, realizing that the darkness around them veiled his expression from her, he took her hand and gently but steadily started to lead her towards her house.

“I’ve been right here the whole time. So I didn’t miss the meeting. I just…didn’t participate.” Rosco’s answer had at least one effect: it managed to end Mausi’s perplexity and change it into pure anger.

“And how does that make things any better, pray tell! The Big Folk nearly beat us and you…! You decide to stay quiet!” Mausi shoved off Rosco’s hand and turned to leave, then turned back and opened her mouth for more accusations. But this once she managed to put her sharp tongue back behind her teeth before saying something she knew she would regret later. “Oh, what’s the use!” were her final frustrated words before she once again turned on her heels and dashed away.

‘Wait!’ died on Rosco’s lips and his outstretched arm fell inert back to his side. She’s right…and wrong. Had I opened my mouth at the beginning of the meeting things would most likely have taken a turn for worse. She knows how I am with the Big Folk… But Rosco knew also that there was no use in trying to explain his motives to Mausi that evening: when they were arguing she had the skill of twisting all his sound reason into excuses. What’s the use… Rosco unconsciously echoed Mausi’s last words and began his trudge against the icy north wind.

* * * * * * *
Mausi jerked open the front door and then nearly slammed it shut; remembering only at the last moment that the children were sleeping. As the door was thereby out of question as the target of her outburst of rage Mausi found a replacement in her scarf. After some ill-tempered tugs and pulls the result was a hard knot.

“Just what I needed…” she muttered, chucked the contumacious garment on the floor and strode into the kitchen.

Warm, silent darkness lingered in the room and Mausi felt it surround her comfortingly. But more over she sensed the smell of the cookies they had baked earlier that day. I need something sweet… she thought and felt her way to the side table where she knew there was a candle.

The flickering flame cast curious shadows on the floor and walls, reminding Mausi of the torch-light that had twisted the forms of the Big Folk towering around her in the town square. She shivered - both of cold that the warmth of the kitchen had not yet dispelled from her limbs and of the unpleasant memories of the evening. I don’t understand him, she mused while going through cans and jars in search for a leftover biscuit or two; But who does?. A triumphant ‘aha’ marked the successful ending of her search and for a while also the ending of her musings.

Munching her treat, Mausi returned to the hall where the scarf still lay in a miserable bundle on the floor. Snorting at her own childishness she picked up the cloth and untied the knot without much effort.

The sound of steady, light breathing greeted Mausi as she entered the bedroom. For a while she just stood on the doorstep and listened. Sighing she finally let all the tensions of the day flow out of her. “Tomorrow is a new day”, she whispered the phrase which simple, indisputable truth gave her strength.

Placing the candle on the bedside table Mausi first turned to the boys’ bed. Mondy slept peacefully, his light-brown curls covering his face; Kali on the other hand had, as usual, turned and twirled in his sleep so that now his head was where his feet were supposed to be and the only thing left to be seen of him from under the blanket were the tips of his furry toes.

Mausi pressed a kiss on Mondy’s curls and did the same for Kali after she had revealed his head from under the covers. Then she turned for the other bed and for Ella. The girl’s silky locks spread over the pillow like a golden cloud; the little hand still clutched her dear rag-doll. Feeling herself dead-tired and yet unwilling to leave the three darlings Mausi took an extra blanket from the foot of the bed and curled up beside Ella.

Tomorrow is a new day.... the thought drifted into her drowsy mind. Tomorrow… And suddenly her eyes flew wide open. The school! Tomorrow is the first school day! Sleepiness was gone – anxiety returned.

[ October 20, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]