~Falling through a rift in time
-Dante-
I was out in the field like I normally was with my father helping him with hauling hay that we just tied up into bails of hay. It was about midday and I could tell because the heat was blaring down on top of me.
“Dante go and cool off for a few minuets. I am going to go get us some lunch.” My father called to me over the motor of out new tractor.
“Thank you father.” I smiled at him and wandered down to the creek to cool off.
Just getting some cool water on the back of my neck felt nice. I sat in the shade and let my feet hang in the water. It was a nice day we just needed rain and by how the wind was blowing I had a feeling that it was going to rain tonight. After relaxing in the shade I put my shoes back on and wandered back to the field to keep hauling hay. When my father got back he was carrying a glass of water and a sandwich for me. I gladly took it and ate the sandwich quickly before taking a few drinks of refreshing water.
“Think it’s going to rain tonight father?” I asked after handing the glass back to my father to take up on the tractor with him.
“I think so son. You can feel it in the wind.” He answered.
“I guess Marylou and Jack are going to have to do some running’ tonight then.” I laughed as my dad started up the tractor.
I could ride all day on Marylou. She was my horse and I had raised her since she was young. She was a beautiful horse and did what she was told. But, for now it was back to finishing up the other half of the field. Tossing hay up onto the wagon as the tractor pulled it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Goodnight Marylou.” I whispered to her as I pet her snout one last time and waited for my father to leave before I gave her the apple I was hiding. I left the horse barn and wandered back to the house. I could hear the crickets chirping as I walked back. Above me was a clean night sky but when I looked off into the east I could see dark mounds in the sky that looks like rain clouds.
Before I could even get into the house I heard the commotion coming from inside with my mom ordering my sisters telling them what to do and to make sure that they washed up. This made me smile I was always so glad that I was apart of this family. We made a good living with what we do. Being in the sun out in a field is where I belonged. I opened the door and my father was already sitting at the table with the rest of my family.
“You are late Dante, go get washed up and sit down.” My mother scolded me.
I nodded with a sigh that was under my breath and went and washed up so that I could eat some dinner.
“So how was school girls?” My father asked to get a conversation going.
My little sister’s loved school they talked about it almost nonstop when they got home.
“Papa it was so much fun. I love my teacher and my classmates are always optimistic.” Clara beamed as she babbled about her day.
“Papa, papa, can Dante take me for a ride on Marylou tonight after supper?” Martha asked.
“It’s supposed to rain tonight Martha, maybe next time.” Father shook his head.
“Dante you still have to answer me.” My mother said.
I looked over at Martha, “When you get home from school if I’m not doing anything too major I will take you for a ride through the woods on Marylou how does that sound?” I asked my youngest sister.
“That would be great, oh thank you so much big brother.” She laughed and jumped up from her seat to come over and hug me.
“Dante…” My mother said.
“Mother We already discussed this, I am not going to be in an arranged marriage.” I told her and everything fell quiet.
“The girl is from a well off family in town and…” My mom started.
“Mother, I said no.” I raised my voice.
“Do NOT raise your voice to me young man.” My mother scolded.
I sighed and stood up. “Mother it’s not right to be in an arranged marriage, I’ve never even met the girl and you expect me to ask for her hand? That is not going to happen. I will find some one and fall in love with them on my own, I do not need help.” I stated then left the table and stormed out of the house.
I ran out to the fields where I was hauling hay earlier that day. It was starting to get windy out I knew that the rain was going to be here soon, but I just needed some time alone. I did not want to have that conversation with my mother again. I was getting tired of the same conversation and telling me what I have to do.
I walked down to the creek and climbed up into the tree that I was under for shade earlier that day.
“I want to make my own decisions in life.” I muttered to myself, as I looked out on the cornfield for a bit.
Sitting in the tree wasn’t really helping me all that much so I decided to hop down and take a walk down the creek side. I knew that I could sprint home when the rain started coming down. I kicked a rock into the water a little ways down from where I was before. The rock made a thurplunk sound when it hit the water. It was times like this where I was able to free my mind and think, if I started dreaming while I was working I would get scolded for slowing down in my work. Of course father was never too happy when I would take Martha on a horse back ride through the woods neglecting my work, but it was worth it, I got to see my little sister smile.
I heard a crack of thunder in the distance and I figured that I should probably start to head back. I had been hoping back and forth over the creek as I walked so I had to hop back over to head back home. This opening was wider then I thought it was through and I slipped on the side of the bank and fell in. It felt like I hit my head on a rock because I felt the air that I had took in before I hit the water escape my lungs as my vision went to black.
