Chapter 67: His Life Without Her (10)
After we were served lunch by Grace, she retreated to put her baby to sleep while we ate in peace. Dan kept on nodding his head as he tried to hide an annoying smile on his face. I couldn't care what he was thinking as I was too occupied thinking how to face Mr. and Mrs Law.
We tidied up the dishes then went out to roam around the backyard. The place was so refreshing and relaxing. I looked around to see the young girl who greeted us when we arrived but she was nowhere to be seen. I wanted to ask what time would their parents possibly arrive.
"Why don't we go and have a stroll around while waiting." Dan suggested.
"Hmmmm... " I nodded.
When we walked few distance from the house, we saw two horses grazing on the grass. They seemed to be frightened by us and run some distance farther. We followed them but they kept on retreating. We decided to stop pursuing them and just admire the beautiful hills around us. From where we stood, we could see neighboring villages situated on the mid of mountains and some at the foot of other mountains. What amazed me was that on the hills we were facing, there was a long fence of wood which started right from the junction trail we deviated from and stretched to the next hill's foot. It looked like a mark of territorial ownership. It could also be to block any animal from scaping from its rightful owner.
"If this is Mr. Laws land, he must be a highly steemed man here!"' Dan said as he turned around to check his surroundings.
"Yeah, but what a waste, he cannot make profit from it.!" I said as I followed Dan's gaze.
"Maybe they're just waiting for you." Dan grinned.
"Or they choose to leave it for their children to develop. After all, he has so many children." I said to which Dan agreed.
We continued to stroll following the back of the mountain which was stretching from where we stood. There were wild berries and guava trees which were just in fruit season. We picked up guavas like kids and stuffed them in our pockets until there weren't any space anymore.
"Childhood here must be so fun! I wish I was born here! Unlike the peaceful and fresh everything here, all you see in the city are cars and buildings!" Dan said as he sat down under the large guava tree. I joined him and we ate guavas like little kids. Later, we lied down and took a nap not minding any insects or any possible ferocious animals that may attack us. It was just too relaxing that we weren't bothered by anything at all.
"Get up now bro. This is not your home!" I patted Dan's side. It was already three o'clock in the afternoon. I was awakened by some laughters of people from far distance. We slept almost two hours under the guava tree! What an experience! I looked around to the stretch of the hill next to us and there was a broken line of people trailing as they seemed to be joking at each other happily.
"Bro! Get up now! The guava is already falling down into your mouth!" I tried to force a big guava into his mouth. Dan wiggled his head in protest as he pushed my hand away.
"Go away! " He pushed me after he removed the guava from his mouth. We returned to the house where came from. We reached there to find Grace pounding rice. Her head was covered with dust probably from the rice husks.
Pounding rice using carved wooden vessel and a long bar of smoothened wood is the traditional way of extracting rice from the husks without removing the nutrients from its natural color.
"This looks fun! Can we try?" I offered without really knowing how.
"Sure, but I'm afraid you'll waste it!" Grace panted.
"Just teach me how. It's not hard to learn right?" I smiled.
"Not really, you just have to follow the timing and rhythm. We need to pound alternately in a steady pace." She said as she handed me a long wooden bar with smooth grip in the middle section.
Not long, I was looking down on the purple colored rice coming out gradually while the husks were turning into powdered dust.
"So how do you remove the dust" I asked.
"Oh, its simple. But first timers find it difficult. They will end up throwing away the rice with the husks. Let me do it, just watch!" Grace said as she scooped the pound rice out on a winnower then skillfully tossed the rice into the air. Dan and I continued to have fun pounding the rest of the rice.
"Please just leave that for me later. You did not come to pound rice in exchange of my sister, did you?" Grace smiled widely.
My ears perked up and I stood still leaving Dan dothe pounding alone. I didn't expect to hear anything like that. I didn't inow what to say.
"Nahhh, we might as well work for our next meal. I think we cannot go back tonight if your father will not be home so soon." I was glad my mouth cooperated.
"They must be on their way home. Are you here to talk about my sister?" She asked again.
"So you know already. Did he tell everything about the plan?" I inquired.
"Not really. I was just made aware after my sister went away without notifying where she had gone. She didn't come home after her graduation, you know? Papa suspects that she has ran away with a random guy. She's as rebellious as before. Its not the first time she did this!" Grace said.
I simply listened and contemplated what I heard. Not long after, while we were about to finish, Mr. and Mrs. Law emerged from where we came from earlier. Their seemingly serious discussion was interrupted when they saw us.
"Wha....what are you doing in my here? Why did I not know you are coming? " Mr. Law spoke first after seeing us probably shoked and speechless.
"Hello Sir and Madam Law. Good afternoon! " I said as I put down the log to greet them. I had no choice but to put on a bit of thick face to fight for my chance.
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