Overconfident
After Magda's outburst, I don't see her for the rest of the day.
I help Perpetua in the kitchen and around the house. And in the afternoon, we head to her plot to tend the vegetables. It becomes more evident that I am a city person. Perpetua and Elena poke fun at my clumsiness and tease me with my soft, groomed hands. "You come from a rich family, Saray, sure you do," Elena smiles at me. "When you get your memory back and are in your beautiful home, will you still think back to us?" she questions childishly.
I smile at her.
"I can't do otherwise. You saved me. What would I've done if you hadn't found me? Obviously, I can't grow vegetables or take care of chickens," I say, ashamed. The two women won't recover with laughter, clutching a tree to stay upright. "I think you work with the computer and in a posh office with air conditioning. Watch you sweat when the sun is now at its lowest point," Elena points to my wet sweater.
I sigh as I remember that this sweater is the only cloth I own right now.
Indeed, I wonder what my past life was like. Was I wealthy and living in a big city? Then why is no one looking out for me? I haven't even seen a helicopter or a boat go by until now. Did I have no family then? I look at the girl in front of me, since the family took me in, she has not left my side. Elena is clearly the princess of the family. She is so much different from the embittered Magda.
"I don't know who I am. But if I really possess as much as you suspect, would you come with me to the big world? Leave everything here behind to live in a big city?" I ask Perpetua. Wavering, she looks at me first and then around the plot. "I'm used to hard work, I was born here. But I would like Elena to go on to school. Her life should not end here like mine. There is so much more she can achieve," she explains softly. Elena turns to her mother. "Mom, you no longer have to get up early to feed the chickens in the big city. Peter and dad will also no longer have to go to the woods, going further every time to find us meat. Everything is in the supermarkets," she tells her mother. Interested, I look at her.
"How do you know all that, Elena? Have you ever been to the big city?" I inquire her.
She shakes her head in denial. "No, but some men had come here and one showed me the big houses and buildings on his phone. And the supermarkets and beautiful cars," she remarks. "And also beautiful women with stunning dresses. Their hair shines and their nails and hands are just like yours," she continues. Instinctively, I look at my nails. Indeed the calluses are missing there and they are so fancy. I cannot promise anything to these people, when the time comes and I know more about myself, I am sure I will do everything to fulfill at least this one wish of Perpetua.
In the evening, Peter warmed water for me to bathe on the stone firepit.
Again I was teased to the extent. They all agreed that I had never been bathed in cold water before. So Peter took it upon himself to make sure I got a hot bath. The bathroom is small, with a shower. Opening the faucet, I let out a scream of horror. Indeed, the cold water on my body made me shiver like hell. Outside the door, people hiccup with laughter. Sheepishly, I open the bathroom door and look at them. "Here, the water is already hot. Let me prepare a bath for you," Peter offers, still chuckling. He hands me a towel, which I quickly wrap around myself. Then he pours the hot water into a tub and lights it with the tap water. "Now you can have a nice warm bath, my Queen," he taunts me. "That way you won't catch a cold." I thank him and after a dear bath, I emerge refreshed. Perpetua borrowed me a wide dress, it is a little wide but covers me completely.
When everyone is bathed, we sit around a fire.
Perpetua brings a bowl of soup for everyone, which we greedily devour. I help with the dishes and then return to the campfire. It is cozy there, everyone talking about what they did for the day and their plans for tomorrow. Close to midnight, I feel my eyes droop from fatigue. "Someone's asleep," I hear Peter say next to me. He offers me a hand and pulls me to my feet. "Come, let me show you to your room." With my hand in his, he takes me into the house. In the bedroom, I see a comfortable bed.
"Where do you all sleep? I don't see any more bedrooms," I remark.
Indeed, the house is small and has only one bedroom. "We sleep in hammocks. We're used to that. But I don't think you can handle that," he explains. "Don't worry. Sleep well, rest as long as you can. You've been through a lot for one day. And don't forget you're coming along for the hunt". This last one, he says gleefully. I stare at him from under my lashes. This young man needs a lesson.
"Wanna try a bet?" I challenge him.
I immediately regretted my offer. Guess I'm overconfident, Peter has been hunting all his life, I don't even know if I've ever seen a wild beast before. He stands defiantly in front of me with his arms folded. "Of course, my queen," he mocks me. "Everything you offer". My cheeks turn red with embarrassment. "If you hunt less than I do, you clean the whole catch. You alone, without help. Your father and I will sit down and watch you do all the work", I throw on the table.
Now Peter makes no attempt to hold back his laughter. He clearly underestimates me, this woman from the big city. He doesn't even bother with a counteroffer.
"Deal!" ...
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