ALOWEN

The Past to Start

The house was full of people. It happened every time she told the story about the past, about why everything is the way it is. The chairs all had to be moved to the edge of the room and anything else was removed to make space for all the people. People of all ages, young and old alike, wanting to hear about the past, about how it all changed. The talking was a loud and a steady hum that could be heard throughout the house and even outside, laughter was mixed in and carried across the buzz of noise. The sun was setting and no one else had arrived for over an hour. The house was old but big, an old farm house with strong limestone walls. The old wooden floors gleamed with the love they had seen for so many generations and many feet that had walked across them, and now with the small scuffs and bits of mud here and there from the visitors. The walls in the main sitting room where full of old style photos, and shelves of books, histories of the people from the past.

It was standing room only now, and the room was getting quiet with anticipation. All attention was on the young girl sitting in the large white comfortable chair. She appeared to be maybe 17 with flawless skin and dark hair, her brown eyes though appeared much older, as though they had seen more than any person her age should have seen. Her long hair fell behind her in thick waves. When she smiled the whole room stopped what little chatter was left. Everyone started to get comfortable in their seats for the story. Everyone except for a young girl in the hall that was listening, but not really listening. She was leaning against the wall rolling her eyes as she half listened. She was taller than many people there and her blonde hair was pulled up into a bun so that it was hard to tell how long it was. Her grey eyes were scanning the faces for someone that she recognized.

The tap on her shoulder from behind startled her from her crowd gazing and made her jump just the slightest. "Scared ya! Didn't I?" Whispered the dark hair young girl that had snuck up behind her while she was distracted. "I mean usually I can't even get close, but this time I totally got you! I have been trying for how long now!! I just can't believe it! Oh where are the little ones?" She barley took a breath and switched topics so fast while looking around.

"They are in bed already, Granny didn't want them up running around with all the people here," replied the blonde girl in a whisper. "Hey you want to get out of here? Maybe head down to the barn and see the horses?" She was getting really bored and wanted to go before someone noticed her sneaking out. She really didn't want to listen to the story again, for the one millionth time!

"But I want to stay and hear the story!" whispered the dark haired girl. She was a little bit shorter than her friend, her brown hair hanging down not held up, and a sprinkling of freckles across her face. She appeared to be around 15 with the starts of acne on her face. She was wearing jeans and a dark t-shirt with faded writing that you couldn't really tell what it said.

"Seriously Pinna?? How many times of you heard it? I could recite the whole thing to you faster while we are walking!" Huffed the exasperated blonde, she was itching to get out of there, and she knew her time was running out.

"Alowen get in here!" yelled a distinctly female authoritative voice from the other room.

She rolled her eyes and mouthed payback, to Pinna as she trudged into the living room full of people to see her grandmother. Pinna quietly followed her into the room and found a spot on the floor to sit down and listen.

The older teen with the dark hair sat in the middle of the room with all eyes on her. She smiled at Alowen and cleared her throat. "We meet here as often as we can", she began. "It has always been very important to meet and remember, we should never forget what happened, and as long as we can we will continue to meet and remember. I know that for some it is not the easiest hearing the same stories repeatedly, but tonight is very important." She looked down at Alowen when she said this part.