Forever

Part 2

            There was a knock on her door. Clara got off her bed and opened the door to find her maid. Clara smiled. "Hi, Franny."

            "Hello, miss Clara, dear," Franny said. "You've been up here for hours, sugar. Anything botherin' you?"

            Clara hesitated, then nodded. She invited Franny to sit on the bed with her. "It's my friend, Franny."

            "What, this John kid you been playin' with?"

            Clara nodded. "He was acting strange today."

            "He ain't hurtin' ya, is he?"

            Clara shook her head. "Oh, no Franny, it's nothin' like that. He was just...sad today."

            "Ahhh." Franny nodded. "Well, sugar, people have their ups and downs. Don't take it personally, dear. He didn't mean you no harm. People make bad choices when they're mad or scared or stressed. Just be there for him, is all you can do for now. Throw a little love his way. Be the friend you've always been."

            Clara grinned and threw her arms around Franny. "Thank you so much, Franny. You always know just what to say."

            Franny smiled and patted Clara's back. "Now then, you best get some sleep, missy, if you gonna see John again tomorrow."

            Clara nodded and got settled under her blankets, falling asleep quickly.

∞

            The next day, Clara headed down to Custard Mill plantation later than usual. Most of the time, Clara would go to John's house first thing in the morning, but today she waited, killing time, until after noon. She didn't want to seem too clingy. But by noon, Clara was getting restless and made her way down the bumpy dirt road to Custard Mill.

            She found John in the stable, brushing his horse. He looked up when she entered and smiled. "Hey, Clara. I was wondering if I'd see you today."

            "Of course, John," Clara said. "I'm always here." She laughed.

            "Chestnut here needed a good grooming, but when I'm done we can do something, okay?"

            Clara nodded and grabbed a brush. "I'll help." She began brushing the opposite side of the horse from where John was. Clara watched him carefully, trying to figure out what was on his mind. It was no use. She had to ask him. "John?"

            "Clara, I-" he said at the same time. "Oh, sorry. You go ahead."

            "No, you," Clara said, looking up at him.

            John sighed. "Look, Clara, I'm sorry about how I treated you yesterday. It had nothing to do with you, and I shouldn't have brought you into it. You were just trying to help. So, I'm sorry."

            Clara walked around the horse and kissed him on the cheek, then hugged him. "It's okay, John. I understand. We're still friends?"

            John smiled, his face reddening a little. "Of course we're still friends. And we always will be."

            Clara pulled back and looked up at him. She used to tower over him, but now that he was eleven and she was ten, he was a good three inches taller. She didn't like it. "Promise?"

            John smiled at his friend. "I promise."

            "What was it that was bothering you so much?" Clara asked.

            John glanced at the ground and sighed. A pained expression crossed his face. "Just somethin' my daddy did yesterday."

            "What'd he do?"

            John looked up at Clara, tears in his eyes. "One of the slaves...h-he didn't do somethin' right or he wasn't fast enough or somethin' stupid like that but my daddy, he rode his horse right out to that field and he..." John choked back a sob. Clara put her hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, John. You don't have to tell me any more."

            John shook his head. "He whipped him, Clara. My daddy whipped that slave until the poor man had to be dragged off to his cottage. And...And I saw the whole thing happen. Right there on that hill, I was. I saw the whole thing. It was the worst thing I ever saw, Clara. How am I supposed to live here when I know that's what my daddy does? I can't stand it. I can't."

            John was struggling to hold back sobs, and Clara hugged him tightly, letting him cry into her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, John. I'm so sorry."