Finding Freedom

Finding Freedom - Part 1 Chapter 3

I ran as fast as I could between the towering trees of the forest. Lil’Billy was behind me, enticing me to go faster.

            “I’m running as fast as I can!” I told him, panting. I stumbled on a root and fell, scorching my hands as I tried to stop my fall.

            “You okay? We could stop now if you’re tired, I think we’ve lost her.” He looked at my scorched hands and smirked. “A bit of water and it won’t show.” He helped me get back up and we sat on a fallen tree trunk. “Okay. So tell me again why we are doing this.”

            I took two big breaths before answering.

            “I can’t stand my mother telling me what to do anymore. She made me wear this horrible dress, and I had to stay standing for a whole day, and she locked me up in my room, and she cut the blueleaf vine so I can’t see you anymore, and—“

            “Enough, he interrupted with a chuckle. I understand now why you wanted to run away so badly.”

            “So will you help me?” I asked anxiously.

            “Sure I will! That’s what friends are for, right? Come on, we’re going home.”

            He started to walk, but I couldn’t move. I stared at him, not knowing what he meant. Did he really just invite me to his secret home in the woods? I couldn’t believe it. He turned around.

            “You coming or not?”

            I started and followed him towards his abode. It was just as I had imagined; all made of wood, with a roof made up of dried pine branches. It had a wooden door and two windows covered with animal skins. No glass panes, of course. There was a small stone chimney on one side of it. In awe I wondered why not all houses looked like that one. Lil’Billy opened the door and let me in.

            “Welcome to my humble home. I hope you will not find it too dull after the luxurious style of the castle.”

            “It’s beautiful.” I said thoughtfully, looking around.

            “You’re kidding, right?”

            But I was too amazed to answer. It was perfect. The whole construction was as big as my bedroom, but where my room was cold and hostile; this little place was cozy and warm. There was no floor, only earth, probably swept clean every day with the broom that stood in the farther corner. On one side laid a bed, on the other there was a counter with shelves and a small pantry, and on the last side was the chimney. Lil’Billy went closer to the counter and turned to me.

            “You hungry?” he asked.

            “Starving.”

            And I was. I was so excited about my new plan of escape that I hadn’t eaten much that morning. Taking advantage of the lifting of my punishment, I had gone for a walk in town with Yvonne. The second her back was turned I ran into the forest where Lil’Billy was and we sprinted through the woods, so I hadn’t eaten any lunch either. I came closer to see what he had started to prepare.

            “Can I help?” I asked.

            “Do you know how to chop vegetables?”

            He must have seen my interrogating face, because he laughed and showed me how it was done. Cautioning me against the sharpness of the knife, he let me cut a carrot and celery for the salad. We ate. It was the best salad I had ever tasted. It tasted like freedom, every letter of the word melting in my mouth as I ate. He gave me a pocket-knife, telling me it could always be useful to me. I hid it deep in my dress pocket with much thanks.