A whole week, that's how long Heidi was trapped inside. She had never experienced this big of a need to be outside before. It was a strange feeling for her, longing to do something other than hiding in a dark corner of her house. During this horrid week she also discovered that missing someone was one of the worst feelings to ever exist. It's always there, and when you think it's gone it creeps back up. I hope it's no surprise to you that the person she missed so horribly was Alexander.
Friendship is a curious and wonderful thing. I've heard many say it isn't nearly as strong as love. Those who say this have a poor and limited definition of this gigantic word, because what on earth would a friendship be without love?
Heidi did nothing but chores, or at least that's what it felt like to her. Trudy had decided to give her most of Wilma's tasks so her dear eldest could get some rest for once. Wilma however made sure Heidi never scrubbed the floors or cooked alone, for obvious safety reasons. Trudy hadn't really thought about them, infact, Heidi noticed her mother had been worrying a lot more than usual after the day she was grounded.
The air inside always felt so tense.
"Do you know why mama seems so upset?" She asked her sister as they both sat on the floor near the fireplace, cleaning up around it.
Wilma looked up at her, a slight smudge of black coal had stained her temple and Heidi quickly glanced at it, fighting the urge to wipe it off with her hand.
"Probably because she's upset." She answered after a long silence, during which she looked rather conflicted.
"Yes, i figured that, I'm not as stupid as you think." Heidi retorted a little bitterly. Wilma turned to her with a grave expression.
"Who said you were stupid?" She asked urgently, gently putting her hand on her shoulder
Heidi slightly shuffled away from her and shook her head. "No one said, but everyone thinks I am."
A long silence emerged between the two sisters, Wilma tried to think of what to tell her, but no words came out. How could her seven year old sister say that with such a serious look on her face?
"You're not." She finally said, pulling her into a hug. "You really aren't."
"But then why doesn't mama trust me, why doesn't she think i can walk down the street alone." Heidi mumbled, in both confusion and annoyance.
Wilma chuckled softly. "You're seven heidi, that;s why she was so worried-
"Then why does Frieda do it all the time?" She inquired, preventing Wilma from finishing her sentence.
There it was again, Frieda. It always led back to her, or rather what she could do and what Heidi couldn't. My human knew for a fact it had nothing to do with her mother favouring her, because she didn't. Trudy didn't really have a clear favourite. (whereas Alfred's was very clearly Frieda.)
With all her knowledge, Heidi concluded that her mother simply didn't trust her as much, she didn't think Heidi was capable of doing things Frieda was, not yet at least. Heidi had always been last.
When Heidi told Wilma all this, the girl could do nothing but nod, it was true and she couldn't do anything about it. Trudy had less faith in Heidi than Frieda, that was a fact and she couldn't exactly blame her mother for seeing things that way, but she could blame her for making it so obvious to Heidi.
She could and would blame her for that.
"I know you're not stupid" Wilma whispered, hugging her sister tightly. "Remember what the old lady in a blue coat said?"
"Gertrude." Heidi swiftly corrected.
"Ah, yes, Gertrude." She chuckled, it wasn't the most flattering name in her opinion. "She told papa that you were witty."
Heidi nodded, recalling her father's confused yet still indifferent expression.
Wilma then pulled away from the hug, holding onto her sister' shoulders.
"And unlike papa, I don't doubt it in the slightest."
Those words meant a lot more to Heidi than Wilma could ever have imagined, but the little smile that spread across her sister's freckled face assured her that she had at least done something helpful.
The church bells rang exactly nine times, the sound seemed to fill the entire room.
Wilma's eyes widened all of a sudden, her head turned toward the calendar that hung in the hallway.
"Oh Jesus, I have to go to the market today!" She exclaimed, jumping up from the floor.
Heidi slowly joined her in the kitchen as she washed her hands, a question she was dying to ask remained stuck deep in her throat, but to her luck she didn't need to get it out.
"If you want you can come with me, mama said she would put Manfred to bed, so I'm all alone."
Heidi 's face brightened like a thousand matches being lit simultaneously.
"Do you think I can?" Heidi worried her mother wouldn't approve just yet. Wilma—who was already putting on her shoes—rolled her eyes and tossed my human's shoes across the room, they perfectly landed at her feet. "Mama will understand, I'll explain. If she's still set on you staying inside, I'll make sure she knows it was my idea." Wilma assured her, rolling a scarf around her neck. Heidi nodded and tied her shoelaces eagerly, she had waited for so long to do this. To finally discover her own town.
Wilma made sure Heidi had enough clothes on not wanting her to catch a cold. Heidi on the other hand made sure mama didn't walk down the stairs before they left. Her eyes stayed fixated on the staircase until Wilma shut the door behind them and took her sister's hand.
"Don't go wandering away somewhere without me, ja?" Wilma said as soon as they left apfelstraße, Heidi nodded and tightened her grip on Wilma's hand.
The sky looked threatening, grey and cold, indicating rain was about to start pouring onto the roofs, the people, the streets, the trees, everything. It wasn't what people would consider a nice day, but it was a wonderful adventurous day for Heidi, who's eyes couldn't believe the variety of colour and shapes in what everyone was wearing. There were women dressed in more muted tones, and others wearing bright vibrant coats. Every young girl Heidi saw had a more interesting hairstyle than the previous one and she found out that day at the market that men did wear more than stained working clothes and pyjamas. Which shocked her much more than it should have and Wilma had a good laugh about it—which I would have shared if I had the ability to laugh.
They stopped by a little stand that sold vegetables and Wilma started negotiating prices.
The old lady was rather set on her ridiculous price, Heidi didn't truly understand half the words Wilma conjured out of her mouth, but they sounded rather aggressive.
My human's gaze wandered around the market, her dimples showing for the whole world to see. This was mesmerising. So many people, so many colours.
Wilma took advantage of her sister's distraction to glance over at the old saleswoman's most precious helper. Her son, Hans. Who happened to be madly in love with Wilma from the ripe age of eight. Barely a minute later, after a few smiles and words Wilma had a whole bag filled with the best vegetables in town for half the price.
Just as she was about to sneakily take the bag from Hans, Heidi jerked her arm in excitement, looking up at a beaming Alexander Fischer accompanied by his mother.
"Mädchen!" He exclaimed happily, running up to Heidi, dragging helga with him.
Heidi's smile couldn't get any wider, there he was, her one and only friend.
"Guten tag, Einzeller" She replied with a now slightly smug expression.
"Where have you been?" He quickly asked. Heidi did her best to explain how doomed she was and how she had no idea when her mother would l;et her leave the house again, to which Alexander answered very simply.
"Saturday, you come over Saturday at 8am." He did make it sound like an order, but a nice one.
Luckily, for everyone involved, neither Helga or Wilma heard those peculiar greetings and quick explanations.
"Oh hello Heidi!" Helga said with her usual warmth coming from just behind Alexander. She then looked over at Wilma, just as Hans had given her the brown paper back, the girl quickly hid it behind her back and held out her hand. Helga frowned and peaked behind her before her mouth fell open like she'd seen a ghost. Helga immediately grabbed Wilma's arm and led her just a metre away from the stand, a grave expression etched upon her face. (Although she still failed to look intimidating.)
Wilma's eyes showed nothing more than confusion.
Helga's grip only got tighter around her forearm, Heidi watched with wide eyes. What did Wilma do? Alexander appeared to be melting with fear.
"Did you just steal, young lady?" Helga inquired with a strange tone of both astonishment and utter horror.
Wilma and Heidi both shook their heads but Heidi was first to defend her sister.
"Wilma would never steal, Helga!"
Wilma looked at her sister then back at this woman who was no more than a stranger with a familiar name to her.
"I can assure you, I did not steal, Frau Fischer." She made sure to insist on the frau Fischer part so Heidi would know it was considered rude to call adults you don't know too well by their first name.
Heidi however, did know Helga very well, so in this case manners were unnecessary.
"We don't steal, we only negotiate." Wilma continued and at those words, helga let go, her whole face let go, replacing her frown with a soft smile.
"Oh you truly are your mother's child aren't you? She said ever so softly.
Alexander let out a loud sigh of relief and Wilma slowly turned to Heidi with one eyebrow raised in incomprehension.
"I guess I am," Wilma answered after a short silence.
Helga nodded with the same smile. "Trudy used to say that."
The Seidi sisters slowly nodded, knowing full well it was one of her very own favourite phrases. The church bells rang again and Helga looked around quickly, taking Alexander's hand.
"Oh well it was nice seeing you Heidi, and meeting you wilma. Heidi has talked loads about you." She smiled, and just before turning away and leaving in a hurry she said:
"Tell your mother I said hi."