A school project I had a while back

Sweden 1861

          Jolene  pulled  her  long  waves  of  dust  blonde  hair  into  a  loose  ribbon  and  glanced  in  the  mirror  to  her  reflection.  She  looked  rather  dull, wearing  a tattered  navy  blue  button  up  dress with a neglected  un-ironed  collar. She  laced  up  her  brown  leather  work  boots  and  stepped  back  to  once  again examine herself.

         Jolene  had  pale  skin  and  soft  blonde  hair  as  everyone  else  in  the  harbor  did. She would miss this place, this was her home.  Nothing  could  ever  replace  the  smell  of  the  sea  in  the  early morning  sunrise. Or  the  stories  told  by  Oma  and  Oppa  by  the  fire  in  the  evening.

         But America   had   opportunity,   and   freedom.  Papa   wouldn’t   have   to   work   in   the   harbor  anymore,  he  would  go  out  to  sea  on  long  fishing  trips  not  to  return  for  months.  Often bearing few  fish to show for it.

         Today  Jolene  and  Ivy  were  meeting  at  the  line  of  the  woods  for  Josephine’s  last  day  here.  Jo  sighed  and  left  her  thoughts  still  hanging  in  the  air. She  then  found  her  mother  in the  kitchen  chopping  vegetables  for  supper.  She looked up.

“Where ye be off to eh?”  Mother asked.

“The woods with Ivy mum.” Jolene replied.

Jolene   mother   paused, laid  the  knife  down  the  knife  and  whipping  her  hands  on  her  apron.  “Back by dark deary.” Mother finally said. “Will do mum.”   Jo called.

       That doesn’t give her much time.  She strode swiftly toward the door and threw it open.  As  soon as the  massive  door  clanked  shut,  Jolene found  herself  sprinting  for  the  woods. The   brisk  Autumn  air hit  her  face  and  she  smiled  at  the  cool  feeling  of  it. The scenery was all a blur. She felt her hair unwinding  itself  from the  ribbon. Listening to the rapid thumping of her heartbeat.

         She passed the corner into the wheat field. The  line  of  the  forest  was  near, and  she  saw  the  vibrant  yellow  dress  which  was  Ivy’s.  She always wore her hair in two chestnut braids. Ivy smiled as Jolene met with her.

“Why’d you run?” Asked Ivy.

“I  have  till  dark” Jolene  huffed “ and  I  didn’t  want  you  waiting  too long”  catching  her  breathe.

Ivy laughed “Too late! Let’s go by the creek and hunt for salamanders!”

       Once  at  the  creek  they  both  sat  on  a  large  rock  by  it . The  water  sprinkled  the reflection of the falling  sun  over  every  ripple , gold  flecks   sparkling  every  which  way.

“Aye don’t be so quiet! I can’t take it! Rawr!” Ivy roared and playfully punched Josephine.

“I know” Jo laughed at her friend’s pain. Ivy laughed along. “How is yeh mum?”

Jolene sucked in her breathe. “Not well, we think she may be ill. She has to pass the health exams to stay or they’ll deport her back.”

“Sounds awfully cruel. They  can  cure  her  can’t  they?”

“They do try.” Jolene sighed. “I am jealous Jo, I wish I could travel  wit  chya. Darn  we  wouldn’t  have  to  depend  on  postal  service  t-” Ivy  was  cut  off.

Jo hopped off the rock. “You think I want to leave!?  I want to stay; I don’t have any choice though!” Jolene exclaimed.

           The wind rustled their skirts and tickled their noses. The silence between them grew, the seconds passed slowly.  Ivy broke the silence. “I’m  sorry, I  didn’t  mean  it  as  if  you  had  a  choice” She looked apologetic up at her.

“No I’m sorry; I know you didn’t mean it like that.” She looked down at Ivy.  She stood up and laid her hand gingerly on Jo’s shoulder.

 “Jolene, you’ve been my friend since fourth grade. We will be friends no matter the distance. And come on everything will be alright, make new friends, have fun and have new experiences. I’ll always be there.  Just visit ok?!” Ivy said kindly.

         Jolene  bit  back  tears  but  when  she  looked  over  at  her  loving  friend  her  emotions  poured out  uncontrollably  and  she  let  them.  Ivy gave her   great big hug.   She  looked  back  at  the  trees  beyond  the  rocks  of  the  creek  and  realized  that  the  sky  was darkening.

        When her and Ivy waved goodbye, she hoped and wished deep inside that it wouldn’t be the last time she saw her dear friend.

*Six years later* Jolene walked out of the small bakery with the brown paper bag in her hand full of bread for supper.  She squinted up into the mid afternoon sky and smiled; distracted someone ran into her shoulder and bumped the bag out of her arm and her to the ground.  She looked up puzzled. And then surprised and caught in disbelief. “Oh I’m so sorry Mrs. I did not mean to-“  her dear friend was standing over her, a puzzled look an then it hit them both…