Lady Terra and the Farm Boy: Part 4
Joseph went out back and found his grandma sitting in her rocker facing the fields. He leaned against the back wall before sliding to the ground. His shoulders slumped, and he buried his head into his knees.
“You know the herbs needed for Sara’s medicine used to grow in this very field.”
“What?” he asked lifting his head.
“I said that once upon a time the herbs needed for all sorts of medicines grew right here,” his grandmother said.
“How do you know that?” he asked, moving to sit in front of her.
“Our family stories tell of it.”
“And this is the first I’m hearing of it? You’ve told me so many family stories. Why have you never told me these stories?”
“I’m trying to tell you now. Do you want to hear what I have to say or are ya going to keep talking?”
Joseph sat there quietly. His eyes shifted to the ground, then the roof, then the window, until he finally met his grandmother’s gaze.
“Good. I see you’re ready to listen. Now, where was I? Ah, right. So back when your 10th great granma Millie lived on this land, it produced all sorts of wonderful plants. Many of which could heal. The town was happy, and the people loved the land. Every year they had a huge celebration to thank Lady Terra for the knowledge she had given them and for the harvest they had.
“During Millie’s life, the town grew. People helped each other, and no one suffered for long. However, as she reached my age, she noticed some of the younger generation becoming more selfish. She tried to remind people of Lady Terra’s teachings and the importance of helping others, but most people ignored her. She died with most people believing she was a crazy busybody.
“As the town grew more selfish plants began to die off. Despite that, nothing too serious happened until my mother was about your age. By that time, the yearly celebration no longer honored Lady Terra. In fact, she was written off as a fairy tale. Even my mother no longer believed. Until that is, the earthquake happened.
This earthquake seemed to shake the whole world. The rumors said it started in the capital and that it was so large it destroyed the entire castle. That wasn’t all that happened though. All around the world, there were reports of crops failing. Plants that had once grown easily could no longer take root. Famine spread and to this day crops refuse to grow like they once did,” she said leaning back in her chair.
“Granma, how does this story help me? Or Sara?” Joseph asked.
“Well obviously the earthquake marked the day Lady Terra took back her blessing to the world,” his grandma said rocking slowly.
Joseph stood and began pacing back and forth. He chewed on his thumbnail as he muttered, “But how does this information help?”
“Well, I reckon if something can be taken away, it can be given back.”
Joseph stopped and turned to look at her. “Granma you’re a genius!” He kissed her quickly on the cheek before bolting back inside.
Once inside he grabbed a knapsack and began packing. He placed a change of clothes and his winter jacket at the bottom of the pack. Then he made sure to retrieve his knife and flint before he began searching for the rope.
“Why does it look like you’re packing?” his mother asked as she closed the front door.
Joseph turned away from the cupboard he had been searching and said, “Ah, there you are. Do you know where the rope is?”
It’s in the shed out back,” she said stepping further into the room. “But that doesn’t answer my question. Why are you packing?”
“I figured out how to get medicine for Sara,” Joseph replied.
“And how are you going to do that?” his mother asked placing her hands on her hips.
“I just need to find Lady Terra and convince her to bless the land again. I’m sure she will once she hears how bad it’s gotten. Then we can grow the medicine ourselves,” he said as he began searching the kitchen for food to pack.
“Oh is that all?” his mother said crossing her arms. “Your grandmother has been filling your head with stories again.”
“Mom, they’re not just stories. You’ll see. Lady Terra will help. She has to.”
“No,” she said grabbing his arm and spinning him around to look at her. “This is ridiculous. Lady Terra is a story. Nothing more.”
“I know you think that, but she’s real. I know-”
“No, you don’t know. You hope. Your grandma has filled your head with stories since you were little but not more. You need to start living in the real world. I need you to start living in the real world. Leaving won’t help Sara. It won’t help any of us. We need you here.” With each sentence, her grip on his shoulders tightened. “Do you understand?”
“Yes,” he said casting his eyes to the floor.
“Good now go get cleaned up so you can help me with dinner.”
Joseph lay staring at the ceiling. His fingers drummed lightly against the floor as he contemplated what he should do. The more he thought, the faster his fingered moved and the shallower his breath became.
Bolting upright, he placed his head between his knees and tried to regain control. Outside the clouds shifted and a stream of moonlight entered through the window. Looking up, Joseph saw illuminated in the dark room the bag he had packed earlier.
He stood up and walked to the pack. With a glance back to make sure Tommy was still asleep, Joseph picked up the sack and slipped out the back door.