Excerpt: The Beanstalk Situation

The sun was burning down on Jill’s head as she lugged her bag of wool along on the path back to the town. Jack was ten feet ahead of her, his three sacks lightly swung over his shoulders. Jack was laughing, carrying on a conversation he assumed would carry on the wind to Jill’s ears. She already knew most of what he was saying and didn’t care if she got the gist of his words or not. Jack had bounce, Jill had sluggishness to her walk.

“Slow down!” Jill called ahead. Jack nearly stopped, waiting for her to catch up. “It’s so hot. I don’t know why we have to do this in the summer.”

“It’s our job.”

“You hate your job,” Jill grumbled.

“Damn right I do,” Jack replied. He picked up his pace and kept going, causing the feet between them to lengthen again. “I hate school even more.”

“Oh don’t tell me you’re going to skip school again.” Jack didn’t answer. “Jack! I can’t cover for you all the time.”

“Just tell them you don’t know where I am.”

“Mom is going to kill you.”

“Mom is to busy to even know what’s going on. As long as we work and she thinks we’re going to school, she doesn’t care.”

Jill knew that was kind of true and at the same time false. Their mother cared a great deal but the way the family was living at that time, she didn’t have time to monitor every little thing they did. She had to assume they were working, doing their chores, and going to school. Jack didn’t skip all the time, but it was enough that Jill was worried. The teacher saw little enough of him she didn’t think he even knew what Jack looked like.

The town was within sight and that made Jill move faster, able to carry her heavy load. She hated this part of her job, but it was really Jack’s biggest part. He was the strong boy. She was more suited to the making of wool than the hauling of wool.

“Why does that thing follow you around all the time?” Jack said, not really looking back.

Jill took a moment to look around, then spotted the black sheep that trailed behind her. It bounced with excitement when her eyes laid upon it. It stepped faster trying to gain speed without actually exerting any energy to run. “Babba? He’s been hanging around me for awhile now. Why are you just now asking?”

“I don’t know. I’m just curious.”

“I guess he just really likes me. The shepherd thinks it’s funny. That’s why he lets it happen.”

“It smells.”

“You should be used to it. We do herd sheep after all.”

Jack was silent then. He kept going, slipping through the gates into the city. Everything changed when they passed the wall. The streets were packed with jeweled colored clothes and bustling people with noses in the air. There were few scattered around that had the same look as Jack and Jill. The buildings were even painted in a style of glittering colors to give the rich look of wealth throughout the streets. Jack and Jill turned another corner and passed three large buildings before they ended at a tall worn down factory. The pair pushed through a pair of doors and the noise grew to a deafening rate. Machines and chatter were scattered through the echoy room, making it hard to think.

“Little late, aren’t you kids?” A thin man with a dirty smock said.

“Like by minutes.” Jack replied, throwing down his bags. He didn’t wait any longer before he walked back out the door. Jill smiled sheepishly at the man as she laid her bag down also and rushed to catch up with Jack. “I am sick of this job.” He grumbled. I want some fun and this ugly city doesn’t offer anything. You’ve got to be rich to be anyone in this town.”

“We’ll never be rich, Jack.”

“You don’t know that. I might find a way. I’ll think of something someday and someday soon. I’m going to meet Ed and John. I’ll see you at the gates later.”

“Jack,” Jill whined again.

“I’ll see you later.” He persisted and walked off the way they came.