Thank you

My mother always said my sister, Satsu was like wood. As rooted to the earth as a sakura tree... But she told me I was like water... Water can carve its way through stone. And when trapped, water makes a new path.. –Memiors of a Geisha

Water is the source of all life. On the day of the branding I scooped out nearly the last of my water. This was not a task I expected Fonce to handle, nor one I would give to my daughter or even Tug. I normally fetched the water myself. I have been too wrapped up in my memory painting and the baby.. I have no better excuse then I simply.. forgot.

I did not spend the day at my wagons. I took Lei and a bit of sweet fruit and cheese rolled up in a cloth and we headed away from the branding, to a quieter part of the stream. Trees were sparse but we found a quiet place to eat our lunch. Sometimes I just like to hear the things she thinks, the things that pop up in her head. My daughter does not run around and play very much and I suppose some people might see that as strange. She keeps to herself, she keeps close to me or Fonce or Also. There are few women she favors.. Cana, Mezoo. She did not like Ayguili at first, she was terribly rude to him really, but we have spoken of that and what it means to be the Ubar of our people. She wishes to be of the first wagons even more then I, I think. She wants to live next to Fonce.

Laughing, I asked her… “Live beside Fonce? Why would you want to do that? He can be so grumpy and he will always be watching you, Lei.”

My daughter smiled, holding a cheese sandwich the size of her little face. “I know, but someone has to make sure he makes the wheels the right way.”

She was so serious! It was all I could do to hold in my laughter. “You will have to be nicer then, if you want our family to move to the first wagons.”

“And the baby? Will the baby come too?” I was startled by her question but.. not surprised. I had thought she knew all along. I did not wonder why she was so anxious.

“Of course the baby will come with us.” I smiled, leaning over to kiss the top of her head. I did not see the worry on her face. If I had and I had pressed her hard enough I would have found out what Lei was thinking… That Fonce was going to take the baby so she wanted us to live next door so she could watch the baby. I would have been so angry with that man, if I had known.

It was a nice day, peaceful and quiet. The only sound was the far away squeals of the calves and the sound of our giggles. I taught Lei how to braid hair for the first time and we talked about my memory painting. Imke joined us briefly, just long enough to steal a bit of cheese and, I think, kiss leis cheek, leaving her blushing.

It was nearly a perfect day.

When we returned to the wagon I found someone had refilled our water barrels. Nearly to the top! That was so much work! Lei said it was the sky; it must have rained over the barrels. “Perhaps.” I replied. But I had a feeling it was some other little blessing. It was strange to feel thankful towards a slave but I did. I wanted to thank Catch. She surely had enough of her own tasks to deal with. I do not imagine Fonce is an easy man to be owned by and I knew Catch was caring for the newer slave and I had seen her many times learning with Dee.

The next time I saw Catch passing by I would give her the only gift I really could. I would tell her, out loud. “Thank you.”