The old women gazed distantly out the window as she waited for the children to get settled, mind seeming to wander as she watched the clouds move in front of the soft glow of the half moon. Then, she shook her head, as though she were shaking away her thoughts and looked down at the children with a bright smile. None of the children said a word, listening quietly as she began the next piece of the story, the story that would soon draw to a close with the ending of summer.

*****

Time passed quickly now for the friends. It was as though, they’d fallen into a routine, simply picking up where their other lives left off. It was four months and six days later that Marianna would meet her roommate. Someone she’d already known.

“James?!” She exclaimed, startled to find her young, adopted brother sitting on the bed adjacent to hers with his little suitcase. He smiled slightly at her and got up, giving her a hug.

“I was chosen too, Mari.” He said softly. She hugged him back silently, looking at his things already thrown about as they had been in their room back home. Though she supposed it couldn’t be referred to as home anymore. Not that she cared. She would always see the farm as her home.

“I’m…Glad you’re here, James…I needed a bit of normality here. I feel so lost here.” She said after a long bout of comfortable silence.

“I’m glad to be here too…Is it true that Mr. Jason likes you? One of the other guys…Mr. Justin I think, was talking about it to Mr. Micah. He said that Mr. Jason doesn’t stop talking and thinking about you.” James asked. The wonderful things that an eight year old can tell you, Marianna thought as she smiled at the boy.

“I believe he does.” She replied.I believe now, she added mentally as she ruffled the boys hair. “Alright. You’re gonna wanna get some rest, James. Mic-Mr. Micah will wear ya out if you don’t.”

“Okay. See ya in the morning.” James said, hugging her one last time before moving to his bed. Marianna followed suit, going to her own bed and settling down. But she didn’t fall asleep…not yet anyway. She was thinking of “Mr. Jason” as well as the fact that her birthday was tomorrow and would probably go unnoticed…or so she thought.

 The next morning, Marianna got up and woke James, who grumbled sleepy and put on the uniform that was in his side of the closet. A knock on the door startled them both and made James squeak in surprise. Marianna went to the door and opened it, finding a present perched on the door mat. After staring at it for a good minute, she picked up the present and brought it in. As usual, the curious James came trotting to her side as she dropped the box on her bed and tore up the tape that held an envelope to the side.

“What is it, Mari? What’s in the box?” James asked impatiently. Marianna said nothing, ignoring the boy as she opened the envelope and read the letter. The letter read:

Dear Marianna,

      I know it’s your birthday and figured you’d want it acknowledged. I don’t understand you and find you…odd. But not in a bad way. Anyway, I got you this. I hope you like it…

Sincerely,

Jason.

P.S. I’m sorry if I freaked you out the other day…Your bow was crooked.

 “Smooth Jason, smooth,” Marianna thought to herself and lay down the letter to begin to tear away the red wrapping paper and open up the box. Inside the box lay a red silk dress that was covered in black jewels and had long detachable sleeves. Another note lay in the midst of the silk. It read:

There will be a dance on the full moon. It’s the lougaroo’s night of festival…would you go with me? If yes, stop me today. I will be standing in as guard in the hall today. If no, ignore me…but you can still keep the dress and other things either way.

Marianna smiled slightly, lifting the lovely dress out of the box. Beneath the box, lay a pair of ruby earrings that matched a pearl and ruby necklace that sat in one of the pair of white heels.

“Wow, Mari…” James said.

*****

    The old women paused as the old grandfather clock chimed twelve times. Midnight. Story time was over, but all remained, sitting still in front of her. The silence was deafening as each child pictured the dress and let the details of the story sink in, even as the fire dimmed, dying before the children’s eyes.