Hazy Memories

                Magda looked across the field and saw Tash carrying the basket.

“Child, you took what he gave you?” Magda scolded Tash as Tash put the basket on the table.

“I put the milk bucket in the stream like you showed me.” Tash replied softly. She looked at Magda.

“Why must I wait until I am 14 winters to find out about my parents? If I can go with Ted to the other islands, I am old enough to know about my parents.” Tash complained as Magda started to put more pouches of dried herbs into the basket. Magda added some more nuts, berries and put in some jars of pickled beans, beets and cucumber slices as well as jams and jellies.

“Oh child. You know that your parents died during a sea storm. Can’t that be enough for you? You are like your father, stubborn.” Magda said softly and motioned for Tash to go outside. Magda was ready to dye some wool to trade.

            Tash went outside to take care of the horse and feed the cat in the barn. Tash was cleaning out the stall. She wanted to rest for a bit, so she fell asleep.

“Tash? For goodness sakes! You ready to go fishing?” Tash opened her eyes and saw Ted before her.

“Fishing? I am supposed to get Magda cheese from Gunther.” Tash said sleepily. And then she got up and looked at Ted. He seemed older than she remembered.

“No, cheese making is in the fall. It is summer. Fishing season for me.” Ted replied and helped Tash up from the hay. Tash looked down at herself and saw that her body has changed. She was almost as tall as Ted and she had a woman’s shape.

“How old am I?” Tash said and pinched herself to make sure she was not dreaming.

“14 winters old. Come on, the fish are biting.”  Ted grumbled and Tash followed. Magda saw them and handed Ted a basket with some bread, jelly, the water pitcher and some herbs.

“Go Ted. I want to talk to Tash.” Magda steered Tash into the house and sat at the table by the fireplace.

“You are old enough to know the truth. I don’t know when you were born. I know it was before winter, your father said you came early. Your parents were on a boat and a dragon appeared out of the sky. Dragons don’t come this way unless they want something. They had to crash into The Beauty to escape from the dragon. Ted rescued your parents and you told your parents that the dragon was there to play with you.” Magda said. Tash looked at her and tried to remember.

Tash put her head in her hands and sighed. Tash’s brain hurt from trying to remember. Tash did remember being on the small boat coming to Inkblot Island. Tash also remember complaining to her mother that she was bored and wanted a friend to play with.