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Supplemental episode four Bah Bah. My morning tea scalded my tongue as I took
a sip just a little too early. I was eager the smell was right,
and my throat was sore from spending too much time around the fire the
night before. But what a night it was, I thought, as I
looked fondly at the door that leads to my balcony kit asleep on the other
side. He had finally arrived after months and months of planning, and I
couldn't be happier. I could hardly say it was because I was lonely,
as my days are filled with teaching children and tending my home. More so
because he did it for me without much of a push. No one has
done something sweet for me in years. Outside of De paul Ah. I
looked to the distance, the sun coming over the horizon in the yeast hues
of pink and red dancing on the shimmering ocean. What a wonderful place I
have found myself, What a wonderful time to be alive. What a wonderful
culture to be immersed in, and what a wonderful man I have found to
share my few remaining years with. I felt my age and body, but
curse the gods for not giving me more time with Kit. Mentally, I
still felt like a young woman setting out as I had done decades ago,
memories of a life I hardly knew any more flooding my mind. I sat
until my tea was cooled, reminiscing on my life, my purpose, and
where that purpose has led and left me. Purpose meaning destiny. None of
those words meant anything to me any more. I had always assumed the gods
had set my destiny in stone when my soul danced around the ether prior to
my birth, But now I knew thou was false. I had been in
charge of my destiny, of my life, of my happiness since the very
beginning, and I had wasted years never knowing that possibility. But was it
a waste if I find myself here now with everything I could ever ask for.
I raised the cold tea and a sip, the taste bitter without the
burning sensation eating away at my taste buds. As my eyes settled on the
knob of my remaining fingers. My thoughts became discompopulated as my mind attempted to
wrap around the last few months, the pain I endured and the loss I
experienced. A deep ache crept into the side of my face where my eye
had been, the same ache forcing me to set down my muck as the
pain of Nero removing them came back to the forefront. How did it all
come to that? Why was I forced to look such evil in the eye
and take the worst it could dish out to me, all in the name
of someone else, someone I had no control over. The door took the
balcony opened behind me, interrupting me as I turned to see Kit exiting our
bedroom and pulling along wool sweater over his head. I turned back around as
I waited for him to take a seat, when I felt his hand on
my shoulders, squeezing gently as his head lowered to the side of mine,
his lips planting a slappy kiss on my cheek. I closed my eyes and
enjoyed the warmth they left behind, and was nearly overwhelmed in the moment as
I thought, that's why A smile revealing my broken teeth for the world to
see. A little shame I had carried, falling away as I did.
So, what's on your Jennifer today, Kit asked, as he handed me
a fresh cup of tea he had brought from inside. Well, economics,
which I'm not very good at, but I have to teach these kids something
useful if they ever want to make it out of you're on their own two
feet. Oh, only economics Iver needed was what the process of turnips was
what I could sell them for. I settled my eyes on him. But
dear, you know as well as I that there is more to it than
that. Coming from someone who is in a farm for their entire life,
you got me curious. Kits set it as he set his mug down,
laying his chin in one hand as he propped his arm on his elbow on
a side table. I'm all ears and all asked to boot, he laughed
and slapped his knee. Music to my ears. Well, you have to
consider the cost of your labor material to sow the fields, tools and livestock
who assist you, so on and so forth. His face scrunched up,
as I had learned he often did when he didn't one who admit to something
that he was wrong about. Yeah, maybe so, he finally said,
as my grin grew to a smile. I tell you, the kids are
in good hands. I'm glad, someone thinks. So. He set his
hand on mine and gave it a light squeeze. You raise that bull ride,
Becca. He will be just fine out there in that big old world.
I mean, come on, the world is a scary place. And
he grew up with you. He gave me another light squeeze before picking up
his mug and cradling it, warding off the morning chill settling into his fingers
and yours. Do you think they're doing well? I'm sure of it.
Manya is the fiercest and most level headed leader I've ever known. If she
was a man, she would have this valley by the balls. Why,
on the other hand, we'll have a tougher go of it. Why do
you say that, Well, because he's a big old boy taking orders from
a one armed girl from being blunt, and that matters to people. Aye,
it does. So he will come around, though, I'm sure of
it. He is my boy, after all, Kit said, his eyes
shining with pride. How are your students doing, fledging farmers in Earnest.
I assume, yeah, they're honest. I guess earnest it means they are
trying hard. I could see Kit working the new word into his vocabulary,
something ever expanding as he experienced more of the world. They are Miguel and
TONI had the eye for it Aria too, but they have a lot of
learnin ahead of them. I just hope I'm the man for the job.
He clenched his jaw over and over, something he did when his emotions ran
high. I'm sure you will be, Kit. Just look at the agricultural
output of my Kaja. Already, only one harvest under your belt, and
you've improved productivity fivefold. You should be proud, he nodded as he drained
the last of his cooling tea before standing. On that note, I gotta
get to the barn. There's cows to milk. Love you, Becca,
he said, as he kissed me on the cheek again. I love you
too. I sat enjoying my morning for just a while longer before I made
my trek to the schoolhouse. No cows to milk, but plenty of young
minds eager to learn, I found. I had enjoyed my time more than
I should have. Been surrounded by youngsters who were bright, but oh so
sheltered. They came to us ignorant, knowing nothing of the world at large.
I was here to help with that, and I hoped I was up
to the task. My nerves fluttered as the sheer task of molding these children
into productive and honorable human beings weighed on me. One boy wore me out,
and by my count I was responsible for teaching thirty plus at this point,
with more to join any day. I had no idea how I would
manage it, but I would do my best. Entering my home and warding
off the chill that had settled, I sat for a moment by the fire
before I set my mug down and got to work preparing for my day,
washing my face quickly before dawning fresh linens left me with the lone task of
preparing my materials for the day. On the agenda horticulture, or more specifically,
the study of what plants would be a viable option in the wild to
eat, what ones would heal, and what ones would kill. Of course,
I one detail the poisonous herbs too closely, but you never know what
may arise in their lives that would warrant the execution of such poisons. I
loaded my bag before descending the stairs and exiting out the front door, finding
my horse and car already saddled and ready. Thanks to kit, I assumed.
I smiled the heart of this man, making me proud to call him
mine. I never would have thought, judging by his exterior, how sweet
he could be. Climbing the small step stool laid out for me and mounting
my cart, I grabbed the reins and gave my old boy a light smack
of leather. He lurched forward, snorting under the strain before we got up
to speed. The main settlement approached slow and steady, as was his pace,
which I didn't mind. More time to contemplate, more time to enjoy
the quiet moments before a large room of thirty children assaulted my senses. Morning,
Eli, how's your wife? I said? As I passed the docks,
several of the local fishermen having grown accustomed to seeing me on my daily
route, and I then, naturally I couldn't help but care about them too,
he yelled back. As my horse kept drawing me forward, myself turned
in my seat to maintain eye contact. With Eli. I turned to face
forward once again when I caught some movement out of my peripheral vision and looked
to wish a good morning on another of my fishermen friends. What my eyes
settled on chilled my blood, my owns, immediately aching at the ghosts that
greeted me, looking back at me as tongue founded as I was. It's
Nero. He was seated in a small boat on the dock, halfway stepped
out of it, covered in ragged ropes and salt stained clothes. Ghost would
not have recognized him, but those eyes still haunt my dreams. As I
pulled further away, the look of surprise melted from his face, replaced by
the chilling smile I had grown accustomed to all those months ago in the dark,
danky cave he called home. Well. That concludes supplemental episode four for
Baba. Welcome back, old friend, or should I say enemy, Nero
has made a reappearance after weeks at sea. His already fractured mind has splintered
down even further, and unfortunately, now that Boba has reached the precipice of
her life, he has come to join her on the downside. If you've
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I could not do this without you, folks. Your listenership is so so
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are All Alone Baby Supplemental Episode four, And I'll see y'all next time.