Chores

In three hours I had helped make breakfast for all the young males, cheeped clean the bathing area for men and women, and had washed drinking jugs with Tara.

"I'm exhausted, how do you do this everyday?" I say, sitting down.

"You get use to it. Everyone has apart to play in our village," Tara says as she sits next to me and hands me a cup.

I take a sip and look at her.

"It's just juice," she laughs

"Just checking" I reply.

"How about I teach you to sew next? There are lots of clothes that just need little fixes that you could do." Tara offers

"Sure!" I say excitedly.

An hour later and I think my fingers have more holes than the clothes. Tara laughs and hands me another soft towel to put on my newest poke.

"Sorry," I say.

"That's ok, those are just practice ones anyway. Everyone has to start somewhere." Tara smiles.

"Why don't we take a break and get some lunch?" Tara suggests?

Five days later, and I am getting into a routine. I help with chores in the morning and work on sewing for a few hours in the afternoon. I eat my meals with the young females, who have all become my friends. The only thing that bothers me is that I don't see Arakan except to say goodnight and good morning.

"Do you think he is avoiding me?" I ask Tara, while I finish patching a hole in a child's smock.

"Who? Arakan? Why do you think that?" She asks, not looking up from her intricate design she is working on. It looks like two rabbits running through a field You can almost hear the crunching of their feet, her design is so well done.

"I haven't talked to him since I got here," I say, a little more whine like than I wanted.

"Well, have you tried talking to him?" Tara asks.

"He is never around to talk to" I rebut.

"Try this," Tara muses, " tomorrow morning, instead of just saying good morning while looking at you feet, ask him how he is? Or even, ask if you can go with him. While Arakan is our leader, he has no experience with females; he may be a great hunter, but he may be waiting for you." Tara explains.

"Oh" is all I can say as I poke my finger again.

The next morning, I wake up early and and am dressed and ready by the time the snoring stops on the other side of the canvas. Tara is also awake and winks at me with a smile. When Arakan opens the canvas to say good morning, I am ready.

"GoodmorningcanIseewhatyoudotoday?" I say way too fast, while looking at the floor.

Tara laughs but try's to turn it into a cough.

I look up and Arakan looks a little surprised but is smiling.

"Of course," he says proudly. He extends his hand towards mine and I smile as I place my hand into his large warm hand.