Amelie's Barn

Amelie Rose can hear her mother calling. "Amelie, come now darling, your oats will dry." Her mother's voice is always gentle, like a soft and sincere whisper, even when she is cross, and even with her father when he trudges his muddy boots onto the rug at days end.

She stretches her skinny, pale arms above her head of wild, chestnut curls and points her toes, pressing them along the cool, cotton sheets. A shiver riggles through her gangly body and she smiles with excitement as she hops out of bed, eagerly throwing her floral patchwork quilt and "Miss Teddy" aside.

Amelie has lived on Berry Road Farm with her mother and father her whole life. She loves life on the farm but she knows no different. Her friends are the trees, the birds, the sheep, Alfie the horse, the barn and the faraway mountains. There are times Amelie has felt both loneliness and sadness, and being so small she does not understand or know how to deal with these emotions. She wonders what is beyond the mountains. She wonders if she will ever find out.

Amelie skips into the kitchen, the smell of cinnamon and apple complement the oats, the meal she loves more than any other. She watches her mother and father as they lovingly gaze into each other's eyes, seeing the bright sparkle they reflect back. She watches as their hands softly brush along each other's as they walk past. Her father gives Amelie a little wink and grabs an apple as he leaves through the back door, ready to start his working day. "Farewell my loves, into the wild I go!" he announces. Amelie giggles and flops into her chair. The walls of the dark wooden cottage are always warm with laughter and smiles.

"Have your oats Amy girl, then get out and into that sunshine, your looking like a ghost over there!". Together, they burst into laughter. It was a running joke between the three of them, how pale her skin is, how even after all the days in the sun on the farm, her skin is still as white as goats milk.

Cherishing each mouthful of warm oats, Amelie contemplates what she will do today. First, she must visit Alfie and take off his nighttime coat. Each and every night, a coldness creeps over the mountains, slowly edging its way down the sharp, rocky edges and onto the green fields. She can't bear the thought of Alfie being cold, standing on the wet grass in the middle of the crisp, starry kissed, night skies. Nor can she bear the thought of him being too hot in the piercing midday sun! Amelie rushes from the kitchen table and hastily ties her hair into a lopsided ponytail, sliding into her gumboots.

Alfie senses her approaching and immediately turns and trots towards her. She runs her hand against his shiny, golden-brown hair and looks into his deep and dark, purple eyes. They are best friends. Amelie looks over to her father. He is leaning on his pitchfork, staring at her. He scratches his confused brow and awkwardly looks to the ground. She doesn't like it when he looks at her like that. He does it all the time. She doesn't know why.

Alfie lets out a little neigh, shifting her thoughts back to her plans for the day. Perhaps she can play in the barn, she loves the barn. Amelie feels like it is her own. She has watched many younglings born there, ducklings, ganders, little lambs and of course Alfie. It's a special place for her, to nurture the helpless, it is bursting with love and is fondly named "Amelie's barn" by her mother and father.

Amelie trudges towards the barn in her worn-out gumboots, admiring the faraway mountains, each standing like royalty with authority. Something is different today she thinks to herself. And something certainly sounds different. "What is that noise?" she says. Amelie looks towards the "far" road. The road that leads far into the trees and far away up into the mountains. "What is that?" she yells. But she turns to find neither her mother and father insight. As she turns back around Amelie couldn't believe her eyes. A little, red, rickety bike is coming down the road, the tires crunching the gravel. And ... A boy! A thick mop of straw-coloured hair, bobbing around with each pedal. He is fast. And he is coming right towards her. The closer he comes she can see into his eyes. Big, round and a deep purple, just like Alfies. At that very moment, the boy hits a rock and goes flying over his handlebars, landing on his stomach. He lets out a pained yelp and Amelie runs to his side.

"Are you ok? I'm Amelie. Where do you come from? I've never met a boy before?" Amelie is blabbering and she immediately stops herself. Smiling at the boy, she holds out her hand and helps him stand. He brushes the dust from his clothes and smiles, toothy and wide. "Hi Amelie, I'm Joseph." "Hi, Joseph" she replies. "I live over the hill, on Chester Farm, my father has told me about you." he continues. Amelie is confused. Why does he know about her but she not know about him? "Are you ok Joseph?" Amelie asks again. "I'm not sure." he replies, the uncertainty clear and Amelie has an idea. "You can come to my barn, I have everything you need to clean yourself up." Amelie offers proudly, taking her time to carefully deliver each word.

Once Joseph is clean, and the mutual nervousness no longer present, they spend the day chattering away, discussing what they love to do on their farms. They laugh together, rolling around in the hay, animated arms flailing about. Amelie even shares her paints and brushes. Together they paint a picture of the mountains with deep shades of brown and red. This is a day like no other for Amelie. She doesn't think she has ever felt this happy. She is used to only animals being in her barn, and now she has a boy, now she has a ... friend. Joseph is both cheeky and kind, Amelie thinks to herself smiling brightly. She also can't help but notice Joseph becoming distracted throughout the day. He looks to the roof of the barn as his purple eyes glaze over. She doesn't know what to say, so she waits patiently for him to let out an excited giggle and get back to their game. This really is her best day ever!

Amelie hears the porch bell ringing and her mother's voice trailing on the wind "Amelie, home now child." A whole day has passed and Joseph looks to Amelie. His eyes widen, he is terrified. "Please Amelie, can I stay here tonight? I am not ready. I can't. Not just yet!". The desperation in his voice is too much for Amelie. Her heart becomes heavy. What has happened to Joseph? She wonders. Amelie replies "Of course you can stay here Joseph. In my barn. You are safe here, I won't tell, I promise! A pinky twist promise." Locking their pinky fingers together they seal their agreement.

That night, Amelie is unsettled as she sits by the crackling fire with her mother and her father. She is quiet, watching the orange flames dance upon the red embers. She has so many questions but her tired little mind just can't think any longer. Her mother knowingly sends her to bed with a warm hug. "Sleep my child, you must be exhausted." And she does. Amelie's eyes are closed before she hits the pillow and she falls into a deep, motionless sleep.

A sudden knock at the door shocks Amelie awake and she opens her eyes. They never have visitors, her father rarely leaves the farm and her mother not at all. It was Joseph who came yesterday, now who? She can hear deep voices in a muffled conversation. She tiptoes to her door and carefully opens it just a little to listen. The words "dead" and "Joseph" and "fell off his bike" and "three days ago" are ringing in her ears. How could this be? How could this possibly be?

Amelie bursts through her door and bolts down the stairs. Missing the bottom step she stumbles past her father and the unknown man and makes for the barn. Her bare feet absorb the night's leftover chill as she runs as fast as she possibly can. Goosebumps jump from her skin, the wind carelessly throwing her curls across her face. She pushes open the door, desperately scanning every corner of the barn. There is no Joseph. Falling to her knees, she cries. The tears are streaming down her face uncontrollably, her wailing deafening. She feels her mother's hands fall upon her shoulders and she turns, leaping into her warm embrace.

"I can't protect you forever Amelie. One day this farm will be yours and I will be a part of the earth. It is time for you to know who you are and why you must stay here. You are special my child, I will show you." said her mother. Her smile and her voice have never been so kind and so delicate. Amelie watches the sparkle in her mother's eyes shower over her, to rest upon her skin. Amelie is overwhelmed with sadness, confusion and disbelief. She looks longingly to her mother. "Who am I?"