Partridge

Absolutely exquisite… That is how Sheryl would describe such a day, thought Philip. The sun had finally come out in the afternoon, pushing the gloom of the morning to the side so that the blue sky could remind everyone that it was still there. Three days of rain and grayness had bothered all of their souls, but now the weather was behaving the way it should in the last weeks of a long summer. Philip thought about his Sheryl.

Sheryl thought about her Philip. Would today be the day? He had worked hard for a very long time to put some money away for a rainy day (plenty of them around, she thought with a smile). He had his family’s property and name (a big deal still in that town). There was no reason why he could not finally settle down and do what her mother had called “the manly thing” and make her his own, one and forever.

It was a perfect day to make something in their lives. The fields were clear and ready for the end of the season; cows looked around and horses neighed politely behind fencing that had just been replaced that year. Philip’s farm was where he promised to meet her. He had already made a decision that morning and the sunlight and lingering heat confirmed that he was right. It was their turn now to make things right, one and forever.

“Absolutely exquisite day…”

“I knew you would say that.”

He had jumped out from behind a large plane tree when she spoke, startling his Sheryl to the point where she almost slapped him.

“Philip, you filthy beast!”

“A thousand apologies for this and for letting you walk all this way in that dress.”

She did cause a stir in his eyes, and in the eyes of the few neighbours nearby who could be bothered to notice her. A yellow summer dress that she bought that year and had few occasions to wear made him jealous and attentive. Sheryl was the only girl he knew would wear such a thing in the summer. No overalls or shorts for her if she could help it (and avoid her family’s request to help with field work or in the barn).

“I’m a big girl, and no one tells me how to dress.”

“Understood. Always understood…”

He took her hand; she wrapped her arm around his.

“Let’s go. You owe me a walk after all of my effort.”

It was the same path that all the townsfolk knew. It connected their community with the local school, Scottie’s Lake, the main highway to the city, and good hunting up in the hills. Many a couple had either met, courted, ran away together or got lost in the woods that separated all of the sights of their town. Philip knew this (too many stories from his father and grandfather to forget). Sheryl knew this (her mother only wanted her to use that well-worn dirt for school and the occasional walk into town for goods). And the sun had just returned. Not another soul would be stirring in that area for a while; no one else would ruin this moment.

“Honesty is always key.”

“Huh?”

“Philip, you silly country mouse. You have to pay more attention to women. I was saying,” she pulled him deeper into the trail, “honesty is very important in a relationship.”

The sunlight was strong among the elms and maples, but the leaves did provide a nice canopy for them (he had worried about not having his hat).

“Honesty…”

“Yes, being honest. Telling each other the truth about what you want, what you are.” She paused for a moment, stepping over a familiar boulder on the path. “What you are going to be.”

Another test, he thought. Okay, if that was what she wanted.

“You really want honesty?”

“Philip, you raw caveman. I always want you to tell me the truth.”

“Okay, well then, I will say that you should always wear dresses like that if you can, but not around some people in this town that you and me both know. You know who I mean.”

“Absolutely. You see? You can do it. Now, more!”

Philip began to look around to see if anyone was there. Not a soul to be heard; not a car to be seen on the distant road.

“And stay in shape.”

“What’s that, my beast?”

“Stay in shape. Please do not get too fat. I know that your mother and grandmother were never too large, but it is important to nip that bud while we can.”

Sheryl was still smiling under the leaves. Some clouds danced around the sky, but the sun was still coming in hard.

“I see. But please, may I also make a request?”

“Of course, my dear.”

She skipped over another boulder.

“You must make a promise to me not to get bald.”

“I see.”

“Or fat. That concerns me, too.”

“Fair is fair.”

She looked further up the road. The trail was still clear.

“And we really need to spend what we make on things that I think are valuable but may be unimportant to you.”

“Agreed.”

“And money will really cement this relationship.”

“Agreed.”

They made it to an open field that he hoped they would reach before the sun set.

“Philip, you magnificent monster. You brought us to our old field.”

It was still beautiful to him. Philip would play in the field when it was still old by Old Man Stephens and he hated kids. They were always running around through his orchards and throwing fruit at each other at the beginning of summer, ripping up plants as the harvest approached, and whipping snow and ice across the frozen fields when they got out of school. The old fruit trees still bore fruit well after the funeral and the decay of the house. The barn collapsed on itself and injured two old friends. But the real reason why he wanted to be here was still deeply rooted.

“I love this old tree.”

“Oh, Philip. You dangerous romantic. You always think of the right way to do these things.”

He caught himself for a moment after catching her words. “These things?”

Sheryl was grinning at his confusion. “Do you know how long I have waited for this? How long my mother has waited for this. She said that you would never do the ‘manly thing,’ as she calls it, and even some friends of mine thought that this relationship was not worth the time. But I always said that you would…”

At that very moment, a pear fell out of the tree and hit her on her forehead.

“Oh, Sheryl! Dear, please let me help…”

Sheryl was slightly confused by what just happened.

“Did I…?”

“It was just a pear. I hadn’t noticed the fruit still in it.”

“Oh. And ouch.”

“I am so sorry. Must have been a partridge in it.”

“A what?”

“You know, like the song: a partridge in a…”

“Why are you speaking nonsense now? And what are we even doing under some stupid tree after a storm?”

“Sheryl…”

“Seems silly to be out here when anyone or thing can drop out of trees and hurt us.”

Philip was really confused by what was taking place now.

“No partridges here.”

Sheryl turned back as she walked back to the trail.

“And there you go again about partridges. Never even seen one of those birds here and you keep talking about them. Seriously, Philip, I think that there might be something wrong with you.”

He looked up at the sky one more time. It was still a beautiful day, no matter what happened.

“Yes, absolutely, my dear destructive rabbit. Let’s go back.”

Sheryl walked on ahead, so accompanied by her boyfriend who attempted to take her hand as she wiped away whatever remained of the overripe pear. What would the dear boy do without me, she thought.

*

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