The call - hima Vemula (ebook reader with highlighter TXT) 📗

The first Snow

Ida stretched on her bed, yawning lazily; she pulled the quilt up until her neck and shifted to face the huge window that pictured the scenic beauty of the forest, her favorite way to start the day.  Her eyes went wide at the scenic beauty in front of her; the first snow fall.  She threw away the covers and in a second, she grabbed her jacket and was racing down the stairs, the cold floors numbed her frail feet. She ran on her tippy toes. She pulled out a pair of boots, scarf and hat; she rushed out putting them on in the way. She carefully locked the double door that was letting in the cold wind.

 

She raced into the racing track in their backyard. Soon the track would be filled with her friends working out every morning, was her involuntary thought.

 

“For now…this place is mine.” She smiled at the thought. She welcomed the chill that winter brought with it. She caught a few flakes in her hands, her gaze resting on every bit of detail of her surroundings. The vast stretch of the green meadow on the north, dense Woodro forest scattered across the south, a soiled road that led to the town of Woodro. Right in the midst, spread lavishly on the meadow lay her home. The WoodRo mansion the town’s oldest heritage, generations of people lived here, ran in these grounds, and climbed those tall trees, dozed off on this soft, velvety grass.

 

Ida smiled nodding her head. She was reminiscing things as if something was about to change all of these. She shook her head ignoring the nagging she felt at the pit of her stomach. The flicker of light in her father’s study caught her attention, she ran into confines of her home before she get caught for roaming in the cold weather.

 

The delicious aroma of coffee told her that Nana had started her day. Nana was a motherly figure for Ida who never had the chance to see her mother.

 

“Ah! There you are young lady; I see that you had the pleasure of seeing the first snow.”It’s a surprise to Ida of how Nana acknowledged her presence.

 

“Hot chocolate…?” she smiled. That wasn’t a question Nana always knew what Ida’s preferences are.

 

Ida watched as Nana prepared the breakfast, her movements were pretty smooth not even a hint of the age in her manners.  One needs to look really close to see the lines of age on her perfect olive skin.

 

“Nana…”

 

“I’ll not tell him about your little walk in the morning…” Nana smiled.

 

“Good morning, Father.” Leon was an elderly gentleman, with tight lines and almost poker faced. He just gave a curt nod acknowledging her presence.  Ida carefully set the tray on the old mahogany table; her gaze flickered to the papers lying on the table. She guessed that those were the forms of the boys coming this year.

 

“Help Nana with cleaning up the rooms for the boys,” It was very rare that Leon spoke even if he did it was usually to give instructions to her. He was man of little words.

 

“Who do you think will be returning this year?”Nana knew it wasn’t question for her, It’s just Ida’s way of thinking out loud.

 

“I hope Lyall doesn’t return… I certainly wish Ian will be here although I certainly don’t want him to be moved around by that high headed Lyall.”

 

There were four rooms for the twelve boys, two added since last year. Nana took great care in making the room as cozy as she could. Her keen eyes scanned the rooms when she was finished, a proud smile would appear if she was satisfied or she would do it all over again.

 

“I wish I could see the forms then I’m really curious about who would be coming…” Even though Nana was busy she wasn’t oblivious to the slight hint of mischief lingering in her voice.

 

“It’s not worthy of the trouble, you just have to wait two more days…”

 

Ida watched from her windows, as the snow began to settle on the grounds. The earthly brown has disappeared under the carpet of snow. The greenery was no more visible; she wrapped the quilt closer to her body as the cold wind pricked her body. She felt unease as the winter rolled in with fierce winds. It was an unknown feeling to her, she had always liked the cold weather and having the boys in the house added more to her liking.

 

She sighed as she watched the old clock. The boys were supposed to be here and it seemed to be a long wait to her. She heard the distant noise of honk announcing the arrival of someone. Ida jumped out of the sill and jumped through the flight of stairs before landing cleanly right at the main door to welcome whoever that is.

 

Nana and Wolfe, their keeper was greeting the person. Ida couldn’t see who it was as he was covered by Nana’s round personality. Wolfe ran to the car to get the bags and Nana turned to let him in.

 

“Lyall…” Ida huffed and was about to turn away when she heard another honk.

 

The huge hall was now filled with laughter, Ida went to greet them one after the other. There were three new boys in the house, she watched in content as the house was alive again with laughter. She guided the newbie’s to their rooms and explained the basic rules.

 

“Didn’t you meet Ian,yet?” Nana asked as she saw Ida sigh and sit on the kitchen stool.

 

“He is here?” all her fatigue gone at the mention of her little friend’s name.

 

“He is shifted into Lyall’s room…”Nana called out after the running girl.

 

She ran into the room not bothering to knock. She saw Lyall standing with a crystal in his hand. She retracted her steps hoping that Lyall wouldn’t see her. She stumbled into someone that stood behind her.

 

“I’m sorry…” “What do you think you are doing here?”Ida could recognize that voice anywhere, the voice that would irate her to the extremes.

 

“Ida…”she turned to see the person behind her whom she has mistaken as Lyall. He stood looming over her petite figure. She felt really small between them. She was scooped up suddenly and was enveloped in bear like hug.

 

“I missed you so much…” the voice sounded somehow familiar to her. Lyall grumbled and she was put back in her foot that’s when she got a good look at the guy.

 

“Ian…?” Ida couldn’t trust what she saw in front of her. The little, frail, nerdy Ian she knew was no where comparable to the tall, muscular, devilishly handsome guy that stood before her.

 

His soft blue eyes were the only thing that reminded her of the boy who he was. “Can you guys take this lovey-dovey crap outside?” Lyall rudely interrupted her train of thoughts.

 

“I’ll meet you at our place in a few…” He saw her out of the room.

 

“He’s different…”

 

“He has grown quite a bit.” Wolfe said. Ida was helping Wolfe to build a bonfire for the welcoming night.

 

“It’s not that… At first, I thought the same thing but when I spoke to him before I had a different feeling altogether.”

 

Wolfe just stared at her clueless. “You see that is the reason why I never tell you anything, you are clueless and you are not NaNa…”

 

Wolfe faked an expression of hurt. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to be rude.” Wolfe chortled. They resumed their work laughing at each other unaware of being watched by a pair eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

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Publication Date: 11-10-2013

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