Spring has sprung! (open)

[Patricia Reed]

Finally. Spring was here. It was by far Patricia’s favorite season. Then summer, followed by fall. Winter didn’t even make it on her list. It made her feel useless. And just kind of gross in general. But Spring… This was her time to shine. Her time to show off what she could do exactly. And it made her feel wonderful.

She’d managed to plant a bulbs a few days ago. Only a few had begun to sprout. The others were taking their time, mostly likely to sprout too in the next day or so. As much as she wanted to be able to, she would have to wait until the plants actually sprouted to be able to manipulate any of them. The flowers around Hammel were something of a pride and joy of hers, manipulating them until they were in full bloom. Much like she did at her own home.

And it was obvious from anybody who saw her that she’d been working in grounds for a few hours at least by her clothes. Her worn in jeans, loose flannel shirt, and even her tank top all had dirt on them. The dirt on her jeans was mostly on her knees as she’d been kneeling on the ground most of the day while planting more bulbs. And her hands were dirt covered too.

Not that she minded though. She loved the feel of dirt between her fingers. It was an unusual feeling, one she only felt when doing work like this. But it made her feel as if she were a part of the earth itself. Normally, she’d nod politely at somebody who said those kinds of things, while quietly leaving her opinion on the subject of their sanity to herself. Which was why she kept how working with the earth made her feel.

But the soft smile and look of peace on her face, kneeling then in the grass, made it clear that she was at peace then.

Sitting back on her legs, she realized it was nearing dusk by the pinkish color in the sky. The kids were finished with their classes now. And the teachers were most likely leaving about now. Or left already. She supposed she should be doing the same, so the older woman stood and dressed off her clothes.

[Caroline Mason]

Spring!

Spring!

Spring!

It was quite possibly the best season ever created by The Almighty. Though Caroline was, perhaps, a little on the biased side. The flowers, the smell of new grass, the cool-but-not-hot air. Vermont did Spring so beautifully, and as it was her first Spring in the state and at Hammel, Caroline thrilled in it.

She was up early, and out of the dorms as quietly as she could be without disturbing her roommates. Shoes forgotten, as they often were, and bare feet sprinting across the gass. Her shorts were a little premature, but the young meta didn't care. With the sun peeking over the trees and the mountains, it was going to warm up soon enough.

She'd spent the entire day out-of-doors, forgetting that she actually had classes, so engrossed in the joy of Spring. She'd hear about it later, but for the time being Caroline was blessedly free.

Running with wild abandon, Caroline rounded a corner into the courtyard and slowed. With so few people out and about, and more gone home for the break, Caroline was a little surprised to see anyone there at all. The woman was beautiful. Just beautiful with her light brown hair and dirt stained hands.

"Hi!" Caroline chirped a wide grin on her thirteen-year-old face.

[Patricia Reed]

As Patricia stood up, pushing her hands against the ground, she heard popping sounds come from her legs. It was one of the many drawbacks of growing older. You became aware of muscles and joints you never knew of before that seemed to ache for no reason. But such was life. And all you could hope for was that perhaps the next day you wouldn’t feel the same aches and pains.

Standing up and stretching her arms over her head, she heard a few pops too. She knew that tonight there would be a glass of wine with her name on it when she returned home. And that book she’d been reading. Or perhaps a good game of chess. Though, playing herself was beginning to bore her. Playing herself wasn’t quite as sad as it sounded. She enjoyed it really, spending much of her time alone. She sometimes suspected she wasn’t good company for others, only in the sense that she didn’t talk or offer much information about herself. Except to plants. But that was only another way to make them thrive.

A young girl caught her attention from the corner of her eye. Figuring she was on her way to do something or other that needed to be done immediately, liking for school, Patricia decided not to question her. She’d seen it before. Having been to high school herself and working here for ten years, students scrambling last minute to complete assignments wasn’t too surprising anymore. And since she wasn’t a teacher, they often didn’t feel the need to hide the fact that they were slacking on assignments from her.

But she did find surprising when the small girl approached. She smiled just the same. Not an overly big smile, but a simple rise of the corner of her lips. “Well hello.” Patricia’s hand rose to pat the girl’s head gently, but she caught sight of the dirt caked on it and instead to waved her fingers at her.

The girl herself looked familiar. Obviously, she was a student. But she was young. Her face was still very young, still had what most called ‘baby fat’, what with her large cheeks. Patricia guessed about twelve. “What are you up to today sweetie?” Patricia asked, as she brushed her hands against the leg of her pants, watching herself do so until at least some of the dirt was gone.

[Caroline Mason]

Sweetie. Sweetie. Father Boe had called her sweetie from time to time. But 'dear' had been more prevelant. It wasn't because he had forgotten her name. No, Father Boe knew every name of every kid at Boy's Town. At least, Caroline believed that of the Jesuite Priest.

"Enjoying the weather! I like snow pretty okay, but it gets so old after a while. It's nice to have a change. To have warm. I missed the grass. But this grass is different. It's not really the grass back home, but it's close enough. What were you planting?" Bounding over, and giving herself time to breathe, Caroline peered at the space where the woman had been kneeling before she stood all pops and crackles. "Father Boe drinks hot tea when he gets sore. I'm Caroline," turning from the planting area, the girl held out a hand. it was polite, and manners mattered.

Giving the woman's hand a good shake, Caroline rocked back on her bare heels, and then forward on the pads of her feet, standing for a moment on her toes. "Did you do all of this? By yourself? That's so incredible. I'm horrible with plants. One time, back in Omaha, I was supposed to keep a cactus alive. I over-watered it, Father Boe said. Who knew you could over-water a plant? I didn't. I felt horrible." Truly she had, and the slight shuffle of her feet proved there was residual guilt.

"I didn't mean to."

[Patricia Reed]

Patricia couldn’t help but to smile at the chatty girl in front of her. She often enjoyed children for that reason. They were quite often much more chatty than most other age group. In her own home, Patricia had been raised under the mantra that children should be seen and not heard. It was something she hadn’t been able to break throughout her life. Unless she was with those who she considered very dear to her.

Nodding agreement, Patricia let her prattle on until the small girl took a breath. “I like the warm weather too. I’m most useful when it’s warm, because I like planting. And I can make the flowers nice and big.” She said with a smile, looking down at the freshly disturbed soil. “Here I have some sunflowers. They’re gonna take a while though. Sunflowers need a lot of attention.”

The girl wasn’t shy that was for sure. “It’s nice to meet you Caroline. I’m Patricia. Or you can call me Addie if you like.” Only after being sure her hands only had the littlest bit of dirt on them, which would only come off after a good washing, she shook the Caroline’s hand. “Tea helps sometimes.” The older woman didn’t feel it was appropriate to let such a young child know that she herself preferred a glass of wine. “But I have a heating pad that I use that does the trick.” Which was just as true.

Another smile came to Addie’s mouth as she listened to Caroline’s story. She did her best not to chuckle at her, she found her to be rather amusing. But thought that if she did giggle she might find offense in that. “I did do it. They let me take care of the gardening because I love it so much. And don’t worry about over watering. Everybody does it. I used to do it too. It just takes a lot of practice.”

Kneeling slowly back onto the ground, another dull pain in her knees, she scooped up a few seeds she’d yet plant and held them in her hand towards Caroline. “You see, seeds are kind of like people. Each of their needs is different. This one may need more water than that one.” She said pointing to two seeds at random. “Or this one here might sprout more quickly than that one.” She said pointing to another two. “If you’d like, I can teach you some about what I know.”

[Caroline Mason]

With wide eyes, Caroline clapped her hands in front of her and bounced a little. She loved sunflowers. They were so pretty, and their big, big faces following the sun as it trekked across the sky was one of the neatest things she'd ever seen in a time-lapse video back at Boy's Town. Father Boe had set a whole mass around the trust and life of a sunflower and how people should always face the sun and light.

Grabbing onto Addie's hand with her both of hers, one in the other womans, and the other held over their joined hands, Caroline gave it a hearty shake. "Addie is such a good name," she declared already deciding that they would be friends. Once she got better control over her shifting, and if it didn't hurt quite so much, she could come into the gardens and snack on aphids for the gardener. Besides, Caroline had discovered aphids were actually really quite tasty.

"You used to over water things?" A rush of relief followed the disbelieving tone and Caroline let out a breath. "Ohmygosh that makes me feel so much better! I mean, I still feel bad for the cactus, but know that it happens... even to someone with the Talent... it just makes me feel better somehow." And then she followed Patricia into a keeling position for a lesson about seeds. Devouring the information and trying very hard to remember what was told to her, Caroline's face was a mask of concentration. She mouthed some of the lesson quietly just to make sure it would stick.

Seeds were like people. She'd have to write to Father Boe about that. And about how nice Miss Addie was.

"Would you!? OhgoshMissAddieI'dlikethatawholelot!" Then, realizing she'd spoken in a rush, Caroline flushed, the dark freckles across her nose and cheeks standing out further against the pink. "I mean, I would really like that. I don't want to over water again. Oh! OH!" Looking excitedly, Caroline tried not to wiggle, "When I get better at my power, I can help you out more too! As kind of a payment." She'd already thought this, but the physical offer was still needed. "I can turn into a ladybug! It kinda hurts though. But Miss Mii and my trainer said that with practice it wouldn't hurt so much. At first I didn't even want to try, but it'll help you right? To keep other bugs from eating your flowers and pretty plants. And I want to be helpful. Father Boe says that to be helpful is one of the best things a person can do, but not to push it on people. Sometimes some people don't want help. So we should offer, but not push. I'm not pushing am I?"

[Patricia Reed]

From the little girl’s reaction, Addie assumed that she liked sunflowers. And very much. Which the older woman couldn’t blame her for. Sunflowers were… Well, they were the essence of happy. Yellow, bright. She’d always loved sunflowers. Those and Calla Lilies were by far her favorites, despite looking nothing alike.

Smiling, Addie already found herself fond of this small child. “Well I’ve always liked it. It’s short for Adelaide. But that’s kind of a mouthful, don’t ya’ think?” She said with a little smile and chuckle, simply because it was true. Patricia Adelaide Reed wasn’t exactly the kind of name that rolled off the tongue.

With another chuckle, the maintenance worker nodded. “I did. It’s all about looking at the flower and trying to understand their needs. They can’t talk, but they try to tell you with their appearance and the dirt around them what they need.” Looking back at the girl, she did her because to try and explain. “If plants get too much water, the lower leaves will look yellow or the stems will flop over. Kinda looking how somebody might feel if they eat too much.” She said, trying to paint a picture for the girl.

The excitement that Caroline felt was contagious. It made Addie laugh. She wasn’t laughing at the girl’s expense. But she was glad she’d found somebody who appeared to be so excited about what she did. It made Addie more than willing to teach her. “I’d be more than happy to do that Caroline.” It’d been quite some time since the last time Addie smiled like this or was this excited about planting. She’d come to see it as a kind of meditation over the years. Her reaction used to be much like Caroline’s, excited and bubbly. “You’re not pushing at all sweetie. I’d be more than happy to have your help. And you don’t have to call me Miss Addie. Since we’re going to be spending time together, you can just call me Addie.”

Addie didn’t spend much time thinking about what the child she’d given up for adoption would be like now. When she did think of the girl, she wondered where she was in life right now, if she’d had a good family, and things like that. Not of her personality. Addie knew that the child she’d had would be nearly thirty now, but it was hard to imagine her as any differently than the last time Addie had seen her, an brand new baby. But for an instant, just a brief instant, she hoped that the child she’d had, had been like Caroline. With that excitement and drive.

“If you’d like, we can start now. You can help me finish planting the sunflowers.” Addie said, holding out her hands with the seeds in them for Caroline to accept if she wished to.

[Caroline Mason]

Nodding and repeating the information offered freely so that she would remember it, Caroline's eyes grew as wide as they could at the offer to plant some seeds as well.

"Really? You really mean it Miss, uh... Addie?" Remembering to only call her Addie was going to be a little difficult. At least she hadn't slipped up and called her Sister Addie. Checking Addie's face for assurance, Caroline reached out and picked a seed. Then hesitated not sure what to do with it next. Did she poke a hole in the soil with a finger and drop the seed in before covering the hole over again?

"Um... Mi-Addie?" The question was written in her voice and the uncertain curve of the young meta's shoulders. "How do I do this so I don't mess up all the pretty work you did?" Or kill the sunflower.

[Patricia Reed]

Smiling, Addie nodded. “Of course. Nothing would make me happier Caroline.” There was already a soft spot in her heart for the young girl. She was just so easily pleased. And was obviously excited. It reminded Addie that there was more to young people than simple loud music and jeans hanging down to show their under things.

“Ok, so, it’s a little more complicated with Sunflowers. What you’re supposed to do is put them in a damp paper towel to see which ones are viable and start to sprout a little.” As spoke, she moved a small handful of dirt. “Then you plant them.” She gestured towards the small whole, indicating that Caroline should place the seed in it. “But I didn’t. I don’t usually. Now when it starts to grow though, we’re going to move the plants. Plant it deeper down then it is right now. Because sunflowers have thick, heavy steams and we don’t want them to droop over.”

“But when we dig them up, we’ll have to be careful not to damage the roots.” She said with a smile. “You can put the dirt back of the seed now. But don’t pack it down tight. Just as if the dirt hadn’t been disturbed.”

[Caroline Mason]

Carefully Caroline repeated the information as it was given, to make certain that she had heard it correctly as well as to imprint it into her memory as best she could. Without her notebook with her she couldn't take physical notes, but vowed silently to write everything she remembered down as soon as she got back to her dorm.

Wrapping a seed in a damp paper towel to see if it was a good seed or not seemed smart.

With a cupped hand Caroline carefully scooped the dirt back over the seed. "How can you tell where the roots are so you don't break them?" The question was asked worriedly as the young meta was desperate to do things correctly and not destroy the woman's hard work. She wanted to help prettify the grounds It was good work. Honest work.

There were gardens at Boy's Town, but she hadn't been allowed to help in them. She liked sitting by them, though, and looking at all the pretty flowers. Here she was able to help, and Addie seemed glad to be able to teach her. Caroline was just as glad to learn.

Once she had scooped dirt over where the seeds lay, Caroline studied the spot carefully. She hadn't packed the dirt down, just scooped it over, and hoped she'd done right. From the dirt she looked at Addie hopeful.

[Patricia Reed]

“Well, when then they’re in a damp paper towel, you’ll be able to see small cracks in the seed, where it’s starting to sprout. They’ll be small though, just like the roots, so you’ll have to look carefully.” Addie said as she watched Caroline’s hands move.

“But I didn’t put these seeds in a paper towel, so you don’t have to worry about that right now.” Assuring Caroline that she didn’t need to be overly careful with these. “When they’re planted though, you can’t see the roots. Once you work with plants of different sizes more, you can begin to kind of guess where they might be based on their size and where you planted the seed.” Which was true. For her at least. But she’d been working with plants so long that it was second nature. “But even then, you still just have to be careful and dig gently. Preferably with your fingers.”

With a big smile, Addie looked at the small girl. “That was a wonderful job, Caroline.” It was true. The young girl took direction very well. Which Addie didn’t believe many kids had nowadays. “You’ll be better than me with plants in no time.”

Standing again, slowly, Addie brushed her hands clean of dirt, than offered one to Caroline to help her stand as well. "Thank you for help me with the sunflowers sweetie. But that's all I have for planting now. All I have left are trimming some bushes around the school. You're welcome to come along with me though." But Addie wasn't at all comfortable with the idea of little Caroline using the sheers that were needed for that.

[Caroline Mason]

Better than Addie?! Caroline's face registered disbelief, but pride. "It's so much fun. I wish I could do this all the time!" And for the moment that was the absolute truth. The feel of the dirt around her hands, actually adding beauty (or what would be beauty) to the world, making friends. What wasn't to like about planting?

Taking the extended hand and pulling herself to her feet, Caroline looked back down at the dirt and grinned at it. "Grow big and tall, kay?" She had no way of knowing if the seeds could hear her. Or even understand her if they could. But she knew people talked to their plants.

"Can I help you again when you do more planting?" Caroline more or less expected that she wasn't allowed to help with sheering things. Those were dangerous tools and she hadn't been trained, nor was she technically old enough by many standards. Even back home she wouldn't have been allowed to help with that. "When can we do this again?" Her round face was turned up to Addie's, hopeful and eager.

[Patricia Reed]

The look on Caroline’s face made Addie smile. It was surprising to her just how quickly she’d become so fond of the young girl. “Well, you’re more than welcome to help whenever you’d like Caroline. I’d love it if you did.” She would enjoy more time with the Hammel student very much, teaching her new things about gardening and maybe just talking with her.

At first Addie had no idea what Caroline was doing, talking to the plants. She thought perhaps the girl was talking to herself. Which wasn’t all that strange. Lord knows Addie did that all the time. But when she realized it was the seeds she was speaking to, the maintenance worker chuckled and smiled. “Some people think the more you talk to plants, the bigger and healthier they grow.” Of course, Addie didn’t need to do that. But she still did it. Frequently actually.

“I’d like that, you helping me more. I’m here every day. Early in the morning ‘til evening. So anytime you aren’t busy, just try to find me.” This little girl was something special. And Addie could hardly wait to see the kind of person Caroline would grow up to be. “You can help me more later this week if you’d like. Tomorrow I’m fixing things around the school, not nearly as much fun as gardening.” With a smile, she asked, “What kind of cookie do you like? I’ll make us a snack next time you help me out.”