The old weathered town bell rang again for about the seventh time this morning, reemphasizing the importance of today. Arba groaned against her threadbare handed down pillow that was once white, many years ago, too long to remember now. She wasn't ready to get out of bed yet. She closed her eyes and hoped to be able to get at least five more minutes of sleep before Pa came calling or one of her brothers came knocking as though they intended to bring down the door and the house with it or worse still, Mama came barging in with all the force of a battalion. She always wondered how her mother could be such a force even early in the morning. Well, that woman is one powerhouse.
While she was still in her thought with her eyes squeezed shut as she tried with little luck to draw back sweet sleep, Mama barged in with her trademark wooden spoon in its rightful place in the tight grip of her right hand that rested against her hip. Think of the 'powerhouse' and she shall appear, indeed.
"D'ya want to sleep the whole day away?" her mother said almost at the same time she barged in, the noise of the forceful opening of Arba's rickety wooden door interfering with the sound of her voice so nicely that Arba had only just heard what she said.
"It'll be time soon for the noon bell and y'ar still in bed. Up with you!" Mama said pulling away the curtain, that also was once white, with nearly as much force she barged in with.
Arba winced at the bright light that hit her eyes, her hand immediately coming up to shield her eyes from the visual onslaught.
"Ah Mama" she said, "But the day is just starting" she sleepily replied to her mother's earlier statement whilst rubbing her eyes.
Her mother fixed her a stern look.
"Up, young lady" Mama said, "Those chores won't do themselves"
Arba groaned for the second time this morning. In this household, every person has their own set of rigorous chores, which shouldn't be much seeing as they were twelve people living in a not so big house, then they had to have acres of farmland and multitude of livestock. Though everyone has their own set of chores, Arba has always felt like hers is more stressful, and they could do without some of the things on her list, like dusting the windows. Nobody needs their windows dusted every day. And to make matters worse their house has too many windows for its size. She could bet almost her entire savings that a new window sprouts up every day!
"I don't want to get to that kitchen before you, young lady!" Mama said stomping out of her small room. For a small lady, her mother sure knows how to fill up the room.
Arba got out of the bed with a start, time to begin the fast dance she called her daily life. She gave herself a quick wash in the large wash bowl she had prepared the night before, washing only necessary parts and her mouth. She would have a proper bath later when she is done with the most part of her chores, by noon.
She quickly got into a neat dress after putting on the underthings, the rope strings at the back of her dress were giving her a hard time. She reached both hands behind her as she tried to lace the dress herself, whilst looking for her shoe. One of the "perks" of being born in a poor family with only brothers is that you can't afford a maid and there is no sister to dress you, so you will be forced to learn to dress yourself as a young lady of society early enough. She wasn't dressing to present herself in society right now and it is stressful enough. It is not like she ever dresses to present herself before society anyway.
She finished her laces, but now she couldn't find her work shoes, that she also used to farm. She swore she kept it under her bed last night, but now it was nowhere to be seen. Probably one of her brothers entered her room last night and took her shoes? Most likely not, they don't enter her room without her permission anymore, ever since Mama 'educated' them on her becoming a young woman and certain need for privacy.
"Where could it be then?!" she said aloud, groaning. And she just remembered that Mama said she is to be in the kitchen before her, how possible when she can't even find her shoes. She might as well go down barefoot, Pa may not like that though.
She resigning to walking barefoot on the farm today and was headed downstairs. As she pulled her door to close it behind her, she looked down and lo and behold there was the missing shoe, barely even concealed by the door. Good thing her immediate older brother, Renart, wasn't here, she thought, he would have laughed her to scorn.
"Someone has finally woken up from her sweet bed" Renart said teasingly as she came down into the kitchen. "Good morning princess how was the private royal chambers last night?" he asked mockingly. Ever since she got her private room in the attic, while her brothers have to share three to one, Renart has been jealous, and he would make some snide comment to this effect from time to time. She thought he would have gotten over it by now, it's been more than six years!
"I dare say 'twas fine, thou jealous subject" she replied feigning a fancy accent before she grabbed her apron and tied it hastily. Mama was already setting the table, she never lets Mama set the table, that's her chore.
"Don't say you are already done cleaning the pen, Renart, that you now have time for girly conversation" the fifth son, Erckwald, said coming to her rescue. "What are we discussing now? frills and flowers?"
She gave a cheerful grin in his direction, while juggling plates for breakfast. "Good morning, Erc" she cheerily greeted him.
"Morning Arba" He replied with a charming smile on his handsome face. Now Erc can be said to be more handsome than Renart in his manliness, but even he knew that once Renart loses the boyishness and grows into a man, there would be no competition.
"You look refreshed this morning; I think the dress becomes you. It's nice" Erc said to her. Another reason why he is better than Renart, he compliments, and he is the only brother who has ever actually complimented her. A testament to his charming personality.
Renart rolled his eyes at the compliment before casting a look her way and dismissing the dress altogether.
"I am almost done with cleaning the pen" he said to Erc as Arba thanked Erc for the compliment and moved on with her chores.
"Are you still here?" Erc said turning to him.
"Can't I finish the cleaning later on" Renart continued, trying to bargain shifting his chores to some other time later. His eyes comically winking, with a playful look on his face.
"Sure" Erc said, shrugging his shoulders "But you will eat breakfast whenever you are done, how about that? Still want to do it later?"
Renart's face dropped at eating breakfast later. "I'll go do it now" he mumbled stepping out the back door to go clean the pens.
"Thought so" Erc did say as Renart stepped out. Arba laughed aloud from the other side of the kitchen where she was removing boiled corn from the large pot.
On his way out of the kitchen, Erc reached for a piece of sweet bun, but Mama was quick in swatting his hand away with her stick.
"Ow" he said sharply withdrawing his hand.
"You know it's not time for breakfast yet" she reprimanded.
Sometimes, it's funny watching the way Mama treats her grown men brothers as though they were still children in nappies.