In the warm summer of 1830, the second son from the Reynaldy earldom, his wife and children had decided to move to a secluded village hidden in the forest in the outskirts of Izhevsk. They opened a bakery there and were busy settling everything down for a few weeks after they moved in this winter. And today was a day where the family would relax before the school starts again the next day. Daria and her little brother Cameron had decided to set out to explore the village the previous night and declared their intentions at breakfast table.
The tea was piping hot, and the scent of warm and freshly baked bread filled the air in the kitchen. Their mother; Mrs. Aisha Verbitzkaya Renaldy was busy placing the buns on plates and taking out the butter and the passion fruit jam their neighbour had given them as a welcome gift and filling the cups with tea, adding sugar and milk. Daria helped her to set the table and while the family was eating, suddenly Cameron looked up and said "Ma, Pa, there's only today left before we go to school again tomorrow, can Daria and I go explore the village. All we have seen so far was our house, the bakery and some neighbours. I really want to explore the village." Mr and Mrs Reynaldy chuckled and agreed, "my dearest children, but of course you may explore to heart's content but do not wander off too far in the forest, is that clear, and do not engage in dangerous situations. I shall prepare your lunch boxes, and you shall dress warm. The snowstorm may have ended but it's still very cold out there."
"Sure Ma! Can we have butter and cheese in our buns in our lunch box, oh and some tamagoyaki (egg rolls)? You know we both love egg rolls." Asked Daria in most politely
"But of course my dear, have some fun today and look after yourself and your brother well. I trust that you won't get into any mischief." Said Mrs Reynaldy.
"Oh Ma, I promise I won't, though I cannot say I'd be ever so tempted to climb trees I find intriguing but Cameron can't climb trees yet. But I do promise as I am now thirteen, I shall be a sensible and obedient teenager." Said Daria all excited and kissed her mum on the cheek, then ran upstairs with Cameron to get ready.
"Are you ready?" Asked Mr. Reynaldy
" All set! Lunch boxes, check thanks to Mama, muffler, check, rucksack, check, lamps, check..." Started Cameron
"Alright, seems like you got everything you need, remember don't wander off to deep in the forest or too far" Mr Reynaldy reminded them. They nodded and finally departed on their adventure, singing a pirate's song along the way.
"We are the straw hat pirates
Blackbeard was defeated
As mighty or even mightier
Than whitebeard
Our captain is
Laaaa lala lala
Ouuu ouou ouou
Laaaa lala lala
Ouuu ouou ouou
We are the straw hat pirates
Our captain is the
Mighty pirate king
Already got the one piece
The biggest treasure
Laaaa lala lala
Ouuu ouou ouou
Laaaa lala lala
Oh my would you look at that!"
They walked till they reached the famous water mill of the village, they had heard the neighbours talking about. It was a beautiful sight though the water was frozen and the rivers and lakes looked like giant ice rinks perfect for ice skating. "Erm sis, did we pack our ice skates?" Asked Cameron all eager.
"Sure, let me fix them to the sole of your shoes for you, then I'll fix mine too" said Daria.
"I'm sure there are merchants on the frozen rivers and canals of St. Petersburg right now, it must be lively in the city, when we go on holiday or when we attended highschool at the Royal academy we shall be able to see it all... The sparkles of the city..." Said Cameron while Daria was fixing his skates.
"There all done, wait for me and we shall ice skate! Oh but life in this village seems promising and mysterious too. It's tranquil, though it may be livelier maybe during spring and summer time..., alright let's go!" Said Daria.
They spent nearly an hour and a half on the giant ice rinks, twirling about, playing cat and mouse, they then played with snowballs and made little snowmen and a most beautiful snow castle. Both siblings were rarher good and artistic with their little hands; they both had a creative mind and excelled in academics and sports. They were mischievous as well and loved mysteries.
Soon after their playing they got hungry and happily ate their packed lunch, though it nearly froze in the basket, it was still just as delicious, surely their mother was a genius cook.
"Sis, let's go to the flour mill, I've always wanted to see the inside and to see the mechanism behind how refined flour is made from grains" said Cameron and Daria nodded to agree. They got up and set off again to see the flour mill.
The flour mill was yet another famous location of the village as it crushed the grains into flour for everyone there, it belonged to the old Mr. Charlie Forest. Rumours had it that Mr. Charlie Forest's great grandfather was the one who built this village together with his rival. And he started the flour mill.
Once allowed inside for a visit and with the old Mr. Charlie. F as their tour guide, Cameron was over the moon. The deafening sounds of the rocks pillaging the the grains, the outer shell remains, being softed and separated, the refinement of the coarse flour, the different types of flour you get from wheat that is semolina, whole wheat flour, white refined flour...all that amazed Cameron. "Sis, I will become an engineer some day! And create machinery and mechanism that will mark history and be amazing..." Exclaimed Cameron. Daria patted her little brother's head and smiled
"And I want to become a governess... Maybe or the happy wife of a handsome, a most kind and loving man, I shall be a happy mother and a sensible adult just like mother" Said Daria with a bright smile on her face.
Cameron nodded and said " I shall become the best uncle for my nieces and nephews and you shall become a great aunt too, me says!"
Mr Charlie.F burst in laughter and said "not even my grandson made me laugh like this, wherever do you modern kids leran how to talk like that without batting an eye and with the most straight face expression... I wish you kids great luck in your endeavours. Now then Daria, would you please tell your father once you get back home that his flour orders are ready and he may come pick them up by the evening or right before it gets dark?"
Daria nodded and both sibblings continued their little exploring for a while before reaching home.
"We shall go wxplore again in Spring, summer and autumn sis, then we can see flowers in bloom and the tress lush with fruits and vegetables, the winter and the snow is fun but a little dull, me says" said Cameron as they reached the garden of their cottage. "I think so too, and right now I would like nothing more than a warm bath and tea and a generous slice of bread and butter. I shall also catch up with the novel I've been reading whilde cuddling in my bed. Oh and we shall prepare our school stuff for tomorrow, how exciting! I hope we make new friends!" Exclaimed Daria as they got in the house.
"Me says I want to curl up next to Papa near the fireplace while you do your reading or needlework with Mama at night." Said Cameron.
That night after supper the family sat by the fireplace and Cameron did curl up in a sofa next to his father's. He was watching his father who was reading the paper that came in this morning carefully and frowning. So he too read a picture book with that frown on his little round face to imitate his father. Meanwhile Mrs Reynaldy and Daria were busy with some embroidery. Later that night Mrs Reynaldy drew the children a bath and put them to sleep. Their school supplies were ready and set on the dining room's table.
It was a calm and peaceful night, though cold outside, warm inside with the wood still burning in the fireplaces of their rooms. The siblings slept well, anticipating the new school day they would face tomorrow.