As I went home, at the park I met the last person I expected. Mrs. Williams and the children going back possibly to the convent. She bowed when she saw me and so did the children who were all smiles though I wished they were not in the hot sun because the weather was a bit sunnier than it should be. It was the rainy season at Bickport.
They whispered to themselves. The highest in age would be about fourteen or fifteen and for some reason, they blushed when I smiled at them.
"Is he Mrs Houston's son, madame?" The tallest amongst them asked.
She smiled at them. "He is."
"He's handsome."
The littlest among them, around five voices.
The others smiled and tried to scold her. Even the lady was surprised at her blunt words. But, she was bold enough, even when I lowered myself to her height.
"I'm I?"
"Indeed." Her clear blue eyes pierced mine not willing to back away.
"What a bold child you are," I smiled Standing back up. "Thank you and you are as beautiful too, like a princess."
She blushed this time and I patted her head.
"Where are you off to?"
I turned to the woman who had been looking at us since then and only diverted her gaze when I turned to her.
She dressed her shawl to comport herself. "To the convent. I'm taking them back after the day's work and as you can see.." She raised the buckets and baskets they were carrying.
For some reason, the sun increased brighter than it should be. I pitied the children carrying those.
"Aren't you hot Mrs Williams?"
She looked at me.
"How?"
"The day is bright, your shawl…" I motioned. "Wouldn't you let it rest?"
She looked at me suspiciously and almost nervously.
"A bonnet would do," I replied.
The children as well were looking at her.
She smiled uncomfortablely. "I prefer it."
"Fine then. Let me help with that?" I tried to take the basket from her but she retrieved it.
"What are you doing?"
"Let me help. With my hand, it will be much easier."
"You can't. You… have something to do at home. I won't let you stress yourself with such a thing. Leave it to us, we will do it."
Seeing she wouldn't I turned to the girls.
"Who would give me theirs?"
Almost all of them handed in theirs to me.
I gave her the look.
"Girls…" She tried to say seeing their betrayal.
"You can carry yours." I took the baskets from the little ones. The blue-eyed girl and another. They smiled at me.
"Let's go then!"
She stood there hesitantly with wide eyes.
"Come on." The children followed me leaving her. She only caught up to us when she saw there was nothing she could do about it.
We chatted along as we went and instantly, to my surprise, we bonded. They began to speak to me about a lot of things and asked questions.
The little one whose name I later learned was Nora asked me what I did.
"What do you do Uncle?"
"I have a lot I want to do, but officially, for now, I paint."
"You make paintings!"
The others murmured as well.
"Yes."
She walked beside me looking up at me all the time, and I was worried that her neck might hurt.
"Would you show me?" She begged.
"I don't know…"
"Please, uncle! Please. I would like to see it. Can you draw as well?"
"Yes."
"Can you sketch?"
"Very well."
She pursed her lips. "I can't even make one. The nun says I'm terrible at it." she complained.
"You don't need to be Nora, you would get a hang of it if you practice more."
"Would you teach me? Would you visit us next time?"
"Nora!"
The lady's voice came as a warning from the back.
I turned to her. "Let her be Mrs Williams." I smiled. "What could be wrong with her questions?"
She avoided my gaze and muttered something like, "If that's your wish."
"I would visit when I can, Little Nora."
She smiled heartily. "Thank you so much. The abbey is lonely and we rarely have visitors."
I had been to the convent then.
Father and mother often went to take things to the orphaned children and we did accompany them.
She soon began to whine and walk slower. We were almost going down the hill that led to the convent.
"What is it, Nora?" Mrs Williams asked.
"My limbs hurt Madame."
"Oh, dear, Just a little while and we will be there." She cooed her with worried lines on her face.
She stopped dead in her tracks. "I can't no more."
"Why don't one of you back her?"
Almost all the girls drew back.
"Why can't you?" I asked.
"She loves to tug at people's hair, we can't deal with her." The eldest spoke in their demure way.
"Can't you bear, darling?" she asked again. The regret and worry expanded on her face. "I shouldn't have brought you."
"But I wanted to come." She defended.
"I know but look at you now."
She bent her head tugging at the sides of her dress.
"Come, Nora, let's go."
I dropped the baskets. "You girls handle this."
She jumped in delight to climb at my back.
"Thank you, uncle."
"It's alright, we will walk faster than them, and do not hold me so tightly, you want to choke me?"
"Sorry, sir."
She laughed afterward. "Yeh! Let's go."
"Such a shameless child." One of the girls stated as they laughed at her antics.
"Be respectful Nora!" Mrs Williams called but we were far too gone, already down the hills as she urged me to walk faster than the other girls.