At the Woodchopper's Ball Bk. 01 Ch. 03

Chapter 3

Savouring the anticipation, I indulged in a few preliminary grunts and groans before lowering myself into the inviting warmth of the bathtub."

While it may seem trite, there are times when the obvious merits utterance: when I feel muddled or discouraged, I find that tending to my hygiene or tidying up my surroundings can be quite beneficial. An uncluttered, pleasant-smelling environment does wonders for one's sense of well-being.

For me, the bathroom in our house has always been a kind of refuge, a lovely, inviting and habitable place to loiter. My parents had it rebuilt a year or so after we first moved to this house. I remembered how for a while, the house had been full of catalogues and brochures for bathroom fittings.

The primary draw was the bathtub which verged on the immense. It was wide and shallow, wide enough to accommodate two, provided they were affectionate about it. Although I am not unusually tall, I have to fold my knees at least a little to fit in most baths. At our house, however, I can stretch my legs and lounge in comfort. On the windowsill, above the tub, my mother kept a handful of houseplants with sprawling leaves that cascaded down towards the rim of the bathtub. Outside the door, a cupboard bulged with enough linen for three generations of our family.

I lay back in the tub basking in the still novel sensation of having no pressing task to attend to. As I became accustomed to the water's temperature, I tried to will myself into a state of drowsy contentment. There were no examinations to cram for, no essays to complete — nothing in the world to worry about. By rights, I should have been humming contentedly and frolicking like a carefree child.

Instead, I found myself absentmindedly submerging a yellow duck and watching as it popped back up to the surface — an act that, admittedly, wasn't unlike a toddler. "Good grief Fayard!" I grumbled aloud. "Pull yourself together!"

At Aunt Broni's, I had remained somewhat distracted though, fortunately, without causing embarrassment. Lunch had been fine but I was so preoccupied and lost in my thoughts that I might as well have eaten sawdust for all the good it did me. Once we had returned home, I announced my intention to soak in the bath, hoping to soothe my nerves.

In the tub, I gradually sank deeper until the water covered my head. After a moment of submerged bliss, I resurfaced, pushing wet hair away from my face.

My feelings for Enide were a fraught quandary — a dilemma that occupied my mind incessantly. Enide had grown into a beautiful young woman but there was more to it than looks. I knew Enide. There was nothing affected or fake with her, no hint of artifice or falsity in her character. She was genuine — she knew who she was.

I wasn't concerned about the reasons I found Enide attractive. If anything, I needed to account for not realising it long ago. The complication arose from our relationship, which was far too valuable to chance lightly. For me, there had always been something more to our bond than just friendship. Enide and I were like family, despite our lack of blood ties. Perhaps it was this familiarity that had led me to take her for granted for so long.

Questions spun in my mind like a whirlpool. Would Enide be receptive? What would happen if we quarrelled? Would it cause strife among our families? How would I broach the subject? What if Enide was involved with someone else?

I found that last thought instantly repulsive. "My gawd," I groaned to myself. "I really am in trouble."

And yet, I could not stop contemplating tossing a grenade into the midst of all this. What would Enide make of it? Even heart-shaped grenades are generally not met with enthusiasm. The whole ruddy caper was rife with peril.

I took another dip under the suds and stayed under. The inability to breathe was strangely soothing.

Eventually, I re-surfaced, recalling something my Uncle Stegnas had said. He told me his philosophy of life was simple — rise in the morning and retire at night. In between times, he tried to occupy himself as best he could.

At the time, I had been perplexed by his words, unable to decide if he was being vacuous or, in some baffling way, mystical and insightful. Looking back, I believe I know what he was trying to tell me. In the end, there is a limit to how much you can ponder and mull things over. Facing it — that's the way to get through. Facing it and muddling through — the best you can.

- - - - - - - -

Later that evening, Enide called on the telephone. Back at her house, she'd mentioned wanting to arrange something with Andra for tomorrow. It turned out Enide had now spoken with Andra and asked if I could join them. I'm certain she knew I had little else planned, but she still sounded rather chuffed when I confirmed I could. I decided that hearing delight in Enide's voice was a rather delightful thing.

We spoke a little more about what we would do tomorrow but otherwise, the conversation did not last for long and we bid each other good night.

- - - - - - - -

The following morning, I had a few essential breakfast items in the making as Mother descended the stairs. I still didn't know where things were in the kitchen and the endeavour had become a minor ordeal until she arrived. Mirrla joined us shortly after. As they sat sipping their coffee, I bustled around the kitchen and caused a racket. Their hair had become mussed up during the night but the effect was more pronounced on my mother. It made her seem smaller and younger somehow as if she and Mirrla were a pair of bleary-eyed sisters.

These were the small, domestic moments that I had missed the most. Unfortunately, the tranquil chatter and drowsy mood didn't last long. Mirrla had to be in school while Mother had her work to attend to. They began to crack on with their preparations as soon as breakfast was done. I had made plans with my mother to drop her and Mirrla off, allowing me to use the car for the rest of the day.

With Mirrla out of earshot, Mother impressed upon me that I should be on my best behaviour with Andra. From the way she spoke, I gathered she knew Andra's family fairly well. Earnell is not a large town, so I wasn't especially surprised.

"Now remember Rody, when dealing with this kind of situation, it is essential to approach with tact, finesse, and delicacy," she instructed as I nodded along.

"I'll pack everything," I groaned, hoping to bring the consultation to a close.

Later, after an early lunch, I went up to tackle the difficult task of dressing for my appointment. The agonies of those deliberations needn't be recounted in detail, though I will say that the issue rested delicately on the choice between the dove-coloured, the light blue and the mauve shirt. Afterwards, I got into the car and drove to town.

Remond's Cafe was near the centre of town, on Oakfield Road, a leafy street branching off the high street. It was sandwiched between an elaborately ill-lit dress shop and the more cheery frontage of a childrenswear store.

Inside, the cafe had a cosy and intimate ambience. The walls were painted a warm, buttery yellow and were adorned with photographs. A cluster of upholstered booths ran along one side but there were also tables and chairs. A bar with a marble countertop ran the length of the cafe. A woman behind the counter smiled as I entered and the whiff of fresh coffee and dough wafted about invitingly. I took a magazine from the front and asked the woman to wait for my companion to join me before taking our order.

I sat in one of the booths and flipped open the magazine. It was a local publication, filled mostly with adverts for small businesses and nearby events. As I browsed the first few pages, it dawned on me that my memories of my hometown were from the perspective of a child. I knew the stores which sold fishing gear, the sweet shops, the ice cream parlours and the stationery stores. I knew the town's fields and encircling countryside. But I was unfamiliar with the grown-up, adult side of my hometown. The parts that had concerned a thirteen-year-old boy were known to me, but those weren't the things that would interest me now. The thought brought a tinge of sadness. It was as if I was an outcast who could no longer relate to the place of his birth.

"I don't care if lavender is the latest thing — it's tacky!" an amused-sounding voice observed.

Andra looked down at me with a grin. I hadn't noticed her arriving. I glanced down reflexively at the open magazine, trying to discern what she was talking about. On the page adjacent to the one I had been reading, a gaudy full-colour advert promoted the dubious virtues of lavender-tinted tableware for weddings.

"It is rather hideous," I agreed. "It's supposed to be a wedding, not a child's party," I added and stood to greet Andra.

Andra laughed and gave me a friendly hug. "Hello, Fayard," she said.

"Hello, Andra," I replied, imitating her chirpy tone.

"Weddings are a sore point at the moment," Andra groused after we sat down. "I was at one two weeks ago — Father's niece — I refuse to call her 'my' anything — she and I don't get on you see. I prefer to keep our relationship at one remove," she rattled on quickly. "In any case, as if mutual antagonism with the bride wasn't enough, the sight of all those lumps and bumps was more than enough to put me off the entire episode."

"I take it there was a bit of overoptimism with dress sizes," I chuckled.

"I'll say!" Andra confirmed with raised eyebrows.

Like Enide, Andra had undergone an unmistakable yet oddly hard-to-pinpoint transformation. Gone was the young girl. She had blossomed into a beautiful young woman, fully-formed, exuding grace. Only a hint of her former adolescent timidity lingered, adding to her charm.

"One of our tutors at school was like that — a very kind man mind you," I recalled for her. "When he wore this waistcoat, it reminded me of sails on a racing yacht."

For a while, we continued to talk in the same vein, competing playfully to see how many people and things we could be contemptuous about. It was a juvenile way of masking the unease we felt around each other. The reality was that although we shared many mutual acquaintances, we didn't know each other well. Occasionally, there were awkward lulls between our small talk as we searched for things to say. I wondered where Enide had got to.

"So ...," she asked after the waitress had taken our order. "What are your plans now that the gruelling years at Fortunbrae are over?"

"In autumn," I replied with resignation, "I'll be heading up to Varcri for three more arduous years."

"Oh, so you are a glutton for punishment too," Andra said. Her neutral tone belied disapproval.

"I assume the other glutton is your brother."

"Yes ...," Andra shrugged. "Though maybe not as much as you," she stated flatly. "Oviau didn't get into Varcri."

"Varcri's admission is notoriously skewed," I explained. "They give preference to applicants from a handful of schools," I continued. "Fortunbrae is one, but there are a few more."

"And then what? Ten years in the army? How many of those years would you be stationed overseas?" Andra inquired — a little testily I thought.

"Is that what your brother wants to do?"

Andra responded with a casual shrug. "Oviau's plan comes down to putting as much distance between himself and Earnell as he is able."

I reminded myself that I was ostensibly there to help cheer Andra up. I didn't think these unhappy family matters were best discussed on our first get-together.

"I don't intend to stay in the army for more than five years," I told Andra. "After that, civilian life — hopefully, I can get into business," I added, hoping to steer things away from the topic.

Andra nodded. "I'm incapable of developing any kind of belligerent feeling about other nations," she sighed. "Military affairs leave me pretty cold. Once I've read a good book by someone from another country, I lose any fighting feeling toward them."

I chuckled, thinking she was being ironic and facetious. I found the unashamed absurdity of her statement delightfully batty.

"Well, you know what they say: want peace, prepare for war," I countered with trite banality. It was as much response as Andra's pronouncements on international affairs warranted. She gave me a lopsided smile and dropped the subject.

Andra wore her hair differently from when I'd last seen her but her luscious red locks remained as I remembered. Today, it was piled high at the back in a carefully arranged bun. At the front, her fringe fell to her brows, bringing attention to her warm, inviting eyes. I had the distinct impression of sitting across the table from a clever fox.

Our discussion veered towards other topics. We nattered on, having become more at ease in each other's company. I quite forgot that Enide was supposed to be joining us.

"Thanks, Rody — by the way, do you mind if I call you Rody?" Andra asked after we'd rambled on a bit longer. "Eni always calls you that — now that's how I think of you too."

"Feel free," I replied with a small wave. "But ..., what are you thanking me for?"

"Oh... for coming I suppose," she answered simply. "For cheering me up."

"Oh, well... yes," I said, moaning a little for dramatic effect. "It is a chore... spending time with you — but I should be able to endure it," I explained with a tone of self-ridicule. "The things I do for Eni, aye?"

Andra cackled heartily. The neckline of her dress exposed a little of her cleavage. I'd noticed the swells quivering a little when she laughed. I was having a devil of a time keeping my eyes where they ought to be.

The waitress brought our coffee and the cake Andra had ordered. It certainly looked delicious, which was just as well, since the slice looked closer to being a quarter of the whole thing. Andra's eyes grew wide.

"I hope you are going to help me with this," she mumbled after the waitress had withdrawn.

I grabbed a napkin and draped it theatrically across my lap. "First, I'm forced to spend time with you and now ..., you oblige me to eat cake," I complained as I picked up a fork. "When will this dreadful cycle end?"

Andra laughed her easy, genuine laugh. I was becoming fond of hearing it. My previous impression that there had been a chill in Andra's attitude toward me seemed risible now.

Our conversation meandered on. We chattered about this and that, friends, books, parties and schools but mostly, we spoke of the coming weeks which we both hoped would be filled to the brim with nothing much at all. I looked at my watch and asked for the bill. Enide hadn't turned up yet and Andra and I assumed she would meet us at the pool.

Our friend, it transpired, had other ideas. No sooner had we set foot outside the cafe that Enide pulled up beside the kerb in her slick black convertible.

Enide had the roof down, even though the overcast and slightly cool conditions didn't warrant it. I knew all about the motorcar from her letters but hadn't seen it in all its gleaming glory. Aunt Broni had bought it for Enide in honour of her eighteenth birthday. I can't deny feeling envious the moment I laid eyes on it. Naturally, this was precisely the response Enide had been craving, as evidenced by the smug, self-satisfied grin on her face. I vowed not to give her the satisfaction.

I held the passenger door open for Andra. She slid alongside Enide on the bench seat and made room for me beside her but I closed the door and remained standing. I made a show of scrutinising the vehicle with detachment, observing its elegant wings and crimson leather interior. I wondered, in passing, how many cows had been used to make it. Enide rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue.

"Not a bad little runner," I told Enide with hammy indifference. "Although... it does seem a bit drafty," I added before turning and heading away.

"Drafty... drafty!?" Enide yipped indignantly. "Where are you going?" she called after me.

I looked back over my shoulder and smiled. "I need to get my things from the car. You don't want me running around the pool stark naked do you?" The pair sniggered like wayward schoolgirls.

After fetching the necessary items from my car, I rejoined them. Enide was keen to show off the convertible and I could hardly begrudge her the chance. We zoomed down the streets and I soon realised that Enide was taking a lengthier, more roundabout route around the streets. Eventually, after Enide made Andra and I brace ourselves by taking a few of the corners at tire-screeching velocities, she pulled into a parking spot near the bathhouse.

"Rody..." Enide crooned as we locked up the car. I was helping unfurl the convertible's canvas roof. I am bound to say this took a few biffs and expletives to accomplish but we finally managed to hoist the contraption in place. Andra helped by fixing her hair in the door mirrors and getting in my way.

"Is it true that you became a cadet officer when you graduated?" Enide asked unexpectedly. Andra's stopped fussing with her hair and turned her attention to us. "Aunt Faidra mentioned it the other day," Enide explained.

I was also curious. This was a rather esoteric bit of military lore, steaming from privileges granted long ago to the old military schools. "Yes... that's right," I confirmed with a shrug. "How does that ——"

"Fayard can take us!" Andra squealed excitedly.

"What...? Take you ——"

"Yes... he can!" Enide exclaimed, equally excited.

"Will one of you tell me what you're cooking up!?"

"The Woodchopper's Ball!" they both exclaimed in unison.

"Eh? What?" My comprehension had not advanced in the least.

"Oh... surely you've heard of it!?" Enide insisted.

"Well... yes. The fancy spring ball," I replied quizzically. "What of it?"

"We have to be escorted," Andra explained.

I tried to understand where they were going with this. "Well, yes... I suppose, but... I can't imagine two charming young ladies like you and Eni would have any trouble finding suitable companions."

"Why... thank you, Rody!" Andra cooed happily.

"They won't let in just anyone," Enide interjected brusquely.

"Eh?"

"We need..." Enide paused, sighing, reluctant to carry on. "We need one like you."

Suddenly, I understood. These posh shindigs were organised according to some rather antiquated customs. I recall the terminology used. While grinning broadly, I realised why Enide and Andra were suddenly interested in my status as a cadet officer.

"So..." I sniggered smugly. "...you need to be escorted by ——" I paused very deliberately, and looked expectantly at Enide.

"I'm not going to call you that, Fayard!" Enide declared crossly.

"Then I'm not going to take you, Enide!" I countered.

"There's no need to argue — I'll do it!" Andra cut in urgently. "Please Rody, will you escort us to the Woodchopper's Ball? Will you be our 'gallant gentleman'?" she pleaded sweetly.

"Why, of course," I announced with as much courtliness as I could muster. "It would be my great honour," I declared with ostentatious courtesy, then glanced pointedly at Enide.

Andra beamed with excitement and clapped her hands together. Enide, on the other hand, didn't say a word but grimaced, as though she had tasted sour milk. She rolled her eyes in exasperation.

I chuckled though I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. Enide and Andra had asked me to take them to the ball — both of them — together. I basked in the glow of my own self-satisfaction.

- - - - - - - -

Those unacquainted with this part of the world may not be aware of Earnell's reputation as a spa town, a celebrated "cure resort" in fact. In times past, when it was believed that "taking the water" would remedy all manner of ills, the streets of Earnell were said to be brimming with invalids.