Week 5 Day 7: The dead something

Roger Redward was quite proud that his household was the first to get a windmill. Thanks to inventor Yespar Yea-Low, they now had some electricity. Perhaps not as good and reliable as in the civilized world, but enough for lightning - if only some electric lamps were invented. Yespar said he had lots of metals and wires, it was only a matter of time.

The biggest improvement would be cooking food. The new generation had no cooking skills, and there will not be a smaller risk for fires when the stove is wooden made. There are reasons to worry. A low capacity refrigerator is in the works! Also Rita was enthusiastic for the new appliances, and of course also for getting these things before anyone else.

Where was Randal? Did he forget about the garden? Constance is of the homely kind, she didn't mind stepping in for her older brother. Randal is soon an adult, he might move out anyway.

The twins, Constance and Dorothy, are both single. They just started discussing boys. Dorothy seems to inherit her mom's class awareness and will definitely not date any of the Greench farmboys, while Constance is more focused on finding a good man. They ran off to explore the farmland, that's what they all called the wood south of the Greench Farm, where the ancient stones were found. The ground was greener there, it was obvious that the area must be used for growing food.

Suddenly they both stopped, and screamed! And - if you missed the wild dog in previous pictures, this time you can't miss it? There are a few of them on the island, they are rather quiet, but curious and shy, a funny mix which can easily lead to aggressivity.

It was a skeleton! Probably not as old as the stones. Probably not quite fresh either.

Was it a coincidence? Of course it was! Yvonne and Corinne Yea-Low were at the Village administration house (can be seen just behind Yvonne, below) when they heard the girls screaming.

Yvonne could clearly see that. She wasn't so shocked about the skeleton. But she was more than surprised about the potted flowers. It looked like a grave that someone actually cared for.

Had the flower thief stolen flowers to decorate this grave? It sounded a bit surrealistic and unreal, almost like a blog story. Couldn't be!

Dorothy and Constance hurried back home - with the news.

Right. They must be two of a kind.

And it was Rita's birthday. She actually thought of celebrating Randal, but then she thought it was on time she got some attention from people around here, herself. So Rita decided to throw her own birthday party instead.

Well, Rita didn't have much to choose from either. Even if Greta Greench produced some fabric, which was actually of good quality, Rita never managed to sew a complete outfit. It was harder than she thought.

Someone not on the guest list appeared! Was it rumored that they got a stove and would eat cake?

Guests arrived. It already got dark, but it was still better room for everyone outside. The baking was rather successful, but Rita didn't dare to serve her first bottle of nectar. It smelled horrible, so she just pretended it was too early for the first serving.

After the cake, most of the guests left. Hum, it wasn't a real party, but the closest they got. And Rita knew she would forever be the first person to throw a birthday party on the Maccaroni Island. Maybe not an historical event, but who knows what a first party might lead to.

The family finished the cake. They knew there would not be two birthday parties in a row, so in a way the second serving was to celebrate Randal.

Constance was a little suspicious. Why did Randal refuse to receive a gift from Corinne? It was almost his birthday, and mom and Father had been talking about Randal and Corinne as a couple for ages.

At the Yea-Low house, Alex had become a teenager right after leaving the Redward party! He harvested some apples, and noticed a deer walking by. It looked at him, then it ran off! They had seen animals on the island before, but never this close to the village! Was it the fruit? Did they come to eat? Maybe they should fence in the garden? Well, they are about to move away from the center, it would be wasted work building a fence now.

Also the Yea-Low house got electricity and a stove today. Yvonne is of the practical sort, she knew it was a huge step forward, meaning that if she could now buy their food at the Greench Farm and store it in a refrigerator, they could slow down on the farming, and she could spend more time rereading those old books.

But wasting time on teaching Corinne to cook? Couldn't Corinne just ask Greta at the new bistro? Maybe Greta could give classes? Yvonne had to remember to suggest that!

Little Agnes was finally a toddler, but she still cried a lot. Yvonne thought Agnes was different from the 3 others, Corinne, Alex and Yoseph. Those black eyes had not adjusted to light brown, and from time to time there was something weird about Agnes' behavior. But not weird enough to tell.

It was time to go to bed. Tomorrow is another day, and Yvonne and Roger would make more plans for this little community. Spreading all over the island called for some new routines.

Will be continued in 2 days! :-)