Free LeOmi's Solitude by Gene Curtis

day
before.
    “It seems that you are walking backwards
instead of walking forwards. Listen, I guess we need to go our
different ways.”
    “No!” She didn’t expect that. Henry wouldn’t
have abandoned her, would he? “I’m not going to stop. Not until we
know.”
    “You know that I won’t stop.” He hesitated,
then looked around and said, “I surely won’t miss these
squirrels.”
    She shrugged, touching her shoulder to her
chin, “I have a way with animals. They listen, and they don’t treat
you badly unless you treat them badly. They also tend to be less
demanding than people.”
    “Whoa, always the pleasantries.” He turned
and walked back to his car. “You know how to get in touch with
me.”
    * * *
    Saturdays were a day of reflecting; checking
the past week to see what was missed before the new week began.
Since school had dismissed for the summer, and LeOmi no longer had
her job at the ranch, her work-outs and endurance exercises were
the first things done early each day, then library time. She
reviewed the notes that she had made from her late night study of
the books from Grand-Mère’s library.
    The book A Study in Sumerian Cuneiform didn’t hold any answers. It was all information that she had
already gathered from her research at the library. There is just so
much to be said about an ancient language.
    The book titled Interactions between
Earth, Wood, Fire, Metal and Water was more interesting.
    This came from Buddhist beliefs, the classic
Chinese and Japanese culture elements from the Edo period. The
study of changing states of being or metamorphoses:
    Earth represented things that were solid.
    Water represented things that were
liquid.
    Fire represented things that destroyed.
    Air represented things that moved.
    Heaven represented things not of our everyday
life.
    But in a great house there are not only
vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; some
to honor and some to dishonor.
    Wood parts earth; Wood feeds fire.
    Earth absorbs water; Earth bears metal.
    Water quenches fire; Water nourishes
wood.
    Fire melts metal; Fire creates earth
(ash).
    Metal chops wood; Metal collects water.
    Rather like Henry’s Wheel of Life, everything
is joined together. Links in a chain, spokes on a wheel, God’s
Great Plan. But what does this have to do with Sumerian
Cuneiform?
    * * *
    Bekka was in her usual place, keeping watch.
Dinners were becoming livelier and livelier.
    “For two years you have lodged in this house,
my house. There have not been any conversations, no formal hellos
or goodbyes. Bonjour, au revoir! This is understandable. It took
your mother’s death for you to ask…anything.” She actually placed
her hand on her forehead briefly, and paused. “I am old.” Then
looking up at LeOmi, “I have distanced myself from you; we will
remedy that someday, but not today. Your family secrets will remain
family secrets until it is the proper time for them to come to the
light. Now is not the time.”
    Disappointment was evident on LeOmi’s face.
She went to speak and Grand-Mère simply raised her hand and looked
away from LeOmi.
    Hannah came in and laid the main course
plates. As always, first Grand-Mère then LeOmi. She turned and left
the room.
    “Why am I such a disappointment to you? What
have I done, or not done that makes you dislike me so much?”
    “I do not dislike you child.”
    There it was. She felt the tears stinging the
back of her eyes. For a moment she saw her mother’s face, aged,
bitter and angry, but Grand-Mère was sure of herself, while mother
had desires to run away from her responsibilities, desires that she
gave into.
    LeOmi said, “I’m not here for much longer.
When will be the time?”
    “Well that depends on you doesn’t it.”
    Once again the blame was put upon her. Was it
LeOmi or was it her mother that Grand-Mère was punishing?
    “Why did my mother leave?”
    “She met your father and he stole her
away.”
    Grand-Mère picked up her