Chapter 5: Clothes

Deciding my break had been long enough and saving further examination of the status for later, I returned to my axe work.

Progress had been increasing at a pretty decent clip, until by the late afternoon I’d finished with the unsplit logs, and stacked the split logs by the cabin. Raking wood splinters together with one of the tools in the shed, I put them in a small pile by the split logs for kindling, and then returned the tools to the shed, patting the larger axe which I’d primarily used as I returned it to the pegs that held it on the wall.

Walking back to the well, I took a short break to rinse myself of dust and small splinters. Drinking some more water I took a look about to see if there were any other obvious chores, I realized I simply wasn’t positive if something was more important than the rest. Going over to the cabin I tapped the door in a gentle knock. After a minute or so I was about to call in when the door popped open.

“Well past time ye got exhausted, fine fine, take a break and…” I just went ahead and interrupted the goblin.

“I ran out of logs, did you have something else you wanted me to start on this evening?”

Buckle’s watery eyes slowly blinked, then his hand waved her back from the door as he exited the cabin. Not saying a word but gesturing for her to follow, he went around the cabin so he could see the wood pile. Looking back and forth between the wood pile and Monday he eventually shrugged.

“If ye still have the energy to do some work, I only figured in wood chopping fer today. But I can give ye a bonus if you do more while there’s still light.”

“Sure, I’m not tired.” Maybe a bit bored, but not tired.

Buckle only nodded and walked them over to the largest building. Even so, the door required me to stoop to enter, but then I could stand in the dim space. Vertical rack after vertical rack upon rack extended through the interior, as well as raised pallets along the center aisle.

“Until there ain’t enough light, just unbind the hides and lay em flat on these pallets. Let me show ya how to loosen em and take em down.” Walking me through the procedure and watching me do it twice in a row, Buckle nodded and prepared to leave. “I don’t expect ye to finish, just head to the cabin when it gets too dark ta work. We’ll eat ‘n I can introduce ye to Jess.”

Returning to the new task, I worked with the hides for what felt like an hour or so before the light receded to the point I was squinting to try and undo the laces from the frames. Making sure that the stacks of hides were centered, and the doors to the barn were secured I went back to the well.

Looking about, I realized I didn’t even know what I expected to find, but Buckle and Willy were not about. I loosened and shook the dust from my temporary skirt. After another quick rinse and rehydration session I replaced the temporary skirt and spent a few minutes pondering the fading daylight through the trees while my annoyingly grey skin dried.

Eventually, I shook my head and made my way back to the cabin glancing back to the multihued sky once I tapped on the door.

Eventually the door opened, but by that point I was seated on the porch, knees pulled near my chest with my head propped on them, simply looking out at the sunset.

The boards of the porch creaked as Buckle moved behind me and looked out into the sky. “Hmmmph, yeah, I do sometimes ferget the view. C’mon in, I’ll open ‘er up.”

Curious, I watched Buckle move past me onto the porch and start to fuss with a few cords before tugging to pull a wooden panel up towards the roof of the porch. Reaching up, I helped lift the panel so as to ease his effort, waiting while Buckle tied off the ropes.

Nodding at me, Buckle returned inside without a comment and I followed him. Well, I need to duck down a little to enter the door... Still, I was pleased I could stand inside with a tiny bit of clearance between my hairless head and the wooden rafters.

A quick glance triggered the word ‘rustic’ for me, everything seemed to be made of wood and leather, aside from a few items by the hearth and what must be the kitchen. A bit back from the hearth is a large fur rug from some large animal with a few pillows and cushions. Near what I could only presume to be the kitchen, composed of counters and a massive chopping block, was a small table with three chairs. Oddly enough, two of the chairs were distinctly different from the third with the seat a good bit higher. One of those chairs had an occupant, though it simply looked like a large doll of some sort.

“Afore we eat, an I know ye must be hungry after all that work, go change inta yer new clothes. There on the bed in there.” Said the goblin as he pointed at one of the two doors opposite the entry.

“Thanks Buckle.” With another glance at the figure by the table, I went into the indicated room.

Though there was a bit of light coming from a fixture on the wall, it was a bit dim as I glanced about. Large bed, trunk, small bookcase with a half dozen books. A desk oversized for the water goblin with another book open atop it. On the bedcover lay two pieces of patchwork leather clothing.

The vest was simple enough, patchwork without a distinct pattern to it, but lined with a very soft hide, smooth against my skin as I slid it over my arms to put it on. A pair of wooden fittings slipped through leather loops to close it in front. Trading my temporary skirt for the other item I saw that it also was a skirt, though this one had leather strips on top of a shorter underskirt, overlapping and dangling down to just above the knees. Small buckles and straps allowed me to make it snug, though it seemed to have been made with additional room. Maybe for growth?

After dressing and doing a couple stretches to make sure there wasn’t an issue I folded the fabric of the temporary skirt and placed the clothespins on it, returning to the main room of the cabin.

“Thank you very much Buckle, these are great. Did you intend to make them a little loose though?” Handing him the folded cloth I smiled at the older man.

Eyeing his work for a moment Buckle took the cloth and then looked me in the eyes. “Ye look as ye may have more growin’ ta do. Waste if these don’t last ye but a month.”

Moving to the Kitchen counter, Buckle grabbed a ladle and a couple bowls. Lifting the lid on the pot by the hearth a smell of onions and comfort came forth. Putting generous potions in each of the bowls he returned the lid and handed one over to me. “Fish stew, mebbe not so exciting, but filling none the less. Spoons are on the table, take the chair on the left, but wait until I introduce ye to Jess, afore ye start eating.” There is a small catch in the older goblin’s voice as we both went to the table.

Once we were both seated, Buckle reached over to the doll and gently grabbed its arm before addressing it. “Heya Jess, would you like to talk with Papa before it’s bedtime.”

In response to his words, the doll began to straighten in the chair, casting off its slumped posture. After sitting up there was a glow that enfolded the figure and took a more lifelike cast. A few seconds passed before the appearance shifted and there was a small girl sitting in the chair, eyes blinking open, blue hair cascading down from the top of her head to just under past her shoulders. While the skin around her blue eyes glimmered like Buckles iridescent scales, she didn’t resemble the goblin overly much otherwise.

The child’s mouth opened and a cheerful voice sounded out, “Hi Papa! Mama and I should be home veeeery soon. What did you do today?”

Taking a spoonful of stew, and gesturing Monday to start eating as well, Buckle began to eat, and began to converse with the doll? Girl?

“Oh, I did chores and then went fishin’, Jess. I also got to make some new clothes.”

“Did you make new clothes for Mama? Or maybe me…?” Eyes opening a bit wider.

“Not this time, Blueberry. I made some clothes for someone in trade, would you like to meet her?”

“Yes Papa! I haven’t met anyone new in for-ev-er!” Slowly her head turned as Buckle gestured towards me on the other side of the table.

“This ‘ere is Monday March, she seemed ta be a bit lost and needed some new clothes. Would you like to say hello?”

“Hello Monday March! You are soooo tall! Papa, she’s taller than Mama, isn’t she?” Continuing on while without acknowledging Buckle’s agreement. “You can’t steal Papa, or be mean to him! Mama would blow you up.”

Rather on the spot, I withdrew the spoon from my mouth and finished chewing the bite of turnip I’d just taken. “Hi Jess, I won’t be stealing your Papa, and I certainly don’t want to be blown up.”

“Hmmmm, Promise?” The little face scrunched up as if trying to make sure I wasn’t lying.

“I will not steal your Papa, and I will treat him with respect.”

“Mmmm, okay! What did you do today?”

The next fifteen minutes were busy with eating and answering Jess’ questions to both myself and Buckle. Within seconds of Buckle finishing his stew, Jess yawned and asked to be put to bed.

Standing up, Buckle went to the chair with the little girl, doll? And gave her a light hug. “Good night Pumpkin, can you say goodnight to Monday?”

“Goodnight Monday, goodnight Papa.” With a small yawn, the girl’s head slowly slumped to the side as the illusion, or magical whatever it was, dissipated and only a doll remained in the chair.