The Woman In her Shawl

♧

There was no pink sunshade and no warm ray of light to greet the room in their house. Little Serena slept peacefully in the crib, in spite of the heavy rain outside. It was the day when Lena prepared for her first day in public school, looking as if she was too busy with her books rather than her looks. Even though she seldom wore makeup in her teenage life, she still looked rather beautiful in her girlish countenance of hers.

Lena Foster was never a girl who was in a rush at times like this. But today was different, and she had to leave her little sister soon. A melancholy look fell upon her face when she drew herself across the sleeping infant. It was hard to leave her little sister with the babysitter for the whole day. Nevertheless, it was time to let go as she blew her little girl a kiss and closed the door.

Once she went down the stairs and glanced up at the clock, the girl immediately hurried over and reached her hand upon the shiny knob.

Before Lena stepped out, she turned her head over her shoulder and waved at her father. "Bye, dad. I'm going, okay?"

"Alright, Lena. Stay safe." He called, then he continued to read the daily newspaper.

And so, she was off.

Outside, the rainy wind whipped her strands of mousy brown hair, yet it suited her glowing complexion under the raincoat she was wearing in the morning.

The fresh rain kissed her lips that were soft and pink as the lilies in the neighbours garden she just passed by on the street. When Lena found a bus stop at the side of the road, she immediately carried her legs on the pavement with a few sprinkles of splashes. It didn't take long for her to reach the bus stop and when she sat, Lena hummed along to the music that was playing in her head.

Then a few feet away, she saw an old woman who just came across the street in her dishevelled clothes. Her back was hunched over under her long shawl, where her arm was holding it out to shield herself from the rain. In the midst of this heavy weather, the octogenarian was using a cane to support her at the same time.

Without any hesitation, which she never would have in this situation, Lena jumped up and dashed her way to help the old lady.

"Thank you, dear. May God bless you, child." The old lady lifted her shawl from her face and saved her a hearty smile once they were off the road. Lena never saw a face so lovely and charming as the old lady with her cane.

"It's nothing," Lena gently grabbed the old lady's arm in order to help her sit. "Are you waiting for someone?"

"I'm waiting for my grandson to pick me up, he'll be here soon." She answered, tapping her wooden cane several times. She glanced up at Lena and patted the empty seat beside her.

"Come sit with me, you don't have to stand there."

Lena smiled and did as she was told.

For a few brief minutes, a car honked and stopped by. The old lady rose from her seat and clasped her hands in delight at the face of her grandson who did look quite handsome even for Lena's eyes. He came out of his car where they could see his dark raven hair neatly brushed back with some strands of it fell over his forehead, his height a little shorter than she was, broad shouldered and had silvery eyes that could sweep any girl's feet off in a fleeting moment.

"Morning, Gran." He stood with an umbrella in his hand, walking over to give his grandmother a hug.

"Morning, James!" She returned the hug.

Once they released their embrace, the old lady bent, clung to Lena's arm, and finally stood up to her feet as she drew the girl close across her grandson. "James, I'd like you to meet this girl whom I met recently. Do tell me your name, child." The old lady shook Lena's arm lightly.

She gave a nod to the boy who was not much older than her. "I'm Lena," she answered, almost blushing. "Lena Foster."

"I see, I think you already heard my name," He threw a wide grin and offered a handshake to Lena. "James Allan. Faithful and devoted to my gran here as always."

"My boy is a hero of mine, you know," The old lady added, looking at her grandson with admiration. "He's a gentleman. He's good, loyal and has a big hea-"

"Yes, that's enough, gran." James retorted, scratching the back of his neck and seemed bashful at the sudden praise from his grandmother. Then, he turned to face Lena with a beam.

"Anyways, nice to meet you. Hopefully we can see each other again."

An hour later went by, Lena Foster was dropped off by the bus when her slender form stepped out in front of the school building. The rain was finally over and the golden day stood out once the clouds were gone. Immediately, everyone was off outside when the rain was entirely brushed out from the earth.

Here and there, the raucous crowd flooded the school building with loud voices around the area. Lena was dazed, completely forgetting how it felt to be a teenage girl. As far as she could recall, there was never a time when she was wild, let alone, mingled with people her age.

When the bell rang, students in her grade were all ready for their class. At first, Lena was puzzled and seemed as if she was lost in the hallway. The new girl was desperately trying to search around her assigned classroom until she finally found the right place and came in the middle of the teacher's lecture.

"Why, hello there. You must new here, am I right?" The middle aged teacher asked as she squinted.

Before Lena came, the teacher thought the morning mist didn't blur her glasses outside until she realized this troubled her. She couldn't even see Lena clearly until the teacher wiped her glasses with a cloth and put it on to examine her new pupil's face. "Well, that's better. Now I can see you plain and clear—What's your name?"

"Lena Foster."

"Nice to meet you, Lena." The middle aged teacher smiled and turned to look through the papers on her desk. "Hm. Let me see—According to the schedule, you are late. But that's not really a problem since you are excused just for this time. By the way, I'm Mrs. Clyde. I apologize if we don't have enough chairs in here. I'll go ask the janitors if they have an available one. You don't mind, do you?

"Oh, I don't mind." Lena shook her head.

Just when the teacher excused herself and left the classroom for a while, the class broke out in rapid noise. While she was observing, she caught ever so many students whispering into each other's ears, throwing a few looks, and exchanging a handful of notes to one another. But finally, when the little scene came to an end, one of the students among them stood up voluntarily and offered her a seat.

"No, no—" she shook her head. "I'd rather not."

"I suggest you do." He looked up to Lena. For a moment, his silvery eyes twinkled when he gazed at her in such an abrupt time.

"I-I know you," acknowledged Lena in a whisper, familiar by the face she knew before. "You're-"

"Ah! You have a gentleman here in your class, Lena." interrupted Mrs. Clyde, bright as day when she came in with a janitor who brought a chair.

"That's very nice of you, Mr. Allan." Mrs. Clyde remarked and threw a pleasant surprise when the little scene she caught was agreeable to see.

Once the janitor was done placing the chair, Mrs. Clyde turned on her heel and proceeded the lecture she left off.

"Well, It's good to see you again, Miss Foster." James slid into his seat when his offer wasn't needed anymore.

Lena quietly carried her way, sank into her chair across the little wooden desk and blinked several times. She couldn't believe it was him! Her palm was propped against her chin as she heard the clacking noise of the chalk on the board.

This school isn't so bad after all.

Lena heaved a little sigh.

Class ended, and students in her grade bustled out in a flurry from their classrooms. They were heading to their lockers in the hallway while Lena, however, stopped short at the front door for everyone to be gone. She was still standing behind the shadowy corner, wondering if the guy she had met today would bump into her again.

Lena was expecting him to appear anytime soon, but he was nowhere near her sight the longer she waited.

I think he only did it because he felt bad for me.

But evidently, she was wrong.

"Hey there!" cried a familiar voice behind.

Startled, she turned her head, and wondered who it might've been until they met their gaze. "I was just looking for you," she caught herself embarrassed when she found herself staring at him. "I didn't know you were from this school."

"Newcomer, eh?" James grinned and made a hospitable gesture as he lifted his arms in the air. "Well, in that case, welcome to Norland High. I shall be your tour guide for the day. Sounds good?"

"Of course." Lena couldn't help but lift a smile at this offer.

The two slowly ambled through the halls. James was giving some explanations about the historical background of their school.

Lena listened throughout his talking and there might've been a time when she thought he glorified the school a great deal. It lifted his spirit somehow, which was something Lena admired in him when she noticed this. Not long after, he focused his attention on her the moment he finished the talk.

"You're in the right place, Lena. Because no other school will ever beat this entire building. Dozens of kids in town would want to enroll," he put in. "So, I guess that makes us lucky." He grinned and he suddenly placed his hands on his hips. "For sure you won't be disappointed."

"I hope you're right." Lena paused from where she stood. "It's a new experience for me. I don't know if I will be able to fit in," Lena said as the thought troubled her for some reason.

James nudged her side. "Aw, don't be like that. I have a few friends if you wanna' meet them. Besides, I think they'll like you unless you are here for trouble. I highly doubt you would, though."

"Why are you so sure?" Lena tossed him a queer look.

James began to sigh and answered, "I don't ever recall encountering seeing anyone as helpful towards my grandmother as you did this morning. Making a good impression on the first meeting is not something I see every day, you know."

"Anyone would have done it."

"Lena," Now this time he threw a solemn look. "It may not be special to you, but I reckon it is for gran and when I see my grandmother smile, it doesn't really happen often unless something good happened to her." and from where he stood, he looked at her straight in the eye.

"You saw us then?" Lena figured, raising her brow.

"Yeah, I did." He nodded nonchalantly and the girl was almost touched, even too touched for the open doors and silent hall they were in. "My point is, when something happens until it means so much to her, it is something I won't forget." and indeed he never did.