Words for Wednesday March 4 & IWSGPeter's Time Travels ~ Part 4

The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over as a moveable feast with many participants supplying the Words.
    When Delores closed her blog forever due to other problems, Elephant's Child (Sue) took over the role of coordinator.
    Now, after Sue's demise, River has taken the mantle of coordinator upon her shoulders.

No matter what, how, where or who the aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to our mind.

This month the words are supplied by River and are to be found on her blog.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please leave a comment on River's blog, then we can come along and read it and add a few encouraging words.

 It is also a challenge, where the old saying "The more the merrier" holds true.

So Please, remember to follow the links, go back and read other peoples' stories. And please leave a comment after reading. Challenges like this one thrives on interaction, feedback and encouragement. And we ALL need encouragement.

And for today, Wednesday 4, we were given:
Property 
Barrels 
Dingo 
Down 
Silent 
Doubt

I used only Down, and i cannot explain how Doubt could no fit in. Continuing my dream-story of Peter's Time Travel.

In the morning I felt much better. Still weak, still forlorn, but somehow imbued with a careful optimism.

Sophie and another young girl, about my own age, but beautiful, came in. I pulled the covers up to my chin, but the other girl just smiled at me and said: "Oh! I am so happy to see you awake and sitting up. Father said that you were a mysterious stranger, but you look quite normal now. I am Elizabeth Larsdatter, the oldest of his living children."

"I'm pleased to meet you," I said, sketching a bow from my bedridden position.

Sophie laid out a simple dress for me. A worn, but soft undershift, a coarse, white shirt, a woollen waistcoat and trousers of the same grey woollen material. Long, knit stockings, also grey, and a pair of clogs finished off the outfit. Elizabeth hung an old cloak on a peg by the door. "I'm going to knit you a scarf," she said, smiled at me and left.

Sophie helped me get out of bed, poured water from a pitcher into a big, flat bowl on the bench by the door and said: "Call for me when you're done washing."

"Hey, no way," I said. "Can't you help me, please? I have lost much of my memory from being thrown around inside that trunk."

Sophie blushed. "No, can't do. It was OK to wash you when you lay ill and unconscious, but now, it is not done."

"It is not done." Those were words I was going to hear many times in the coming months and even years.

I had to fend for myself then. I inspected, what had been placed on the bench by the door. A flat bowl of lukewarm water, a jar of more lukewarm water, a pitcher of some sticky substance, some soft and coarse rags, and a towel. I put a finger into the substance in the pitcher and smelled it. It smelled clean. Gingerly I rubbed a bit of it between my palms and added a few drops of water, It dissoluted in water and made suds. Soap! I put some soap on one of the rags and scrubbed my stomach, it was OK, I needed cleaning, I could smell myself, eew, Finally I was clean, and even washed my hair in the bowl, it sure could do with a cut. It was true, then that I had been ill for a long time. I dried off myself with the towel, and put on the undershift. I then opened the door ajar and called for Sophie. "I think I'm clean now, but I'm afraid I've made a mess in here."

She came in and laughed at the sight. "Now I understand why the menfolk are asked to wash in the stable. You sure made a mess. But you are to be excused. And now please put on the clothes."

I did as asked, fumbling with buttons, hooks and ties. No zippers yet.
"And now come with me. Time for a slow walk of the premises, but put on the cloak as well. It's cold outside. And take ths cane, clogs and icy snow and wobbly you are bad partners, and we need no more accidents."

I put on the cloak, and pulled up the hood against the cold. I saw the wisdom of a cane, more like a sturdy staff really. The small door led into a barn, two horses neighed at ys from a far corner, and a cow placidly munched away at the hay in a stall.

"You have been put up in the stable hand's room," Sophie explained. "It is nice and hot as it is placed up against the kitchen. Now we go out, beware the cold and ice."

And it was cold. Snows lay on the ground, big drifts and shallower parts. "We chose today because it is not windy."

"I thank you" I said, my teeth clattering.

"And there we have the loo," she said, pointing to a small outhouse at the end of the stable. You are expected to use it during the daytime, for nightly pee you can use the chamber pot under your bed."
"OK, I said, and empty it where? Into the loo or what?"

"Just leave it. It is my job to empty the pots," Sophie replied. "And to light the fires, so do not try that either. When you're better - I would say soon, you will be given a bed in the attic with the farmhands and maids. It is bigger, but colder than the one you stay in now. You will see." She led me around to the gate, and suddenly I recognized the place. We were at my grandparents' farm. The gate was in the same place as it was - would be - in my grandparents' farmhouse. I had always liked the view from the gate over the far off lake and woods. It felt like all the world lay open in front of me, looking at it from up here, and today it gave me the very same feeling. This doubleness made me feel weak, and I propped myself up against the gate wall. Sophie noticed, and led me through the gate between barn and stable into the yard.

"The door to the right leads into the kitchen, straight ahead is Master's wing and left are stables, barns and such. Now we go in through the main entrance and say hello to Master and the family."
The layout had been - would be - roughly the same in my grandparents' days and the continued doubleness of the two farms so alike, yet so different made me feel even more self conscious and clumsy walking with a cane across the yard and up the three steps. But once inside the likeness to my grandparents' farmhouse helped me. Lars introduced me to Anna, his wife.

"It is good to see you standing on your own legs," she said. "I was the one who found you, and I thought you was dead buy then."

I bowed and told her that I was grateful for their keeping me alive.

They had four children. Elizabeth, the oldest, whom I had seen the day before, was seventeen same as me. Hans, called after his grandfather, was fifteen years old, and looked just like his father. The two younger were twins and ten years old. They were called Christen and Johanne. I was tired, and with introductions done, Anna sent the children off to their chores.

We sat down in the kitchen, Lars, Anna and I. Something in Lars' smile to his wife reminded me of my granddad, and I became dizzy once again.

"Sorry," I said, "I think I still need more time to regain my strength."
"Please do not be inpatient about it," Anna said. "Sophie and Elizabeth have fought all winter to keep you alive. Please do not ruin their work by being impatient."

"I will do my very best." I said. "But I'll need some sedentary work in the weeks to come."

"You said you can do sums," Lars stated. "Soon the taxators will come, and I need help with my ledgers, normally the chaplain - the man you met yesterday - would aid me, but he is trying for a job somewhere else, where he can be the vicar, and not second in command ... Now it is time for a short rest for you, but afterwards you come to my office - come over and ask. Do not be stuffy, that is a waste of time - and we will see what you can do."

"I thank you for your great kindness," I began, then added: "That might seem stuffy, but I need to say it. I'll be back soon."

I walked through the snowdrfits to my room, really needing that sturdy staff to get back. I paused for a second to enjoy the view, then I relaxed in the warmth of the stable hands' room, shedding all but the undershift and took a short nap.

- - A - - B - - C - -

March 4 question - What elements do you include in your book launch? Or what do you have in mind for your future book launch? Or what advice do you have to offer to others planning to launch a book?

My reply - I've never done a book launch for a book of my own. But I've been a helper several times for others' book launches.
My advice - also to myself - would be:

• set the date long enough after promised printing and delivery  so that eventual adverse happenings won't stress you.
• get some themed snacks if at all possible.
• get enough snacks! Surplus will be eaten.
• keep speeches short and to the point.
• bring enough coins (and bills) for change if you plan to sell books.
• have wet wipes and clean rags handy.
• dress comfortably.
• bring at least three ball point pens. 
• DON'T PANIC!