Anneke was tall and strong. She walked with the grace of a jumping white tailed dear, and the power of a two ton moose. Her mother, ill with Molaria, sent her out for water everyday after all of the other kids were fed and outside studying lessons with Mr. Montsu. Today the sun was out. A light breeze was the only relief from the hard, sweltering ground that absorbed heat so easily. "Don't be too long sweetheart, I don't want to have to come out after you." Her mother's voice was so weak, yet her smile a cool rag on a hot head. Anneke smiled back painfully. She was well aware her mother's bed would always be occupied until it was empty forever, the muslin it was made from on fire and the disease which ravaged her mother's body burned away. Anneke grabbed the old but clean water jug, forced her eyes to turn away from her mother, and started her journey to the Big River five miles south. As usual, the thought of her mother's death occuring before her return pumped Anneke's legs without her consent. She never wanted to run, knowing it meant at least a fifteen minute break on the return and a slower stride afterwards. She just couldn't help thinking of her mother dying alone. She had accepted that she would go soon, but promised to hold her head in her arms, wipe the sweat, and sing her to sleep. As Anneke's break time approached she heard herself singing the song she would sing to her mother. Howver, she realized she was changing the words. "Pretty bird, beautiful with sunshine in your eyes. Wonderful bird full oif joy, full of life." At that moment she became awasre of the most magnificent bird she'd ever seen. It's feathers were bright red and green and yellow, with a black beak. She also heard gunshots over head. Anneke was young, but a smart girl and knew gunshots meant trouble. Having sung her mother's song to the bird, she felt as if she'd given it a death sentence. Tears streamed from her eyes as she tried to shoo the bird away. It continued to stare at her. Anneke lifted her skirt and began to climb the smooth trunk of the massive Baobab tree. She was not in the right mind to see anything die right now. As she got closer to the bird so did the gunshots. "Get out of here birdy, are you stuck?" She saw that it wasn't. It simply sat perfectly still. When Anneke got right up next to the bird she saw that it was fake and lifeless. She now understood that the pale men who's gunshots and clunking boots were approaching weren't bird hunters. She attempted to get down as quickly as possible, but halfway out there was another loud blast, and she fell. The kids went back in from their lesson but nothing was prepared for lunch. They heard their mother singing, "Pretty girl, beautiful with sunshine in your eyes. Wonderful girl full of joy, full of life."
Cameron Clow
Brazil
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