Grandmother's Teeth

Chapter 6 Big Ears

“Sadko, why do you suppose my Father keeps buying mead from the miller if it just goes bad?” Rose mused while randomly hitting the strings on his dulcimer trying to make it play a song for her. Sadko liked her curiosity. one day it would make her a wise woman.

“Well the men in our village are heavy drinkers each night. I also suspect your Babushka likes him to dump it into the ground.”

“What do you mean?” Rose put the instrument back in the case to pick up her curled up cat. She touched noses with Catkin and laid him on his back to rub his belly. The cat fought this but only a little with Rose. Other than Grandmother she was the only one whom he seemed contented with all the time.

“Well I don’t know a healer’s art to be truthful. I’ve seen her scratching out symbols in the earth and it just so happens that these places are where he dumps the mead. Otherwise I know nothing about it. Perhaps you should ask your Grandmother and see what you can find out.”

The old woman stepped out of the bushes and Sadko had to change course swiftly or risk trampling her. The whole cart leaned dangerously on two wheels while Rose laughed up in the air. As the cart came down with a thud the horses reared and stopped a hair’s breadth from some trees on the path. They shuttered and complained bitterly amongst themselves.

“My ears are burning!” Babushka shouted and tapped a wheel with her pestle that made quite the noise before she placed it in her basket. Before Sadko could even get his vision straight she was beginning to climb into the cart. She was dirty from herb hunting and covered with moss she blinked and wheezed like an old mole coming out into the light. Her basket smelled of plants, spices and baked goods.

Rose helped her Grandmother into the back of the cart. The old woman kept her basket of curiosities well out of reach so the child could not inspect it.

“Healer I hope you can work miracles on yourself for I almost hit you!” Sadko exclaimed.

“Sadko Babushka’s said her ears were burning. That means she knows someone’s talking about her behind her back. Who is it Grandmother?” Rose asked rather noisily.

Grandmother reached over and held Rose’s ear with terrible pinching fingers.

“It was you child! Not only were you talking about me but sneaking about into the woods with an older man besides! Where is the cloak of protection your mother and I made for you? Why are you not in the garden with the other children?” She released the appendage with the final question. Rose put her hand to the smart. She was certain it was going to swell.

“Babushka I had to escape! That garden is so boring!” Seeing her Grandmother’s look of affront she chose her words more carefully. “I mean when you’re not there to work on it with me. Those other children do not do anything!”

“What about the older girls, are they not treating you better?” Grandmother raised a brow.

“Ugh, all they wish to talk of are frivolous things like recipes and frills to sew onto their dresses.” Rose tried peeking into the basket again but with a sly smile her Grandmother covered it with a handkerchief.

“Recipes fill those girl’s dresses enough they have no need to embellish.” Grandmother snorted as Rose giggled. “Do not mock them too much, child for one day those things shall interest you.” She tapped Rose’s shoulder three times with her pestle as she spoke.

“Besides, now that is no way to talk of our neighbors.” Sadko smiled broadly before getting smacked in the back of the head. “Good neighbors do not abduct other people’s Granddaughters either, Sadko the merchant. How am I to know you would not sell her for a pretty penny down the road?”

“I do not think she would fetch much.” Sadko teased and ducked another swipe to the head this time from Rose.

“Sit down!” Grandmother grabbed Rose’s hand, “Before you fall and injure yourself!”

Rose was surprised after all her Grandmother’s ranting to get pulled into a hug.

“Dear child, you are priceless to me. I would pay dearly for you.” She stroked Rose’s hair and against her chest Rose could feel her breathing in deeply.

“But…” Grandmother held her shoulders while pushing her away. “If you continue to take off your hood I will no longer teach you any lessons about the plants and other things!”

“Oh you do not mean it!” Rose practically wailed.

“I mean it! I will not teach a fool who cannot keep track of their own clothes.” Grandmother folded her arms sternly.

“Punish me not the child. I am the one who took her.” Sadko entreated.

“You are to take me on my rounds today. It was cold last night and my bones still ache.”

“He does that everyday; how is that punishment?” Rose muttered.

“Oh trust me, it is punishment.” Sadko whispered, “Ouch!” This time it was the mortar that hit the back of his head. Rose’s laughter rang through the wood.