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[ORP] The washing river

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[ORP] The washing river Empty [ORP] The washing river

Post by Guest Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:21 am

Ther River was a busy place. With the banks full on most days, with people and their dirty clothes. The river ran straight from the mountains and the water was clean and pure. Washing clothes was not just a chore in these parts but a time to meet and socialise. The sun was out, so the large rocks were steaming hot as wet clothes were thrown on them and left to dry. There were groups of men and groups of women, standing and chatting happily without a worry of the time. The children played in the river. Jumping off the sides and swimming through the shallows.

Joseph had put his small bag of clothes by the side of the river. At home his clothes would have been sent away with a servant to be cleaned and he would find them washed and dried and sitting in his room. This wasn't by choice but just upbringing. Whenever he was away though, he liked to do his own. He took off his worn boots and socks and left them next to his bag and moved down to the waters edge. The water was cool and refreshing as it lapped over his toes. He wandered up and down the sandy bank. Just deep enough for the water to reach his ankles. Hands on pockets, eyes to the sky, appreciating this rare moment when he was not working.

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Post by Guest Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:30 am

Airy laughed out loud as one of the women in her group made a snippy remark about husbands coming home dead drunk and trying to kiss their sitting room statue. Shaking her head she bent in the rushing water her skirts tied to her waste exposing her knee's. She had found a large rock where she could manage somewhat to rub the wet cloth against it, it would not be enough, but with a useless arm it was the best she could do. Her basket or rather a trundle on wheels was off to the side of the bank. Glancing over to it just as one of the women moved Joseph came into view.

Her lips parted in surprise to see him here...and bare of feet. He looked....good and healthy and alive. Peoples voices faded to a murmur for a moment.


Last edited by Airy on Fri Oct 08, 2010 2:56 pm; edited 1 time in total

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Post by Guest Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:48 am

Just as Joseph was about to turn back and find his clothes and small boy ran high up on the rocks and leapt from the side. He plumetted right into the water sending a small wave right at Joseph. The water hit his body and face. He stood there, very still, in shock. The water dripped from his face. He blinked a few times and rubbed it from his eyes. The child was standing in the water looking terrified. Joseph looked down at his clothes and frowned. Then the light glazed over his eyes and a smirk began to grow on his lips. He took a leap and landed waist high in the water. Sending masses of water at the boy. The child emerged laughing and so was Joseph. the screams of children were heard and Joseph winced. Clearly he had indicated a water fight was abuot to begin. As children appeared from all over, jumping into thr river and splashing anyone and anything in sight. Joseph played for a short while then sneaked off back out of the water. He grabbed handfulls of his trousers and squeezed the water out before heading back over to his clothes. As he bent down to pick them up, across the other side of the river he saw Airy. He smiled at her warmly and waved. Then looking left and right he crossed the river and headed towards her.

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Post by Guest Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:17 am

Chuckling as Joseph and the children played together, she cant help but be enchanted..children were close to her heart lately, smiling ruefully and glancing down, in more ways than one. It was nice to see a man behave so naturally around children. Some men couldnt unbend enough to do so.

Once he reached her, she sent her approval in a wide happy smile, he had been pleasant to have around the hostel this last few weeks..quiet for the most part, but more than once they'd found themselves in the kitchen together talking about the town, about their expereinces that day. Not so much about their pasts though. Airy prefferred not to talk so much about hers, as it would require her to lie and she was adverse to doing so unless there was no way out and so she didnt ask much about his past, so he would not ask so much of hers.

"Its a funny thing" Airy said once he got close "I was surprised to see you here, and yet after a moment I wasnt..it seems that even though you look like you shouldnt" Airy snuck a peak to look at wet damp cloth moulding a warm solid male chest. "You seem very at ease around domestic duties." It was the first time she'd ever hinted that she had thought of him and his past in anyway, so she looked away and got busy washing onehandedly on her rock.

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Post by Guest Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:31 am

As he walked across the grass the tiny blades sprung between his toes. Airy greeted him with a big smile so he felt very much at ease to go over. He had spent two weeks at the hostel and had completed most of his work. He thought that perhaps he only had one week left of work. This saddened him as he was in no rush to go home. He had, however paid for a month, so regardless of whether he had work he would stay the further two weeks.

Airy spoke softly amoungst the noises of the busy river. Joseph sat down on the grass while she did so. His clothes becoming a little uncomfortabe as they clung to him. He smiled at her. I suppose it is rude of me to assume you would not be curious of the guests that stay in your home. Afterall, if I had people to stay with me, i would most deffinately wish to know more about them. Joseph stretched out his legs and untcuked his shirt. He released the buttons so that it could flap gently in the wind and dry out. I live many miles from here, with my Father, Jonathan and my Mother, Marie. A very wealthy family it would seem, My Father owns many estates throughout the land and he makes his money by running them well and selling off shares. He has recently broken his leg, while out on business so now I have been sent to this particular town. Joseph smiled. As for the washing, well I have no servants when I am out like this in foreign lands. So it's a choice, Wash them myself or wear dirty clothes. He chuckled and I don't like dirty clothes.

Joseph eyed the washing that Airy had bought with her. How do you plan on washing your clothes with one arm Airy? By now Joseph had fully assumed she was wed and so the next line slipped out easily. I know most tasks like this are thought to be womens work but surely in your state your husband must have offered? Joseph was finding it harder by the day not to detest the man that treated her so badly.

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Post by Guest Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:56 am

Airy hung on every word, she'd of never asked, but she had become very curious about him and his explanation made sense of so much..except for the late night and early morning comings and goings, the baby kept her up or woke her up and sometimes she had heard his footfalls on the stairs at hours ungodly. Perhaps these investors prefferred to meeting a unusual times. It could be possible. It could also be possible she shouldnt notice how his shirt flapped open revealing tanned skin..she bent to scrub a lot the while he sat there.

His question threw her..she'd assumed that he knew...it seemed everyone knew in town, because they never mentioned it, or patted her hand in sympathy sometimes. Some of the older people did that. She opened her mouth to tell him, but nothing came out. She hated lying it was not in her make-up to do so..but she had, because it was to preserve the good name of her child and that was worth going against any moral code. For some reason she felt like she was betraying something though, when she opened her mouth again and said rather woodenly "My husband is dead.." She waited for that to sink in before continuing "He died at sea about 5 months back now...a.." She stopped she couldnt finish off the full story..he would just have to have that.

She didnt want to say more that was all but a fantasy. When she would of rathered for some reason to tell him the whole sordid story. But no one must know that. What was she thinking she yelled at herself, he was after all a stranger, a kind one, but non-the-less. "Anyway, that is why Im here one armed and washing..and not doing a very good job I'd wager."

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Post by Guest Mon Oct 11, 2010 7:22 am

"My husband is dead.."
Joseph nearly died inside from embarassment. He had no idea what to say but fortunatley she continued on. He sat and listened for a while, shifting uncomfortably at times. All the times over the past few weeks he had assumed she had some idiotic man that made her run after his beckon call. If some mystical object could reverse time just a little he would have paid a good price for it. She changed the subject quickly. He looked down at her small pile of washing.
Well I have no business today so perhaps I can help. He smiled at her warmly while in his head he was calling himself every name under the sun. Shaking it off he shuffled down nearer to the water and threw alltheir clothes into a net bag and left them to soak in the water.

Looking back at Airy he felt a need to appologise. I am very sorry I asked that question in such a manner. I just assumed. He rand his fingers through his hair and scrunched his nose trying to think of the end of that sentence but it didn't come. Instead he just smiled. The sun was at its height now and the clothes now lay drying on the rocks. Joseph and Airy had spent the afternoon chatting, with the flow of the river. She was a pleasant person to be with and he was enjoying his time with her a lot. Perhaps too much, for a woman carrying another's child. But afterall he was to go home in 2 weeks. It was always nice to have a friend when away from home. It was not always the case so he was grateful.

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Post by Guest Mon Oct 11, 2010 8:32 am

Airy walked home beside Joseph, he had their clothes slung over his back and the trundle she used because of her arm, trailing along behind him. This was a perfect day, she'd insisted that her Aunt and Jaek leave after the first week, once she had shown them she could do for herself. They had fields and animals to attend to and they'd tried not to look anxious about it, so Airy had worked extra hard to prove to them that a broken arm was no hindrance at all.

But it was..and she stopped looking back and just settled in her mind that it was a very nice day. She mustn't get used to it of course. He was a nice man, but he was going to leave in another 2 weeks. A sad thought truly, as a guest he was surely not the norm. Very quiet, no hassle, no complaints...more than willing to do for himself. Airy had wondered because of his background that he would want more, but no..he was the perfect guest. She might even want to stay up a little later tonight, rather than fall into the dreamless slumber that overtook her most days from too much hard work. He had saved her that.

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