Read Online What She Left for Me by Tracie Peterson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tracie Peterson
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basket and flung it over the line in a haphazard manner. “Because we’re free and they aren’t.”
“But why can’t they be free too? Then they wouldn’t hate us.”
“They can never be free until they get rid of their rules and laws,” her mother explained before walking back toward the rundown shack they called home.
Eleanor followed a pace behind, contemplating her mother’s words. Melody continued in a way that suggested the entire conversation was futile. “They won’t get rid of their laws because they don’t know how.”
“How did we figure it out, then?”
“We had smart people, people who weren’t afraid to expand their minds and look beyond the reality of what we’d become. We were all living in fear—living in chains. Everybody was worried about wars and when the bomb might be dropped on us.” Melody stopped and looked at her daughter. “Do you know that when I went to school we actually practiced trying to protect ourselves from the bomb? Duck and cover, they called it. We would drop down and cover our heads. As if that was going to keep us safe if a bomb fell on us. The whole notion of the bomb was just used to keep the people in line; I don’t think it has ever been a real threat. Keeping people scared is like, well, it’s an opiate for the government. Duck and cover has been the mentality of the establishment ever since. They don’t want to see the truth because the truth is too frightening. Better to stay with what they know—even if they’re miserable.”
Her mother’s words simply didn’t make any sense to Eleanor. She wanted to ask her more questions, but there were chores to do.
“Eleanor, go find your brothers. I think they’re fishing. Tell them it’s time to help in the garden.”
Eleanor pushed back her stringy blond hair and ambled off toward the creek, visions of flashing police car lights in her mind. Those people had frightened her so much she’d been unable to sleep until well into the night. She hoped they never came back with their rules and regulations.
The oldest of five, Eleanor took her responsibilities in stride. There weren’t many demands placed upon her. Their communal life was one that allowed for many freedoms. Her days were spent helping raise herbs and do household chores, and then she had a few hours of schooling. Eleanor loved to read and would read anything she could get her hands on. Unfortunately, the commune didn’t have many books; her parents didn’t allow for any with “decadent worldly views.” It was also the reason they had no television, although Eleanor had heard about the device from one of her friends.
“Ellie! Ellie!” Sapphira called as she approached at a dead run. Sapphira Newton was a good friend, and Eleanor always had the best times with her.
“I have to get my brothers from the creek,” she told Sapphira.
“I’ll come with you. I want to tell you about Marty.” The dark-haired girl gasped the words as she halted just short of Eleanor’s lanky frame, struggling to regain her breath. “I ran all the way,” she said, as if to explain.
“What’s going on with Marty?”
“Well, you know it was her dad they took last night—along with his friend Joe?”
Eleanor nodded. “I know.”
“Well, Marty said her mother went to town to talk to the pigs who took him. They ended up calling Marty’s grandfather, and now Marty may be leaving.”
“Why would she leave?”
Sapphira shrugged. “I don’t know. Marty’s all upset. Said her mom came home crying and talking about how unfair life was.”
Eleanor listened as she continued toward the creek. She could hear her brothers Allan and Tommie even from this distance, and it didn’t sound like they were fishing. Their mom was going to be mad at them if they came home empty-handed. There was some sort of herbal remedy their mother planned to make, and she needed fish oil or some part of the fish.
“I hope Marty doesn’t go away,” Eleanor said, still
“But why can’t they be free too? Then they wouldn’t hate us.”
“They can never be free until they get rid of their rules and laws,” her mother explained before walking back toward the rundown shack they called home.
Eleanor followed a pace behind, contemplating her mother’s words. Melody continued in a way that suggested the entire conversation was futile. “They won’t get rid of their laws because they don’t know how.”
“How did we figure it out, then?”
“We had smart people, people who weren’t afraid to expand their minds and look beyond the reality of what we’d become. We were all living in fear—living in chains. Everybody was worried about wars and when the bomb might be dropped on us.” Melody stopped and looked at her daughter. “Do you know that when I went to school we actually practiced trying to protect ourselves from the bomb? Duck and cover, they called it. We would drop down and cover our heads. As if that was going to keep us safe if a bomb fell on us. The whole notion of the bomb was just used to keep the people in line; I don’t think it has ever been a real threat. Keeping people scared is like, well, it’s an opiate for the government. Duck and cover has been the mentality of the establishment ever since. They don’t want to see the truth because the truth is too frightening. Better to stay with what they know—even if they’re miserable.”
Her mother’s words simply didn’t make any sense to Eleanor. She wanted to ask her more questions, but there were chores to do.
“Eleanor, go find your brothers. I think they’re fishing. Tell them it’s time to help in the garden.”
Eleanor pushed back her stringy blond hair and ambled off toward the creek, visions of flashing police car lights in her mind. Those people had frightened her so much she’d been unable to sleep until well into the night. She hoped they never came back with their rules and regulations.
The oldest of five, Eleanor took her responsibilities in stride. There weren’t many demands placed upon her. Their communal life was one that allowed for many freedoms. Her days were spent helping raise herbs and do household chores, and then she had a few hours of schooling. Eleanor loved to read and would read anything she could get her hands on. Unfortunately, the commune didn’t have many books; her parents didn’t allow for any with “decadent worldly views.” It was also the reason they had no television, although Eleanor had heard about the device from one of her friends.
“Ellie! Ellie!” Sapphira called as she approached at a dead run. Sapphira Newton was a good friend, and Eleanor always had the best times with her.
“I have to get my brothers from the creek,” she told Sapphira.
“I’ll come with you. I want to tell you about Marty.” The dark-haired girl gasped the words as she halted just short of Eleanor’s lanky frame, struggling to regain her breath. “I ran all the way,” she said, as if to explain.
“What’s going on with Marty?”
“Well, you know it was her dad they took last night—along with his friend Joe?”
Eleanor nodded. “I know.”
“Well, Marty said her mother went to town to talk to the pigs who took him. They ended up calling Marty’s grandfather, and now Marty may be leaving.”
“Why would she leave?”
Sapphira shrugged. “I don’t know. Marty’s all upset. Said her mom came home crying and talking about how unfair life was.”
Eleanor listened as she continued toward the creek. She could hear her brothers Allan and Tommie even from this distance, and it didn’t sound like they were fishing. Their mom was going to be mad at them if they came home empty-handed. There was some sort of herbal remedy their mother planned to make, and she needed fish oil or some part of the fish.
“I hope Marty doesn’t go away,” Eleanor said, still
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