Roost in Peace
Chapter 1.
“So, do you ever feel like there’s something seriously wrong with you?” Ettie asked, staring at her sister, who was sitting in her usual chair knitting.
Elsa-May looked up. “Will you sit down instead of pacing? What exactly are you talking about now?”
Ettie sat down on the couch, and Kelly the cat immediately jumped into her lap. While patting the cat, Ettie continued, “Well sometimes I think when I die, they’ll find out that I had a serious disease—or maybe two. Then they’ll say, how did she last so long? Do you ever feel that way?”
Elsa-May chuckled. “No, and no one will be investigating your old body. They’ll assume you died of old age.”
Ettie’s mouth turned down at the corners. “That’s not good. Never assume anything. What if I was murdered?”
“That’s not going to happen. The trouble with you is you think too much. You need to be doing less thinking and more doing. What happened to birdwatching? You haven’t touched your binoculars in days.”
Ettie huffed and looked over at her binoculars. “They remind me of poor old what’s-his-name.”
“Oh, Ettie, it was Don.”
“Jah. They remind me of poor old Don.”
“We’re leaving the house today. Will that make you happy?”
Ettie’s eyebrows rose. “Depends where we’re going.”
“I have to take my latest knitting projects to Freda. She’s organizing what’s going to the hospital and what’s going to the charity stores.”
“She sure loves to organize and take charge of everything.”
“I know you two haven't always seen eye to eye about things, but she does good work. Do you want to come with me or not?” Elsa-May asked.
Ettie looked away. “I’ll have to think about it.”
“Suit yourself.”
“When are we going?” Ettie asked.
“As soon as I finish this row of knitting.” A few moments later, she looked up at Ettie with a satisfied smile. “There, all done. We can head over to Freda’s now.”
“I suppose I’ll come too. Shall we take Snowy with us?”
Elsa-May shook her head. “No, because she might have the chickens roaming about.”
“Ah yes, those pesky chickens. He’d probably chase them.” Ettie got up from the couch, gently moving Kelly the cat to the side. “Freda might be a bit bossy, but at least she gives us eggs.”
“That’s right.” Elsa-May’s eyes lit up. “And not just any eggs—Freda’s chickens lay the biggest, fluffiest eggs you’ve ever seen. I’ve been thinking about those eggs all day.”
Ettie grabbed her bag, shaking her head. “Well, I don’t know if I’d call eggs fluffy, but those eggs are always larger than normal. You’d think the chickens are working overtime or something. I always wonder what she feeds them.”
“Maybe she talks to them like you talk to your plants.” Elsa-May grabbed her coat.
“I don’t talk to my plants. They are just listening when I’m talking to myself.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure which is the bigger worry.”
Ettie turned to Snowy their dog, and Kelly their cat. “Now be good while we’re out.”
“Come on, Ettie. They don’t know what you’re saying. Less talk and more action.”
Ettie huffed. “I’ve been waiting for you for hours, so don’t hurry me along.”
Elsa-May took Ettie’s coat off the hook behind the door and handed it to her.
“Denke,” Ettie said as Elsa-May helped her into it. “I can do it by myself.”
“I’m just trying to be helpful.”
The two sisters headed out the door and walked down to the shanty where they called for a taxi.
After they settled into the back seat of the taxi, Elsa-May leaned over and nudged her sister. “Remember last time? Freda sent us home with a dozen eggs each. I had to make scrambled eggs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner just to use them all up!”
Ettie grinned, recalling the endless stream of egg-based meals. “I made an egg custard. And then another one. And then one more just to get through them all.”
“You love a good custard, don’t act like you didn’t enjoy them,” Elsa-May chuckled. “I’m hoping for at least a dozen again this time. Freda’s chickens really do produce the best.”
As they continued chatting about Freda’s chickens and their remarkable eggs, the taxi stopped in front of Freda’s cottage, the cozy little house looking exactly as it always did, with its neat garden and chicken coop visible in the distance.
“Well, here we are,” Elsa-May announced, gathering her knitting projects, and stepped out of the car while Ettie paid the driver.
Ettie climbed out and looked around. Freda was often outside the house tending to the garden, or sitting on the porch enjoying the day even when the weather was cool. “I don’t see her. Maybe she’s with the chickens.”
“Could be,” Elsa-May agreed. “But why don’t we do what normal people do and just knock on the door?”
Ettie shot her sister a look. “I am normal.”
Elsa-May said nothing and continued up the garden path, bags in hand. She placed them to one side while she knocked on the front door. After a few moments of silence, Ettie knocked a bit louder.
“No answer,” Ettie said, her brow furrowing. “She’s not usually one to be out and about, is she?”
“No, not usually.” Elsa-May’s eyes narrowed as she peered through the window next to the door. “Should we try around the back?”
“I don’t like it.” Ettie crossed her arms. “She lives by herself. What if something’s wrong?”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic, Ettie. Freda is as tough as nails. Maybe she’s in the back garden or feeding those prize-winning chickens of hers.”
They walked around to the back of the house, but still, no sign of Freda. “Maybe she has gone out,” Ettie suggested.
Elsa-May sighed, her good mood from earlier fading. “Well, if she’s out, she’s out. We can leave the knitted items and come back for a visit later.”
“You mean come back for the eggs,” Ettie teased.
“That’s not what I meant. I meant we’ll come back for a visit to check on her. She could’ve gone to a medical appointment because she’s unwell. Now you’ve got me worried about her.”
“A moment ago, you said she was tough,” Ettie pointed out.
“I know, but even the strongest of us can have times when we’re not well.”
“Hmm, that’s true. What if she’s inside and she’s fallen and can’t get up?” Ettie’s eyes widened as her imagination took flight.
“You’re right for once, Ettie. We should at least have a look in the house.” Just as Elsa-May had her hand on the door handle, they were distracted by the sound of hoofbeats and creaking buggy wheels. They spun around to see a horse and buggy heading up the driveway.”
