A Moment of Clarity

Writers: Vix
Date Posted: 31st July 2007

Characters: Vanea
Description: Vanea cleans her quarters after a long day at work and gets some advice from her mother.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 5, day 4 of Turn 4

"Move your feet, please, Mum." Vanea smiled as her mother lifted her feet, then quickly swept the floor beneath them. "Alright, you can put them down."

Neana lowered her feet and rocked forward, staring at the floor. Her fingers reached to pinch at something.

"Did I miss something, Mum?" The Headwoman glanced downward as well.

The older woman said nothing, simply pinching at invisible specks and placing them into her other hand.

With a sigh, Vanea continued her sweeping, relaxing with the gentle swish of the broom. "I seldom get to do this any more," she noted quietly. "Too much hidework."

"Place still needs cleanin', even if you've moved up."

Vanea started at the sound of her mother's voice. Neana now sat upright, regarding her daughter with clear eyes and seeming recognition. With her mother so often oblivious to family, Vanea took advantage of this moment of clarity and seated herself across from the older woman.

"Yes, it does," admitted Vanea. "And I've kept that task to myself, though I could have assigned drudges to do it. These are _our_ rooms and we can care for them - the girls and I. And you, of course." She added the final phrase quickly, not wanting her mother to feel left out.

"Aye, as it should be." Neana nodded, her eyes still on her daughter. "This is our home and our responsibility. No one else need come in here and do what we can do on our own."

"Very true," the Headwoman agreed, though she found that often she had little time or energy to devote to her own quarters.

"Reminds you where you started." The old woman nodded emphatically.

"It does at that. I started by helping you, Mum, and then moved on to my own home - mine and Turbin's, with the children helping me. And now we're back here and with you."

Neana continued to stare, her mouth working as if making enough saliva to speak. "But you do more now."

"Yes, I do." Vanea was surprised that her mother realized that, her moments of living in the present were now so limited. "Turbin. . . he had an accident and we came here to live with you."

"He gave you a new job." Neana frowned. "Someone did. . ."

"Lord Corowal," the daughter prompted. "He's the new Lord Holder here at Emerald Falls. . ."

"I knew that," the mother snapped. "Just couldn't remember his name. He gave you the job."

"Yes, he appointed me as Headwoman." Vanea sighed, much as she would have as a young girl. "It's so much work, so much to do."

"But important." Neana's eyes unfocused for a moment and Vanea thought she was drifting away, but suddenly the old woman narrowed her gaze at her daughter. "It shows what you can do - what a woman can do."

"It does." The Headwoman leaned forward and took her mother's hands. "It's difficult and much more responsibility, but it shows that a woman can manage facts and figures and people and goods."

"It shows your daughters that they can do more."

Vanea blinked in surprise. Neana seldom acknowledged Binea and Neata and seemed not to even be aware that she had grandchildren.

"They can," Vanea nodded in agreement. "They can do more than wed and rear children - if they want." She wasn't sure she liked the direction this was taking, a direction that she had not really wanted to pursue.

"They can make you proud."

At this simple sentence from her mother, Vanea felt her throat closing. She forced herself to swallow past the lump that felt as if it was forming there. "I'm sure they will make me proud."

"I'm proud." Neana nodded, still watching her daughter. "Proud of you."

"Thank you, Mum!" Vanea moved forward, hugging her mother tightly, catching her in an embrace that she had not known for turns. Finally, she moved back, still smiling at her mother. "Thank you."

The woman looked up at her with a scowl. "What are you doing here? Haven't you anything better to do? Go home."

The Headwoman shook her head, feeling the let-down of her mother's return to the forgetfulness and shortness that was now the norm with her. "As soon as I'm done cleaning," she told the woman sadly.

She picked up her broom and continued to sweep the floor, gradually relaxing into the swish of the bristles once more. As she did, she smiled sadly. It may not have been much, that brief contact with her mother as she had once known her, but it was something, and she'd hold to that something.

Last updated on the July 31st 2007

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

A Moment of Clarity