Cooper For A Sevenday (Part 3)

Writers: Noola, Eimi
Date Posted: 1st May 2010

Characters: Ariavin, Darlenna, Miniam
Description: It's time to go home and the apprentice makes a decision.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 8, day 13 of Turn 5
Notes: This is Part 3 of 3

Darlenna brought the final dish to the table, a platter piled with
slices of roast wherry to go with the beans, mashed tubers, steamed
greens and fresh rolls already on the table. "There we are," she
smiled at the boy who'd been a guest in their home for the last
sevenday and would be leaving in the morning. "Why don't you go ahead
and help yourself, Miniam, dear?"

"Thank you, ma'am." He did not have to be offered twice. He had worked
up quite an appetite in the workshop that day!

Darlenna shot her husband an amused grin before settling into her
seat. "So, tell me, how have you found your sevenday working with
Ariavin?" she asked the boy.

"Well, I've certainly learned a lot." Miniam Had never imagined so much
could go into making something as seemingly simple as a barrel.
"Journeyman Ariavin certainly knows what he's doing."

Ariavin smiled, "Thank you, lad. So, what do you think of cooperage,
then?"

"I have to say, it's a lot harder than I ever imagined. I think it
takes a special kind of patience." He didn't want to offend the man who
had been so kind to him for the last sevenday, but he knew the question
would be inevitable. "I'm not sure I'm that kind of man."

The journeyman nodded good-naturedly, he'd had a feeling such was the
case. The boy had worked hard and hadn't complained once, but you
could tell when someone just wasn't -enjoying- their work as one must
when one is deciding to make it their life's pursuit. "Well, that's
fine. It's what these trials are for, after all. Just remember, that
the Vintners aren't the only ones who use coopers. There are coopers
who work for farmers to store vegetables and drygoods, coopers who
work in holds making washtubs and buckets and all manner of things in
between."

"What do you think you'd like to do, instead? Have you thought of what
you'll try next?" Darlenna asked as she served up a small plate for
her young daughter.

"Furniture, I think." He passed the plate of bread down to the
journeyman. "I'm not that great at carving, and I'm not at all
interested in paper making."

"Furniture making! Ariavin, didn't your father's brother do that?"
Darelenna asked her husband.

"He did, still does, in fact. Tables mostly." Ariavin replied after a
moment's thought. "He likes to make fancy tables for rich Holders, all
carved scrollwork and inlaid mosaics."

"I made my mother a rocking chair last turn," Miniam said proudly. It
had been a project for a class, and he had been quite pleased with the
results.

"Isn't that lovely!" Darelenna smiled at the youngster. "I imagine she
was real proud to get that chair too."

He beamed at the praise. "She says it's her favorite."

"Well, of course it is!" Darelenna exclaimed. "Her own boy made it. It
only makes sense."

Ariavin grinned a bit at his wife's antics, "Quit doting on the boy,
'Lenna and let him eat." He chuckled at the face she made at him and
began eating himself. There was a few moments of quiet before his wife
spoke again.

"Do you have everything packed for tomorrow, dear?" she asked Miniam.

"Almost." Actually he had barely started. He figured he'd just throw
them all in his rucksack when the time came.

The cooper and his wife exchanged another amused look. This wasn't
their first time hosting an apprentice, after all. "Well, good,"
Darlenna replied, playing along, before taking a bite of food to hide
her grin.

Ariavin cleared his throat a bit after swallowing his wine, "Remind me
in the morning, Miniam, I have some correspondence I wonder if you
might be willing to deliver for me at the Woodcraft Hall."

"Of course." It was the least he could do for a family who had been so
kind to him. "And before I forget, I have something for you. May I be
excused to get it?"

"Of course, lad." Ariavin gestured for the apprentice to go ahead.

Miniam hurried off to his room to find the gift he had spent several
candlemarks working on in his downtime. He only hoped Ariavin would
like it. The apprentice brought out a small bundle and presented it to
the journeyman who had taken so much time for him. "It's not much, but
I hope it will help you remember me."

Ariavin took the bundle and opened it, revealing a cup carved into the
shape of a barrel. It was a little rough, but the slats and hoops were
clearly visible. It even had a tiny bung hole carved into it, though
not all the way through, obviously. The cooper regarded the gift with
a large smile which he turned on the boy who'd given it, "Thank you,
lad!"

"Oh, how thoughtful!" Darlenna added when her husband passed the cup
to her so she could get a better look at it. She smiled fondly at
Miniam as well.

"Well, it's just a small token. I just wanted to show you that I have
appreciated the time you took for me." Even if he wasn't a future
cooper, he certainly learned a lot and enjoyed his stay with the
journeyman and his wife.

"It was my pleasure. You worked hard and paid attention. I'm sure
you'll be making excellent furniture before long."

Darlenna nodded in agreement with her husband's words, adding, "We
enjoyed having you, Miniam. You'll have to come and visit again!"

"I will," he assured them and added, "and maybe next time I'll be old
enough to actually try what you put in your barrels."

Ariavin chuckled appreciatively, "That is a perk of the job."

Last updated on the May 4th 2010

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Cooper For A Sevenday (Part 3)