Many Summers Have Passed

I wrote this piece a homework for the writing class I attend.  The task was choose our favourite song, then choose a line for the theme or or the title of the story.  This piece involves the character Chris, a train driver, who I have posted about before, and I hope to expand this piece into a full story.  The title comes from a line of the song Fields of Gold, originally by Sting in 1993, here's a link to music video of the song.  However, it was the version sung by Lisa Kelly when she was part of the Irish group, Celtic Woman, that got me hooked to the song.  I hope that you'll enjoy this piece.

"I'm coming."  Chris told Helen as she lead him into to the barley field.  She was looking very excited.  

     "We don't want to be late."  She kept saying.  

     "Who is 'we'?" The train driver asked before noticing Freya waiting for them with a picnic displayed across the ground.  Both girls smiled as Chris marvelled the sight.  

     A red and white checker cloth, a wicker basket, plates, knifes and forks with sliced bread, butter, jam, cheese, biscuits and bottles of pop.  

     "What's the occasion?" Chris asked the girls.  

     "We thought you'd like picnic."  Helen answered, still smiling.  

     Chris looked at them closely.  

     "When you say 'we', I'm guessing that Hayley knows of this too.  Where is she?" 

     "She's coming."  Freya answered.  "There she is."  She pointed to the gate Chris and Helen had just come from and the three looked towards it.  Chris recognised Freya's twin sister and her companion, it was Jennifer, who was wearing a long red country dress to match her long brown hair.  Both she and Chris looked at each other as she approached the small gathering.  

     "What's going on here?" Jenny asked, eyeing the three girls watchfully.  

     "We've made this picnic for you."  Helen explained, "We thought you would like to have a peaceful time to yourselves."  

     The two adults looked at the girls and at themselves, both of them unable to stop smiling.  

     "And we thank you very much."  Jenny replied with a nod of the head.  

     "See you later."  The young ladies said before they walked away very joyful.  Chris was sure he heard them chuckle.  

     "They are priceless."  Jenny spoke as she sat down on the picnic cloth before she was joined by Chris who said, 

     "I suppose that's why they're so loveable."  

     "Do you remember when we first met?" 

     "I do, it was at that very field gate we passed through coming here.  I had just been to an inheritance hearing of a distant family member, where Io got this pocket watch," here he drew out his said watch and held it, "Father hoped for a title of some sort but he got a small fortune instead.  I was afraid of what my friends would think of me.  But Danny came and found me here and talked me round.  We were just leaving when I saw you pass by."  

     "I had an argument with my father about his marriage to my stepmother."  Jenny spoke, "I couldn't see any reason for  what made him divorce my mother so he could remarry.  Coming to these fields helped me clear my head.  When I saw you with Danny, I wondered if you two were the infamous Chris and Danny, and yet, I couldn't believe it when I found out that you were."  

     The two adults looked out at the field in the valley beyond.  

     "Many summers have passed since those summer days."  Jenny went on.  "Life has changed so much.  You and Danny at Phaford Bridge, you and Helen, and we were engaged."  

     Chris looked at Jenny.  

     "Were engaged?" 

     She looked at him.  

     "Well, you changed so much.  You're a survivor and now an adopted father to Helen.  How can I match that?" 

     "I can think of one way." 

     "How?" 

     Chris shrugged as he answered, "Well, first not let this picnic Helen and your half-sisters prepared for us go to waste.  Second, pick a date.  And third, see our children run in this field as the sun goes down."  

     Jenny's smile widened.  "I'd love that."  

I hope that you've enjoyed this piece.  I hope to post again soon.