The Village Merchant, pt. 4

    The couch is red and clean. The fabric is decorated with small flowers that are now melting into the background. The cushion is only a suggestion and indented in that particular way. The Old Man sees all of these things, but doesn't see them, and sits down.

Wise Wife sits across from him on the wooden chair. Her hands are at work breaking the ice block into smaller pieces that will fit in their cups. The taps give way to a satisfied crack. She looks up from her work to watch him watching her. 

The drink is cool and sweet and washes down the heat from the day. Wise Wife looks over her shoulder for a moment, then begins clearing the table. The savory, warm smell of peanut sauce enters the room, followed by Daughter. The bowl is laid upon an ivory white cloth, words are spoken, and the eating begins. 

It is only as the leftovers are being gathered that the thrum of a motorcycle fills the compound. A beam of light cuts across the window. It is a long moment between when the engine dies and the rider dismounts. Wise Wife begins uncovering the leftovers and cracks another piece of ice off the block.

Son enters the room with his helmet hanging from his hand. He flashes a quick smile and sits down to eat. There is a new smudge of dust on the food bowl as he helps himself. Daughter talks about a new store that has opened in town selling goods from the Middle East. But the Old Man doesn't pay attention because he is distracted by the taste of disappointment.

At last, Son finishes and looks at his father, "How is the field?"

"It is there, I nearly finished the weeding today."

"And how is the village?"

"It is there, nothing has changed. How was town?"

"It is there, changing every day." Son gives a short laugh.

"And how is the market?" 

"Growing bigger and bigger every time. I feel lost every time I go inside."

"How is the Spice Merchant?"

"She is there, she is there."

"Did you greet her for me?"

"I did, I did"

The Old Man is silent for a second and looks down.

"How is the Fruit Merchant?"

"He is very well, he asked when you would come visit him."

"Did he give you a good deal?"

"Only a little deal, he says you should come visit him next time."

The Old Man stops asking questions.

Wise Wife clears away the dishes and Daughter brings out a pack of cards. A game is played. Old Man quickly earns several points but sputters off. Wise Wife nears the finish line, but it is Daughter who crosses it first. Son has no luck, or didn't try. They grow tired after that and the next hand is not dealt.

Wise Wife grabs Daughter's hand and pulls her away to a chore. The Old Man asks Son, "How is school?"

"It is good, I believe I will get a nice grade this year. But there are always fees, it is expensive to be a student."

The Old Man nods.

"They have raised the fee, they raised it again."

"Do you need more money?" This is asked pointedly.

"No, they raised it last month. My friend helped me pay it."

"Ahh, but do you need more money?"

"No, no, this has been paid, I paid it."

They are both silent for a long while. Son eventually looks away. 

In bed, Wise Wife asks about the money for the Old Man's idea,
even though she knows how it was spent. The Old Man replies that their Son still has a lot of growing up to do.