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Sarah Alder stood in the middle of Fairmount Street just staring at the home in front of her. The year prior, this was still just a field of marigolds. The land must have been sold without her knowledge, with the incessant Spree activity it is no shock she would have missed it, but to have such a drastic change without her knowing? Rationally it had to have happened because there was a house, but Sarah could not wrap her head around missing this development. A one-story ranch-style home with a goddess-forsaken picket fence was in her field of marigolds.
“Hello.”
In her shock, a small child, no more than six, had managed to come up behind her and the Biddies. She was small, had blonde hair, and bright green eyes full of curiosity about the stranger at her fence gate. Turning to the child, Sarah saw a school bus driving down the hill in the distance.
“My name is Annelie.” There was no fear of her in this child, which was something Sarah appreciated about Salemtown- they always taught their children about witch history. Many civilian children saw her as something to fear, a magical being coming to take them away or harm them. She was the fodder of nightmare to many and the subject of many civilian Halloween tales. But Salemtown taught their children that all witches wanted was to live and that they fought for this country in exchange for that freedom. They taught them about the different lines, types of specialties, and why sometimes it stormed without any notice. They taught them of the sacrifices witches made for civilian’s freedom. Goddess, Salemtown was the most ardent supporter of ending conscription- that is how much they understood a witch’s sacrifice.
“Hello, Annelie. My name is Sarah, and these are my friends.” Sarah slowly knelt down next to the girl to not frighten her. “Do you live here little one? Is this your home?”
The young girl excitedly looked to Sarah while nodding her head. “Yes! I just moved in with Mama and Papa. We had to leave our old house because I am getting a sister someday! I hope she likes flowers because we have so many in the garden. They are my second favoritest color- ORANGE.” Reaching out she took Sarah’s hand and led her to the fence gate. “Let me show you!”
Sarah allowed the small child to lead her through the fence gate, up to the front steps of the home. The Biddies remained behind, not wanting to intrude on this rare moment of freedom for the General and because they were uncomfortable setting foot on land that was so sacred to her. As they reached the steps, the young girl pulled Sarah down to a kneeling position by the flower beds. She began pointing out all the marigolds to Sarah, not knowing these were the same flowers the General had picked for her mother when she was young. The flowers her mother would braid into her and her sister’s hair, as well as her own.
“Annie, what in the good sense do you think you are doin’ out here?” Sarah’s head snapped up to look at the voice coming from the top of the stairs. She was met with warm hazel eyes and a woman no older than thirty-two. Shock was plainly written on her face. “General Alder.”
Well, clearly she knew who she was. Seeing trepidation in the woman’s eyes, Sarah stood and took a step back from Annelie- she did not want this young mother to fear her near the child. “I apologize for the intrusion. Your young spitfire here caught me in the street and insisted I see the flowers.”
Concern flashed across the woman’s face at Sarah’s words but slowly morphed into adoration as she looked to her daughter. “I apologize if she was bothering you, General. Annie does tend to be a bit bullheaded when she wants something.”
Waving off the mother’s concerns Sarah insisted. “It was no trouble, I always enjoy seeing the marigolds again.”
The woman tilted her head in confusion, but before she could comment Annelie rushed past her into the home, jostling her off balance. “ANNIE. Watch where you are going and slow down young lady.” Turning back to the General she only saw mirth and a slight smile on the notoriously stern face. Realizing she had been caught, the General simply shrugged and pivoted back towards the Biddies on the other side of the fence.
As Sarah was walking back to the gate Annelie’s mother questioned her. “Again? What do you mean by again General?”
Sarah stopped. Raising her eyes to the Biddies, all of whom had their heads bowed in reverence of the spot in which they stood, Sarah whispered- “This was where my family home was. I grew up here. I used to pick the marigolds for my mother. I washed laundry under the tree in the back and ran through the creek with my sister.” With a sigh, she faced the woman, whose eyes were now filled with shock and a hand was covering her mouth knowing what was coming next. “This is where my parents died. The witch hunters burned the home down with them locked inside, my sister and I were chained to a cart in the street meant to watch.”
Sarah could still hear her parents' screams, their pleas for their girls falling on deaf ears. She could smell the fire, feel the heat against her skin. Annelie’s mother took a step towards her, but Sarah held up her hand to stop her. “I do not mean to frighten you. I just wanted you to understand my presence, and why you may see me here again.” Looking into the woman’s eyes she continued. “I come here to think. To reflect on the past and ensure I am doing what needs to be done for the future. This is where I learned to fight, and sometimes, especially on days like this, I need to be reminded of that. I need to be reminded of the darker days so that I do not allow them to return.”
With a nod and a sad smile, Sarah went to leave, but as she tried to turn away she saw a flash of blonde in the corner of her eye. Annelie was in the front window waving at her. Smiling towards the child and giving her a small wave back, Sarah averted her eyes back to the young child's mother. The woman was smiling, but she still held sadness in her eyes, sadness for Sarah. Sarah wanted to offer them a kindness, something to show she meant to not cause fear, so she did what her mother would have done- offered gardening tips. “Plant lavender in your garden for luck and plant bunches of rosemary by this gate to keep the bugs at bay.”
The woman said nothing, just nodded for she was too shocked by the General to verbalize a response. Sarah turned on her heels and walked to the gate. As she pulled the latch the woman called to her. Looking over her shoulder Sarah heard-
“Happy Conscription Day General.”