Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: SHIFT (05/27/21)
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TITLE: The Apology | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marilyn Borga
06/02/21 -
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“It’s a mess of trouble I’ve heaped upon myself and ‘tis time I face it,” he muttered.
He carried the pail of frothy milk into the spring house and set it to cool. Squaring his shoulders, he set off on the narrow dirt path through the misty meadow. The dewdrops on the grasses sparkled like jewels in the early morning light. A spatter of feathery white clouds floated high in the periwinkle-blue sky. The air was fresh and sweet and filled with birdsong. But he took notice of none of it; his dark thoughts chased away all others.
When the low thatch-roofed cottage came into view, his heart fluttered to see her out and sweeping the stone stoop. The copper braids hanging down her back glistened in the sunlight as she moved. As he came near, she turned as though she had expected him, stopped to fold her hands on top of the broom handle, and assessed him with cold eyes.
He wiped his brow as he approached and mustered the courage to look her straight in the face.
He opened his mouth to speak, cleared his throat, took a breath, and began again. “I’ve acted the fool, Maggie Dunne, and that’s the whole of it.”
She nodded in agreement. “You do speak the truth, Callum McCrea.” Shaking her head, she scolded, “Do you not remember what the Good Book says? ‘Charity doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, and thinketh no evil.’”
“I do trust you, Maggie, but ‘twas seein’ that Pat Duff here that made me momentarily take leave of my senses.”
Her green eyes softened and a corner of her mouth turned up, causing the dimple in her cheek to appear. “You had no call to be jealous of my old childhood chum, only come to tell me that he’s sweet on Cara Donovan.”
“Aye, I know that now. Pat stopped at m’ house afterward and explained.”
Her smile deepened as she held back a chuckle. “And didn’t you remind me of my old banty rooster, squawkin’ so and then stormin’ off all puffed up like?”
He felt his cheeks flush. “Aye, I must have been a sorry sight. For sure, I’ve work to do on tamin’ m’ quick temper. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me, Maggie?”
“Didn’t our Lord teach that we must forgive seventy times seven? I’ve already forgiven you, dear Callum. But I’ll want no more of those shenanigans as went on last night! I pledged my heart to you and you alone, and nothing will change that.” She stepped closer and lay her hand gently on his cheek for a moment. “Now off with you, for I have the week’s baking to do this morning!”
He set out the way he had come, but before he was out of the farmyard, she called to him, “Tell your ma I’ll be bringin’ a loaf of my soda bread for your supper.”
It was as though the world had shifted from dark to light. His heavy work boots felt like slippers on his feet. He marveled at the vibrant colors of the wildflowers and filled his lungs with their sweet smells. The hum of the bees gathering pollen caught his attention. He watched the antics of a brown meadow pipit and tried to imitate its high chirp. A brown hare popped out of his burrow and bounded across his path, making him laugh. At the top of the rise, he turned to survey the beauty of his world. He raised his arms to the heavens and shouted his thanks.
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Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV)
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