章 47: Fiona, the well-woman

Reena's frustration was palpable as she asked her mother, "Mom, are you absolutely certain that you didn't mishear?" Had she known her mother truly meant what she said yesterday, Reena would have crept out of the hut before dawn to make it to work. 

Celeste, worn out and exhausted, shook her head in response to her daughter's repeated query. 'Don't worry about what we'll eat today," she assured her daughter with a tired sigh. "I will take care of it."

Reena huffed in frustration and turned her head away from her mother in a fit of anger. She wished her mother understood the importance of maintaining her reputation as one of the top workers on the farm. However, witnessing her brother's coming-of-age ceremony and receiving an official invitation to the village Chief's hut was a once-in-a-lifetime event that she simply couldn't miss. It seemed like a reasonable excuse to skip work today.