They stood together with all the others holding their buckets. Sannhet's was full and Dare's was almost to the top yet she wished aloud for more. Sannhet poured some from hers and smiled. They walked up the steep hill together; laughing and carrying on like school girls, so much so that they forgot how hard their job was; filling their buckets with clean water and hauling it up the treacherous slope to the village. They did this daily but in each other's company, it didn't seem like work.
Sometimes other people joined them and although they enjoyed their company too, it was always a little more special when it was just the two of them. Then one day as Sannhet waited, she noticed some of Dare's close friends; Logn and Fordade, lingering around her bucket. They tossed rocks and sand in it; all the while giggling and whispering. Sannhet watched but said nothing. "My bucket is heavy." Dare proclaimed as they trekked up the hill. This sent the others into guffaws of guilty laughter. Sannhet traded with her friend half way home hoping to make it easier. At the top, the elders took the buckets and dumped them into the cistern.
"What in the world is THIS?" they demanded as they spilled out the bucket Sannhet handed to them. "This is ruined!" Their angry voices crashed in her ears as they scolded her for her carelessness. "How could you? You need to do it again and twice more to learn your lesson." Sannhet trudged down the hill and completed her task as instructed. Dare waited but made no remark.
Sannhet noticed that Dare's friends did this quite often. They kicked the buckets over or filled them with mud. It bothered her, but she ignored it trying to keep on her own task which was filling her own bucket with clear water. But one day, along came her not-so-good friends. They stood arm and arm smiling like Cheshire cats. "What're you doing? " they asked coyly.
"Filling buckets...what else?" answered Dare irritably. "Why aren't you?"
"We don't feel like it." they laughed and without warning plucked the now full containers and carried them off leaving their empties behind. Sannhet sighed and began again. "What does it matter?" she thought to herself. "It will mean more time with my friend." Dare turned to her angrily.
"How could you do that?" she spat.
Sannhet was stunned. "Do what?"
"Let them take my bucket away! Now I must start ALL over again and it's your fault. Why didn't you help me?"
"They took my bucket too Dare. I must begin again also."
"But this isn't about you. Yours went along by accident: collateral dammage if you will. If you cared, you would fill my bucket."
"I do care. I am your friend, I've helped you before..."
"Well, that isn't what we're talking about. You've failed NOW. Prove it. Fill my bucket."
Sannhet felt hot inside. The tears silently ran down her cheeks but she bit down on the sobs and filled her friend's bucket. "Maybe I should have tried harder to stop them..." she second guessed and continued to aid her pal. Dare snatched the first bucket when full and marched off tossing: "Not bad but it could have been faster. You should work on it." carelessly behind her. Sannhet craned her neck, stooped down to fill what remained. She worked hard and in the end, felt good. HER bucket was full. The water was not the clearest, but she had done her best.
But this wasn't the end. No. Logn and Fordade decided to make a habit of taking what Sannhet had filled. Dare would stomp her feet, demanding Sannhet fill the empty containers and carry them up the hill. Sannhet did so thinking that surely this would prove to Dare she was her friend, that she cared and wanted only to see Dare happy with a full bucket. Logn and Fordade continued to whisper and laugh, enjoying their mischief. Sometimes they threw rocks at Sannhet or flung mud to stain her clothes and get her into more trouble.
Sannhet cried during those nights. She paced the floor wishing for an answer or a simple end. She began to dread the water hole. Worse still, she began to feel sadness at the thought of meeting her friend. But she did not stop, knowing her friendship was important not only to her but also to Dare. She believed they stood strong against Logn and Fordade's trickery. So she kept filling all the buckets. The water in the buckets became muddier and Sannhet got in trouble repeatedly with the elders, oftentimes having to repeat her tasks. Sannhet sought comfort with Dare who refused to give it; and instead reminded Sannhet that she had failed once. This made Sannhet work more. She began to fill up BIGGER buckets, carrying them up the hill while Dare walked next to her chatting endlessly that if she could just do a little more, be a better friend, Dare might be able to believe her again. The water continued to cloud.
Then the last day came. The usual suspects milled about. Sannhet filled the buckets waiting for Logn and Fordade to come and take the first set as had become common practice. They did. Sannhet kept her head down and said nothing as she had all along. They kicked up a little dirt in her face and called her weak. They spoke loudly to those around her, being sure to point out her perceived inadequacies to anyone who would listen. Sannhet's face flushed and she choked back the quiet embarrassed sobs that burned in her throat. Logn laughed heartily and offered his hand. "Here, hand that rock to me..." he barked. Sannhet didn't budge.
"Don't be so simple and stupid. I told you to do something, now do it." Fordade snickered behind her hand.
Sannhet picked up the near by rock and handed it to Logn who promptly wheeled it at Dare, hitting her square in the back with a heavy "thuck". Sannhet was speechless. With a gasp she jumped up and ran to her friend. A dark bruise was forming quickly.
"Look what Sannhet did!" Logn shouted. Everyone turned to see.
"I saw her..." Fordade echoed.
"Wait. Dare..." Sannhet began but Logn interrupted her" I saw her pick up the rock."
"Me too!" exclaimed Fordade." And then you were hurt. Who else could it have been? It is a good thing we were here to protect you. We are your friends Dare."
"Yes!" yelped the injured girl.
"No. It wasn't like that." Sannhet continued. Again she found herself struggling; trying harder. It felt as if the ground was sliding away from her. She was dizzy with anger, hurt and confusion.
Dare lashed out. She kicked the buckets and screamed at Sannhet. Sannhet scrambled to piece the shattered remains together but found that Logn and Fordade had kicked the all important fasteners away; the very things that held it all together. Now it didn't matter. Sannhet sat on her knees in the mud as the others berated and belittled. She felt every hope melting into the dirt. That's all she was to them....dirt.
There was a sound to her right and through her tears of shame, Sannhet blinked and saw a single new bucket. A girl she had seen before but not often talked to; Lojala was standing near by.
"Here." she said quietly and nudged it forward like an offering. Sannhet was confused.
"NO!" screeched the three as they tried to snap up the bucket. "Don't give her that! She doesn't deserve it. See what she's done? See the mess she's made?"
But Lojala never moved. She stared at them blankly. "Get away from me." she snapped.
Sannhet was crying and mushing her muddy fingers into her face childishly. She almost didn't hear it. Who would stand up for her? It didn't matter....she didn't matter. Isn't that what her friends had said time and again? All she could do was make mud.
Lojala began to fill the bucket and when it was half full, she handed it to Sannhet. " Go ahead and finish but come over here where the water is less cloudy."
Sannhet wiped her smudgy face and began to fill her own new container. When full, the girl met her at the path to go up the hill. The water was clear, the load was reasonable. Sannhet's companion spoke gently, softly and kindly. Sannhet smiled cautiously, waiting for the new comer to kick her bucket or take it away.
Meanwhile Dare began to shout up to Sannhet. "You owe me! After all I've given and been to you, you should help ME!" she had somehow rebuilt the bucket but it leaked horribly. "Who's going to help ME?" she wailed and pouted. Logn and Fordade began to pitch pebbles at Dare's haphazard contraption and giggle. Dare swatted at them.
"Come along Sannhet." said the girl. "Let them fill their own buckets."
Sannhet moved forward. Those first steps were frightening and uncertain but she met new people, made new friends and learned to laugh again...like a school girl. She grew strong and proud. On occasion she would see the three still arguing, still blaming, still with empty buckets. When they spied her, they traded hateful glances and nasty secrets. Viciously they laughed and pointed sometimes capturing the attention of others. But Sannhet kept going; relieved that her bucket was clear and full.
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For those who helped me create this: I thank you
For those who encouraged me to write it: you were right...all along.
I wish you many buckets. Full.
Until next time.
