"Bruihu, would you please carry some of your murdered kin for us, so we can build a house for us to play." Clara sums up the idea to point out the - to her - obvious issue.
Jewel stutters, then laughs at Tarjun's suggestion. "Ask Bruihu to carry them? That would be like asking one of us to carry cut off arms or legs of people!" She stops speaking until she can get her giggles under control. "But really...." When she hears Clara's matching comment she laughs again.
"The cart is a little small but I guess it should work. But I was hoping that Wookie and Paddington could pull the cart, and we could balance the boards on it. As long as they are I'm sure they'll wobble enough to fall right out otherwise. I wouldn't want to cut them until we get here, just to be sure we cut them to the right lengths."
"And I'm hoping that the folks won't notice so quickly. We might have to ask to use the ox. Besides, I think the lumberjacks like seeing Paddington. I think that they know he's not really tame, like Wookie. But they're not really sure."
"Can't we just build with the boards we have? And fetch more boards later if we need them?" Can't be that her whole effort goes to waste, just because of Jewel's honesty and Dwayne's generosity.
"You can take a saw and start building a house of these boards too. They are far too long."
Jewel looks at the boards, suspiciously similar to the boards Dwayne had said were OK to take, and estimates dimensions. "Tarjun, You're best at building things. If we get the saw and cut these to the right size for a floor, just on one tree.... Will this be enough? Or would the other two boards be needed, or even enough? We do need some sort of safety railing though. We don't all automatically float down like you do Clara!"
She does her best to remain neutral while avoiding even thinking about where the boards had come from, or why Clara didn't seem to want to go and get the boards Dwayne had offered. "I think with the other boards, and all cut to the lengths that Tarjun will need, it will be enough to make it a fun house to be up on."
Tarjun meassures the boards with his yes.
Jewel watches and waits for Tarjun's answer. She doesn't know much about construction but she thinks the two extra boards would make their play area nicer.
She does not say anything though, waiting for his 'expert' evaluation.
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"Well, that'd make for a very small house," Tarjun finally answers. "Like, it'd fit us all in alright, but we'd be able to touch both walls with our arm stretched, you know what I mean? And there's not enough wood to put a roof on that.
So. If we want something bigger, we're gonna need more boards. And probably a saw to cut them. They're real heavy."
Jewel nods to Tarjun's assessment. It was what she was thinking anyway. "OK. So can you come with me to get the other boards that Dwayne said we could have? Even with the cart we'll need someone on the ends to keep the load stable. We can grab the saw when we get the cart."
"We'll be back in a little while Clara."
"Ok, I'll wait."
Jewel walks along with Tarjun, stopping by their home to get the cart. She considers putting the saw in but decides that they can pick it up on the way back. No need to have something else that could fall while they struggled with the heavy boards, especially something sharp!
Arriving at the lumber mill she checks with Dwayne again to be sure they are picking from the right boards. "Hi again Dwayne. I only brought Tarjun. Didn't think the guys really needed the distraction of the bear, Paddington, strolling through. He is nice but not really very smart. Anybody that likes him can chat with him when we all get together for the barbecue. He won't be strolling around freely though. Mrs. Johnson doesn't let him just wander since she bonded with him as her companion." She looks over at the stack of boards. "We'll just load the two boards and get out of the way. I hope we can keep them balanced on the bumpy ride back. Thanks again!"
Dwayne nods to Tarjun to lift the board with him together and put it down on the cart. "Don't mention it." he replies to Jewel.
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"By the way," Tarjun says hopefully. "Do you have a saw we could use?"
He's fully certain that his parents wouldn't let him borrow a saw if he needed one. He's pretty sure, in fact, that not even Gertrud would accept to give him a saw. But it's still worth asking for one.
Dwayne doesn't have any children. He might not know of the secret rules that make parents divide up their tools between those that are appropriate for their kids to borrow, and those that aren't.
"No. Don't have carpenter's tools."
"Ask your father."
"Are you trying to have secrets from your parents? That's going to backfire so hard in this village." Dwayne laughs at the attempt but also at the imagined picture of how it will go. "But if you want to try, ask Gertrud."
Jewel shakes her head and tries tugging at the cart. "Come on Tarjun. You know Dad only wants you to take proper care of the tools. He was just upset because the saw wasn't cleaned and put away right that one time and it rusted a little. It's been cleaned up and oiled proper since then. If we ask, and explain what we need it for, and promise to put it back properly when we're done.... He'll let us use it. I'm sure. Lying is never the answer, especially here!"
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Tarjun's now starting to understand how Clara must have been feeling. Sure, lying's not always the answer, but can't its benefits be at least acknowledged when one's done such an effort for the common good?
"I'm pretty sure the words "what if you cut a finger" were used," he retorts feebly to Jewel. "It's always what he says when he doesn't want me to do stuff on my own! We can always ask Mrs Johnson. Anyway, thanks... Dwayne," he adds a bit reluctantly. The man can be nice, sure enough, but he's still not quite sure he trusts him.
Jewel walks along with Tarjun and the cart until she is certain that they are out of hearing range of anyone. "I remember that. Dad didn't understand that magical healing can fix little things like that, as long as you don't completely sever a finger.... But I'm beginning to think that when they say something about lying or secrets from our parents.... it means that they'll tell them next time they see them. So at the barbecue if he doesn't see Mom or Dad before then. Now we HAVE to talk to Dad, or Dwayne will. Heck, he will anyway so we better do it first!"
She trudges along for a bit, keeping her focus on the balance of the boards. "At least this time we have these two boards to show him. He'll be able to see that we have boards to cut and we can promise to clean and oil the saw blade once we're done. If he says we have to do the cutting right there, then we'll need something to take over by the little grove to measure how long the boards need to be."
"I hope Clara hasn't somehow cut her boards already.... I trust your ideas for a tree house more than hers. She has that neat levitate and featherfall ability. She doesn't need a ladder or safety rails!"
Clara considers if the boards would look better if they were blackened. For sure they would be less bright and the hut would be better hidden in the trees. But it probably would be better to not do that in the trees. Because they might lose their foliage and then there is no hiding the hut at all. And so she has to wait.
She kicks a stone. "How long can it take to fetch two boards?!?"
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" "I remember that. Dad didn't understand that magical healing can fix little things like that, as long as you don't completely sever a finger.... But I'm beginning to think that when they say something about lying or secrets from our parents.... it means that they'll tell them next time they see them. So at the barbecue if he doesn't see Mom or Dad before then. Now we HAVE to talk to Dad, or Dwayne will. Heck, he will anyway so we better do it first!"
"Fiiiiine..." Tarjun sighs. "Gosh, you didn't scheme to get a hammer and nails from the toolshed, and it shows!" He changes directions ever so slightly, and starts pulling the cart to the Branstons's farm. "Clara's idea of a treehouse's probably a diving board up a tree. With maybe a little roof just above. You know what, maybe we don't have to tell Pa she's involved..."
Tarjun looks for his father where he thinks he might be: working in the fields.
"Hey Dad! Can we just borrow your saw real quick? We're building a treehouse somewhere, and those boards need cuttin'. Jewie'll stay with me to make sure I clean it proper, and I'll be real careful... Come on, Jewie, tell him!"
"Yes. Be careful with the saw. It is an expensive tool and hard to come by out here. And don't hurt yourself more than your sister can fix." Will replies with a very serious look to make sure the boy understood it, and did not again listen only with half an ear after the yes.
With Tarjun's asking Jewel started to join but stopped immediately with their father's answer. She beams a smile and replies, "We'll be very careful and I'll get it back myself as soon as Tarjun is done with the cutting. And I'll have it cleaned and oiled proper this time. Thanks!"
The 'Thanks' is said as they pair head to the barn to get the saw.
Arriving at the little grove with the cart and boards they look for Clara. "Should Clara's boards be brought down too? I mean they're long enough to go from tree to tree but we only planned for a little house on that tree, right?"
"Can you measure what you need and do the cutting down here? Pulling the boards up will be easier when they aren't so big!"
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Tarjun looks guilty. "Well, the thing is, I've already started nailing them up there to make a bridge... I could always get them out, but it ain't gonna look good!"
He nevertheless estimates where he should do the cutting on the boards.
"Here. That'll be great to do the floor." He meticulously draws straight lines on the boards to know where to cut, and begins to saw. For an amateur's work, the final result is impeccable.
"Once." she replies curtly. "But that size of boards we can lift with a rope. Or we build an elevator."
"You tie it to the rope." Clara tells. Once this is done, she tries to pull up the board.
But it doesn't move very far and she doesn't manage to get it up the tree. "Hrmph"
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Tarjun watches Clara try and fail for a while, before taking pity on her.
"Alright, alright. Lemme help," he steps behind Clara to grab on the rope.
His initial intent is to lift the whole thing himself, while pretending to give her a hand. Things go slightly differently.
"Holy hell, that's actually f#@%ing heavy!" he blurts the swearword before he can catch himself, and gives Jewel a look that screams don't tell mom and dad.
"I'll try again. You help me lift at three, okay? One... two... three!"
The morning passes with Tarjun doing most of the handywork and Clara asking annoying questions, if he does it right. Around noon the tree house takes shape, as the floor and the walls are in place. The roof and a way to get in and out are still missing though.
"We need a pantry in our house." Clara states as a matter of fact.
Jewel does what she can, but knows that Tarjun knows building better than she does. And he's stronger.
After several hours of work/play she stretches and looks at what they have. A roof? Well, that will be needed for bad weather. But.... "A pantry? Is this going to be your new home?"
"I think we need an easy way to get in and out. Maybe a rope ladder to get up and down the tree?"
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"A pantry? Is this going to be your new home?"
"I hope not. 'Cause I'm not sawing a hole in that to make a toilet," Tarjun's face scrunches. "And what kind of food do you want to keep up here anyway?! Fruits or veggies are just gonna rot! We can just put an empty bag up here to put snacks in once in a while."
"A rope ladder would do. Or we could just jump," he snickers. "Have some kind of net!"
"Dried sassages!" Clara states the obvious. What else would one put in a pantry. "A rope ladder yould be good. But how shall we do it, that it's not obvious for everyone? Can't leave it hanging down when we leave."
Jewel thinks about the problem for a bit. If they don't want the ladder hanging down for everyone to see.... "Tarjun, Clara's levitation isn't unlimited. Just the feather falling I think. Really cool but not like she can take to the sky just whenever."
"So, a non-magical solution for when she doesn't have levitate ready? If we use a long pole to knock the ladder off of the platform? We could leave it leaning against the other tree. It'd just be a wooden stick leaning against the tree. Shouldn't be too suspicious unless somebody was looking for it."
"Weasel could get the ladder." Clara suggests.
"I just meant a rope ladder. If it was rolled up there and balanced so it just had to be pushed off to unroll. Clara can pull it up and then feather fall down. But yeah, Chirp or Weasel should be able to go up and tip it off of the edge to unroll for us."
"Where do we get the rope for the rope ladder?" Clara inquires, putting on her imaginary pirate hat already.
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Jewel stares off in the distance while she considers Clara's question. She had thought that the wood needed, and nails would be the hard question....
"That's a good question. We can't ask our folks for help without explaining why we need it. And they're not going to be happy that this is built so high in the tree that it needs a rope ladder. Probably get upset that one of us might fall and get hurt."
She gathers up the tools that need to be returned. "I think the best option is to learn how to make rope and make it ourselves. That way if we need more, like when the rope gets old, we can just make more. But I'm tired of this. I think we should go and play something else, after we put these tools back. How about you and Tarjun figure out what you want to do and I'll be right back."
Unless someone objects she takes the tools back home and puts them away.
"Your parents are horrible sissies. My mum wouldn't care for the hight of our tree house."
"But playing some instead of doing more work is a good idea. What are we playing? Hide and seek?"
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"We're going to need a lot of rope," Tarjun grimaces. Making rope isn't something he's made before and sounds a lot trickier than building a treehouse from boards. And to think they'd have to make several feet of it...
"Nah, hide and seek's just gonna be us picking a tree over and over again. It'd get boring! Pretending to be pirates is more fun."