Uncharted.
2003. Ruby could not remember a hotter summer. Luckily for her and her customers, Gambino’s Hat Rack provided some much needed (and very well deserved) shade. ...And Certainly, she thought as she carefully adjusted her window display and her gaze flitted up to catch the sight of the myriad of newcomers that had begun to pour in to the area: “We’re going to need it.”
Something was drawing people here. Ruby wasn’t sure what it was, or if it would ever stop, but the promise of meeting new people was an exciting one. With such a small child to care for, she had little time to get out and about; to explore the wide open fields of the country and make idle chit-chat with strangers. She lived vicariously through other people who traveled far and wide over Gaia’s vast land. Recently, there was chatter about some place called Zen Gardens. ‘You really must see it, Ruby,’ she recalled Edmund saying. ‘It is truly beautiful.’
Of course it’s beautiful, Ruby sighed a bit sadly and looked over her shoulder. The could only just barely spot her sweet Peyo, curled up on a pile of pillows and wrapped in his favorite duck blanket. She smiled. But he is even more so.
“HI RUBY!” A young woman yelled excitedly as she flung open the door to the shop. She waved her hands, then cupped them over her mouth as Ruby pointed toward Peyo. “Oh! Oh ... oops,” Sasha whispered, and her face flushed bright red. She offered an apologetic smile as Ruby accompanied her outside, and they made themselves comfortable on a set of portable chairs. “Sorry about that....”
Ruby laughed quietly. “Don’t worry about it. He sleeps through anything, like his....” She trailed off in to silence and averted her gaze. Like his father. After all this time, the pain lingered. He never told her why he left.
“Awh, Ruby...” Sasha placed her hand on Ruby’s shoulder. “I’m sure he’ll come back some day. A kid as cute as that ... A woman as good as you... Good men won’t give that up. He just,” Sasha fumbled over her next words. Ruby could almost see the gears turning in her head. “He just ... With all of these new people coming in, there must be somethin’ going on. I’m sure he’s just trying to help take care of it.”
“I’m sure you’re right, Sasha.” Ruby smiled, not exactly buying the girl’s positivity, but she supposed it wouldn’t hurt to try.
“Mommy,” Peyo whined quietly and rubbed his eyes as he closed the shop door and crawled in to his mother’s lap. “...Mommy, how come-” He pulled his blanket up, and Ruby tucked it between his shoulder and cheek. “...Hi Miss Sasha.”
Sasha gently ruffled Peyo’s hair. “Hey little man.”
“How come what, honey?” Ruby began to rock slowly. Peyo’s eyes started to flutter shut.
“...Mommy, how come new pee-pole hab soooo ugly clothes?”
“I’m not sure, honey.”
“I know.” Peyo nuzzled Ruby’s shoulder. “...I will make paper hats for everyone.”
“Well, that’s a sweet idea!”
“...Yes, it is. I think that would be wonderful, Peyo.” However it had come to be, and regardless of the circumstances that had brought her to the life she had now, this small child in her lap had become her world, and he had so many uncharted lands just waiting for her to explore.
