cherished memories

Darling has a problem. A raincatcher problem, to be exact.

Well, he has a whole other host of problems but, that’s besides the point. Sort of, he has a goldleaf problem too. A gaping sinkhole sized goldleaf problem. He’s always had to live quite frugally, to be quite frank the carpentry business really never quite broke even for monthly expenditures, as he usually finds himself finishing smaller work for free, and larger projects at a discounted rate and whatever excess produce and groceries his clients had on hand. It’s hard to always have enough goldleaves on hand, this he understands. Especially further in the countryside, as he was.

He’s not a pushover though, despite what some more entitled clients might think. There are some that try to take advantage of his more laissez-faire demeanour and generous outlook. He’d pry the goldleaves out of their grubby hands, if scathing insults wouldn’t do, he has no problem doing it by er, force as well.

And there was the side business. Daily spells of all sorts, he could mostly do it all. To be quite honest it probably made the most income! They weren’t very aesthetically eye-catching to look at, but they were at the very least, definitely effective and practical. He vaguely remembered an ex complaining that his pestle was quite literally a rock he found outside. And maybe the fact some of the florals he’s been using in some of his spells were cut up from tea bags.

When in town, he often finds himself using the goldleaves for groceries and ale or overindulging at quaint little restaurants, never really saving anything for himself. But Watcher, sometimes he wished he did. The raincatchers sold at the local stores are pretty and precious little star-shaped things, far too delicate to look like they should be in his calloused hands. Sometimes they had these tiny flowers inside them too, floating around the collected water.

All that to say that Darling could not afford a raincatcher at the very moment. He wasn’t really one to care for appearances or for material goods, but the nostalgia of the rainy season was quite strong. Especially on evenings like tonight, a gentle patter of rain not quite strong enough to send the living in hiding, simply an umbrella would do. The warm glow of the lamp lights reflected off of the cobblestone roads, restaurants were packed with diners and cossets could still comfortably shop without having to duck for cover. He felt quite a strong sense of deja vu, the scene resembling one of his earliest cherished memories.

Closing his eyes, he could still remember how the major street of Town Brote had looked like in his youth, perhaps a little foggier. The cobblestone streets had been a bit more slippery, but maybe his hooves were really just a lot smaller and softer then. His beautiful mother had bought him peach cobbler topped with vanilla bean ice cream then, after he had taken a fall and eaten crap, chipping his front teeth. His hooves took him down the street and around a couple corner before he knew it, where the quaint and quiet stained glass shop would be, ran by a kindly older man and his husband. Words could not describe his relief to see it was still there, wondering why he had not returned sooner.

Despite all the goldleaves he had to left to spare were meant for the train ride home, Darling let himself walk through the shop doors.

“Oh! Darling, is that you?” the years had been kind to the shopkeeper, who now was much shorter. Or maybe it was Darling that had grown taller? “My, look at you! 20 years, you’ve grown up to be so strong!”

“Mister!” Darling cried, letting himself be hugged by the short little man.

“And what a kind face you have grown into,” the shopkeeper’s husband let himself be known to Darling, earning a warm smile on the youngest’s face as he watched the two share a kiss.

“The other mister!” Darling ribbed, holding out his hand for a handshake, which was firmly reciprocated.

“And what of your mother?” the shopkeeper asked, after the round of greetings were made.

Darling shook his head, a brief sombre moment passed, the lights seemed to flicker and dim for a second.

“She was a kind woman, son, and I’m sure she’d be quite proud of you today.”

“Thank you,” Darling smiled. “I’m really surprised you still remember me, it’s really been quite a bit!”

“Nonsense,” the shopkeeper laughed. “The shade of your hair is quite unmistakeable. I remember you’d beg for her to buy something every weekend you were here. And the silent treatments you’d give when she couldn’t.”

Darling flushed.

“But, it’s a good thing you’re here! I’ve got something for you,” the shopkeeper announced. “One moment! Sweetheart, come help me look!”

“Looking, honey!”

Darling watched as the old couple shuffled around their first-storey shop, flipping through boxes and wrapping paper and ribbons.

“Found it, this is for you. Your mother had her eye on it several years ago. She’d had kept circling it and kept coming back, before asking me to set it aside for your nameday. I'd held onto it, hoping she’d come pick it up herself….but alas. But enough about that, look inside!” the shopkeeper handed Darling a box, and upon inspecting the contents inside, Darling held up a beautiful 12-pointed stained glass raincatcher.

“...It’s beautiful…” Darling choked back, throat suddenly dry and hollow.

“And yours to keep son,” the kindly shopkeeper smiled gently.

“I couldn’t possibly, the craftsmanship looks like it’d make you a fortune!”

“Then consider it a gift for your mother, for the wonderful companionship she’d given us.”

“When you put it that way….”

The couple regaled stories to Darling late into the night, embarrassing stories that he’d have no recollection of, apparently he’d once stolen a smaller stained glass toy from them as well! He’d really wanted it, and his mother said no, apparently. By the time Darling had realized the time, the last train was due to arrive soon.

“Do come visit us again, Darling!”

Darling smiled. “I will, count on it. If you’ve ever need any creaky floorboards or leaky faucets fixed. Let me know. Bye, I gotta go for real!”

The train ride home was a quiet affair, he was one of the only souls left on the train car. Gently turning the raincatcher around in his fingers, he held a silent vigil for his beloved mother, wet smile blooming on his face as he dwelled upon fond memories.