Chapter Thirty-Nine: Goldilocks & The Bear
A beautiful morning in a beautiful part of Simnation. Birds were tweeting, the elusive bees were humming away happily and the day promised more sun, sun, sun.
Cora woke in a bed that wasn’t hers. It had a woody smell and something else – maybe sweat? The windows in the room refused to open and that was when she remembered falling asleep in the living room. Someone had carried her in here and even taken off her shoes. They’d been tossed carelessly under the bed and Cora did her best not to get too angry – but they were bespoke shoes and she herself had already ruined them.
Someone was pottering around in the kitchen, banging pots and pans in that irritable way people do early in the morning and muttering sugar-coated curses.
She padded out of the room to find the Hermit trying to eat breakfast. She looked a tad ridiculous, throwing bits of pancake into the tiny opening of her bear mouth.
’Morning.
Hey, you’re up. The voice was a little deeper than Cora had expected.
You sound different.I do? *clears throat*
Throat infection.Sounds dreadful. You should probably take off that costume, I don’t think it’s healthy to go around in a suit all the time.The Hermit shook her head and invited Cora to breakfast.
Listen, I’ve been trying and trying for ages to find Bees and Dragon Dragonflies with no luck, can you please tell me what this secret recipe is?
The Hermit carried on eating.
The old dear’s probably going deaf, she thought and repeated her question.
Um... Well, I need some help in the garden, if you don’t mind, and perhaps more of these delicious pancakes. Preferably with fish.
Fine, I guess that’s an easier job to handle.After breakfast they went out into the garden. There were many plants and all of them were sagging from the weight of fat fruits.
I haven’t weeded for some time and I’m sure they haven’t had any water for ages.Cora groaned inwardly. What a useless Hermit she’d come across. She’d give anything to have a rude old man who frightened children to this woman – whose face she had yet to see.
I’ll be just over there, fishing.You go do that, she couldn’t help replying angrily.
At the bottom of a rushing waterfall was a pond filled with exquisite fish that the very first Hermit had stocked with and each replacement added in his or her own new species. There was something about being a Hermit that meant having an insatiable appetite for fish. Or perhaps it was the bear suit’s doing? Whatever it was, the new Hermit loved fish and this was the best spot to catch them. The views over the private land weren’t so bad either.
Evening was approaching fast. Cora had lost track of time and before she knew it her stomach was rumbling again. The Hermit was still fishing –
Honestly, how much fish does one person consume? She returned home when the smell of Cora’s fish pasties and fish pancakes snaked their way from the chimney right up the Hermit’s nose.
Afterwards they watched as the stars twinkled into vision once the clouds parted.
The night grew colder and they retreated inside. The fire was stoked and their bodies grew warm. The Hermit was breathing heavily and again refused to take off that blasted head.
I don’t understand you. It’s just us here, you can take it off.It’s fine, the Hermit growled.
I hope she’s not turning into a real bear, Cora thought. Out loud she said,
So, the secret recipe?The Hermit let out a sigh.
I-I think I should come clean. Well... After a long pause she continued,
I’m not my grandmother. The Hermit you met originally. I’m Neil, the new Hermit and I’m a guy. Obviously.What...?
Before she could stop ‘her’ the Hermit unzipped the bear suit – Cora covered her eyes at this point and when she opened them she saw someone who made her heart beat incredibly fast like that time she’d met Ashley Lee for the first time. The hot fire was beginning to burn her cheeks.
Neil was saying something but she couldn’t concentrate with him explaining it all in a muddled way. He was only meant to be visiting. His grandmother had piqued his interest at the mention of living all alone and having no rules to abide by, something a young lady like Cora would understand, and then she had died leaving him to carry on in her place. What was he supposed to do? He didn’t like the idea of leaving the Hut abandoned and campers loved having him around, he felt like some kind of superhero in that costume but now he wasn’t sure this was the life for him. Loneliness had crept in and when he’d found her it seemed like destiny.
At that point words slipped out of Cora’s mouth and she instantly regretted them:
You’re so cute.He became flustered and for a moment neither said anything.
I’m a lot older than you, in fact I think I’d be arrest for even letting you stay here without parental consent.Cora laughed.
I’m only a couple of days away from my young adult birthday. And this might just be a passing fancy.He smiled in a way that meant he’d been stung by the words.
Is he really serious? Cora bit her lip.
Does he really believe in love at first sight? Oh, Mum, is history repeating itself?
