The Monster They Created- Chapter Four

Secrets were what my parents had the most of. There were more of them in my home than pineapple plants on my farm. It seemed like every day recently a new one sprouted.
“Who’s that from?” Mom asked my dad when I was upstairs. They thought I would not hear them. They always thought that which often led to my benefit.
Dad replied, “Adi, he has sent a warning of a plot”
“A plot against…”
“Yes. One we must prepare for,”
“Hopefully this will be the last one we must handle.”
“I hope that too, Elanor.”
That conversation was held yesterday on Monday after we finished our two day harvest of the plants. Adi often was a name that came up in their conversations. I did not know who he was nor what plot he warned of.
As I lay in the soil of the fields between the plants looking up at the blue-cloud-dotted sky feeling the warmth of the sun upon my face, a question of if I should pester my parents about these secrets lay in my mind.
In eight days I shall be married to my betrothed, Charles as is tradition and take charge of the Neara Pineapple Farm. The farm I lay among now. It would be best to confront my parents between now and then, but I know what will happen. What always happened when I pestered them,
The scar on my shoulder became very aware to me as I recalled the past of questioning my dad. The pain rang as it did that stormy night. To be clear, I love my dad, but he is a secretive man who values those secrets over the safety of his daughter. Although now he has gotten better about it, only hitting me when Mom is not around.
This is the week of the Summer Festival. Every family must harvest their fruits to give to traders for the country on Wednesday. Thursday there is a town wide market where each family sells their respective fruit. Friday is the day we celebrate this with dancing and food. But this year for me is different. Having graduated, I will take charge of the pineapple farm with a betrothed man, in my case, Charles Drina, the dragon fruit farmer.
We would be married the following Wednesday and become officially adults. Even though the legal age is sixteen in the country, I will be legal at fifteen as my birthday isn’t till February.
Being an adult would mean I should talk to my parents as an equal, but I did not want a repeat of what happened a year ago when Iris and G were discovered.
Also what would I even ask them? Hey, so why are you so secretive? I’m secretive so it would be a hard question to ask without seeming hypocritical.
“Ollie, why is there blood on your dress?”,Mom was standing about two feet away, concern in her eyes,
“Just Sarah and Edmund.” I replied truthfully
She sighed and sat next to me in the soil,”Don’t listen to them. You are not the Arewed of Evil.”
I leaned against her,”I know, but..”
“No buts. You are a Good girl. You worship on Saturdays, you follow Good law. You are my beautiful little girl.”
I smiled but it was not true. While I did worship, it was always done halfheartedly. I never have fully believed in every Good testament and law. Not being able to be yourself has always strung me the wrong way. To be clear I do not believe in Evil. But I can’t get over some of the Good laws like no relationships of the same sex or obeying the leader without question.
I set my head up, “I have a question,”
“What is that?”
Dad had asked the question. By the sun, I could not say it in front of him
Dad made a hand gesture,”So, are you going to say it?”
I swallowed hard and replied,”Why do you keep information from me so often?”
Dad sighed,”Look at all these pineapple plants. They are strong and provide a hearty harvest. That is because we raised and took care of them, giving everything they need and sparing negative factors. They would not grow the Good fruits with the negativity.”
“But, these secrets seem to be about me. Not knowing them causes negativity in its own right.”
Dad shook his head,”What do you want to know then hmm? Everything that would harm you?”
“No but…”
“Stop with the buts, just no. You don’t want to know,” Dad fiddled his fingers around the opal ring on his finger from an unknown group,”So please, by all that is Good in this world, stop trying to know.”