A Hero's Journey: The Lost Day of Giving

     “Thanks, Reuben. It feels like a box…okay, okay, I’ll open it up.” The other White Blumaroo carefully tore away the brown paper and the shiny string, and his eyes brightened as he opened the crate and dug through the packing material. “Ah, these look like your leather arm guards!”

     Reuben beamed. “I asked Master Gelim where he got the arm guards he gave me, and I was surprised to find out that he made them himself. So, I did a bit more part-time at his weapon shop to pay for yours. Heh, we kinda match now, though I told him you’re still focused on swordsmanship.”

     “Of course I am. Even if Father is gone…I want to continue training. I still want to become a knight, just like him.”

     “You will. No – we will. We’re going to make him proud, Rohane. Can’t wait to see yo – um, Rohane? What’s with that face? I thought you liked your present.”

     “Reuben…there’s something I need to tell you.” Rohane looked as if the effort of telling Reuben was causing him pain.

     “What is it?”

     “I…you gave me a really great present, but I don’t have a gift for you.” Rohane glanced away, grimacing. “I was supposed to buy you a book on different combat knives, but while on my way to the bookstore, I heard Old Woodrose needed money for his groceries because his family hadn’t come home yet, and I…” His voice wavered. “I gave him…the money for your present and helped him buy everything he needed. I’m sorry!”

     The way Reuben stared at him made Rohane shut his eyes and brace himself – for what, he did not know, if he was going to get a thinly veiled sarcastic quip, or a yell, or even –

     Instead, Reuben ruffled his brother’s ears.

     “What’re you sorry for? Knowing my brother did a good deed is a great gift. I bet Woodrose was happy you lent him a hand.”

     “But you gave me a gift, and I don’t have anything for you.”

     Reuben sighed and smiled wanly, draping one arm over Rohane’s shoulder. “We may have lost Father, but we still have Mother, and each other. C’mon, let’s help Mother get lunch ready. We can surprise her afterwards with our gift.” He winked.

     * * *

     “Who even knows if Reuben remembers the time you didn’t give him a Day of Giving present?” Jeran wondered. “It’s been years. That was Ramtor’s time…” The blue Lupe’s voice trailed off, and his ears drooped under his hat. “And you guys just lost Sir Reynold. No one can blame you if you didn’t do Day of Giving at all that year.”

     “Maybe it’s been years, but it keeps coming back to me.” Rohane kicked a small snowdrift. “I’ve been thinking about what to do for my first Day of Giving back with my family since our adventures, and I’ve been drawing a blank. Reuben and I have agreed to help renovate a part of our house in Trestin, that’ll be our gift to Mother. But what do I even give Reuben? He can make his own weaponry. He’s become a better swordsmith and warrior, and I don’t even know which books on smithing he hasn’t read yet.” He tugged at his scarf and frowned in thought.

     Jeran stroked his chin. “Every year, I figure out what Lisha needs as the castle archivist – a new inkwell, a set of quill pens, or a vacation.” After a short laugh, he continued. “Is there anything Reuben needs for his shop or smithy? Or…you did mention he has been thinking about starting a new life with – “

     “The last time I was there, he didn’t really say, and I didn’t notice anything that should be fixed, or replaced. And how would I know? I’m not a swordsmith!” The White Blumaroo threw up his hands, accidentally brushing up against a snowy branch and causing a mini shower of snow onto his head.

     Jeran quickly changed his laugh into what he hoped was a discreet snort when Rohane glared at him.

     “That’s why I’m thinking of making up for that Day of Giving when I gave the money for Reuben’s gift to Old Woodrose, but I wind up circling back to…what do I even get for Reuben? Is there something that says, ‘We haven’t celebrated the Day of Giving together for years, but here I am, and here you are, now we can pick up where we left off.’”

     “I’m pretty sure there’s no present like that. Or greeting card, for that matter.”

     “Ugh, Jeran, you’re not helping!”

     “I’m trying!” the Lupe exclaimed, spreading his arms. “I couldn’t stand seeing you with that gloomy look on your face day in and day out during the Month of Celebrating! And as the leader of the Order of the Knights of Meridell, I had to do something about it, even if I would rather be doing almost anything else. Ow, you didn’t have to hit me!”

     Rohane tucked his hands into his coat as though he had not just punched Jeran in the arm.

     “I could have cited you for insubordination right there.”

     “Try me.”

     “One of these days, I might just take you up on that,” said Jeran wryly. “Look, maybe you should stop overthinking, and just…trust your gut. And trust that whatever you’ll give Reuben, he’ll appreciate, and knowing him, he’s not going to dig up that Day of Giving from long ago. It’s all water under the bridge. Ancient history. Hey, you’re getting that gloomy look again.”

     “I’m not gloomy, I’m thinking!” Rohane shot back, startling a passing Gallion. “Besides, Reuben…” His frown deepened. “Reuben held our family together after Father was killed by Ramtor’s minions. He took on a lot of part-time jobs to help Mother, all while he was learning from a knife-fighting master. Petpet sitting, Petpet walking, messenger stuff, helping at the farms, hunting…he did it all. And when I wanted to avenge Father and then see the world…he cared for Mother and protected Trestin while running his business. He wrote to me whenever he could, he worked hard, and even though he can be a pain and we didn’t always get along, I don’t think I could ask for a better big brother.”

     The corners of Jeran’s mouth turned down slightly. “Hey, I’m a big brother too.” But he brightened up just as quickly as they walked through the castle grounds covered in snow. “Anyway, that all proves my point. I don’t think he’ll be hung up on some Day of Giving when you missed giving him presents…or the other Days of Giving when you didn’t send him anything.”

     “Thanks a lot for reminding me,” said Rohane bleakly.

     “I’m serious! Just…go and spend the first Day of Giving you’ll have with your family since coming back from Faerieland. Don’t forget to return to the castle when your vacation’s over, though. Training starts soon after.”

     “I know, I know, sir.”

     As the Blumaroo turned toward the castle, Jeran reached out toward him.

     “Wait.”

     “What?”

     Jeran smiled. “Tell me how it goes, okay? From now on, whenever you’re away from Reuben, I’ll be your big brother.”

     “Pass.”

     “What’s with that face? As Sir Reynold’s squire, I’m pretty much your and Reuben’s big brother anyway!”

     * * *

     Located in northwest Meridell, the village of Trestin was colder than central and southern Meridell, yet Reuben and Rohane sat outside their house with mugs of hot tea, gazing out at the snow-draped on store signs and rooftops, covering the cobbled roads, and being rolled up into snowballs by overeager youngsters. One such snowball flew toward them, but Rohane leaned away almost effortlessly, and the snowball thudded uselessly into the window behind them.

     “Hey, watch it!” said Reuben, who didn’t sound mad at all. “You guys almost hit the Sir Rohane! And me, but that’s fine.”

     “Sorry!” a small chubby Grarrl shouted before he and his playmates ran off laughing in search of more suitable snowball battlefields.

     Once the kids were gone, Rohane asked slowly, “Reuben, do you remember the first Day of Giving after…you know. After we lost Father.”

     The bigger, older White Blumaroo stared at him, and the moment between them seemed to stretch into eternity.

     “Oh, yeah, when I got you those leather arm guards and you gave your money to Old Woodrose, right?”

     “Wait, you remember that?”

     Reuben shook his head in amused disbelief. “First of all, I have a great memory. Second, how could I forget that? You were kind to Woodrose, and you made sure he would be able to celebrate the Day of Giving, too. Why are you asking?”

     “So, you also remember that I didn’t give you a gift then, right?”

     “Yeah, but why are you bringing it up now?” Reuben raised an eyebrow. “That’s a long time ago. And you already explained why you didn’t have a gift for me.”

     “Well…I kind of want to make up for it. And all the Days of Giving that we weren’t able to spend together,” said Rohane, shifting awkwardly in his seat and setting down his mug.

     “You know you don’t have to. Like I said, ancient history.”

     “I don’t know what present to give you, so how about this – we head into the marketplace, and you look for something you like.”

     “Rohane, you know you absolutely don’t have to.”

     “I also wanted to thank you, for taking care of Mother, for holding down the fort here, and for waiting for me.”

     A slight smile played on Reuben’s lips as he reached over and patted Rohane’s shoulder. “You know you don’t have to thank me, either. I just did what I had to.” After draining the last of his tea, he stood up. “But…there is something I’ve got my eye on in the market. I want to show you, and tell me if it’s good, okay? Just like old times.”

     The End.