Autumn In Kent
Blueberries in Winter?

‘Oh... Hi Cathy.’ Nancy Gray broke the ice between them. ‘We didn't expect you to be here. Mike said you went home to your family..’.

‘I always celebrate Christmas with them. Now it's my turn to celebrate with my new family,’ Cathy replied with a face that instantly turned friendly and warm. Cheerfully and familiarly hugged them one by one while inquiring the news.

‘Come, go directly to the kitchen. We're making hot chocolate and marshmallows. Or do you want coffee?’ Nancy offered.

‘Cokelat hot only,’ Cathy replied as she walked in following Nancy. Mike and William walk behind them. Puti who walked ahead of them, immediately prepared two additional cups and poured hot chocolate into them. Two cups were then placed in front of Mike and Cathy who were already sitting sweetly in the kitchen chair opposite William and Nancy.

‘Thanks, Puti,’ says Mike and Cathy compact. Puti nodded without saying anything. Then he pulled up a chair and sat down next to William.

‘Actually my arrival all to discuss our marriage plans with you,’ Cathy started a conversation after sipping chocolate. He took his eyes off of Mike and Puti's parents. All three of them seem calm. He did not expect Puti to be that calm in the face of news from him.

‘Cathy, we should talk later.’ whispered Mike while holding Cathy's arm.

‘Mike, we don't have time. We should discuss it as soon as possible,’ Cathy denied emphatically. The three people in front of him waited patiently.

‘We have information that early next year, Mike will be stationed abroad. If not to Italy to Spain.’ Cathy began to explain. ‘We planned to get married before that. Valentine's Day seems to be the perfect day to celebrate our love ...What do you think?’

William Gray realized that Puti who was sitting next to him suddenly tensed. He turned to her and saw Puti's face so pias. Puti got up from her chair.

‘Please discuss... Sorry, I have to go back to the woods. I saw a lot of blueberries, I wanted to take them before dark,’ he said as he walked to the kitchen drawer, took a small knife and came out.

‘Am I less sensitive?’ Looking at Puti who suddenly came out, Cathy asked.

‘We'd better discuss next time, if there is no Puti,’ William Gray stands. ‘Blueberry? Blueberries in winter?’ He muttered while wearing a jacket back and out following Puti.

‘Sorry, Nancy, but we don't have much time left. We only have a month and a half to prepare everything. There is no way we can wait until Puti is willing to release Mike.’

‘Cathy, enough!’ Mike warned coldly.

‘You decide for yourself. We will adjust to your decision,’ said Nancy Gray calmly.

‘You don't mind if we get married in DC? Our friends mostly stay in DC.’

☘️

William Gray rushed out of the house to follow Puti into the forest. The thick snow mounds hampered his footsteps. Apparently, the girl he was following did not enter into the forest. He sat on one of the swings that hung on an old oak tree in the backyard. Her smile grew to see her coming.

‘Not so meticulous blueberries?’ William asked while sitting on the other swing. Puti.

‘You know that blueberries are not in winter?’

‘Really?’ Tanya Puti couldn't believe it. William nodded his head.

‘And everyone knows that there are no blueberries in winter?’ Chase Puti.

‘Blueberry is only in mid-spring to mid-summer. Sometimes if lucky, there is still a little left in the fall,’ his father explained.

‘The atmosphere in the kitchen was really awkward,’ said Puti after a long silence. ‘Cathy would like to discuss their marriage plans with you. With me, the conversation got clumsy. All speak with caution.’

‘The atmosphere at home will be uncomfortable for you, Put. Cathy who feels insecure, not confident, will try to show off her affection in front of you. Mike has no choice but to support Cathy.’ Willam tried to explain Cathy's attitude which she felt was too over-acting. ‘If you feel depressed and want to go back to Kent, I can take you.’

‘I'm fine, Dad. Just need a little adjustment,’ replied Puti steadily

☘️

That night Puti went into his room early. He picked up a storybook and intended to read it through, that very night. About midnight he was thirsty not playing. He remembered he had not brought drinking water to his room. He had to go down to the kitchen to get it. In front of the kitchen door, his steps came to a halt from hearing the sound of people talking. He wondered who was speaking this late in the dark kitchen.

‘I need complete information, McCroom!’ Puti heard Mike's voice. The voice was actually spoken slowly but since there was no other sound then the voice was clearly heard.

Mike was on the phone, thought Puti. He decides to go back to his room instead of having to deal with Mike alone and in the middle of the night anyway. But his intention was void when he heard his name mentioned. Puti was flinching in her place.

‘McCroom!’ mike's call is back. The mccroom? Billy's? Puti. ‘You heard, I want complete information about Steve Carroll.’ Mike insists. Puti was really shocked to hear those words. Why would Mike ask for information about Steve? Investigated her? Does it have anything to do with me? Puti tried to survive. After a moment of silence, Mike's voice sounded again.

‘Tell to Mrs. Belmont that I'll come after Christmas to pay Puti.’

Puti almost fainted at Mike's last words. Quickly he returned to his room. Her hair was gone. All he felt now was the destruction of his heart. He sat on his bed with a breathless sigh. His chest was descending and rising irregularly. He was really angry and offended.

‘Mike, why would you do this to me?’ whispered Puti while holding the pillow tightly. His tears go down his cheeks.

☘️

The next day, Puti woke up late. Although he knew that he was too late, he did not immediately go down to the dining room but took a bath first in his room. After bathing and dressing ready to go, then Puti down.

‘Sorry I woke up late. Too much sleep,’ he told Nancy, Will, Mike and Cathy who had finished breakfast but were still sitting at the dinner table. Nancy and Will smiled wisely while Mike and Cathy looked at him with an intractable look.

‘Mom, can I borrow a car today?’ Puti asked Nancy for her approval while pouring coffee into her cup.

‘Bby,’ replied Nancy. ‘Where to?’

‘I want to go to Poland to meet a friend,’ replied Puti. Poland is a small town near Salem.

‘I can drive you,’ Mike volunteered.

‘Thank you, Mike. But I'd like to go alone, if no one would mind. ‘

‘Of course no one objected, honey. Go, but be careful,’ Will's message. Puti nodded while smiling cheerfully.

☘️

Puti did not go to Poland at all. Even going through it is not. He exited Salem heading to Highway 76 connecting Salem and Kent. He's going to Kent.