Janney was counting down the minutes until the bell would ring. She watched the clock behind her teacher as he droned on and on about the importance of understanding square roots. She gave the appearance of paying rapt attention to the lesson, but anyone who knew her would know that the last subject she would be interested in was math. Her teacher, Mr. Hughes, insisted that it was very important that she learn irrational numbers, but for the life of her, she didn’t understand why. The way she saw it, art was much more practical than knowing the square root of 254. Sure, someone needed to understand more complicated equations, but she was not going to become a scientist. Janney was an artist. Every chance she got, she was drawing and practicing her craft.

The clock wasn’t the only thing Janney was counting down to; there were also only two weeks until summer break. This also meant there were only two more weeks left of middle school and one more month until her birthday. This year was what her Mom called a milestone. Janney was going to be thirteen and finally a teenager. For years, Mom would tell Janney she was not old enough to do things on her own. Janney would always ask Mom how old is old enough, and Mom would always give the same answer, You are not even a teenager. Janney knew this year Mom would have to let her have her freedom and be able to do things on her own.

The final bell of the day rang, signaling the end of the school day and releasing the students from the confines of the classrooms. Janney was not the only one eager to be free from class. The hallway quickly came alive with the sounds of excited children as Janney quickly made her way to her locker to put her textbooks away and grabbed her backpack. The mass of children soon became a steady stream of order as the majority made their way out to the buses. Janney couldn’t take a bus home as her house was too close to the school to be on a bus route. Instead, Janney and her brother George had to walk home. George went to the elementary school next door to her middle school. Janney said goodbye to her friends and made her way over to her brother's school. Because George was younger than her and was only in the fifth grade, their Mom made Janney walk with him every day to and from school. Another reason Janney could not wait for her birthday was that she was going to be going to high school next year, and the high school was across town. She would be taking a bus, so she would not have to wait for her brother anymore. Her younger brother annoyed her. He was always getting into trouble, running around, and playing jokes on others. She knew that she did love him, even if she never would admit it. It was just that George really knew how to get under her skin, and he knew it, too.

“There you are.” George said as he ran up to his sister. “What took so long? I have been waiting forever?”

“I came as soon as class let out.” Janney replied. George had to wait twenty minutes as his school let out before hers. He hated waiting and made sure to point that out to his sister as often as he could.

“Well, you sure took your time.” George complained.

“Oh, just stop it George.” said Janney. “You know full well what time school lets out, so stop complaining. Let’s go.”

George flashed his mischievous and charming smile at his sister, and they started their walk home. Their schools were only a few blocks from their house. It was a warm spring afternoon, and all the flowers were in bloom, which made for a pretty walk home.

Home was on top of Signal Mountain in southeastern Tennessee. Their walk took them along the north side of the mountain, and from time to time, they could see out to the Sequatchie Valley below. On a clear day, they could sometimes even see the Sequatchie River, which is where the valley gets its name from. Janney always loved this time of year. The flowers were coming into full bloom, and the valley came alive with colors and the warm smell of lavender, which announced that summer was on its way. Their town was a quiet country suburb of the city of Chattanooga. Most people lived on top of the mountain because they wanted to get away from the busier city life. They liked nature and appreciated the beauty to be found in a simpler life. Janney and her brother George always enjoyed wandering around the wooded back roads and open pastures near their home. They both loved when they would go to the city too. But they both always felt a special connection, like they belonged to the mountain and the mountain to them.

Their mother moved them to the town soon after their father died. Her father was from the area, and Mom thought it best to raise Janney and her brother back in Tennessee so they could feel closer to their father by growing up where he did. George was still a baby when they moved and did not remember any other life than living there. Janney was very young at the time, but she did have some memories from before, but they were blurry. More like remembering a feeling than remembering events.

They turned off the road and cut through a thicket of trees, which soon opened up to a field. The land belonged to Mr. Virago, an older man who lived in a farmhouse down the street from them. Janney and George both liked Mr. Virago. He had always been very nice to both of them, and Janney had always thought that if she ever had a grandfather, she would want him to be like Mr. Virago. She supposed in a way he kind of was one to them since Mr. Virago knew her father when he was young. The old farmhouse soon came into view as they made their way across the field. The grass looked as if it required a good mowing, but not unkempt. The garden to the side of the house was in stark contrast, as it was in perfect order.

“Why hello George,” Mr. Virago’s voice rose from the garden behind a small row of sunflowers. “Hello, Janney. Is it that late in the afternoon already?”  Mr. Virago asked. The only thing the children could see of the man speaking was from his eyes up as he stood up behind the sunflowers.

“Hey you!” cried George.

“Hey yourself” replied Mr. Virago

Janney rolled her eyes at her brother. He was always acting so childish, and she never understood the playful banter between him and Mr. Virago. “What are you doing in there?” she asked.

“Oh, I am afraid it looks like a few beetles are trying to cause havoc with my sunflowers.”  Mr. Virago told Janney.

“I just love sunflowers. Will they be alright?” Janney asked.

Mr. Virago smiled big as he moved towards the front of the garden to talk to the children. His shaggy shoulder-length hair was silver with flecks of black from his long-ago youth showing through. His beard was short and neat, not as unkempt as the rest of his appearance. “They were some of my wife’s favorites as well, Janney. You have excellent taste.” said Mr. Virago.

Janney smiled in return for the compliment.

“I think I got to them before too much damage was done. Only time will tell. So, is it summer break yet?”  Mr. Virago asked.

George picked up a fallen branch from a nearby elm tree and smacked it on the ground. “Na, not yet. We have two more weeks left.”  George sounded frustrated.

Mr. Virago chuckled, “It will be on you before you know it, George. Just wait and see.”

“I don’t think so. It will take forever.” George complained.

“The impatience of youth.” Janney said.

Mr. Virago let out a roaring laugh. “Well said Miss Janney, well said indeed.”

“Hey old man,” said George, ‘are you going to make s’mores this weekend?”  Janney jabbed her brother in the ribs. She did so hate the game between her brother played with Mr. Virago. It was just rude.

“I don’t know, boy. Why should I?” responded Mr. Virago sternly.

“You said you were going to have a fire this weekend. That is why I have been coming over here after school, picking up all the twigs and branches in your yard.”  George complained.

“Did I?” the old man questioned.

“Yes, you did. Janney, you know he said it. Tell him.” George demanded.

“It is true, Mr. Virago, you did tell George that if he cleaned up the year and gathered enough wood you would make s’mores this weekend.”  Janney said.

“Well, Janney, if you said I did, I must have. I have never known you to ever not tell the truth. I guess you got lucky boy. Tomorrow night and make sure you ask your mother to come too.” the old man said.

George flashed his mischievous smile, “You’re on, old man!”  He turned to Janney. “I will see you later.”  Dropping the branch he was holding, he turned and ran towards home.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Virago. I keep trying to teach him to be respectful.” apologized Janney.

“That’s alright, Janney. That is just George’s way of showing he cares.” Mr. Virago told Janney.

“Ya, I guess you’re right. Mom is always saying he needs a good male influence. I guess you’re the closest thing to family for him and for me.”  Janney added.

“Well, I am honored, my dear.” The old man smiled. “My home is always open to you and your brother. You know that. Now you best be getting home before your mother starts to wonder where you are.”

Janney turned to follow the same direction George had run off. “Bye, Mr. Virago”. She waved as she left.

Mr. Virago stood in the garden a Moment before turning back to the sunflowers.

“Are you still there?” he said, looking down at the ground.

“That was too close this time.” a small squeaky voice rose from the dirt.

“Don’t you concern yourself with that. I am more concerned with the damage to the flowers.”  Mr. Virago replied as he knelt back down.

“You need to tell them.” came the voice.

“No, not unless there is no other option.”  Mr. Virago replied.

“You need to prepare them. You are not helping them by keeping it from them.” squeaked the voice from the base of the flower bed.

“They are safer if they don’t know. It is not time for them to know yet.” Mr. Virago said as he disappeared back under the sunflowers.