Sandstone

Adoni walked out of her hut, and walked down the dirt path to a hut owned by the strange family who just moved in.

When she reached the door made out of animal skins, she knocked on the clay walls and call in.

“Hello?”

“Hey.” Summerland said as she walked out of the hut.

“Hi!” Peter said,” Whats up?”

“’Whats up’? What is that supposed to mean?” Adoni asked.

Peter looked quizzical and Summerland just giggled.

“It means,” Summerland started,” That Peter is asking you what you are doing, going to do, or already did.”

“Sort of like saying ‘what’s happening’” Peter added.

Adoni understood now. These people where from the artificial country. Pangaea was completely modernized, and their ways of speech where different.

The three of them walked into the desert in silence. The hot sun was just rising. The dark clouds that hung over them looked promising.

Adoni explained to Summerland and Peter what Cacti plants looked like, and how to pull them out.

Soon the heat was intense, but it was normal for Adoni.

“Do you know how to read and write?” Summerland demanded.

“Of course. My Mother taught me to when I was little. I also learned mathematics, grammar, literature, geography, and economics.”

“I though you picked Cacti plants all day long.” Peter said.

“Well I stayed up most of the night, because I wanted to learn.”

“We had to go to school. The teachers where horrible! They gave us huge amounts of homework, and never explained anything!” Summerland said.

“Why did you move here from Pangaea anyways?” Adoni questioned.

“My Dad decided that he wanted a different life-style, and my Mom was all for it. We have money for food. I really didn’t care. No school sounded fun. Walking in the desert, though, I don’t really like.” Peter explained.

“You’ll get used to it eventually” Adoni replied

“Easy for you to say,” Summerland muttered under her breath.

“What do you do when you’re thirsty?” Summerland asked.

“Didn’t you bring a canteen with you?” Adoni asked.

“I did”, Peter said,” Adoni even told you to bring it. Remember? It was yesterday”.

“Well then, I forgot. Peter, give me your canteen.” Summerland demanded. Peter grudgingly gave her his canteen.

Adoni was soon swimming in a sea of her own thoughts when Summerland’s voice broke through.

“So what is Daku like?” She questioned.

“Well, he is kind, thoughtful, full of ideas, and a natural genius.”

“He is also a political genius.” Peter added,” My dad still has his radio. We were listening to the political rush. The people love him. They think he can change the world and bring equality to the exploited.”

“I think I love him, too” Summerland said dreamily.

Adoni felt a pang of jealousy. No one would steal Daku from her. Daku was her best friend first. She had the right to stay with him.

All the sudden Adoni started wondering if he would become a leader of the whole world. Would he forget her if a hundred beautiful girls flocked him asking for his heart.

Adoni felt crushed under the weight of the question. Would Daku really come back for her?

“Oh Adoni, you are so lucky to have Daku as a best friend,” Summerland’s gushing voice has once again interrupted Adoni’s thoughts.

All Adoni wanted right now, was to get away from Summerland, and talk with Daku again.

Summerland’s gushing and Peter’s political talk started fading as Adoni entered the quietness of her deep thoughts.

A scene replayed in her thoughts.

“I’ll…miss…you…so…much,” Adoni cried into Daku’s shoulder between sobs.

“I’ll miss you too, and we both have to be strong. I want to change the world for you. So it will be a better place for you to live.”

Adoni smiled. Daku would come back for her, she was sure. Summerland could never separate their friendship.

“I can’t wait to meet Daku. I’m sure he will totally fall in love with me,” Summerland said in a confident voice.

This was too much for Adoni. How could Summerland be so self-centered and vain?

Still, Adoni kept her mouth shut. It was the best way to still have friends. She would have to put up with Summerland for now.

“Okay guys,” Adoni said as soon as she noticed it was already sunset,” Time to go home”.