The Prologue to Autumn
By
Susan Waterflower Bell
Sequel to ‘The Sealed Room’

Susan took a deep breath as she made her way down the square brown cobblestone paved street. The trees that lined the street had turned from a ivy green to a deep rustic brown and a pumpkin orange. An early fall wind tossed there knotted limps around.

“Goodbye summer.” Said Susan taking a deep breath as she peered toward the changing trees. She smiled a little toward the trees. Once more she took a deep breath and wounded what the coming season would bring. Autumn was the season of harvesting and storing up for the coming winter. It was also a almost magical time of the year for her.

“My last year,” She said thrusting her hands into her skirt pocket, She took a deep breath and peered around her. In the  course of her wondering she had found herself in the mist of the old section of town.  She smiled a little as she peered up at the wooden signs that hung upon the doors of the shops.

A sudden z’roon knocked Susan out of her day dreaming.  The source of the noise belonged to a wealthier beaten car. In the drives seat of the car there sat a women mid to late twenties.  Her long flaming red hair was styled back in a nice ponytail.  A soft smile played upon her lips as she turned her head toward Susan.

Quickly she rolled down her window and called out to young girl.

“Hey Susie!” She cried smiling ear to ear.

Susan blinked and stopped dead in her tracks. She took a deep breath and quickly turned around to find the source of the sudden noise. Slowly she titled her head to the side and took a deep breath. Her sister must be part ghost or something. Because she always appeared where she was least expected.

“Afternoon Bella.” Said Susan smiling toward her. Slowly she started walking toward the old mobile. Hmm it seemed luck was on her side for once. Maybe if she played her cards just right she could rope Isabella in-to giving her lift back home and maybe even taking her out for ice cream. Taking the younger one out for a frozen treat was often the traditional duty of older sibling.

“So Susie, what bringing you to this part of town? Looking around for new haunted locations to explore or are you just trying to clear your head from a long day at school?” Proposed Isabella as she killed the engine of the car.

“Oh, just trying to clear my head. The teachers are really laying it on us this year. You know with the N.I.P exams coming up and this being the final year for us eight grade students. Man I thought my last year would be a piece of cake.” Said Susan taking a deep breath as she removed her hands from her skirt pocket.

“Well if your free. There this cute little ice-cream parlor around the block. Why don’t you hope in and we can spend some nice one on one time with each other.” She said reaching her hand over and quickly patting the lap of the front passages seat.

Susan’s face seemed to beam as her sisters words reached her ears. In fact one would say she skipped over to the passages side of the car.  Within a blink of a eye and a sneeze of the nose she was once more ridding shotgun with her sister again.


“Hey Susie do you mind if I ask you a question?” Said Isabella reaching down and giving her car keys a turn. Within a second the old thumping and bumping of the cars engine could be heard as it once more roared to life.

“Sure sis,” Said Susan reaching over and taking hold of the belt buckle that was attacked to the car seat. She quickly wrapped the belt around her body and buckled herself in.

“What kind of track are you looking to get into once your award you diploma.” Isabella pressing down upon the gas peddle.

“Oh well.. I was thinking about going into a clinic base nursing school. One that rewards a Higher National Diploma.  You know it normal takes one to three seasons of study to earn it. And then well I’ll return here and maybe sit for the Nursing Exams.  I’ll kind of like to work beside mother and you.” Came Susan’s response.

A soft smile seemed to grow upon Isabella’s lips.  It seemed that little tomboy of a sister of hers was starting to bloom into a flower. In a way it reminded her of her growth from fearless explore and hunted of phantom beings to a skilled and what some would say a very angelic nurse. A transformation that no doubt owes its origins to her mothers skillful hand.

Encouraged by her sisters smile Susan offered one of her own in return. Isabella was her hero in many ways. From the record she left in academic realm to her powerful voice that once filled the lector halls. She was in many ways a person that others seemed to flock too. Be it for a conversation on verse or poetic talks from the young poets that seemed drawn to her by her gift to spin rhythms as spinning yarn. She wanted to be like her.

“Hey Susie, though you seem to have everything planned out, may I offer you a word of advice?”  Isabella offered.

Susan slowly shifted in her seat and turned her head slightly toward the elder one. She nodded her head to say yes to dumfounded for words. Her elder sister never offered her any advices.  Preferring to let the young one to find her own vast uncharted sea that spans the years between childhood and adulthood. Sea’s no one can chart save only those that have ventured upon them and have sailed them. And those charts themselves become almost unless once the journey is completed.

“Susan, when ever your in doubt. Let your heart become your life’s guiding compass and your northern star. For only your heart can guide you onto the proper path of womanhood.  Your friends, mother and I are just people that share the journey with you.” Said Isabella. It seemed there exchange of words had carried them far as the old car pulled into the parking lot of the ice cream parlor.

A small smile crossed both girls faces as they peered toward the weather beaten neon sign that stood in front of the driveway entrance. Curving English script spelled out in countless small one hundred watt light bubs proclaimed that the best tasting ice cream in the whole Kanto could be found just beyond the door.

“You know,” Said Susan reaching down to unbuckle her seat belt. “I wonder if they really do have the best ice cream to be found in the whole Kanto. That like saying one has the best ice cream in the whole word.” Said Susa pulling her belt back and stepping out of the car.

“I’m not sure. Some ice cream shops in the outer Kyoto area are well know for there cream. But I’m sure of this little sister that for your money and for your effort. This place will be sure to chill a sweet tooth of any child.” Said Isabella stepping out and walking around to where Susan stood.




Susan eyes followed