Viola rambles on

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Viola was holding court on the next sunny day on the beach.  She was in her element because most of the folk heard she’s been at that Elders meeting just after Ocean’s death. She was going to milk it.  Someone offered her some crabapple slices and she popped one in her mouth and started on the peripheral ‘news’ first.

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“When that girl Linnae married Shale you can’t tell me she wasn’t pregnant.  Baby seems to be ready to come ‘a little early’, if’n you ask me” Viola was at her gossiping best today. “Her own mother, Rose never did know when to stop havin’ children.  Poppin’ babies like they were tadpoles! Seven, I ask you, seven.  Who has seven children?  No need for more than three like a decent woman would have”  She sniffed, thinking of her perfect number of offspring.

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Viola wasn’t done yet.  She droned on and on as if she’d discovered conversation.  “And Rose never did learn how to bring up a girl.  Far too outgoin’ for a young lady.  Hmmff..   Bet Linnea’s’ baby is born before the Gathering is over; and that’s early!”

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Viola was working her way through a sliced up crabapple, her cheeks puffed up like a bullfrog, as was ready to hit the juicy stuff.  Off she went on her latest torrent. “I remember that Mus girls going ons.  Her father Sandy was my cousin so I knew her real well.   Course my boy Bones was thirty when she was fourteen and started developin’, if you know what I mean” she winked. “So he was safely married.  But those poor boys Acer and Snowberry; eighteen and nineteen they were; pure as the driven snow and naïve!  She was a brazen hussy.  They’d never seen anything like it, an’ they liked it!”  She smiled lecherously at the thought.  ”Finally found them all in the bush together an’ the two families, they got together an’ decided to send her away to her uncle in the Bog village.  Well, it was like sendin’ them a hurricane.  Those poor Bog folk didn’t kno what hit ‘em.”  She paused to shove another crabapple slice into her already full mouth. “She started workin’ on those poor boys; mostly Rhys brood but Cranberry, well, he didn’t even seem ta notice.  She threw herself at ‘em but try as she might, she never got what she wanted.  Ya’ see, Daisy, now she was from our Skeena Village.  Happened she was sent to the Bog ta visit her friend Rhoda, an’ when Cranberry spied her, well it was love at firs’ sight for him! An’ he started in on courtin’ that Daisy right quick! He went after her with the persistence of a mosquito!  Mus goes inta’ a real snit, thinkin’ she’s better’n her. Then Cranberry ups an’ proposes ta Daisy!”  Well, if you coulda seen Mus.  Looked like steam was comin’ outta her ears she was so furious!  Ended up marryin’ poor Perri. Thought she’d been flirtin’ with him, poor fella. Now he spends most nights at the loggin’ camp an’ only comes home when he hasta’.  Probably best he stay away!” She looked really intensely at her listener now. “Cause you never know what she might feed ‘em.”

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Then she shook her head; either to clear it or to dislodge the errant pieces of apple stuck on her face. ”But if she’s the one has that poison; and remember, I’m stayin’ at my son’s house an’ so is she.  Well here’s what I think she’s gonna do.”  She paused for dramatic effect looking from left to right at her avid listeners.  “I think she still wants Cranberry, but if’n he’s never found, then all’s well.  But if he does make it home in one piece then I’d be guardin’ that Daisy.  An’ If’n I was Perri, I’d stay out at that loggin’ camp full time.  Sign on as watchman if’n he can, because that girl still wants her Cranberry.”  She sat back, satisfied with herself.  Then she leaned forward again and in whispered tones said “But Cranberry’s never gonna want her so she’s gotta finish off either Cranberry or herself.”  She took another mouthful of apple.  “Be a whole lot easier if’n she’d just start wit’ herself and forget all the in betweens.”