The Harvest

The sun peeked over the eastern mountains, shining its warm light through the window and onto Jerick's face. His eyes clenched uncomfortably from the brightness. He raised his hand to shield the sunlight while sitting up in his bed. The sunlight felt warm and comforting, like a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Jerick swung his legs over the side of his bed letting out a yawn, then got up and walked across the room to his dresser. He grabbed his grey work tunic with matching wool pants and pulled them on. After sweeping his leather gloves off the top of his dresser, he headed out his bedroom door.

Downstairs, Jerick's brother, Christoph, sat at the table eating breakfast. A spoonful of grapefruit was lifted to his mouth, but paused as it reached his lips.

"Headed off to work are ya?" Christoph said, inserting the spoonful of grapefruit into his mouth.

"Aye. Today is the day of the harvest festival and there is still much work to be done." Jerick walked over to the cabinet beside his brother, opened it, and pulled out his sickle. He grazed his thumb across the blade, measuring the sharpness of the edge. The blade scraped his thumb, demonstrating the sharpness it still had. Sickle in hand, he walked over to the front door. Jerick opened his mouth to talk, but was interrupted by the loud wet slurping noises of his brother. Christoph was sucking on his spoon.

"...Are you not working today?" Jerick finally asked over the suckling sounds of his brother.

"All the hides have been tanned, and all the meat cut. My work is already finished." Christoph's face stretched into a big toothy grin. "I am just going to relax and eat grapefruit all day; I need to be rested for the festival tonight."


"I wish I could do the same." Jerick replied, shrugging his shoulders. "Well unlike you, I do have work to do. I'll see you later at the festival." Next to the front door were his shoes, which he pulled on before leaving the house, heading to the corn fields.