Weekly Expressions #8 ~TJ

"Perhaps, sonny, we could start you out at five crowns per shift. My lumber industry is in desperate need of buffing young men like yourselves."
Joel tried to hide his blush, "I'd be honored to help fill in the needed labor."
The old businessman stood, relying on his cane as if his life depended on it. "I hope this will be reasonable for you, I know an educated man stooping down to do lower-class work..."
"Not at all," Joel interrupted, "after all, look at me! Does it not seem obvious that the Creator built me to help those who need it with my hands?"
The businessman smiled, "Aye, that it would seem."
The two walked for a moment in the garden, discussing Joel's new career. The businessman looked across the fountain and saw a beautiful woman sitting at a table commonly used for flower arranging, "Ay boy, you see the young lass there?"
Joel chuckled a little bit, "I never miss a chance to glance her way."
The businessman was surprised, "you know that girl?"
"Aye sir, I do. And I don't deny it one bit." Pride busted out of Joel in every way humbly possible.
"Tell me, lad, is she the one?"
"I hope to the dear good Lord it be so."
 The businessman grinned from ear to ear. He truly loved tales of young romance, and insisted that Joel accompany him to his office to tell all about it.
"So lad, start telling me your story!"
Joel was confused at first, "well, where shall I start, sir?"
He barely finished before the old man interrupted, "start with the your young girl!"
"Ah that. You see, her parents moved away to join the mission when I was very young, too young to remember. But luckily her family was chosen as representatives as the mission. They would return and visit sponsoring churches to report on investments."
"...and ask for more." The old man said from experience.
"It's called deputation, good sir."
"Go on."
"Well, their family is not small, so when they came to visit us when I was eight years of age, we needed to prepare a large meal ahead of time. During this time, I began to wonder who was going to visit us. I begged my mother to tell me. She managed to find an old photo of the entire family, and showed me a young girl, not beyond my age, and told me her name was Angela."
The businessman peered out the window to the woman, who was now sitting on a low branch of a tree, writing a letter. "Like her, did you?"
"I must admit, I fell in love at first sight. She was gorgeous as a young one and always was to this day."
"But you said her family worked in the mission?"
"Aye," Joel let out a soft sigh, "her visits were always too short, but worth it. We kept in contact through letters for many years."
The old man winked, "I'll bet you saved every one of them."
Joel smiled, "I did! Not one was lost or misplaced."
"Tell me lad, when did you finally develop upon this puppy love?"
"Not for a few years. When she sent me a letter exclaiming extreme love for me..."
"Wait, so SHE made the proclamation of love?! Come now, man!"
"Forgive me, sir. I was young and stupid."
The old man broke out in rattling laughter, "oh weren't we all at some point?"
"Aye sir. I began to believe it until I noticed a date of April 1st on the letter."
Businessman laughed once again, "ah, she got you, didn't she?"
"...or so she thought, I sent her a letter back of equal affection."
"But it never meant anything?" The man began to lower is face in disappointment.
"Not until two weeks later, I received a letter reminiscing the laugh. ...but also explaining that... she meant it." Joel explained.
"Oh my!"
"Aye. We were both hired at a mission a bit closer to my home than hers. I led the horses and stacked wood to keep the campus warm. She would wash windows, sweep floors. We met every day for mealtimes and employee service."

"Employee service?"
"That's where they hold church for the workers of the mission."
"Every day?"
"Aye."
"Tell me, in relation to our business agreement, did you lead any men during your time there?"
"Why yes, sir. I had the most honorable men I've ever worked with in my life accompanying me in our service."
"I ask because you may be a leading position on the field in our industry." The man received a cup of tea from a servant.
"That is much appreciated, sir." Joel dearly loved tea but denied the servant's offer.
"Keep talking, young man."
"Well sir. A tragic accident happened. I was escorting her back from the employee church service, but it was late and the road was dark. She slipped and fell, spraining her ankle badly."
"Oh no!"
"She was unable to preform her duties, and was sent to live with my parents."
"While you...?"
"...stayed behind. My services were still required."
"I'm sure being separated so abruptly must have been shocking for you." The man was almost leveled to tears.
"Indeed, sir. The following week was much less colorful for me. But I was released from my duties and sent home the next week.
"Due to her injury, she was unable to move much, and was unable to return to her own mission. She stayed with our family. I tended to her while she recovered."
The man nodded in approval, "as a real man should attend to his injured loved one."
"Thank you, sir. But while..."
"Knock it off with the 'sir,' will you? I may be 69 years but I ain't dyin'! So quit it with the 'sir.'"
"Yes sir, Mr...?"
"Call me Mr. Callahan."
"Yes sir, Mr. Callahan. Well anyway, during her recovery, I figured she became extremely homesick and rattled with cabin fever with her injury. So we managed to take her to the Kingdom Theatre. The biggest annual event in the entire region. We saw three shows: The Red Cape, The Nine Whips, and The Silver Lining. The Nine Whips was my favorite, I've seen it twice now."
"That's a good man, treating a lady to a good time. You'll do well in our business with a noble attitude like such."
"I appreciate that sir, thank you."
Callahan referred to the sundial sitting out in the midst of the garden. "I fear I have other duties to attend to before the sun sets. And I don't see a certain young lady out there any more..." He turned to Joel and winked, "...perhaps she searches for you."
Joel stood, "then I shant keep her searching long."

Joel found her sitting on the sofa of the downstairs lounge, reading fantasy of some sort of dragons. "Why Angela, what are you doing here?"
Joel startled her. "I have tea with Mrs. Callahan on Thursdays. The real question is, what are YOU doing here?"
"Well..." Joel put on his joker face he always used whenever he had good news, "I got the job working for Mr. Callahan."
"That's great! But you don't seem excited about it...?" Angela stood and sipped the rest of her tea.
Joel thought that it wasn't worth holding it in any more "Yes! It is the greatest thing that has happened to me since the mission."
Angela rolled her eyes, "the mission? Is that all you think about, work?" She began to walk away.
Joel grabbed her hand and stopped her, "I never said I loved the mission for the work. Not as much as an individual who was working there too."
Angela made a fake surprised face, "oh my! You have stricken my curiosity. You must tell me about this individual sometime."
Joel took both her hands in his, "how about now?"