The Sounding Line

Caleb had an idyllic life growing up around the mill. This winter the mill pond was frozen over again. But pond skating was going to be different this year, for everyone. --- Caleb paused at the landing, pulled the blue and gold scarf off of the row of pegs, and took the remaining steps down two at a time. His boots made a heavy thud on the plank floor, though he was trying to be gentle. "Heavens, boy, you'll shake the house down." "I'm sorry, Gabby. It's getting late. I guess I'm...
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Caleb had an idyllic life growing up around the mill. This winter the mill pond was frozen over again. But pond skating was going to be different this year, for everyone. --- Caleb paused at the landing, pulled the blue and gold scarf off of the row of pegs, and took the remaining steps down two at a time. His boots made a heavy thud on the plank floor, though he was trying to be gentle. "Heavens, boy, you'll shake the house down." "I'm sorry, Gabby. It's getting late. I guess I'm in too much of a hurry." "Well, I don't know where you're going, but given that you haven't said a word to me and you're practically flying out of here, I'm guessing that you're headed up to see Erin." Caleb looked down at his large feet. "Yeah. I was thinking of it." --- The Sounding Line is a short story from the collection Tales from the Red Book of Tunes. (Apple version)