Grumbling under her breath, Misu rolled her shoulders to adjust the heavy wicker basket strapped to her back. Sweat dripped down her brow as her tail flicked in irritation behind her in a futile attempt to swat away the large amount of mosquitos and flies flying around her face and back.
Ugh, the plains! They were the worst! The hot, humid air felt heavy just to breathe in. The sun beating relentlessly down on her back, repeatedly getting poked and prodded by bits of wild tall grass and bushes with thorns. And the worst part is the bugs.
So. Many. Freaking. Bugs!! How did people live down here without constantly getting swarmed to death by the nasty little pests?
Three more deliveries, just three more deliveries, and then she could hightail it to the cold comfort of the mountains once again. At least, until her father called on her once again to make the long trek down the mountain to deliver the next round of precious baked goods and specialty-grown hearty cold-weather wheat that they harvested.
If she was being honest, Misu didn’t mind being her family’s delivery maid…most of the time. It allowed her to get out and explore from her normally mundane life back at home, meet new people, and try some new delicious food. More importantly, it allowed her the freedom to sing and practice her dance act in peace without her family complaining about the “ear-piercing screeching” coming from her cave or complaining that she was in the way why they were trying to work. Once, the herd’s guards had even been called on a noise complainant when she had stayed up into the wee morning hours to continue writing and practicing one of her new routines. They had told her she was disturbing the peace! HER!
Psh, “disturbing the peace.”! Unbelievable. They just didn’t know what true talent sounded like! They should have been grateful to be given the opportunity to see the great Tiramisu live before she had her big break!
Granted, she had been told more than once or twice on her trips down south in very colorful language to quiet down and kindly keep moving it along. But, that must have been purely a coincidence. Perhaps people down here were just more sour in their moods? She certainly was after having to deal with this freaking heat and these blasted bugs all day.
“Just got to make it to the lake by sundown and then you’ll be done for the day.” Misu muttered to herself. Pursing her lips she shook her head again to shoo off another wave of flies swarming around her head. Peering around her surroundings, she took note of the familiar landmarks that she could observe in the distance and gauge her general location. Hmm, it would be another two or three hours before she would make it to the lake. What could she do to pass the time and make this trek a bit easier….?
OH! Of course! The best thing in the world for cheering anyone up: A SONG!
Beaming a wide smile, she resumed her journey, this time with a bit more high-energy prep in her step. She could ignore the rest of the world and be lost in her daydreams of being a true celebrity performer, adored by fans everywhere, friends with the world, and finally having something to share with pride with her family that she had accomplished.
Inhaling a deep breath, Misu began to belt out the opening verse of her song.
“Stuff! Roll! Press! Smack!
Stuff! Roll! Press! Smack!
Sift the flour, let the eggs crack
Knead the dough on every hour
Then we start it all again~
Stuff! Roll! Press! Smack!
Stuff! Roll! Press! Smack!
Form the dough around the filling
Brush with egg and please no spilling
What a lovely gift they are
And there’s tradition in these breads
And we make every one with care
Then we bake them full of fondness – sweetness
Lofting through the air
And there is magic in these fry breads
You can feel it all around
Fry Bread where the magic is found~”
Was she completely off-key? Yes. Was she nasally? Yes. Was she obnoxiously loud? Most definitely. Was she happy now living in her ignorant, tone-deaf, blissful fantasy?
Yes, she definitely was. Regardless that everyone within the nearest mile was most likely rubbing their ears by now in confusion as to where that horrendous noise was coming from suddenly.
(WC: 646 Words *Not counting the song as I don't own it*)
