Page 18 of On The Edge

“You’re so daggy my friend,” Jess giggled as Cat stuck her tongue out and walked out to the quirky automobile. “I can’t believe it – and, hang on - how did you get such a cool car?”

“I’ve actually had my eye on it for a while, it was for sale round the back of the chippy. I bought it several weeks ago and told them to hold it for me!” Cat started up the car, which made all manner of noises as they drove off.

“Let’s go to those standing stones!” Cat suggested excitedly.

“Oh yah,” Jess pouted and dabbed her curls. “Jeremy, do take me somewhere nice.”

“Jeremy?” Cat laughed while she tried not to run into anybody on the way out of the cobbled street.

“It’s a driver’s name…I think!”

“You’re one strange girl!” Cat concluded.

“And don’t you love me for it!” Jess cried in a theatrical manner, and fluttered her eyes in Cat’s direction.

Leaving the village and driving past empty fields, Cat leaned her arm on the rolled-down window, and saw in the distance starlings flying in formation, sweeping and darting as one. The view was breathtaking, with the horizon going seemingly on and on, speckled with the tiny spiked arms of the wind farms in the distance. Cat sighed and smiled over to Jess, the feeling of freedom hitting her even more now as she drove her very own car.

“I can’t believe how close we were to the standing stones the whole time,” Cat said in awe, staring at the ancient boulders on the horizon, as she walked, hypnotized, away from the parked car. “It’s just amazing.” She strolled up the hill taking in the view while Jess hugged herself, shivering against the cold winds swirling around them.

“It’s June!” Jess protested. “Why is it still cold?” she shook her fist at the sky.

“Come on!” Cat took her arm and guided them together up the pathway of green grassland until they reached the standing stones. Cat continued to walk on along from boulder after boulder, and touching each one gently as she passed. Some were covered in emerald moss; others exhibited strange engravings. She closed her eyes and felt a feeling of peace and belonging. Looking out to a loch ahead, she caught sight of two swans gliding across the water. Silence fell over the girls, and the only sounds were from birds on the waterside. Cat’s heart felt very big. She didn’t know how to put it into words. At that moment she knew instinctively, this is it. Zipping up her jacket to her chin, thankful she had taken it, she sat herself down on the grass cross-legged. Time slowed for a moment, and it was only when she felt a poke on her shoulder that she looked up, startled to see Jess standing above her.

“I cant believe you’re still sitting here, come back down to the car, before you get a cold! Or even more importantly – before I get a cold!” Jess put out her hand.

“Yes mum!” Cat reached out and grabbed it, steadying herself. “I’m coming back here to paint,” Cat said in a wistful way to no one in particular, as they descended the hill.

“I wouldn’t have expected anything less,” Jess responded, with a fond, knowing look.