Listen, Tilly, to look the way I do, all decked out in gold, Im up at five every morning. I get the cows milked, the calves watered, the feed handed out, then I head off to my real job. Theres nothing here to be jealous about, I said, trying not to sound too boastful.
Oh, Olivia! Youre a sight for sore eyes, and you dont even live in the village. Look at you, all shining in goldchains, rings, even a little gold bracelet. Everyone from the town would quit their jobs just to move out here. Who wouldnt want to live in the countryside, dress snazzy, and sparkle with gold? Olivia chattered on without a pause.
Olivia, if you knew what life in a village really is, youd think differently. I rise at five, milk the cows, give the calves a drink, hand out the feed, then Im off to the main job. No reason for anyone to be envious. If youd seen the daily grind, youd understand, I replied.
Olivia, Ive known livestock since I was a girlcows, pigswhile you only turned into a village lass out of the blue. We always thought after school youd never look back, I added, remembering our childhood promises.
Ah, theres no point in dwelling on the past. In youth were all idealists, convinced everything will go our way, only to find life takes a different turn, Olivia sighed.
Olivias temperament was stubborn; once she said something, she did it. From an early age she claimed the village with its fields, potatoes, cows, and hay was beneath her. She saw herself as beautiful and clever, destined for the best, and thought shed never need a cow or calf again.
Ill never come back to your village, Mum. When I finish school Ill head to the city, find a rich fiancé, marry him, and stay there. I cant stand the idea of staying here, I heard her say.
Alright, Olivia, but who knows what life might bring? The village isnt worse than the town; people live there, too. If youd help with the cows, dear, it would make things easier for me, and I could get dinner ready, I tried to persuade her.
Imagine me fetching the cows! The whole village would have a laugh. Mum, Ill meet your cows and thats it. Dont ask me that again, she snapped.
Other children help with the cows and their parents. What makes you any better, love? I asked gently.
My mind is my own, she replied.
Mum, Eleanor, merely sighed as she went out to meet the feeding cows, while Olivia slathered her face with layers of makeup for the village dance.
Olivias friends stared enviously at the local queen who never lifted a finger for household chores, never washed a dish, let alone set foot in the barn. She didnt even know which side of the cows to approach. She was a lateblooming, unexpected child. Her older sister was already married with grandchildren, and now Eleanor discovered she was expecting againjust two months after the first baby. How could I not spoil the little one?
Time passed; the children grew, the parents aged. Olivia finished school, though her results were modeststraightBs all the waybut her ambition was intact.
She chose to train as a nursery assistant. A tidy job, respectable, and with a bit of dignity, I thought. Eleanor and her husband sold a pair of bulls and paid for Olivias first year of training.
No one realized at first that Olivia was juggling a lot. In her final college year she kept coming home, fussing in front of the mirror, primping as if waiting for someone who never arrived. She grew confident, plump, and one weekend her inlaws dropped by, saying, Weve got a buyer for your surplus.
Olivias parents didnt get the jokes. She threw herself into a relationship with a lad from the same village, Victor, who stayed after college. They fell in love, married, and she gave birth to a daughter as pretty as herself. Their modest city flat soon felt cramped; Victors salary barely covered the two of them, let alone three.
One evening Victor snapped, Im fed up paying half the rent to my uncle. Lets move back to the village until Lucyour little onegets older, and thats that.
We packed our few belongings and headed to the countryside. Victors parents had bought a new house there, leaving the old one empty. Victor found work on a nearby farm as a qualified mechanica respectable trade, though the pay was a shade lower than the city, it came with free accommodation. Olivia balked at first, Why drag me to the sticks? but eventually settled, glad her motherinlaw and Mum were there to help with the baby and groceries. It felt more like a fairytale than a hardship.
Soon the tale soured. Both Mum and the motherinlaw began to complain that Olivia spent hours in front of the mirror while they were out in the garden. Lets take turns with the granddaughter, Olivia. Youre still young, youre better suited to the garden, they urged. Victor glanced at her, saw the frustration, and she went off to pull carrots. The whole summer the garden thrived, no weeds in sight. By the next year she decided to plant her own patch, tired of being the one who always asked for help.
Victor decided to raise a few more cattle, thinking itd be profitable. The farm needed cows for the calves, so the parents moved to the town centre and gifted a young cow to the younger couple. At first Olivia struggled to rise before dawn, but eventually she got used to it.
Four years later a vacancy opened up at the local nursery when a longserving employee retired. Olivia took the post, and the little business flourished. She never noticed how her city dreams faded into the background; mornings started at five, evenings ended late, and life was full of chores.
Now the motherinlaw had moved to the town, Lucy was at school, and Olivia stayed in the village, eventually becoming head of the nursery. Victor suggested, Maybe its time we moved closer to civilisation?
Victor, whats wrong with this? We have our house, our garden, the nursery. Weve got enough money, and we still visit the city often. Im happy here; wholl run the nursery if I go? I replied. Lucy will finish school soon, then well see. For now, Im content.
Twenty years slipped by like a single day. We organised a reunion with our old class after finishing school. Many classmates had ended up in towns, some still in the village. We ran into old friends: Katie, whod spent her whole life on a farm, went on to train as a chef, then married a city businessman; and Tara, whod married Michael, another classmate, now living in a flat with a car, a husband who ran his own company, and never intended to stay in the countryside.
The reunion was warm, phones were exchanged, everyone marveled at how life had turned. Olivia and Victor returned home, thoughtful and a little weary.
Olivia, Im sorry I pulled you out of the city back then. I knew you couldnt stand the village, Victor said.
Dont mention it, Victor. I still drive, and were not any worse off than anyone else. The city isnt all sunshine either. Both places have their perks. Im happy in the village. Im tired of the city hustle. As a child I never helped at home because Mum spoiled me. I thought it was shameful, but growing up I learned nothing comes easy. If wed stayed in a rented flat or paid a mortgage, wed still be struggling. Remember how Id fear even washing a plate? Here, with you and the garden, Ive learned to work wherever I am. Were not far from the city; we can always move if we need to. Work, a roof, and a bit of lovethats enough, she answered.
Olivia, when did you finally learn to love the village? Victor asked.
I always loved it, I just didnt understand it. Never say never. Remember how I shouted Id never live here? Look at us now.
