Stiff Company

It was  an hour before noon when a young girl with vibrant red hair and soft green eyes approached the Graveyard with a basket filled with wild flowers, which appeared to be freshly picked from the forest's edge. She pulled open the gate before slipping inside; leaving the gate ajar for whoever wishes to visit the graveyard. The girl walked by the many tombstones before stopping in front one with "Astrid Reeves" engraved in stone.

"Gud morning Mama. Did you sleep well last night?" She smiled before pulling the basket in front of her. "Look vhat I got! Cosmos! I remember Papa telling me zhey are your favorite" she stated before sitting down on the cold dirt mound. She carefully collected the flowers out of the basket and decorated the grave with the colorful floras.

"Hmm..." the girl pondered a bit before giving a big smile, "I know! I can make you a flower crown and you can wear it like a queen!" she giggled to herself before she started to craft a band made of cosmos. It took a while but she completed the 'crown' and carefully places it around the stone. Another giggle escaped the girl's lips, "now you look like a proper queen, Mama!"

Marribelle sat there on the ground in silence as she stared at her mother's name etched in stone. She sat up on her knees and clasps her hands together as she said a small prayer.

Once the girl was finished paying her respects, she got up to dust off her dress; that's when she noticed the tall man. She hasn't seen anyone that tall before besides the priest. He must be new to town. She smiled and thought she'll try to make a new friend today.

Marribelle picked up the basket and walked over to the gravedigger as he was picking weeds.

"Allo! Gud morning sir. How are you today?" she gave him a big smile as she stood beside him

"I can see zhat but how are you?" she let out a small giggle as she swung the basket side to side a little. She walked around the tombstone to watch him pull the weeds.

"I'm Marribelle Reeves, zhe only daughter of Randolf Reeves. Nice to meet you, sir!" She stuck out her hand to him.

She didn't seem to be bothered by the dirt she contracted from their handshake but she dusted off her hand by wiping it against the skirt of her dress. It was going to get dirty later on anyway.

She looked at the man then giggled, "Oh! Heh I understand but zhe dead know zhey dead as zheir spirits fly high in zhe sky. Some are watching us like Guardian Angels and don't want us to see us sad. Zhey are stiff company after all~" she let out another giggle at her own little pun there.

She cleared her throat as she bowed down a little towards the tall man. "I'm sorry..." she didn't mean to be rude; just to enlighten the mood.

Marribelle blinked as she didn't really thought of that but smiled.

"No, I came to visit me Mama but I can cheer you on if you like, sir!" She hops in place for a moment. "Can I help you with your chore? We can have a picnic afterward, my treat!" She smiles at him. She really wants to hang out with this stranger some more.

The girl hopped with glee and set the basket down on the ground and out of the way. She walked around some tombstones before kneeling down and picking out roots and weeds.

"You never told me your name, sir" she stated, looking at him as she dug into the dirt a bit to pull the root out.

"Callahan? Vhat a handsome name!" she stated, giggling to herself. The red-head girl did her best assisting the gravedigger on his chore so they can spend more time together.

She was very curious of this stranger named Callahan but she senses a good friendship bonding between them! She's probably getting her hopes up but hey, it's not everyday the town gets visitors.

Marribelle would look over at the tall man once in a while, examining his features before quickly looking away before Callahan noticed her staring.

Marribelle stood up and dusted off her hands and looked over at Callahan. She didn't mind helping him some more but he was right.

The girl went over to her basket and checks inside. She then walked over to the gravedigger and smiled at him. "It vas fun hanging out with you, Callahan. You zhink we'll meet again tomorrow, bruda herrs?" she cocked her head to the side slightly.