The fall had ended so abruptly the sand-and-silt
plugged ears were cleared, and he could hear once more.
"Demo, I told you to stay out of that tree. My, I hope you
haven't broken anything. Well get up from there and come to eat.
We have such wonderful company. Theresa is staying for supper."
Rough licked his cheek and grinned a dog grin.
Evening came early.
They ate their supper in a strangely quiet mode.
Afterward his mother looked at him for a moment, turned away,
wiped a tear from her eye.
"Mother, are you ill? What is wrong!" Demo rose quickly,
stepped to her side.
"Demo, I have a story to tell you. Sit down, don't interrupt
me."
She sighed, paused as though uncertain how to continue.
"Today an old woman visited our home. A very old woman. Her
name is Ceres. Perhaps you have heard the name."
He shook his head.
"An old woman, but a very good woman. One known to me since
youth. At one time she served as your nursemaid. A good
nursemaid! Would that I had known how good!"
She stood up, paced back and forth in a disturbed manner.
"You were a weak baby, with very little chance for life. I
feared that you would not survive. I prayed to the Gods. And
then she came to me, brought to us by your Father. He had met
her in the forest, where she wept for her lost daughter. She
nurtured you, raised you for me, put strength in your bones and
muscles. Nearly, she gave you gifts no human dare dream of.
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