Placid

Olivia Mason

It is a lazy afternoon and the sun shines, warming the room off the kitchen.  I sit on the low bench that serves as seats to the miniature tables that line the room.  Leaning back against the wall, I let my eyelids droop shut as a sigh escapes my lungs.  I had not pictured the Himalayas like this.  They are so remote and calm.  Their almost silent hum speaks to me, lulling me into their serene embrace.  The school where I am staying is in a breathtaking location.  It rests in a valley surrounded by mountains on almost all sides.  The mountains rise far into the sky, reaching up to the clouds to be embraced with blankets of shadows.  The air tastes thin, urging me to inhale deeply.  It is unbelievably dry here; the ground and mountains are made of sand and rock.  The sand is a strange mix between khaki and gray and there is hardly any grass except right next to the river that surges below the cliff nearby.  But there are trees and other plants that grow.  Their vivacious green contrasts with the dust they grow in.     

I can smell the greenery of the school’s garden in the crisp, clean air that flows through the open window in the room.  If I listen intently, I can hear the river roaring.  To my back and behind the river sit the mountains.  They rest there quietly as untouched piles of sand should, but their presence is always felt.  A breeze carries the cries of kids arriving at afternoon classes to the door.  My toes creep along the black stone floor as my legs stretch out in front of me.  Across the room a drop of water falls from the tap into the sink.  My eyes snap open.  I watch as water on the freshly washed dishes creeps down a cup on the drying rack and onto the counter.  

The smell of steam enters the room from the kitchen and I know Benoi, the cook, is making some afternoon tea before he starts dinner.  Something soft nudges the side of my hand, and I look down to find the nameless kitten.  He is a friendly gray with white here and there, or is it a she?  We just call it kitten.  It lets out a soft mew as I pick it up and cuddle it in my arms.  The kitten squirms and I set it down in my lap.   It curls up in a ball on top of my left leg, and I stroke the grey ball of fuzz till it nods off to sleep.  I run my index finger from the top of its head gently down its neck, and it begins to purr in time with my strokes.  Ironically, I do not normally enjoy the company of animals, but I think I have fallen in love with this one.  

The light streaming in has moved.   It now casts abstract shadows through the little plants on the sill above my head onto the seat beside me.  It throws shapes onto the tables and the floor.  I trace the shadows with my free hand and watch as they dance across my fingertips.  Stanzin comes in from the kitchen and offers me chai.  I accept it politely.  He smiles.  Stanzin is one of the older students and my good friend.  I know he is not much older than me, but his face says he is older.  Mountain men age differently, I know that now.  There is something awfully comforting about his face and his crow’s feet wrinkles about his eyes.  He looks at me with the admiration of an older brother.  He pokes my side and forces me to break a smile.  He laughs softly and then leaves the room.  

Holding the cup in both hands, I let it warm my fingers.  I take in a large breath of the leafy scent of tea before I take a sip and nearly burn my tongue.  Chloe, my roommate, arrives and joins me.  Chloe takes the kitten from my lap, and I long for the return of its furry company.  The kitten wriggles in her arms before resettling itself and resuming purring.  

The bell rings, signifying the end of class and the start of sports hour.  Through the window I see others leaving their rooms or duties to go down to the volleyball court.  My friends pass them by on their way to the water pump.  Their water bottles swing at their sides and jingle slightly as they walk down the sandy path and disappear into the trees.    

I get up to leave and try to shake the stiffness from my legs.  I poke my head into the kitchen, steel a carrot from Benoi and grab a bowl of milk.  I bring the milk back to the kitten and Chloe.  The kitten leaves Chloe for the milk as I place it on the sill.  We walk to the door and duck our heads so as not to hit the frame while going up the stairs.  The bright light greets me and my hand goes up to cover my eyes as it reaches my face.  

Chloe and I sit on the roof of the kitchen gazing across the school campus.  She takes out her book and begins to read while I stare up at the mountain closest to us.  We hiked it yesterday.  I had counted my steps along the steep, rocky path to the summit and prayed that I would be able to sit down, so I could breathe calmly again.  The view at the top was gorgeous.  I could see all of the school grounds and the Indus River flowing alongside it.  Beyond that was the small village we drove by every time we came and went within our secluded valley.  I felt strangely at peace on top of that mountain.  I was less human and more wild.  It was exhilarating being so high up and feeling almost weightless.  My eyes wandered across the landscape drinking it all in.   The air smelled of nothing but itself.  I had never breathed in something so pure.     

Chloe has gone to help Benoi in the kitchen, leaving me to my own devices.  I soak up the placidity that washes over me when a mild breeze caresses my face.   This place has a feeling to it, much like home, except not at all.