After a few minutes of wandering around, Purity stood at the doorway to the outside and looked out. The yard seemed empty without any of the children playing, the only movement outside was a man walking down the road slowly.
"Purity!" Purity jumped as Momma Elsie spoke up. "Child, what are you doing? It is time to get ready for bed."
"I'm sorry, Momma Elsie," Purity said, "I don't know what to do. Everyone else is putting things away or getting things ready, but I don't know what to do."
Momma Elsie sighed. "No, of course you wouldn't know what to do. But you should ask someone. You seemed to get along with Tonn, talk to him if you have questions."
"Yes, Momma Elsie. Shall I go ask Tonn now?"
"Hm… Well, I do need to speak with you privately. Perhaps now would be a good time." Momma Elsie turned and walked down the hall. "Come with me, child."
Purity followed Momma Elsie into her room. The door was worn and the latch scarcely held the door in place, but it opened and closed easily. The sounds of the children thumping in the room above echoed through the room.
The room was well furnished, although everything was worn and disheveled. There was a bookcase crowded with tomes that each looked as though they might fall apart at any minute. A desk and chair were in the corner, with several sheets of paper littered across the desk. Most of them had various scribblings across them.
The bed was small with a single pillow and blanket, although Momma Elsie had managed to tidy it up well enough that it looked lit much more than it was. The wall against the outside of the house had a fireplace built in, but it was in disrepair.
"Alright now," Momma Elsie pulled the chair to face the center of the room and sat down, "I'd like to have a word with you."
Purity nodded and stepped closer to Momma Elsie. "Yes, Momma Elsie."
Momma Elsie raised an eyebrow as she looked at Purity. "Go on, child, have a seat," she gestured towards the bed. "You aren't in any trouble. You needn't stand."
"Yes, Momma Elsie," Purity nodded again and sat on the bed.
"Well then, where to start?" Momma Elsie pursed her lips. "At the beginning, I suppose. Purity, I'd like you to tell me about yourself. I know that it can be very hard on a child who comes to my home to speak of their past, so just tell me what you can."
"I…" Purity looked away from Momma Elsie. "What about my past do you want to know?"
"Where did you come from, for starters. Dret is a good lad, the fact that he brought you hear meant that he believed your family or home was no longer an option. So, where was your home?"
"I don't have one." Purity thought for a moment. "No, I do. I have this one."
Momma Elsie chuckled. "Bless your heart," she said, "of course you have this one. But where did you grow up before now?"
"Why… do you want to know that?" Purity looked into Elsie's eyes. "I am here now. Where I came from… do you need to know?"
"Oh, dearie… I don't need to know. Not really. But it helps, child, it helps me to care for you."
"You care for me. I can tell. You care for all of us."
"That I do," Momma Elsie said. She put her hand to her chin in thought. "You're a very mysterious child, Purity. If you do not wish to tell me where you came from, that is your choice. Can you tell me who raised you, though? And what led you to this place?"
Purity was silent.
"No? Very well, child. Whoever it was that cared for you before did a good job raising you." Momma Elsie leaned forward to stand up. "Let's get you back-"
"They love you, Momma Elsie."
"Pardon?" Momma Elsie sat back down again.
"They love you. Your heart, it hurts. You love them, but you worry. Your worry hurts your heart."
"Why, child… I know they love me. What are you talking about?"
Purity took a moment to answer. "Your heart… You want them to have good homes. You want them to be good children and be happy. But you worry that it will make them not love you."
Momma Elsie chuckled. "You are special, aren't you?" she said. "Yes, I suppose that has some truth to it- I am the disciplinarian. The children will always look on me less fondly than they will Melitia."
"That's not true!" Purity nearly shouted. "They love you! They love you with all of their hearts! Oh, if only you could see it! Your heart, it goes into theirs, it fills the cracks! And theirs come back to fill the cracks in yours!"
Momma Elsie started to speak, but Purity kept going. "You have such cracks in your heart, Momma Elsie! But you mustn't- you mustn't throw their love away from you!"
"Purity!" Momma Elsie had been taken aback, but she spoke sternly. "I do not throw the love of my children away. I love each child as though I bore them myself. And I know they love me as well. I do NOT throw their love away."
A tear trickled down Purity's cheek. "No, Momma Elsie. You don't let their love in. You keep thinking that it's your fault- that it was your fault when your son-"
"Silence, child." Momma Elsie held up a finger. "This is not the time nor the place. Whatever you see, whatever powers you have... I do not need to know this now."
"But-"
"Your well-being, young lad, is of more importance. And I can see that you are distressing yourself. You are very tired, I think that it would be best for you to sleep now." Momma Elsie stood up. "Let's go."
Purity looked slightly downcast, but followed Momma Elsie up the stairs. Den was still the only one in the room when they got there, he was now sorting through the clothes that the children had been wearing during the day and folding them.
"Den, your brother needs to rest," Momma Elsie said, "so he will be skipping the evening bath. I expect the other boys to be quiet for the night, are we clear?"
"Yes, Momma Elsie. Shouldn't you tell them though?"
"Of course, Den, dear. I will be telling everyone that tonight is a quiet night for the house. But as one of the older children, it is your responsibility to help the younger ones keep quiet."
Den dutifully responded with a "yes, Momma Elsie," before going back to folding clothes.
Momma Elsie lay Purity gently in bed. "I don't want you to worry about anything," she said, "not my heart, nor Den's, nor anyone else's. I want you to sleep. We can talk about your gift in the morning."
Purity nodded, the comfort of the bed giving rise to a sensation of fatigue that had not been there before. Running, playing, even sitting had worn Purity out, and all of that stress and tiredness came out as Momma Elsie pulled the blanket over Purity.
"Good night, Purity," Momma Elsie said.
"Good… night… Momm…a…" Purity drifted off to sleep.
End Part Six