A buzzing filled the air. I knew what it was and was fair used to it. It didn’t scare me as it had once. There were voices in my ears, too, but I could hardly understand what they were saying. They were like the piping of birds in a far-off forest. “Laddie. Laddie. We’re here. Dinna fash … here.” One of the voices grew louder and louder until I could tell it was Granda’s. He was talking to me but the words were all jumbled up. He put an arm under my shoulder to help me up, and set my bonnet back on my head. I only managed to get to my knees before my stomach clenched like a fist and I heaved up all over the grass. The stink of it made me dizzy. There was another voice now, further away but getting closer. It was Ma’s. “Mairi!” she was calling. “Where’s Mairi?” Where was Mairi? Why hadn’t she been the one to help me up, as she had done so many times before? “She’ll be about,” said Granda. “Dinna fret yersel’.” Gripping Granda’s arm with both hands, I hauled myself upright, swaying giddily.
