Early the next morning, Helieta worked in the fields as usual. After a long, drawn-out struggle, Mother no longer forced her to go to school. She no longer had to face all the hateful things there.
Mother had assigned her new tasks: working in the fields on one hand, and learning to pray on the other. Every morning, after picking the fruits and vegetables needed for the day, she had to go to the prayer room behind the house and pray.
"Helieta!" A familiar voice came again from the other side of the fence. Helieta turned around and saw Hesta passing by her front door.
"Good morning!" Hesta smiled at her. "Are you helping your mother again?"
Helieta immediately picked up her little bamboo basket and ran back to the door. In her haste, she slammed it shut with another loud bang.
Yet Helieta did not immediately put the basket down beside the sink. She cautiously ran to the window and watched through a gap in the curtains as the red-haired older sister passed by her door.
Although Mother had warned her not to speak to that red-haired outsider, Helieta was still curious about her.
These past few days, Hesta had always passed by her door—sometimes in the morning, sometimes at dusk. But whenever she saw her, this tall older sister immediately broke into a smile and called out her full name in an extraordinarily cheerful voice—
"How has your day been, Helieta?"
"I see you, Helieta!"
"What are you doing, Helieta!"
"Helieta!"
Every time, Hesta's voice was full and strong.
Helieta had secretly observed her many times and discovered that this red-haired older sister was not someone who liked to address people by name while speaking. For instance, Kiki and Eleven lived in her house, yet when Hesta spoke