IV

"And this is Stephanie", Prof Bolo says of the last person he is introducing in Prof Anne's family group. He is beaming down at a young child who gazes up at Petunia with big eyes.

"Who is that behind you?" The child asks clearly, pointing to what looks like air space behind Petunia.

 Air space, air space, who are you calling air space, watch your language, young lady, the familiar voice of the Dutch ancestral spirit comes into her mind. Oh my goodness, Petunia realizes, this child is perceiving the ancestral spirit being!

While the rest of the group look vaguely befuddled, Petunia squats down to eye level and says conspiratorially. "Do you see what colour hair he has?" "Leller", the child replies. "Very good", Petunia beams at her. "Now tell me what colour of shirt he is wearing." "Stripes!" The girl declares triumphantly.

There is no doubt that Stephanie is describing the same image with which Petunia imagines the Dutch ancestral spirit. She turns her head to look up behind herself but she sees only a vague shimmering, while sensing the presence.

"Bless you, sweetheart," she says to the child. "His name is Mick and he will be taking the tour with us. However, he likes to be quiet, and most people just ignore him, so shall we walk on?" Petunia straightens out of her squat while offering her hand to Stephanie, who takes it as if Petunia were a familiar, safe person.

Petunia looks at the other big people. Prof Bolo, who has been watching her little exchange with Stephanie winks at her. He knows about the ancestors. Petunia does not know whether he saw something or not. Prof Anne and her husband are keeping an eye on their two older sons who are chasing each other in the grass paths between the garden plots; they seem okay with their youngest child's conversation with Petunia. Petunia feels a rush of love and gratitude towards Prof Bolo. Trust him to hire a Proffessor with a gifted child.

She bends down and whispers to the child, "there are plant fairies around, see how many you can see." Indeed, the child is mesmerized and does not speak for the rest of the tour, allowing Petunia's hold of her hand to direct her feet.

Petunia loves to give the guided tour of her beautiful, thriving gardens. She explains her gardens and talks about the personalities and behaviours of the different plants. She shows the pre-teen boys how she is removing the sod from the field to create more garden space.

The boys with their bravado set out to outdo each other in digging. Petunia chuckles to herself, as she takes Stephanie's hand once more.

"I'm tired", Stephanie informs her, refusing to walk another step.

As if on cue, her father approaches, offering a ride on his shoulders, back to the car. Stephanie eagerly accepts and Petunia relinquishes the hand gratefully. What a wonderful father, considerate man, she thinks.

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