The Touch of The Termites (Part 1)
Violent winds brushed past the sweat on her neck, making Ukraine shiver. However, despite the freezing temperature, Ukraine persisted, panting heavily as her wool gloves gripped the shovel covered in animal manure. Ukraine grunted loudly, dumping the manure over the snow in the backyard.
Inside the tractor beside the garden bed, Belarus flipped the pages in a thick handbook, exhaling mist in the cold. “Are you doing alright, Ukraine?” She frowned, keeping her eyes on an image inside the handbook of the tractor she was sitting in. Belarus teased, “You sound exhausted.”
“Shh, shh!” Ukraine hushed, “Don’t distract me.”
Ukraine marched over to a tiny shed that stood behind the tractor, dragging her shovel across the manure-covered snow. Belarus only nodded to herself, repeating the information she was reading.
In the winter midst, Belarus hummed, “Using a water-cooled engine, hot coolant from the engine block is pumped through the aluminum heater core radiator inside the cab…”
“...is that so?” Ukraine huffed, exiting the little shed with another pound of manure in her hands. “I have to wait half an hour before getting an ounce of warmth with that thing.”
Belarus shrugged and hopped out of the tractor, dropping the guidebook in its seat. “What are you doing?” She squeaked.
“Pouring this onto the snow,” Ukraine sighed, dumping another pile of manure on a separate patch of snow. “By spring, this manure should be melted onto the soil–along with the snow.” Belarus tilted her head. She didn’t remove the puzzled smile from her face despite the concerning look Ukraine gave her. “I’m gardening, I’m the gardener,” She frowned.
“I wasn’t born yesterday, Ukraine. What are you growing?” Belarus scoffed as she adjusted her white coat, glaring at the manure below her feet.
Ukraine covered her chuckle, she wiped the sweat off her forehead, and sighed. “I’m growing some delicious garlic.” She smiled, “Do you remember? They were buried back in October.”
Belarus shuffled her feet, careful not to stain her boots on the soiled snow. “Let me see, let me see!”
“Now?” Ukraine scowled, “But-”
Belarus wrapped her arms around Ukraine’s, begging for an adventure. “Please?” She pleaded, looking up at her sister with a puppy-like gaze.
Instantly, Ukraine pulled her arm out of Belarus’s grasp and stepped back. “Be careful, now! You’ll soil your white coat!”
“Oh, stop that. I couldn’t care less,” Belarus laughed, approaching Ukraine again and wrapping herself around her. “White was never really my color, anyway.”
“Fine,” Ukraine sighed defeatedly, pulling Belarus over to a patch on the ground that was yet to be taken care of. She crouched and dug through the snow, gripping the red handle of her shovel tightly. The tip of the shovel quickly turned from a glittering white to the rich black soil Ukraine loved. A smile that could only form from pure satisfaction appeared on her face. “Look at the color of that soil,” She sighed, keeping her eyes on the tip of the shovel.
“It’s quite dark.” Belarus arched over her, running her hands through Ukraine’s golden hair slightly. “Does that mean anything, or are you just a fan of the color black?”
Slowly tossing the shovel aside, Ukraine began to create a deep hole beside a lonely clove in the ground. “It means that I am blessed with the most fertile soil on earth, of course!” Ukraine laughed. “I prayed for fortunes like these.”
As she used her hands to form the hole, a tiny, pale red insect crawled onto the tips of her fingers, and the ends of its long wings tickled her skin. Ukraine yelped and instantly shook the insect off her hand and back into the soil, cringing and shivering from the sensation.
“A little too fertile.” Belarus peered over the hole and scanned for the insect. “What the hell was that?”
“Th-that shouldn’t be here…” Ukraine frowned, standing back up and rubbing her arms desperately. “Not in this cold, not now!”
Belarus brushed Ukraine aside and picked up the shovel. She poked around the hole in the soil and picked up several tiny insects that were panicking and crawling around the shovel. She dropped the shovel before turning back to Ukraine. “Well?”
“They’re…” Ukraine glanced away, relaxing her eyes before picking her breath back up again. “They’re… uhm- they’re termites.”
“Oh, God! What a nightmare!” Cried Belarus, putting her wrists together and shaking her head.
Ukraine slowly crawled back over to the hole, pressing her gloves against the cold snow. She paused before picking up the group of insects in the palm of her hand and inspecting them closely. “Why are you here?” She murmured, “Out of all places, why are you here?”
Belarus shivered and bit her lip nervously. She trembled in the cold and relaxed her sight, watching Ukraine’s golden, silky locks flow in the wind. Despite the appealing color of her hair, Belarus couldn’t get the image of the gnarly insects out of her head. “You need to do something, or they’ll eat the house.” She pouted. “Oh, Russia would be furious…” Belarus whined to herself, clutching her chest as she thought about Russia.
“Forget Russia, what is Mama going to do to me?!” Ukraine grumbled, crushing the termites in her hand and kicking the soil back into place. “She’ll beat me again.”
“Well, don’t manifest it!” Belarus yelped as she pulled Ukraine away from the garden spot and dragged her by the shoulders to the tractor. “You’ll just have to break the news to her once she gets tipsy, then she won’t be so angry at you.”
Ukraine nodded, following Belarus’s lead and hopping into the tractor with her. “R-right, you’re right.” She squeezed herself inside, pushing Belarus against the glass box of the cab. Belarus clutched onto her handbook as Ukraine settled in. “You know tractors only have one seat, hm? For the gardener?” She chirped.
Belarus rolled her eyes. “I know.”
“Just checking…” Ukraine scoffed as she reached her arm down to the floor and pushed a lever to its far left with all her might. She then reached back up to the wheel and pulled a separate lever halfway, then did the same to a nearby key. Ukraine held the key carefully and watched the dashboard light up faintly. The two women sat awkwardly, mounted against each other, impatiently waiting for the tractor to heat up. Finally, Ukraine twisted the key completely, and the tractor let out a heavy, metallic roar. A cloud of thick, black soot shot out from the pipe in front of them, startling Belarus.
“Блядь-!” She cried, her shoulders tensing up. “I-I know it’s coming, and it still scares me!”
Gradually, the tractor drove around the garden and to the home that housed it. The women traveled a single mile for an eternity in the slow tractor before finally coming to a stop as they found themselves in front of the back door.
Ukraine’s heart was caught in her throat. She could feel her heart beating rapidly as blood pumped through her veins. The touch of the termites still lingered on her fingertips. She trembled and fidgeted with her gloves before entering the house. Ukraine jumped as Belarus put her hand on her shoulder, and she turned to her, puzzled.
“Ukraine… darling,” Belarus sighed, speaking quietly to not scare her sister any further. “Please don’t be so nervous, you didn’t mean for this to happen.”
Ukraine looked at her gloomily. “Of course not,” she frowned. “But, do you think Mama cares? If her house is in danger because of the garden, she will obviously launch herself at the gardener.”
Belarus frowned along with her and led Ukraine inside the house. She then locked the door behind them and began to assist Ukraine in changing out of her dirty boots. Belarus wiped the snow off with a small piece of cloth before switching to her bare hands and untying her boots. Ukraine watched with tenderness, sighing with relief as the tight wrap around her feet was released.
“Took you two long enough.” A low, raspy voice called out from a small distance. “Did you just go out and frolic in the fields for hours? Is that it?”
Hearing this, Belarus instantly stood up and faced the man who spoke. She froze, staring into his winter blue, but droopy eyes, before giggling awkwardly. “We wouldn’t do that to you, Russia,” She laughed. “You should try farming yourself before talking, you know.”
Ukraine murmured under her breath, “True.”
“And you should try not to get your brand new coat dirty…” Russia growled, stomping his feet on the ground. “I just bought that for you!”
“I’m only helping her out.” Belarus frowned, clasping her hands together behind her back. “Plus, I think you have enough money to buy me a new one, no?”
Russia approached the two sisters, placing his hand on his hip and raising his finger at Ukraine. “No, I don’t! And, can’t you see she is dirty?!”
“You don’t have to say it like that…” Ukraine sighed, kicking her boots off.
Russia scoffed, “Oh, never mind!” He took off Belarus’s coat unpromptly and hung it on a nearby rack. “This is staying here for now.” He then glanced over at Ukraine, staring at her up and down before beckoning her. “And you need to help with dinner, come on.”
Ukraine poked the sliced potatoes and carrots on her plate with a large, silver fork. Unintentionally, she was shifting her eyes around the small edges and nooks between the floor and the walls. Her eyes slightly widened as a small hole in the wall spread itself thin in the corner of the dining room, and she gasped to herself in a mildly loud whisper. Belarus instantly kicked her under the table, redirecting Ukraine’s attention back to her food.
“My little Ukraine.” A woman sips on her translucent, dull wine, gulping slowly before speaking. “What’s wrong?”
Ukraine turns to the woman, her mouth open but unable to muster up any words. Her fork continues to circle the plate slowly before Belarus chimes in and taps the woman on the shoulder. “Ah, she’s just upset because I handle the tractor better than her, Mama.” She glanced at Ukraine and nodded. “After all, I’m the one with the handbook, right-?”
“Shush, now, I was asking Ukraine.” Mama lifted her finger to Belarus, redirecting it to Ukraine. Belarus settles down disappointingly, but despite being upset, she goes back to chowing down on the eggs and pickles in front of her. “What happened?” She glared at her.
Ukraine nods slowly. “...nothing noteworthy, only what Belarus mentioned. That is pretty much it.”
Next to Belarus, Russia is unable to sit still and swallows every last bite of his food, finishing before Ukraine even begins to eat. He looks up to his Mama once he finishes, and then back at his plate.
“Well, are you going to eat?” Mama shrugs before taking the plate from Ukraine’s hands and handing it over to Russia.
Ukraine scowls to herself as she does this. “H-hold on-!” She called.
Mama brushes her off and watches as Russia takes the plate desperately, salivating as it lands in his grasp. “Let your brother have it, he needs it for work.” Ukraine only sighed, and she turned away furiously, clenching her fists under the table. Mama scoffs and raises her hands. “It’ll get cold with you! Might as well give it to somebody who’ll eat it!”
“Mama, salads are prepared cold.” Ukraine untucks her hair from behind her ear and lets it fall beside her face, shielding her from Mama.
“Oh,” Mama pouts, “Yes, you’re right. Sorry.”
As Ukraine watches the rest of her family feast, she pats her stomach as she continues to stare off into the walls, looking for more cracks and holes. The silence feasts with the four, as well, munching loudly.
Once Russia finishes Ukraine’s plate, he pushes it out of the way and rests his elbows on the table, tilting his head around at his mother. “Mama,” He questioned, “Where’s everyone else? Why aren’t they eating with us?”
Mama slowed down her chewing, and she set her fork down. Mama looked at her three children bitterly before answering. “They’re fending for themselves. I wanted it to be just us four tonight.” She replied coldly.
“Ooh!” Belarus sang. “Special treatment? I don’t mind it at all, Mama.”
“Now, now. It’s not ‘special treatment’, my white angel. While you’re all equal to me…” Mama hid her chuckle behind another bite of salad. She then tucked Belarus’s light, fairly blonde hair behind her ear carefully, admiring her symmetrical features and beauty. “It seemed I couldn’t find my way into the rest of my children’s hearts, but there’s an exception to every rule, isn’t there?”
Belarus nods as she blushes, cupping her face softly.
“You three, I can definitely connect to. I’d say tonight’s dinner was a lot more efficient than the others,” Mama sighed, now shifting her focus to Russia, who was hunching over and already eyeing Belarus’s food.
Ukraine raises her eyebrow and crosses her arms. “How come?”
“Let’s see… hm.” Mama glanced around the room, searching for words in her head. “Russia, my son, I don’t even have to explain.” Russia shrugs and boasts about himself to his sisters, claiming he was the favorite, but Mama instantly shut him down. Mama then turns back to Belarus. “Angel, I’d say you’re almost as intelligent as me! Not to mention you love reading.” Mama chuckled, swinging her head around as she finished her glass.
Belarus squeaked, “Almost?”
Mama’s head finally turns to the lonely woman beside her. “Oh, Ukraine,” She sighed. “You work hard. Just like your mama.” Mama then crawled her fingers over to Ukraine’s arm, and she squeezed her tight. “Just like your mama…” She repeated.
Russia then stood up and prompted his mother to stand, and she did. “It’s late, time to go to bed.” He sighed.
“It’s because I’m drunk, isn’t it?” Mama laughed, “I’m drunk again!”
“It’s exactly that.” Russia groaned, helping his mother walk straight and out of the dining room. Belarus giggled and watched as Russia led her upstairs.
Once the two were gone and out of sight, Belarus pushed her plate towards Ukraine and smiled. “Hungry?”
“Of course,” Ukraine rolled her eyes playfully and devoured the salad in an instant. She sighed loudly as she set down her plate, “Thank you!”
Belarus picked up the plate and began to clean off the table. She let Ukraine sit with the food for a while. “Anytime,” she chirped. “Uhm, so, what are you going to do?”
“I’ve decided I’ll say nothing yet. I want to try to fix this myself before Mama notices.” Ukraine turns to the cracks in the wall and frowns. She directs Belarus’s attention as she points to them. “They’re already here.”
Mama rested in cotton sheets, wrapping herself in a thin blanket. She giggled as her son tucked her in tightly, shifting around in her blanket persistently and resisting as her son tried to get her to sleep.
“Stop it, I’m not tired…” she moaned, her eyes closing gradually. “But if you insist!”
Russia chuckled slightly. He leaned down and gave his mother a peck on the forehead before stepping away and exiting her room. “Goodnight, Mama.” He waved.
Mama didn’t answer. Instead, she yawned loudly and turned over in her bed, clutching the bedsheets as she shivered.
Ukraine watched from downstairs as Russia tiptoed out of Mama’s room, holding her breath, terrified that he’d notice the illness in the walls. Instead, Russia just happened to notice her. “Hey, you.” He whispered, waving hesitantly.
Ukraine relaxed, and she waved back. “Hello.” She gave him a crooked grin. “What do you want?”
“Nothing, nothing. I just didn’t see you standing there,” He shrugs. Russia breezes down the stairs and stops before reaching the first floor, staring at Ukraine. “Come, come.” He called.
Ukraine climbs up the two steps her brother didn’t take, and she nods, “Hm?”
Russia speaks lowly, cupping his mouth with the palm of his hand and whispering in Ukraine’s ear. “You know, Mama’s been sick for ages now. It’ll get worse if she doesn’t get the nutrition she needs.” He sighs, now slightly covering his mouth with both palms.
“Yes, I know.” Ukraine raises a brow, matching the volume of Russia’s voice. “It sounds like you want me to do something about it.”
“You know a thing or two about medicine. Do you think you could begin to grow herbs that could improve her health?” He chimes, clasping his hands together and hunching as he speaks.
Ukraine pouts. She lets out an exhausted sigh before shaking her head slowly. “I’m sorry, I can’t help you.” She shrugged, “Try talking to Mrs. Meyer, she knows better than I do.”
“Mrs. Meyer is on her honeymoon, I’m not going to disturb her.” Russia scoffs, finally stepping down from the stairs and shoving his hands in his pockets.
Ukraine follows. Puzzled, she asks, “I thought they got married back at the start of October?” She lifts her hand to her chin. “Well, none of us were invited to the wedding, so I don’t know.”
“Doesn’t matter!” Russia cried. “That’s our mother up there, and I don’t want to say it… But she’s-” He chokes, coughing loudly and arching and swallowing. Ukraine instantly reaches over and pats Russia harshly on the back, helping him finish his sentence: “She’s dying. Do something, Ukraine.”
Ukraine holds Russia as he leans on her with weak legs. “Technically, we’re all dying, no? Your mother is just one of many.”
“Must you be so cold about this?” Russia grumbles, slowly wrapping his arms around his older sister’s shoulders. “You are so, so cruel, Ukraine.”
“I’m not being cruel. Both of us know I can’t do anything for her now; it’s far too late,” Ukraine murmurs as Russia wraps himself around her, but she doesn’t return the warmth. “Just wait until Mrs. Meyer returns, and you can sort out something with her.”
Russia tightens his grip on Ukraine’s shoulders, and he lifts his head. “I doubt she’ll want to help, unless we pay her the money we don’t have.” He stares at Ukraine solemnly, softening his gaze.
Ukraine only steps away and pushes Russia’s hands off her, murmuring the words ‘I’m sorry’ before walking away and disappearing.
Writing prompt on the concept of rotting with @cangelala !!
