One More Step

The rain prattled on the window together with the wind it made such a relaxing sound. The two girls sat next to each other in the greenhouse and drunk tea.

''I plan to make few things out wood for fun. Maybe the games we could play when we are bored. What do you think?'' She actually planned to make toys for children. Somehow that was her wish.

When they walked through the town she saw many interesting things. Sweets, clothes, shoes, but no toys.

For boys, she planned to make horses, tigers, bears and wolves. For girls, she planned to make simple dolls that could put clothes on and sell clothing separately. Or the girls could just sew the clothes themselves. Make kittens, dogs, butterflies and flowers...

She had all kinds of plans.

Anna was surprised by her choice. ''How did you come up with this idea?''

Kyra smiled. ''When I was small grandmother told me that good person should gift children something they could make with their heart. I think to make soft and hard toys and the opening store would be considered something new. Maybe we could make a cooperation with foreigner store or Jiang house with this idea. If we sell them the idea and just gain money without hard work isn't that fine thing to do. With the money earned from selling toys, we could do some humanitarian things.''

''What does that mean?'' Some things she would say Anna couldn't understand at all.

''We could buy food for poor, or provide a home for those in need. We could help one family at the time. And we don't have to do it in our name. We could ask the Chief to do it in the name of the foreign village. Like that, we wouldn't have any problems in the future.'' What she wanted to say they wouldn't draw their intention straight to them. And Anna understood.

Even tho she liked learning about medicine, doing something for others was something she started liking since she met Kyra. ''Is there anything I could help with?''

''Hmmm. I am not so good at sewing. I will make bodies for the girls and you make them cute clothes and embroider them. Wait I have one more idea. Why only dolls for girls? We can make for boys as well. I will make boys and make them different kinds of clothes, soldiers, guards, commoners, merchants. There are so many options. What do you think?'' Her eyes shone in delight.

As the rain slowed down the girls started their new idea. Every day Kyra would make a dozen dolls and leave them aside while Anna could make clothes only for one doll a day.

Few days later Kyra stopped making dolls and started making various animals. Day by day the house started filling with many strange things. They took empty crates and carefully put the toys inside. Days passed and then weeks. In the morning they would do their basic chores: Feeding the animals, cleaning the barn, putting some snow into the cauldron and adding firewood to keep the water warm. Then make food and then under laughter they would make this and that.

The girls had a good time. Warm house, full bellies and enjoyment and laughter filled their house every day.

But in the city, the people started panicking. The water levels rose by day and they had no idea how to stop it completely. The city itself was still high over water levels, but the place they placed the refugees was directly next to it. So a new wave of refugees that started escaping the place they stayed rushed at the city.

Thousands of people that had no food, no clean clothes and no roof over the head stood in front of the main gate and asked for help. And they got it.

Lord Jong just recovered from his injuries and arrived with everyone he knew to help them build new habitats for these people. As he stood on rain, all pale from the blood loss, he was called from behind.

''Lord Jong, you should be in bed. Why are you here?'' The crown prince arrived with the whole squadron of soldiers to help to build.

''I will go home soon. Just a bit. I want to help at least just a bit. These people have not even roof over their heads and I can't sleep well knowing that. My conscience wouldn't let me. '' He coughed heavily while his servants held his horse and looked up at him in worry

''Don't be foolish. If you get sick and something happens to you, our country would lose one of not so many nobles that still have a heart. Think of your family.'' Crown prince tried to persuade him while the rain fell on his head.

Lod Jong shook his head weakly. ''I do this for my family and their future. In the future, they can always hold their heads high as their elders never gave up trying to help others. I still feel that what I do is just not enough.''

The refugees could hear them even tho they didn't even speak loudly. The gratitude to them rose few more levels and when they went even down from their horses to help to build with their own hands they joined all in. Letting nobles doing something like this while they watched wouldn't be normal.

So suddenly they started vigorously building. The more building was made the whiter the face from Lord Jong became. After the whole afternoon passed Lord Jong just tried to keep the pace but stumbled after a few steps. His white face became greyish as the wound as it seems opened up and blood started coming out.

''Quickly take him back to his home. Fast!'' The yell could be heard from the crown prince and all rushed to bring almost unconscious Lord Jong to his horse. In such mud, carriages couldn't drive so only horses were used.

The word just came to the Emperor when he was about to release the court. Lately, he didn't sleep well as so many problems arose. Hearing what happened outside he wanted to snap again at ministers but gave up. With a heavy sigh, he just sat down.

''That stupid Lord Jong just fainted while trying to provide new homes for the refugees. His wound opened up and now he has a high fever on top of that. Send him the palace doctor and the best medicine. We can't lose such a good minister. About the rest of you... I don't care if you die. Don't dare to look at me with those eyes. Do you even know why I say this?''

Of course, they had no idea about his meaning. ''If you can let those refugees die, then you can die as well. Simple as that.'' He stood up and went back to his palace, leaving ministers and nobles to think about his words.

Few nobles and couple ministers just looked at each other and soon they and their guards, servants and everyone else that could spare hand or two, went to help to build a new village near town for the refugees. Then another wave came with food. This time Lord Jong just sent the rice for the food and servant and guards to help them.

The rains stopped for a couple of days, just enough for the new housings to be finished. But soon the rain turned again to snow. Fortunately, the people had a roof overhead. Lord Jong's people started sending all kinds of blankets and beds. All homes had fireplaces where they would sit by day and night to at least warm their bodies.

The days passed. The river flooded the fields under her at least ten times since the refugees got the new village. They were thankful for warm food and roof over the head. But since days started getting warmer they had a feeling that they should go home as soon as the wheater gets better.

News from other provinces showed that water is receding and soon they could go back.

The warmer days turned snow slowly into the water and when last snow was gone and roads walkable again, the small carriage came towards the capital with two girls that had rosy cheeks and smiles on their lips.

The carriage was filled with all kinds of strange boxes and bundles. The sun shone upon them as they descended at Jiang store and smiled brightly at the small girl. ''We are back. Can we talk to your elders?''

The small girl was so happy to see them that she started jumping almost like a rabbit and rushed to call everyone.

Soon the elders came together with Lady Jiang. ''Welcome Anna and Kyra. How have you been? Are you fine now? How can we help you two? '''Rain of questions flew towards them, making them chuckle.

Anna started answering one question by time. ''We were lazy whole winter, so we have been fine. I think we have a business idea and we want to show it to you first. Are you maybe interested?''

Lady Jiang accepted even without thinking twice. ''Good. Close the doors so we can talk in peace.''

Kyra rushed to stop them. ''Could you help me bring the stuff from carriages over here. Then you will understand.''

They brought all the packages on the big table and when the girls opened one bundle after another, one box after another their faces turned strange and then smiles appeared on their faces.

''This... How did you get this idea?'' Lady Jiang held beautiful made doll, that had movable wood parts, in amazing dress and remembered she had a similar dress in the store when the girls were here.

But other things were even more interesting. Boy dolls?

''Yes. Boys like things like fighting, riding, hunting. So why not. Having one doll turn into whatever he wants to be is a nice touch. One day he can be a soldier that fights for the glory of the country, another time he can be great writer or poet, or maybe hunter fighting ferocious beasts.''

She opened one box filled with all kinds of animals bringing them out one by one.

Gasps could be seen through the store.

Anna smiled while holding Kyra's hand and watching at their amazed expressions. ''This is Kyra's idea. Trough winter we were a bit bored and she started carving a few things and got an idea about the toy store. Store only for children. I know its new thing and it might not work but at least we could do a good thing or two if we succeed.''

''A toy store. Then it is a new thing. Do you have more ideas about what else could be sold there?'' LadyJiang saw potential.

Kyra shook her head. ''In fact, I didn't plan pure toy store. More Kids Only department where children could buy all from clothes to shoes to hats and then toys. Like that, the parents would join to look for things they need and not really need.''

She took one of the soft toys and went to a little girl. ''This is my present to you. I call this fluffy toys.''

The girl saw a cute dog made with hanging ears looking at her with big eyes. When she held him it gave her cuddly feeling and she had wished not to let him go, ever.

She let everyone touch fluffy toys and explained how they are made. The explanation about each toy went the whole morning and when the girls came out they could literally feel hunger hitting them.

With a smile on their faces, they rushed to the restaurant to hear that grandma had problems with her legs because of the change of wheater so they felt sad. At least they saw grandfather.

''Granpa please tell granma to slow down. She still needs to see her grandchildren getting married and she should meet great-grandchildren. Don't you think?'' The girls ate heartily and gave a few presents to them.

When they came out of the restaurant they almost collided with the person and suddenly a cold voice called them. ''You two...''