As they pulled up into the yard, the sun was breaking through the scattered clouds, making the red brick farmhouse shine. Ben’s dad must have seen them arrive, as he came out to meet them, dressed in dark cords, a shirt and tie, and his slippers. He held his arms out to Ben and they had a quick manly hug, his dad saying he was glad to see him safe and well. Then Ben shyly introduced him to Marcie, who let Dave shake her hand firmly as he gave her a beaming smile, saying, “Welcome to Askholm Farm. I hope you don’t mind taking us as you find us.”

He ushered them back inside, where they caught the mouth-watering smell of the roasting joint as he took their jackets. As they passed the dining room, he pointed out that he’d laid everything out on the table ready for them, explaining that it barely ever got used otherwise. Marcie noticed there were four places set and asked if one of Ben’s relations was joining them earlier after all.

“Oh, no, nothing like that,” Dave said as they moved into the big kitchen. He seemed a little shifty or embarrassed as he explained, whilst hanging their jackets by the back door, “You must forgive a foolish old man, but I still set a place for Ben’s mum. You know we lost her six years ago? Well, it was a bit of comfort to imagine her still about the place, and I’m stuck in the habit now. You don’t think I’m too daft, do you?”

“No,” Marcie reassured him warmly, “I understand, and I think I know how you feel. Ben probably didn’t say, but I lost my own dad when I was seventeen. It’s hard to believe they’re really gone, isn’t it? It’s like that poem goes, ‘I have only slipped away into the next room.’”

“Aye,” Dave said earnestly, suddenly clasping her hand as if she were an old friend, “Aye, you’ve got it exactly right. That’s what they read at funerals, right enough. Now, I’m not exactly a man of faith, but there’s something you feel, isn’t there? How do the words go - they’re still somewhere very near, ‘Just around the corner.’ Oh, I’m sorry, my love,” he went on, dropping her hand, “I am sounding like I’ve gone daft, aren’t I? Maybe it’s seeing you. It’s reminded me, and I wish our Mum, Daisy, were here to welcome you too. And I’m sorry for your loss too. That must have been hard.”

“Thank you,” Marcie said with a kindly smile to the older man, “But I’m sorry too, I didn’t mean to remind you of your grief. And please don’t worry, I’m quite sure you’re not daft. It sounds as if you’ve been very sensible and practical about the whole thing. It must have been hard when you’ve got a working farm to see to every day as well.”

“Aye, the farm’s always there. But let’s not get all maudlin,” Dave said, pulling his shoulders back, “It’s not really grief anymore, just habit, as I said. No, today’s a celebration! One of my sons has brought a girlfriend home who he’s not ashamed to introduce to his old man. It really is a delight to meet you, my love, and it’s very good of you to go through with meeting Ben’s grandmother and aunts too. It’s just such a shame that it’s on the heels of all your bad luck, Son.”

They got to talking about Ben’s trip to hospital and the fire then, whilst Dave put the vegetables on to boil. Marcie was very keen to help, and eventually persuaded the older man to let her make the gravy. As she cooked the flour in the beef’s juices, with the delicious-smelling meat now out of the oven and resting, Ben mixed drinks for them all, with Marcie joining Dave in having a gin and tonic whilst Ben helped himself to a bottle of his dad’s homebrewed bitter. And all the while, they talked about Ben’s news.

Ben didn’t hide the fact that his lung condition was chronic, but he tried to play down the severity of his asthma attack in the gym. Dave got the details out of Marcie in the end though, and thanked her effusively and earnestly for saving his son’s life. Then, once they’d talked about his hospital discharge, his GP visit and the compensation claim, they discussed Ben’s move to Marcie’s nice clean flat. Ben explained a little about the neighbours and his plans for the shared backyard, though he silently noticed that both he and Marcie had managed to avoid any mention of Richard at all. But then the conversation turned inevitably to the fire.

Marcie described the scene as they’d arrived, explaining that Ben had been quite upset. His dad was very sympathetic, and asked if Ben wanted to go through his old things upstairs to see if there was anything he could take back up to Newcastle to replace the lost clothes and things. Ben said he wouldn’t do that today, as they had luckily already brought all his essentials around to Marcie’s flat, as he still called it. He also explained that he expected the insurance to pay out without any trouble, so he could buy new stuff when he was ready. He also explained that they’d planned to have a bit of a sort of what was already in Marcie’s flat first anyway, and perhaps bring some boxes of things they didn’t need back down to the farm for safe storage, which of course his dad agreed to. But Marcie again mentioned the severity of the loss, expressing her deep sympathy for how it come on the heels of Ben’s bad news about his lungs. She said what a shame it was that Ben had lost his irreplaceable model ships especially. Dave smiled sadly at that, saying that he remembered Ben’s Lego models as a boy. Marcie showed enthusiastic interest at this, explaining that their neighbour’s boys were very into their Lego too. Dave then told her that Ben’s bricks were still upstairs in the box room if they wanted to pick those up today at least.

But Dave then asked if the police and fire brigade had made any progress with their investigations into who might have done such an awful thing, to start the fire in the first place. They’d brought the food to the table by now, and Dave was carving the joint, having put an empty plate down for Ben’s missing mum. On Dave’s instruction, Ben poured the wine from the bottle of red that was already open on the table. He’d quickly confirmed with Marcie that she should have a glass, racking up her glasses now just like his dad, whilst he’d just stick to water so that he could do the drive.

Then, returning to their main topic, Ben explained that the detective who was investigating the arson had actually just spoken to them on their way down that morning. Though he said they’d better not go into the details, the detective had told them that a couple of suspects had already been caught. Dave gave his own opinion that it sounded very fishy that the fire had happened just after Ben had started to get serious about his claim, as if someone connected to the Trust really hadn’t wanted an independent safety audit. Then he explained that he often worried about the lads he employed on the farm, as there was only so much he could do for them in the dairy, whilst the cows and machinery could both knock the life out of a man. He explained he had insurance though, and stressed that he couldn’t imagine trying to cover things up if someone got hurt. But then he apologised for dwelling on such serious things, and deliberately changed the subject by saying they should make a toast.

“Well, here’s to your good health, now you’re in the care of the professionals, Ben. And here’s to the two of you. I hope you have a wonderful future together,” Dave said, raising his wineglass.

They each took a sip of their drinks, Ben still on his beer, then Marcie boldly made a toast of her own, saying in a respectful tone, “And here’s to those who couldn’t be here today.”

“Aye, for your Mum,” Dave said earnestly, nodding towards the empty space, “And for Adam, may the seas keep him safe.”

They drank again, then tucked into their food, Dave complimenting Marcie enthusiastically on the gravy. She returned the compliment by praising the meat wholeheartedly, then asked with an apparent innocent curiosity, “So has Adam brought anyone special home to meet the family recently?”

Dave laughed, then said, “No, not yet. He’s kept us waiting longer than Ben. I sometimes wonder if one day he’ll just turn up at the doorstep with a young woman he’s found somewhere across the seas. Maybe she’ll already be his bride, maybe she’ll even be already carrying his baby. I imagine her coming from somewhere like Latvia or Estonia, and not having great English.”

“And would you be okay with that?” Marcie asked bluntly, making very brief conspiratorial eye contact with Ben.

“Aye, of course, if she’s made Adam a happy man,” Dave answered without hesitation, “They’d be welcome here, welcome to call the farm home. Though I’ve known for a while that neither of you boys are farmers really, are you?”

Ben admitted he didn’t think he was, “It’s okay,” his dad reassured him, “It’s not the business it used to be. There’s not much of a place for family farms these days. It’s all big business, and I can’t say that’s not progress. People buy their milk in supermarkets, and they get a better product, which stays fresher for longer. The cows can get better looked after on these giant farms too, in a way. They’ll have little robots following them around soon!”

“But on a traditional farm, as I understand it, you’re not just about maximising productivity. Do you think perhaps you’re a steward of the land too, keeping an eye on the natural wildlife of the living world too?” Marcie asked cautiously.

“Aye, I think you’re right, my love,” Dave agreed earnestly, adding, “A good farmer has an eye for that. ‘All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,’ as the hymn goes.”

“So what about the wildlife on Askholm Farm then? Ben said you breed farm cats, but I think he mentioned you had a bit of trouble with rabbits here,” Marcie innocuously prompted.

“Aye, the cats look after themselves. They’re half-wild, right enough. I just pull out the toms once they’re weened to pass on to others that want a pet,” Dave said with a small laugh, “And the rabbits have a warren up by the copse. Ben could show you after lunch,” he added, and Ben muttered his agreement, then Dave went on “But I’ll be honest with you, it’s the badgers that worry me.”

“Oh, because of bovine TB,” Marcie said sympathetically.

“Aye,” Dave said seriously. Turning briefly to Ben, he went on, “Do you remember Naomi and Tom? They’re old friends of the family, Marcie love, and their Ashleigh was our Adam’s girlfriend for a while. But they got TB on their farm, what, three years back? It was just before the foot and mouth, though of course we got off lightly with that hereabouts, thank the Lord. But they had to lose their whole herd. It was a terrible thing, nearly broke Tom. They got compensation for the animals, but it’s like the line’s broken now, all those generations, raised from birth in their sheds. They’re just growing fodder now, to sell to the likes of us who’ve still got our herds.”

“That sounds terrible,” Marcie said.

“Aye, well, there’s always a silver lining, isn’t there?” Dave said with a smile, “Their Ashleigh’s at home with them now. You know she got out of the vets when she started a family with Fergus, Ben? Well, they’ve got three boys now, and Ferg is still doing the blacksmithing - there’s always plenty to keep a farrier busy hereabouts. But anyway, she’s starting up this luxury camping business on some of the old meadows, with her parents’ help. Tom tells me that she reckons folk will come out from the cities to spend a few days in the countryside, sleeping in a big old-fashioned canvas tent, around a crummy old log-burner, and pay hundreds of pounds for it! Maybe there’s something in the novelty of it, the feel of the thing, bedding down all snug, still outside with the sounds and smells of the outdoors all around you. That could be the future, Marcie love, diversification, treating wildlife and nature as an asset, in our care, like you say. Did you want a second plateful, by the way my love? You’ve had a long drive today.”

“Just a little, thanks. I think Ben’s the one with the bigger appetite. But is that something you’re thinking about too then, Dave?” she asked, then giggled as she clarified, “Diversification I mean, not bedding down outside.”

“No, I’m too stuck in my ways. I won’t be doing neither now!” he laughed as he carved more meat for all of them and Ben topped up their glasses, “Maybe I am just the steward now, the caretaker, not the planner, the entrepreneur. That’s for others to do, I reckon. I look after the cows, give them a good life, I hope. And I look after the lads too. It’s not much, but it’s keeping the three of them off benefits. But I must be boring you, going on about people you don’t know.”

“Not at all,” Marcie reassured me, “Ben’s already mentioned some of the families around here who he grew up with. Wasn’t there a neighbour called Jamie who had horses on her parents’ farm?”

“Aye,” Dave said with surprise, “You told Marcie about Jamie did you, Son?”

“Aye,” Ben reassured him, “She knows she was one of my first girlfriends. But it was so long ago, there’s no reason for Marcie to be jealous.”

“Well, she’s certainly doing well for herself,” Dave said, “You knew she got into vet school? She aimed a bit higher than poor Ashleigh, I guess. Di and Clive still have their horses, and they’ve extended the stables. Maybe the livery brings in more than anything else for them now. But Jamie’s not on call for them anymore! The last I heard she’d landed a residency down in Newmarket, you know, working in their elite studs. I guess it doesn’t get more prestigious than that if you’re a horse doctor!”

“Good for her,” Ben said, genuinely without rancour.

“There are still farmers with horses around here then? I guess you have a local hunt,” Marcie probed.

“Well, aye, yes,” Dave said cautiously, “But maybe you’d better ask Ben’s grandmother about that. She was in with the masters and the huntsman when she was younger, and I think she still talks to those folk now. But you know that big march against the ban last year? It was a bit of a country versus town thing, or the shires versus London maybe, I don’t know if you city-folk saw it that way. Well, I reckon it split the country-folk too. I’m not much of a friend of the hunt. They’re not welcome here when they crash through the fences and upset the herd with their stupid bloody games of chase, pardon my French. I don’t know if you want to hear this, my love, but if you’re a farmer who’s worried about a fox, maybe if you’ve got chickens, then a shotgun solves the problem a whole lot quicker.”

“I understand,” Marcie said politely, “I’ll be honest with you too, Dave. I like natural wildlife and I’d love to see a fox out in the open countryside, wild and free. But I understand there’s got to be a balance, making space for nature, but not at the expense of the farmers’ livelihoods. The countryside we know and take so much pleasure from would be lost if you all went out of business, or if it all got ploughed up for mega-farms and landscaped for golf courses.”

“Aye, that’s how it is,” Dave agreed emphatically, but something else seemed to be on his mind. He drew a deep breath, then said, “I’ll be honest with you too, Marcie love. This is a terrible secret, and I wouldn’t tell a living soul outside the family, but I’ve sometimes used a shotgun to solve my badger worries too. Just in the autumn, when the sows aren’t farrowing. You can catch them at dusk. I just want to put them off setting up home too close to the pasture, do you understand?”

“That’s a terrible risk, Dad,” Ben protested, “You could be in serious trouble with the police, if anyone found out and spragged.”

“Aye, I know, but I just don’t want to lose the herd,” the older man said guiltily.

“Maybe it’s not worth it, you know, not until there’s word on an official cull,” Ben said firmly.

“You won’t mention this to anyone else, will you?” his dad said anxiously.

“Of course not!” Marcie said, reaching across to give his hand a quick squeeze, “You’ve got to do what you think is right, and we won’t interfere. And Ben already knows he can trust me with anything, don’t you love?” reaching out with her other hand to squeeze his big paw too.

“Aye, it’s all okay Dad,” Ben reassured him, as he felt Marcie pass on a parting grip, then release their hands. “I just don’t like to think of you taking risks. And I’ll look of for signs of a sett or digging, if I walk Marcie out to the copse after lunch.”

“Oh, it wouldn’t be so bad up there,” his dad said meekly, “That’s far enough out, probably. But I’m sorry to get all maudlin on you both again. There’s pudding yet! It’s not much, just a blancmange, but it was one of Ben’s favourites as a boy.”

“Oh Dad, you shouldn’t have,” Ben said, feeling a little embarrassed by what Marcie would think when she saw the pink wobbly dome of milk pudding.

“I know,” his dad replied with a smile, perhaps reading the wrong message into the signs of embarrassment, “You’re all grown up and sophisticated now, but it cheers me up too. We’ve got some hundreds and thousands to sprinkle on top. It uses up the milk too.”

“Full fat, I hope?” Marcie said, grinning herself.

“Aye, you’d probably call it gold top!” Dave laughed, pushing his chair back.

They stacked the plates and tidied the main course away into the kitchen as Marcie and Ben thanked Dave again for preparing a delicious and hearty meal. Then they gathered around together as Dave got the blancmange out of the fridge and turned the hemispherical fluted mould over onto a serving plate. As he shook it to release the pudding, he commented that he should have used the old rabbit mould, as they’d been talking about the little creatures. Whilst searching the cupboard for the hundreds and thousands, Ben commented that he was surprised his dad still had it, remembering that his mum had put the rabbit on broken green jelly for grass when he and Adam were young boys. As the pudding finally came free with an organic slurping noise, Dave responded by saying that he wouldn’t throw it away, and anyway, there may be children around the farm again one day. Ben guessed that he was thinking of grandchildren, but didn’t comment, concentrating instead on sprinkling the jolly colours of the hundreds and thousands onto the pink dome of the blancmange.

He carried the plate back through to the dining room as Marcie and his dad followed with spoons and bowls. As they sat down and his dad served, Dave said, “I’ve been a terrible bore, going on and on about our small world of country living. You’ve not told me anything about yourself, Marcie love. I’m not even sure what it is that you do.”

“Well, why doesn’t Ben tell you?” Marcie suggested playfully, “Don’t worry love, it wouldn’t be a test. I’m just curious how well I’ve explained it, even though we’ve not talked about it that much.”

“Right, well, you did A-Levels in proper bookish things like classics,” he began, and his dad nodded appreciatively, clearly already impressed, “She has so many books, Dad. You’d have to see it to believe it!”

“Aye, well I’d like that, to pop up to Newcastle sometime and see you both in your new shared home,” Dave said, smiling.

“That would be lovely, Dave,” Marcie responded warmly, then encouraged Ben go on.

“Aye. Well, after A-Levels you studied the law at Manchester University, so you could stay at home with your mum. But that was just your first degree, because you did your computer science master’s straight after that. That taught you computer languages like Prolog. Oh, and you studied lots of real foreign languages too. And then you moved to Newcastle, for a job at the university, but it’s like two jobs, because you’re working towards an information science PhD, and you’re also working in the universities’ Robinson Library, just three days a week. But it all links up, because information science is about using computers to work with things like library catalogues, but also for things we find on the Internet now, on the Web. And what you’re doing specifically, it’s like creating a web of meaning, linking everything to do with law, or not all law, just criminal laws and cases for now. But that means your computer will be able to think like lawyers, or help them to organise the things they know least. The way I imagine it, it’s a bit like one of those mind maps, do you know them, Dad? You put a word or a picture in the middle of the page, for an idea, then you draw lines with other words on, for all the things you think might link to that idea, then more lines from those ideas, and so on. And because computers are doing it, they remember it perfectly, like everyone’s date of birth, or when they visited their doctor. So people, lawyers specifically for Marcie’s computer, can find things they didn’t know, or forgot were linked.”

“Gosh, I’m very impressed,” Dave said, puffing out a lungful of air as if his head were reeling, “You know I love you and your brother, Son, and I’m very proud of you both, but I never would have imagined you’d catch the eye of someone who could do all that. A proper scientist in a university, inventing new computers!”

“I’m very impressed too,” Marcie said, grinning broadly, “I couldn’t have summarised it better or more clearly myself. Though I guess you’d call my ontology inference engine a computer program rather than a new computer itself. Anyway, you really do get what I do, don’t you love?”

“I didn’t think I did, but maybe I’m getting there, if you say so,” Ben said with relief, adding, “And that was a great pudding, by the way, Dad. It was a treat, bringing back happy memories, after so many years, like the roast too.”

“Well, it’s like dining in here, I don’t get the chance to enjoy proper meat or milk puddings at parties these days. They’re largely a thing of memory for me now, so I’m glad I could treat you two today. I’d love to chat more about your university, Marcie love, but did you two want to get off for your walk now? I can tidy up, and we can have a cuppa when you get back, when Granny and your aunts are here, Ben.”

Ben and Marcie agreed to that, then started helping to gather the dirty pots up, until Dave shooed them towards the back door. But as he looked down at the ranks of wellington’s lined up under the pegs where they’d hung their jackets, a thought seemed to occur to him, “You’d better borrow some wellies. It’s still a bit wet out, and you don’t want to step on anything in the farmyard in those beautiful boots, Marcie love. I noticed how smart they were when you first came in. You’re really taking care of the leather too, I can tell. I used to despair of Ben looking after his shoes as well as that when he was a young man. Here, I think we’ve got a spare pair that might be your size. You too, Ben, if you want to save your shoes. You can borrow Adam’s.”

Marcie modestly agreed to the older man’s suggestion, but Ben noticed the secretive smile on her lips, and guessed what she was thinking as she began unlacing her own long boots. He thought he’d also guessed why there were a pair of ladies’ wellingtons by the back door though, so as he slipped into his jacket he said, “Weren’t those Mum’s boots, Dad?”

“Aye, I keep them there. It’s a comfort for me, like we said earlier. She’s still just around the corner, keeping us company. It would make her very happy, you know, seeing you two together, making such a wonderful couple,” Ben and Marcie both made sympathetic and appreciative noises, smiling at him, and then at each other, but he went on, “Go on, away with you now! You’ve had enough of this daft old man for now. Go and explore, have some fun in the spring sunshine!”

Once Ben and Marcie had both stepped outside and Dave had closed the back door behind them, they both looked up to the blue sky with its scattered clouds, still smiling as they took deep breaths. Ben apologised for the smell of cows, this close to the sheds and dairy, but Marcie dismissed his worries, saying it was still better than traffic fumes and unwashed undergraduates. Then Ben confirmed that she wanted to walk up to the small wood that his dad had mentioned. Marcie agreed, but suggested they pick up her travel blanket just in case they wanted to sit down. Ben wondered if she was thinking of more than sitting to watch the view, but he didn’t comment.

As they took a diversion through the farmyard to go via the car, he pointed out the different buildings, including the converted barn that now had the family living in it. That prompted Marcie to say it was very interesting to hear the latest news about what Ashleigh was up to. As Ben took the blanket and Marcie shut the car back up, he lightly admonished her for being so cheeky when his dad had been passing on Ashleigh’s family news.

“What, with all that about her bedding people outside?” Marcie asked innocently, then laughed, before reassuring him, “But you know I’d never be too cheeky, don’t you? I’d never risk dropping a hint that you two had a deadly secret liaison.”

“Aye, I trust you,” Ben said meekly as he opened the gate into the field that would lead them to the copse. Then he remembered something else, “But what about that badger thing? I really hope Dad doesn’t get himself into trouble.”

“Well, maybe you gave him second thoughts about trying that again,” Marcie said more seriously, then went on, “But do you remember exactly what he said? ‘I wouldn’t tell anyone outside the family,’ wasn’t it? Doesn’t that mean he’s already thinking of me as a part of your family?”

“Aye, I guess you’re right,” Ben said thoughtfully, “Maybe he’d say he wouldn’t want to presume, or put any pressure on us, well, you know, to get married I guess. But maybe deep down he’s already recognised something, that you’re not just my latest girlfriend, but you really are my life partner.”

“Oh, this has all got a bit serious, hasn’t it?” Marcie said clasping his hand, “It was just supposed to be a nice day in the countryside, away from the city.”

“But that is where we’re at, isn’t it?” Ben said anxiously.

“You know it is,” she said, stopping in the field to take him in her arms, letting him plant a gentle kiss on her lips. Then she released him to take just his hand again and tug him onwards, saying, “It’s happened so fast, but I feel now as if I’ve somehow known you forever. And you proved that you really do know me, too with that resume of my work and research. Where on Earth did you hear about Prolog?”

“I must have seen it on one of your books, I guess,” Ben admitted, before checking with Marcie, “But you really are okay with this, with how Dad has taken it for granted, and with us taking the long view seriously?”

“Of course! But are you okay with it, more to the point, with all that’s happened to you?” Marcie asked anxiously, gripping his hand.

“Aye, it’s good. You know that you saved me, and you’re opening up a new world to me, a new sky for us to both soar into. And it just feels right, like I’m in the best place I can possibly imagine,” Ben admitted, smiling to himself as he swung their hands, “But Dad, he started calling you love, didn’t he? I think he really does like you. Then you seemed to pick up on it too.”

“Well, I guess terms of endearment go with different regions, like pet in Newcastle or Shona with her hen,” Marcie mused, “The way your dad used love maybe meant something a bit stronger, but it seemed to fit, as it did when I was talking to you too I thought. You don’t mind do you, love?”

“No, of course not! So long as you don’t, pet,” Ben replied cheekily.

“That’s all okay then! No, it’s better than just okay. It’s pretty much exactly what I was hoping when I thought of meeting your dad, that he’d warm to me. So maybe that’s worked out just as well as I could possibly imagine too. And I’m really finding out things about you as well,” Marcie said with a smirk, “Like blancmange being your favourite pudding. I wonder why that does not surprise me at all? I’d bet you’d like to have a pair of them served up to you even more, all wobbly and milky! Maybe we’d better get some hundreds and thousands for the cupboard back home, ready for you to sprinkle on some creamy treats whenever you get a bit peckish? We could even invite Shona around!”

“Don’t tease! I was embarrassed enough when Dad said he’d made it,” Ben said guiltily.

“Don’t be daft! You know it’s all okay, and in a way I’m not just teasing. Remember how much I wanted you to eat my boob last night, with all that creamy Communion nonsense? And maybe you’re dad’s not so naive either. Maybe it was his joke too,” Marcie went on as they began climbing a slight incline, “When he said he didn’t get to enjoy milk puddings at parties these days, I felt a bit sorry for him. And my boots had obviously really caught his eye. I am quite sure he is a real gentleman and would be horrified if I thought he saw me in any way but as a prospective daughter-in-law, so to speak, but the old proverb, ‘Like father, like son,’ did cross my mind.’”

“Well, I guess that can’t be helped,” Ben said cautiously, “And I guess I should be glad, just as you maybe should be flattered, like he recognises your true beauty. Perhaps I could just ask though, please don’t tease him as much as you do me. What was that you said about foxes, about seeing one out in the open countryside? Well, I’d like to catch a vixen at play out here too, but that’s just for the two of us.”

“Oh, I’d be very happy with that, to let Vixen free!” Marcie laughed happily, then tipping her head back to draw breath through her flared nostrils, as if trying to inhale the whole spring sky.