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Olav Bringa and Per met that year too at the river the day the sheep were sent away. They took stock of each other: they were tall and brown and thin. They had herded the sheep for the last time. Next year they would be working on the farm, and some little kid or other would have to run about herding.

"Are you so very glad?" asked Olav uncertainly.

At once Per felt it too: he had been happier in previous years when the herding had ended. Why was that?

They lay on the bank skimming stones across the river. Thinking. There was something missing; they had no desire to yell at the tops of their voices and take wild leaps. The bank was thick with windflowers, the tall, coarse windflowers that last far into the summer. The young aspens were pale green. They were not glad.

Ought they to be?

Yes, they ought. It was said over and over again, and repeated in print, that these were the best days of their lives. And every time it was said, it was a lie.

The truth was, their hearts were heavy. If only they had known why it would have been a help.

Per asked, "Have you seen many of the others from school this spring?"

"No," said Olav.

"D'you think they've been herding sheep?"

"Don't know. Yes, I suppose so," said Olav crossly. "Åsne's been herding for her aunt. Did you know Åsne had learned to swim?"

Per stared at him. "No. Yes, I did. No, I don't know---"

"She told me so one day when I met her at the post office, a long time ago."

There was a long silence.

"I learned to swim this spring too," said Olav finally, and threw a stone into the water.

Per looked away. "I learned this spring too," he said, his mouth dry.

Long silence. Strange, shy thoughts.

"Shall we?" said Per, not knowing what to do next.

"Yes."

They threw off their clothes and swam in the river. They were not very good at it yet. The water was cool but not cold. The bottom was yellow sand.

Something nudged them.

Come! willed the current, wishing to go far and see many things. The water was clear. You could see the outline of England on Olav's back when he floundered.

They climbed up onto a big flat stone and lay there lonely in the sunshine with their shy thoughts.

Their bodies dried. They were both equally tall and equally slim.