It was the beginning of the school year and the cool, brisk wind of the cloudy mornings let one feel summer had left and was not to return for the rest of the year. Daniel was walking down the old maple-lined path that would eventually lead to the Brighton schoolhouse one Wednesday morning. He carried himself straight and proud, had his books skilfully flung over his shoulder and held the end of the leather strap that securely bound them while they were bouncing off his lower back with every step he took. His other hand rested elegantly in the pocket of his trousers. The morning dew still hung on the grass and reflected the few lonely sunbeams that succeeded in fighting their way through the thick clouds that had dominated the sky thus far. These few rays possessed the power to turn the Eastern horizon a remarkable combination of orange and red as they peaked over the broad landscape of the freshly cropped field. Intrigued by this natural spectacle Daniel watched the glory of another dawn with wisdom unusual for a boy his age and realized that the sun’s efforts were in vain.
“It’ll be another gloomy day, I say.” he said to himself just in time to hear his name being called from a distance.
It was Benny Jennings, a boy of Daniel’s age, who lived on the neighbouring farm. Unlike Daniel, Benny was a bit plump, his cheeks were always slightly flushed due to the physical strain of keeping up with the rest of his friends, and his eyes sparkled with the glee and innocence of a child with no worries.
“Hi Benny!” Daniel shouted as soon as his friend was in earshot,
Benny huffed in reply, and taking a big gulp of air said, “I just saw you walking and thought I’ll catch up with you so that we can figure out a way to get even with Mary-Ann.”
“It’s all taken care of.” Carefully Daniel retrieved his hand from his pocket.
It was flexed into a fist and between his thumb and index finger hung what appeared at first to be a piece of dark cord.
Benny took a closer look, then his mouth fell open and his blue eyes became as big as saucers.
“You will distract Mary-Ann before the lesson begins and I’ll slip our little friend into her lunch box. Then when lunchtime comes around she will scream. That will get us even with her for ratting us out for taking the short cut through old Norris’ field.” Daniel held up his fist with the object still dangling from it to stop Benny from speaking, “Jimmy, the hired boy who helps Mary-Ann’s parents run their farm, was talking with Mr. Bale in the general store just this past Saturday and I overheard them complaining about an unusual amount of garden snakes in and around this area. So, it is only natural that one fellow might sneak into various objects such as Mary-Ann’s lunch box.”
By this time, Daniel was holding the poor creature by the head between his thumb and index finger, pointing its snout at Benny.
“That’s brilliant!” exclaimed Benny and the two friends continued their way to school excitedly talking about how this girl named Mary-Ann might respond to her uninvited lunch guest.
Mary-Ann McIntosh was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, was used to the best of the best in food, music, and clothing. Were she not so exceedingly arrogant and judgemental about anything and everything, one might consider her a pretty girl, but since boys at this age are not yet quite sure if they should go so far as to comment positively on a girl’s appearance, Daniel and the rest of the boys at Brighton school went a step further and openly proclaimed that she was ugly. Mary-Ann did not seem to notice being called ugly. She thought this all but a game; a game of teasing and annoying the object of one’s attention to the utmost bearable point. Boys thrive at getting a rise out of a girl, but any boy who knew Mary-Ann would rather hide in a bush of ragweed than draw her attention.
At the school house, while Benny successfully distracted Mary-Ann by pulling her blond pigtail and letting her chase him around the classroom a few times, the garden snake was transferred into the victim’s lunch-box just in time for their teacher to begin the lesson with an announcement:
“Students, please calm down and take your seats. I would like to introduce Olivia Ogden, a cousin of Benny’s. She has come from Alberta and will stay for the rest of the school year.”
Daniel took a look at Olivia and then whispered to Benny: “I didn’t know you had any relatives living in the west.”
Benny shook his head, “Me either until last night when Aunt Sophia brought her over to introduce her to the family. Looks like she is a distant relative, twice removed cousin, or something, and will stay at my aunt’s place.”
The morning passed relatively quickly and soon Daniel found himself mulling over his ham and cheese sandwich when he suddenly heard unfamiliar footsteps behind him. Strangely enough he had been in a very pensive mood for most of the morning and was startled by the person, who approached him.
“Hello, I’m Olivia. What is your name?” Olivia watched Daniel attentively as he hurried to swallow a piece of bread.
“Urgh…I’m…Daniel.” He managed to say.
“Daniel. You are Benny’s friend. I have heard so much about you. I have to say, though, you don’t look like a Daniel.” Olivia’s bluntness surprised him.
“So, what do you reckon my name should be?”
“Hm, you look more like a Matthew, to be honest. But don’t be offended, people tell me all the time that I look more like a Sarah.”
Daniel was too bewildered to make any kind of comment and instead looked at her with curious eyes. Olivia was a petite girl with long brown hair made up in a French braid. Her olive-like complexion and cluster of freckles on her cheeks made her green eyes sparkle unnaturally brightly. Her teeth were straight and white and when she laughed, she laughed with her whole body. It was an unearthly, magical laugh, almost fairy-like; it sounded like a child’s laugh, but it was even more catching. As she stood in front of him, dressed in a midnight blue dress and crisp white apron, looking like she was always ready to courtesy, Daniel could not help being convinced that when push came to shove she was able to stand her ground. Once more Daniel’s thoughts were interrupted, but this time by a high-pitched scream followed by a furious Mary-Ann emerging from behind the schoolhouse.
“You!” she pointed her finger at him, as she was walking up to him, “It was you, wasn’t it! How dare you! You foul, evil, slimy little beast!” she stopped to catch her breath. Then she noticed Olivia looking quite calmly at her and Mary-Ann refocused her attention onto her, “And you and your cousin. That fat boy, where is he? All three of you are low life scoundrels!” with that she stuck her nose in the air and retreated into the schoolhouse. Daniel, who felt his blood boil underneath his skin, was ready to run after her, but felt a gentle hand upon his arm that made him stop.
“Have patience, payback shall come, but all in good time.” said Olivia.
The remainder of the already cool September flew by in no time. The leaves of the trees began to turn bright orange and red and soon covered the maple path in a most delightful collage of colours. Normally, Daniel and Benny would enjoy the last days of bearable weather fishing, walking through empty fields or sitting in trees in old Norris’ orchard. This fall they were accompanied by Olivia, who happened to be an excellent companion to run with along the sand dunes and snatch warm cookies from Aunt Sophia’s kitchen windowsill. For the three, life could not have been better, even though Mary-Ann’s constant insults were thoroughly getting on their nerves. The boys had to promise Olivia, though, not to get even with Mary-Ann on their own account, but instead to wait until they received further notice from her.
It was the beginning of December and all those that considered themselves grown up were in attendance at the town’s meeting. The blistery cold wind had slowly died down during the afternoon and throughout the early evening the snow had proceeded to cover the earth with yet another layer. Olivia was sitting at the hearth of her cousin’s fireplace mending stockings by the flickering light of the heat source. Aunt Sophia had dropped her off at the Jennings’ and gone to the meeting with them when Daniel stopped by, since he did not feel like spending the evening alone.
“Have you decided what to write about for the competition?” asked Olivia over her needlework, but only Daniel answered, since Benny was looking through the pantry for food.
“I don’t know yet. The deadline is not until January anyway.”
“Well, I think you should write a poem. You can be very poetic if you want to be.”
“Huh?” Daniel could not believe his ears.
“Sometimes when you described the sunset while we were sitting in one of Mr. Norris’ apple trees you sounded quite poetic. If you win the creative writing competition in the New Year, you will get the publicity you need to start your career as a poet, since the best piece will be published in the Brighton Chronicle.” Olivia sounded very certain of herself.
“Poet?!” repeated Daniel and Benny, who had now joined them, in unison.
“Yes” she put down the needle, unfolded the sock, stood up and vanished into the den, “Here, use this to write down your thoughts.” She handed him a little notebook, “Oh, boys, before I forget. It is time for pay back. Betsy told me that her cousin Sarah-Jane was invited to a sleepover at Mary-Ann’s tomorrow. So, I will meet you at seven o’clock at the school house.”
The next evening the two boys were anxiously waiting for their ringleader. It was a cloudless evening with nothing but the stars as their witness. Olivia appeared at exactly seven o’clock with a big bulk of cloth underneath her left arm. As Daniel watched the little figure approach he could not help but notice once again the fairylike qualities that her presence brought about. It was impossible for him to explain what it was about this little creature, but whatever it was it calmed his nerves as soon as she reached them. In silence, they walked over to the McIntosh farm. It was quickly concluded that all of the inhabitants were assembled in the parlour and the window to Mary-Ann’s bedroom was just as quickly found. Outside the window grew a large and old oak tree, which Olivia began to climb. When she reached the window, she signalled Benny to throw up the bulk of cloth. It was untangled and hung strategically in front of the window to resemble the demeanour of a small person wearing a bed sheet. After this had been successfully accomplished the group stole away noiselessly.
Back on the maple path Daniel finally dared to speak, “What was that all about?” he asked slightly confused.
Olivia giggled, “Well, the wind will move it back and forth. It will scratch on Mary-Ann’s window and once she opens the curtains she will get a shock of a lifetime.”
“But there is no wind tonight!” protested Benny with disappointment.
“Oh, there will be wind.” She reassured them.
So it was, for all three awoke during the night to the freezing wind howling about. One can only imagine what happened at the McIntosh house, but it certainly worked wonders. Mary-Ann thought twice before insulting anybody and she was also a lot less eager to be teased by the boys. This was not the only matter Olivia was right about. Over the course of the next few weeks she drilled Daniel mercilessly to refine his “poetic nature”. Many a time he was on the verge of throwing his little notebook into the fire, however, something in Olivia’s presence always kept him from doing so.
The harsh winter weather raged on until the end of March, but by the time May was in full bloom the weather was as glorious as it could be. The time arrived for Olivia to return to Alberta. She was saying her good-byes to Benny and his parents, Aunt Sophia and Daniel and handed him a copy of the Brighton Chronicle.
“Will you believe me now?” she said in a low tone, smiling with sparkling eyes.
After she had boarded the train he opened the chronicle to a page that was dog-eared, looked at the page, smiled and watched the train disappear,
“Maybe.” He said to himself, “Just maybe.”
