The Secret of Dinswood

by Ellen Alexander

  The relay events were organized by class. The first race would be run with the seventh and eighth graders competing against each other. The teams from the ninth and tenth grade would go next, followed by the eleventh and twelfth graders. Doug had already done some scouting around and found out that their greatest competition would come from one of the eighth-grade teams. Bobby Wilcox was captain of the team that had won all of the relay races last year. Emma had seen Bobby’s name and those of his teammates on the bulletin board, but until now she hadn’t really thought much about it. Apparently, Bobby had been bragging to Doug for the last two weeks that his team was going to win all the races again this year. In truth, Bobby did have a strong team. All of the boys on his team had played soccer before coming to Dinswood Academy and, as each team was required to have at least two girls, Bobby had been sure to recruit two very athletic girls as well. Janet and Barb had some gymnastics training, and as a result, they were very strong. Emma didn’t see how they could be beaten but stranger things had happened, and she was willing to give it a try.

  Bobby’s team was going to be running right next to them, and as they tied their middle legs together in preparation for the race, they had to endure the taunts and jeers from Bobby’s crew, most of which were directed at Doug. Emma looked over at Doug to see his reaction. If Bobby was getting to him, he wasn’t letting on. In fact, Doug never even looked up. Emma felt her blood begin to boil. This was supposed to be fun, but the competitive nature in her had been aroused, and she intended to do her best to wipe that smug smile off of Bobby’s face. She looked over at Martha and could tell from her grim expression that she was thinking the same thing. Just then, Doug raised his head. Although he didn’t say a word out loud, his expression spoke volumes. Bobby couldn’t resist one final zing.

  “Your team might as well not even run, Harwood. You guys don’t stand a chance.”

  “We’ll see, Wilcox,” Doug said with deceptive calm.

  Before Bobby could say anything else, Dean Harwood gave a short toot on his whistle and told the teams to get ready. The first pairs lined up on the starting line and waited for the whistle that would begin the race. Emma and Martha would go first for their team, followed by Phil and Tom, and then Doug and Sebastian. Janet and Barb would be going first for Bobby’s team.

  Deciding to start off with their outside legs, Martha and Emma waited for the whistle. Dean Harwood brought the whistle up to his mouth, and in a moment, they were off. Although Martha was a little taller than Emma, their strides still matched up pretty well, and they made good progress across the lawn. Janet and Barb, however, were making even better progress and reached the oak tree well ahead of them. Then disaster struck; in the process of turning around, Janet and Barb got tangled up and ended up on the ground.

  All Emma and Martha had to do was make the turn without falling, and they would have a sizable lead to hand over to Phil and Tom. Coordinating their turn ahead of time, it was agreed that Martha would swing wide as they made a turn to the right. When they got to the tree, Barb and Janet were still trying to get untangled, but Emma knew it wouldn’t be long before the two girls would be hot on their heels. At a signal from Emma, Martha swung around, and before Emma knew it, they were facing back the way they had come.

  Up ahead they could see and hear Doug and Sebastian waving their arms wildly and hollering loudly to urge them on. All too soon, Janet and Barb righted themselves, but they had lost their momentum. Emma and Martha, on the other hand, had found their rhythm and moving as one, they headed toward the finish line, reaching it well ahead of any of the other teams.

  Phil and Tom made it down to the tree and back with no mishaps, but by the time they reached the finish line, their lead over Bobby’s team had been cut in half. Doug and Sebastian were really going to have to hoof it if they were going to win.

  They started off well enough, but Doug was quite a bit taller than Sebastian and had a longer stride. They almost fell once and then Doug adjusted his stride to match Sebastian’s. Moving more smoothly now, they made their way across the lawn. That stumble, however, had cost them. Bobby and his partner Dave were now dead even with them. When they reached the tree, Bobby and Dave swung around in a wide arc, bumping into Sebastian. Whether it had been intentional or not was difficult to tell, but if it had been done on purpose, their plan backfired. Sturdy as a mighty oak, Sebastian maintained his balance, but Dave stumbled, causing Bobby to stumble also. Doug and Sebastian took advantage of their opponents’ difficulties, smoothly negotiating their turn.

  Screaming at the top of their lungs, Emma and Martha cheered Doug and Sebastian on. They came down the home stretch with Bobby and Dave right behind them and closing fast. Right before the finish line, Bobby and Dave pulled up even with Doug and Sebastian, and it looked like, despite their best efforts, Bobby’s team was going to win. Doug, however, had other ideas. At the last moment, he took one long stride with the leg that was tied to Sebastian’s. With supreme effort, he pulled Sebastian along with him and both boys fell over the finish line in what must have been mere hundredths of a second ahead of Bobby and Dave. They’d done it! They had won! Jumping up and down, they clapped each other on the back in congratulations and cheered as if they had just won a gold medal.

  Bobby and his team were devastated. “You better enjoy this one, Harwood,” Bobby said angrily. “You won’t be winning any of the other races.”

  “Don’t need to,” Doug replied with a smile.

  Doug was exactly right. It didn’t matter whether or not they won any of the other races. They had the immense satisfaction of winning this one and seeing the look on Bobby’s face when he’d been beaten. They’d taken the wind out of his sails, and their names would be on the bulletin board right beside Bobby’s team, assuming his team won at least one of the other races.

  Dean Harwood blew his whistle to get everyone’s attention, and then the other grades ran the three-legged race. However, none were as close as the one between the seventh and eighth graders. The relays lasted well into the afternoon, including a wheelbarrow race, a leapfrog race, a sack race, and several others. Bobby’s team won the wheelbarrow and leapfrog races but faltered in the sack race. Another team had the honor of beating Bobby’s previously undefeated team. Doug made a point not to be next to Bobby’s team in any of the other races, and as a result, the other races were the fun they were intended to be. The antics of the contestants were hilarious as they tried to crawl, hop, and jog to victory. When the races were over, most of the teams had won at least one of the relays, and everyone, with the exception of Bobby perhaps, had had a lot of fun.

  The last event would be the tug-of-war, and just as in the relays, the seventh grade would take on the eighth grade. The tug-of-war teams would be comprised of the captains of each of the relay teams. As Doug was their team captain, he would be on the seventh-grade team, and since Bobby Wilcox was also a team captain, he would be on the eighth-grade team.

  Emma was glad she would just be a spectator for this event. The strongest boys and girls from each of the two grades would be pulling for their class and a place in the Dinswood history books. Judging from the participants on either side, it looked like it was going to be a real battle. Once again, Dean Harwood stood ready with the whistle that would start the tug-of-war. An orange ribbon had been tied in the middle of the rope. The tugging would continue until the ribbon crossed one of the lines a few feet on either side of it, declaring the winner.

  The whistle sounded, and each side strained with all their might, their classmates cheering them on as they pulled. After several minutes of intense effort on both sides, the ribbon hadn’t moved an inch in either direction. It looked like it would come down to whichever team gave out first. Finally, the ribbon moved toward the eighth graders, and a groan could be heard from the seventh graders that were watching. In the next minute, the ribbon began inching toward the seventh graders. It continued moving back and forth like that for what seemed like an eternity. The strain w
as beginning to show in the faces of those on both teams. It would be over soon. Bobby Wilcox, determined not to lose, was shouting at his team to keep pulling. The seventh graders, on the other hand, were silent, putting all their effort into pulling. In the next instant, it was all over when, at a signal from Doug, the entire seventh grade team gave a sudden powerful tug on the rope. Caught off guard, the eighth-grade team was launched forward, and the ribbon crossed the line, giving the seventh grade the victory.

  A great celebration broke out amongst the seventh graders, and they streamed forward to congratulate the team that had just represented them so admirably. Emma and Martha rushed forward with the rest but were unable to reach Doug, who was already surrounded by several of their classmates. Doug looked decidedly embarrassed as he was clapped on the back. The other members of the seventh-grade team were being subjected to similar treatment, but instead of being embarrassed, they seemed to be enjoying all the attention. As soon as he could, Doug broke away from the well-wishers and began looking for Sebastian, Emma, and Martha. He didn’t have to look long, as they had just managed to get through the crowd to him. When they reached him, they formed a protective hedge around him and herded him away from the crowd to a spot under a distant and currently unpopulated oak tree. Gratefully, Doug sank onto the bench under the tree and blew out a relieved breath.

  “Thanks guys,” he said. “I was beginning to get a little claustrophobic. Can you believe all that fuss over a little game?’

  “You were great!” Martha said enthusiastically. “I wish you could have seen the look on Bobby’s face. He won’t be bragging anymore, that’s for sure.”

  “Yeah, but I’m afraid he’ll take his anger out on Doug,” Emma said worriedly.

  “Emma’s right,” Sebastian agreed. “Bobby’s been giving Doug a hard time all year, and this’ll just make it worse.”

  “Don’t worry about me,” Doug said. “I can handle the likes of Bobby Wilcox.”

  “Why doesn’t he like you?” Martha asked.

  “Beats me. As far as I know, I’ve never done anything to him. Before I started school here, I’d never laid eyes on him.”

  “I think he’s jealous,” Emma said, looking at Martha for confirmation of her theory.

  “Yeah, he sees you as some kind of threat,” Martha agreed with a nod.

  “And today you proved him right,” Sebastian added, concern evident in his tone.

  “Well if he gives Doug anymore trouble, he’ll have to fight us all,” Emma declared passionately.

  At that point Doug held his hands up and said, “Look guys, I appreciate your concern, but I’m not gonna let Bobby ruin my day. Let’s forget about him and go watch the other classes compete in the tug-of-war.”

  The others were only too happy to oblige, and the next hour was spent watching the competition between the upper grades. In the end, the tenth grade easily defeated the ninth grade and the seniors were victorious over the juniors. They didn’t see Bobby amongst the crowd, and Martha suggested that he was probably off somewhere pouting. Emma just hoped he wasn’t off plotting some kind of revenge.

  By the time the last tug-of-war was completed, the sun was setting, and the sky was beginning to go from pink to gray. The bonfires were lit, and everyone was provided with long sticks so they could roast hot dogs. Emma was famished and managed to eat two hot dogs. For dessert they could roast marshmallows, or if they were in the mood for chocolate, the school had provided the ingredients for s’mores. Emma lost count of how many s’mores Sebastian ate, but she had to agree they tasted delicious.

  The dance would be starting in another hour, so they would all have time to go to their rooms and wash up. After they’d finished eating, Martha and Emma left the boys to do just that. Emma was looking forward to her first dance. She didn’t really know how to dance, but she was willing to give it a try, assuming someone asked her. When she said as much to Martha, she was told in tones that brooked no argument that Doug most certainly would be asking her to dance. Emma was about to deny it, when upon entering the room they shared with Clarice and Susie, she spotted the big orange and black tiger on her bed. She was once again reminded of the look on Doug’s face when he’d given it to her that morning. Maybe he would ask her to dance after all. With that thought, and a dreamy smile on her face, she went into the bathroom to wash up for the dance. She had no way of knowing the danger that awaited her later that evening.

  After washing up, Emma and Martha changed out of the jeans they’d been wearing all day. Although the dance was supposed to be casual dress, Emma still wanted to look nice. Besides, they’d gotten grass and leaves on their clothes during the relay races. Emma changed into a pair of khaki slacks and a burnt orange blouse with three quarter length sleeves and a pocket in the front. She tied matching ribbons in her braids and sprayed a little bit of perfume on her wrists and behind her ears. Martha changed into a pair of navy slacks with a white blouse and a matching navy blue jacket. After refreshing her own perfume, Martha indicated she was ready to go. Just as the two of them were leaving, Clarice and Susie came in to get ready for the dance. Susie was chattering away excitedly as they entered the room, but it was obvious Clarice was not listening. Clarice eyed Emma’s outfit but made no comment. Words, however, weren’t necessary. Her look said very clearly that she wouldn’t be caught dead in what Emma was wearing. Emma immediately began to feel like she had the first day she’d arrived at Dinswood when she had watched the others unpacking their fabulous wardrobes.

  Martha had seen Clarice’s look, and as the door closed behind them, she sought to reassure Emma.

  “Don’t let Clarice get to you. You look great! I don’t think anyone’s wardrobe could come up to Clarice’s standards. Besides, guys don’t care about clothes, and Doug’s certainly not going to be concerned about what you’re wearing.”

  “Martha, I’m not dressing for any boy, especially Doug. I told you we’re just friends,” Emma said, and then felt guilty for lying to her friend. The truth was that she had dressed with Doug in mind, and she was hoping that he would ask her to dance; but she was still unsure about how Doug felt, so she didn’t want to admit it—not even to Martha.

  Martha wasn’t fooled, but she decided not to push Emma, and changing the subject, she said, “I’ve never been to a dance before. I don’t think I know how to dance. Do you?”

  Glad that Martha had changed the subject, Emma answered, “No, I’ve never been to a dance before either. I guess we should just sit the first one out and watch how everybody else dances. Then we can just do what they do if we’re asked to dance.”

  “Yeah, I guess that’ll work,” Martha agreed uncertainly. “I think I’m nervous. What if nobody asks me to dance?”

  “I don’t think you have to worry about that. The guys will be lined up to dance with you.”

  “Well, thanks for your vote of confidence, but I’m not going to hold my breath. If I get asked to dance even once, I’ll be satisfied.”

  “Me too,” Emma agreed. The rest of the way to the ballroom was completed in silence, each of them lost in thought as they tried to calm their nerves. Music was playing when they entered the ballroom. The school had hired a disc jockey from Benton, and he was already set up at a table in the far corner. The lights in the chandeliers were burning brightly, and several couples were out on the dance floor moving to the beat of a fast song that Emma had heard on the radio last summer. The ballroom had been decorated with a harvest theme. Bales of straw had been stacked along the walls of the room in levels that resembled bleachers and would serve as seating for those not dancing. The entire room was strung with autumn-colored streamers and balloons, and in each of the other three corners stood large scarecrows wearing bib overalls and straw hats. Numerous pumpkins of all sizes were artfully placed around their feet. Refreshments had been set out on long tables along the east wall. The refreshment tables were decorated with floral centerpieces composed of an assortment of orange, yellow, and red flowers. In addition
to the flowers, small pumpkins, colorful gourds and squash, Indian corn, and orange and yellow candles were scattered at regular intervals. The refreshments consisted of large bowls of punch, slices of pumpkin and zucchini bread, apple and cherry cobblers, and more of the cookies they’d had at lunch. For those who didn’t feel like indulging in sweets, there were vegetable trays with dip and large platters of sliced cheeses and summer sausage, surrounded by various kinds of snack crackers. Emma and Martha stood in the doorway for several moments taking it all in. A cough from behind let them know they were blocking the entrance, so with a deep breath to bolster their courage, Emma and Martha advanced into the room. The dance floor was pretty crowded, so they had to skirt around the edges of the dancers to find a vacant spot on the hay bales. They selected a spot not too far from the entrance and were content to just sit and look around for a while.

  Emma spotted Doug almost immediately, as he was a good head taller than the people around him. He was dancing in the center of the floor, but Emma couldn’t see who his partner was. Emma shifted her position in order to get a better look and kept watching. Eventually a hole opened up, and she could see that he was dancing with a girl Emma had seen around but didn’t know personally. The girl was in the seventh grade but wasn’t in any of Emma’s classes. The girl was a pretty, petite blonde, and Emma felt the first stirrings of jealousy. Martha had spotted Doug also and looked at Emma with raised eyebrows.