by Janie Brians
Lizzie was very quiet on the ride home. The bar never left her hands and her fingers seemed to be memorizing every crack and indentation on it. Dinner that evening was a bit subdued until her dad asked, "So Lizzie, have you come to a decision about what to do with the bar?"
“I....l think.... I mean, it would be great if it was gold . It'd be worth an awful lot of money,
wouldn't it?"
"Thousands of dollars." her dad replied simply.
"But it's so heavy for such a small bar that there's probably not much gold in it," her mom added comfortingly.
"Thats right," Lizzie quickly agreed with a look of relief in her eyes. And looking down at the bar she had brought to the table, she added "So... I think we should keep it."
With pride in his eyes and a smile on his face, her dad said, "It’s settled then. Our 'gold bar1 stays with us , a treasure just as it is."
And so, with that bar and the four brass nails, they began what they called, 'The Jones Discovery Collection.' An old, very thick wooden table that Darlene had found at a yard sale was fitted with a frame around the edge and covered with a thick sheet of glass. Under that glass, they kept their 'treasures' on a bed of sand. Over the years, they added to their collection from trips in the woods or to the beach. A starfish washed up on the beach and after being set outside for several days to get rid of the smell, it was put in the collection. The abandoned shell of a molting Spider Crab was added one summer. Anything they found that was curious or held the suggestion of a mystery became part of their collection. Each thing had a story behind it, real or imagined, and they remembered every one. But it was always with a special pride that they'd tell the story of the 'gold bar1 connected, as they were sure it had to be, with a pirate ship or Spanish galleon.
CHAPTER TWO
YEAR FOLLOWED YEAR and saw Anne and Lizzie growing up. Island life seemed to give them plenty of time and plenty of activity to fuel their imaginations. Walks on the beach were also opportunities to find more things to add to their collection, and if they were on the south shore at sunset, they were usually rewarded with the orange, pink, and yellow splashes of color that washed the evening sky.
On some holidays, a group of 15-20 families would gather on one of the more 'deserted' beaches. Dads with boats headed out to do some spear-fishing while moms and kids stayed on the beach getting the grills ready for the fresh fish to come. Grouper, Red Snapper, and Hogfish were the favorites. The men would bring their catches to the beach, clean and filet them right there and then the Bahamian friends would set to work performing their magic. No one knew how to season fish better. And nothing went better with Bahamian fried fish than Bahamian peas 'n' rice, Johnny Cake and a huge tossed salad. For dessert - coconut tart or guava dough, pronounced "duff”, or a little of both if you weren't counting calories. An island feast indeed!
New Year's Day 1972, while they waited at Williamstown Beach for the fishermen to return, Lizzie, Kate and Anne decided to walk over to the inlet and watch the boats entering or leaving the nearby marina. They were soon followed by Pauly and Chris, two boys who had become their friends soon after they moved to Freeport. Pauly was, in fact, Paul Darnell, son of James and Rebekah Darnell who owned a very elegant men's clothing store in the Bahamas Princess Hotel. James and Rebekah were both originally from Nassau. Their warm openness and casual elegance made J.R. Darnell's a most popular place. Paul, or Pauly as his friends called him, had the same open friendliness as his parents did and the girls had taken to him immediately after meeting him five years ago. He was Lizzie's age and three years younger then Anne. Soon, they became a foursome: Kate, Lizzie , Pauly, and Anne. Through Pauly they met Chris Dean. He lived with his maternal grandmother, Winnie. She was a tender-hearted woman who always seemed to have some private joke to laugh about. Many times she would invite the four of them to the house for some heavenly creation from her oven. They never missed an opportunity for that. Chris didn't know his father and only saw his mother occasionally, so Winnie was parent and grandparent all rolled into one and it was obvious that he loved her dearly. Since the girls' grandparents were far away in Ohio and they only got to see them occasionally .Lizzie and Anne seemed to adopt Winnie as honorary grandma. She was glad for it and always greeted them with a hug and a kiss when they came to visit. It didn't take long for Chris to become part of the little group of friends. Over the years, both boys became like brothers to Anne and Lizzie. This, of course, naturally meant that the boys had a tendency to treat them like sisters, with all the pestering and teasing that that entitled them to. The girls retaliated by barely tolerating them at times.
"Why do we always have to walk to the inlet," Chris whined, as they all followed Kate down the beach.
"YOU don't," was Anne's short reply.
"Every time we come to Williamstown beach you want to walk to the inlet," Paul chimed in, "let's do something different this time."
"Like what?" asked Kate walking on ahead.
"Let's go back to the graveyard. Maybe we'll find some more bones."
"Why are boys such morbid creatures ?! Bones- YUK!" Kate cried.
"Come on." Pauly pleaded, and looking at Lizzie and Anne, he said, "maybe you'll find something for your collection."
"I have no intentions of adding bones to our collection, but if Lizzie and Kate want to go I'll go too," Anne replied.
"You silly boys, go on and look for your disgusting bones. I'm going to the inlet." Kate said
rather condescendingly. "Come on!" she said to the girls. Lizzie never liked being commanded to
do something, so that was enough to set her running after Pauly and Chris.
"Wait up guys!" she shouted.
"Such a tom-boy." Kate said in disgust.
"She's only 12 years old Kate. And they've always been like her brothers." Anne said in her sister's defense.
"There are better things to do than climbing around revolting old graveyards. I've got something important to tell you, but you have to promise not to tell anybody." Kate said as they sat down on one of the biggest boulders that made up the entrance to the inlet.
"I promise. Now what is it ? Did you finally talk your parents into buying you a car?"
"No, silly. You're such a child sometimes, Annie."
Somewhere along the line Kate had begun to change. As kids, she and Anne had done practically everything together. Shared each others secrets as well as each others dreams. But lately Anne felt that they were starting to head in different directions. Maybe that was normal for two girls in their mid- teens, but still, Anne didn't like Kate talking to her as if she were so much younger. After all, there was only one year's difference in their ages.
"I'm in love, Annie." She said it like it was the first time it had happened. Teen-age girls fall in and out of love several times a year so this was nothing new. And especially not for Kate. Her luxuriously wavy auburn hair, perfect peaches and cream complexion and womanly figure had made her very popular in school. More than once she'd been pursued quite ardently.
"Who is it this time ? Danny?" The most popular boy at school.
"He's just a boy, Annie. I'm in love with a 'real' man, not a boy. And he loves me and wants to marry me as soon as I finish high-school."
Trying to appear blasé about her news, Anne asked," So how old is he then, the ripe old age of twenty?"
"Ha! More like......well never mind. We promised we'd tell no one until I finish school. Just
believe me, you'll be surprised when you see who it is."
"What about your parents, Kate? How will they feel about it?"
"Oh, they'll get used to it. They'll have no choice." she replied self-assuredly. Anne was to remember that conversation later. For years, she would be haunted by that day and the single recurring thought:" Why hadn't I paid more attention then? Maybe I could have prevented...." and she would never be able to finish the thought.
The boats returned to shore and everyone headed back to the group to help finish preparing the
meal. Anne had developed quite an appetite. Lizzie and the boys had returned a few minutes before, and were busy telling everybody that they had found what looked like two or three very old graves way back in the woods.
"At first we thought they were just a couple of piles of very old rocks, but when Pauly pushed away all of the rocks from one corner there was a skull staring back at him!" Lizzie explained, her brown eyes opened wide with excitement.
"A skull? A human skull?" Anne asked incredulously.
"Yeah! After lunch I'll take you there and you can see for yourself."
"After lunch I might not want to see a human skull, Lizzie."
"Oh come on Annie. Don't be a snob like Kate."
Everyone devoured the scrumptious food. Anne wanted more, but at fifteen she was already in the 'watching the figure' mode. In order not to feel guilty about what she had eaten, she agreed to walk with Lizzie to see the graves. Pauly and Chris came too, but Kate said she'd rather stay with the adults 'thank-you very much.' By mid-afternoon clouds began to roll in and a strong breeze blew through the palms and pine trees. They were glad for it. Back in the woods without the benefit of the breeze coming in off the ocean, it could become sweltering in the sun. But this time clouds and a stiff breeze were cooling things off comfortably.
"Over here," said Lizzie, "its not far now."
"Where's Chris ? I thought he was coming too," Anne asked as she looked around. "Maybe THEY got him," Pauly said mischievously. "WHO got him ?" Anne played along.
"THEM."
"BOO !" yelled Chris, jumping out of the bushes.
Anne jumped in spite of herself and then gave Chris what she hoped was a withering look while
he and Pauly congratulated themselves. Just then a streak of lightening cut through the darkening clouds and was soon followed by a thunderous clap echoing overhead. The young people hadn't noticed the approaching storm and before they had a chance to look at the skull, the rain came pouring down.
"We'd better head back! I don't like being around all these trees in a thunderstorm!" Anne yelled over the sound of the pouring rain.
"Yeah, let's get out of here!" Chris said over his shoulder as he ran ahead. They all started running back but Anne hadn't run more than a few yards when her foot caught in a vine and, before she could catch herself, she fell forward. Rather than falling in sand, or the blanket of brown pine needles that usually covered everything, she hit something hard and then slid down it, dragging vines with her. Finally, she hit the softer sand below. Lizzie came sliding down after her.
"Annie, Annie! What happened ... are you okay?"
"I....I think so. I lost my balance and slid down this hill or whatever it is."
"Ooh...your legs are pretty scratched up! Can you walk?...here, let me help." By this time the rain was coming down in torrents. Chris and Pauly had run back to find out what had happened.
"Ouch! I must've twisted my ankle or something. I can't put my weight on it." Anne cried as she tried to stand up.
"Pauly, you and Chris go get help. Get my dad. He'll have to carry her back!" Lizzie yelled through the wind and driving rain. The boys ran off, disappearing in the rain. Lizzie sat down and
the two sisters huddled together for warmth.
"Don't worry, Lizzie, it's not bad. Probably just a sprained ankle or something. What a ditz I am "Together, they sat there in the rain hoping that none of the nearby trees would be struck by
lightning. Then Anne saw something that she hadn't noticed before. Dragging the vines with her
as she had fallen, she had uncovered what looked like a small cave.
"Look Lizzie, is that a cave?"
Lizzie reached over and pulled at the remaining vines that covered it and they could see the opening. The cave was no more than four feet high and probably six feet deep. Inside was a dry, sandy floor.
"Let's go in there and wait," she said, as she helped Anne crawl over to it. Holding onto the cave wall for support, Anne felt something metallic on the outside face of the cave.
"What's this ? Looks like some kind of coin or something embedded in the rock." She pointed it out to Lizzie, who tried to pry it loose.
"Here, use this." Anne said, as she handed her a sharp-edged stone from the floor of the cave. Lizzie picked and dug at the metal object until she felt it loosen from the rock.
"Wow! It looks like a ....whatya-call-it.... a medal-...."
"You mean a medallion? "Anne said as Lizzie handed it to her and climbed into the cave.
"Yeah, and look at it! It has some kind of engraving on it!"
Anne examined the object closely. The engraving wasn't very clear. Years of wind and water had smoothed it down a great deal, but there was still a faint imprint left. It had turned green with oxidation which they knew was a sign that it could be made of brass. Just then, they heard the boys and their dad coming, so Anne dropped the thing in the pocket of her jeans shorts. Lizzie waved them over to the little shelter as Anne crawled out.
"Let's get you back to the car, sweetie. Then we'll take a look at your ankle." Her dad said as he gently picked her up. The five of them proceeded single file back to the car.
The doctor said she should stay off of her ankle for a few days. But, after just one day in the house, Anne was getting restless so her parents invited some of her friends to come visit after school. Kate came over but said she couldn't stay too long because she had 'other things' to take care of and she gave Anne a look that said 'you know what I mean.' Then she hugged her and did her best to entertain Anne with news from school. She told her which girls were dating which guys and who had broken up with whom and the news that was buzzing around the whole school about a romance between Miss White and Mr. Hall because they'd been seen standing very close together talking .....on and on it went just like when they were younger. Yet Anne knew that there was more and more of her own life that Kate was keeping from her. Things she wouldn't, or perhaps couldn't, tell her. Anne felt a little sad at the thought of it.
Pauly and Chris rode over on their bikes after school one day to see how she was doing. Winnie had sent some brownies with Chris and Anne was amazed to see that neither he nor Pauly had 'sampled' the goods. They all enjoyed them together.
Malcolm McAllistair came for dinner that evening, as he did most evenings when he didn't have a date. He had become part of the family over the last five years and somewhere along the line Lizzie and Anne had started calling him 'Uncle.' He would always tell them when he'd acquired some new addition to the museum. Once, he found an old anchor half buried under one of the reefs on the north shore. It had been so thickly encrusted with barnacles that he'd been looking at it for an hour before he'd finally realized it was the shape of an anchor. He, Ed and some of the other divers from the Explorer's Club raised it and, although the owner of one of the hotels offered to buy it from him, he refused. Instead he put it at the entryway of his museum. An impressive piece of history to greet visitors to the Oceanic Antiquities Museum. It was eleven feet long, six and a half feet from fluke to fluke and had about three feet of chain from the anchor line still attached. Judging from its size and design, he thought it was probably from a British vessel of the 17th century. Just as the girls knew every piece in their own collection at home, the treasures in Malcolm's museum were also like their friends. They had learned about each piece and its history while spending many hours enthralled by the legends Malcolm would tell them. His enthusiasm infected them and developed in them a love for learning about the past. Whenever they found some new little treasure he was second only to their parents in seeing it.
After enduring his teasing that evening about her coordination, Anne said, "Uncle, I have something to show you. Something Lizzie and I found where I fell last Saturday. Come over to the table." Motioning to their collection table, she hobbled over to it.
"It was wedged in the rock. It looks like a large coin or maybe a medallion. What do you
think?"
"Ay, its too big for a coin,
I think you may be right about its being a medallion. What's this engraving? Looks like.....ay, 'tis a thistle," he said as he smiled nostalgically.
"Thistle?...What's that?" Lizzie joined in.
"A Scottish thistle, lass. Tis only one of the most popular symbols of your Uncle Malcolm's homeland, lass. This one has a crown around it, do ya see?"
"That's what it looked like to me. We cleaned it with some brass polish to see it better, but its so worn it was still pretty difficult to make it out. A thistle in a crown...what does it mean?"
"Could mean many things. Could be something like a trademark or logo of a business. Or it could be the pendant off somebody's necklace. I've seen something similar in Pringle's clothing store in town."
"So you don't think its very old then?" Lizzie asked.
"If there was a date on it, its been worn away so its hard to tell. But keep it anyway, it makes an interesting addition to your collection, don't ya think?"
"Yes. It was just so strange the way it was embedded in the face of that rock, though." Anne mused as she laid it back under the glass.
Turning toward the kitchen, Malcolm said in his strongest Scottish brogue," I dinna think I can last a moment more madam. Are we not ta supper-r-r yet?!"
"It's not a wise thing to rush the cook, Malcolm. You could wind up with burnt food," Ed said with mock severity.
"Okay everybody, its ready!" Darlene called out. Then to Malcolm she said teasingly, "It's not Haggis 'n' mash but it'll have to do you."
CHAPTER THREE
AS THE GIRLS continued to grow, so did their island home and Freeport became a boom-town, both in construction and tourism. Two major additions to the hotels throughout the island were the International Bazaar and the El Casino. The latter was built to resemble the Taj-Mahal and drew people from around the world to take their chances at its tables. The International Bazaar was a very logical next-door neighbor to the casino. It offered goods and foods from far away places. A family from China opened a restaurant and gift shop there and competed for the patronage of oriental-food lovers with a Japanese family that also had a restaurant there. Stores from France, Italy, Spain, Great Britain and Africa added their cultural wares to the Bazaar. And of course the Bahamian straw market, with its vibrantly colored creations, made the Bazaar complete.