“I know. It’s awful.”
“Come. Don’t be afraid. He will not hurt you,” she said, beckoning James to come and stand beside her.
James resisted a little before nervously walking toward her.
“Here, Boxer loves to be stroked, so come over and touch his long, silky mane.”
“Polly, what are those awful marks all down his neck and back?”
“Oh, they are the scars from where he has been constantly beaten,” she quietly explained.
Tears instantly welled in her brother’s eyes.
“Oh, the poor thing. How beastly. How could anyone do such a thing?”
“James, I really have no idea at all,” she sighed. “How do half the terrible things that go on in this world happen? Why do people drop bombs? I have always had the torment of such hideous questions terrorizing me night after night as I wrestle with my pillow, and at least for the present I have stopped asking, for there appears to be no answer that could ever begin to satisfy me. I am learning just to do what my conscience tells me is right and not worry about what others chose to do or not do.”
“Hmm.”
“Here, keep stroking him. That’s it. Yes, James, as I was saying, I can’t allow my life to be plunged into the doldrums because others choose wickedness over goodness and hate over love. As Shakespeare himself once wrote, at least I think it was him, and therefore I quote: ‘Ours is not to question why. Ours—’”
“OK, clever clogs. Don’t get too brainy on me, for I think I get your drift,” he said as he gently began to stroke Boxer.
To quote Lady B., the surprise party that afternoon was an absolute blast.
So once more the day came to an end long before either James or Polly wished for. As she stood by the old jalopy still in her party dress as she waited to see him on his way, he turned, and with a serious and solemn face he looked her directly in the eye.
“James, what is it?” she politely asked
James began to stutter and tremble.
“James, come on. You’re beginning to really frighten me.”
Still he stood in an awkward silence, a look of high anxiety splashed all over his young features.
“Please don’t hold back from me. After all, I’m your sister, so spit it out,” she cried.
James still said nothing, as he sheepishly chose the moment to thrust his hand deep into his trouser pocket.
“This is all very mysterious. What are you hiding away in your pocket?” she nervously asked.
James reluctantly removed his hand from his pocket, bringing with him a small bundle of what looked like scrunched up notes.
“Here, Polly. I believe these rightfully belong to you, so therefore they should be in your possession,” he quietly announced.
“For me?”
“Yes, you.”
“James, tell me, what are they?” she quizzed.
“See for yourself,” he once again quietly responded.
“Oh my goodness. These are letters from Aazi! Tell me, James, where on earth did you find them?”
James hung his head low. “Promise you won’t tell?” he mumbled.
“Don’t be so daft! You know I’d never do anything like blow the whistle to get you in trouble. But all the same, you must come clean and tell me right away. Where on earth did you find them?”
“Well, remember when I was so upset that time Uncle Boritz told me he was unable to remember where he had placed all my models for safekeeping?”
“Yes, I remember, so go on,” she urged.
“Well, I eventually decided to do a bit of my own detective work.”
“Yes, go on.”
“Well, one day I waited until he was saying his usual good-byes to fat old Dr. Glumchops, and you know how boorishly longwinded and ridiculously verbose his good-byes always are,” he said as he then went on to reenact his sycophantic guardian.
“Dear boy, we simply cannot afford to leave it so long till we next meet, for our times together stretch both my imagination as well as my extraordinarily meticulous and virile wit. So good-bye to you, my good man, and please send my express regards and undying wishes to your awfully wonderful and most deserving wife, whatever her name might be.”
“Yes, yes. Oh, James, you’re so funny. I had no idea that you could imitate him so well,” she said as she broke into a laugh.
“Well, Polly, allow me to continue, for as his study door was partially open and his vicious guard dog was absent from guard patrol, I used the opportunity to sneak into his study to take a good look for myself.”
“Yes, go on,” she impatiently urged.
“Well, when I saw my models in his locked glass-fronted cabinet alongside all his awards and trophies, I decided there and then that it was now or never. I was going to take back what rightfully belonged to me—yes, my property.”
“Goodness, you are really brave!”
“No, Polly. Brave isn’t the right word. Angry and desperate best describe how I felt at the time, for I’d had just about a bellyful of his lame excuses.”
“Or rather, his downright lies,” Polly quickly interjected.
“Yes, well anyway, using a small screwdriver I managed to pry opened the door to the glass cabinet, and that was when I found them. I was really shocked when I realized that the bundle of letters had been kept from you, and so I decided there and then that it was right to take just a few of them. The reason I only helped myself to a few was so as not to arouse unnecessary suspicion.”
“But what of your precious models, James?”
“Well, I made the decision to just leave them where they were, as I thought retrieving some of your letters was far more important,” he quietly commented.
“Oh, James, how caring and unselfish you are. You are such a wonderful brother. I cannot thank you enough,” she cried.
The two of them stood for many minutes locked in a meaningful embrace.
“Oh, and before you leave, James, I too have something for you,” Polly said.
She suddenly produced a paper bag she had deliberately kept hidden away in her canvas shoulder bag that she had carried around all day, except during the party.
“Here, James. These are for you.”
“What’s in the bag?”
“Take a quick nose and see for yourself.”
“Luverly jubbly! Wow, six sticks of sugary rock to get my teeth into!”
“Well, mind you clean your teeth thoroughly after eating them, else you’ll have plenty of new cavities to deal with.”
“There you go again being my over-bossy sister.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just force of habit,” she said, breaking into a generous smile.
“I know it means you truly care, so thank you, Polly. It’s really kind and thoughtful of you.”
“Well, I promised you I’d get you some rock, didn’t I?”
“Yes, and this time you kept your word,” he reminded.
“I have never once intended to do otherwise,” she quipped.
“Well, once again, thank you, Polly,” he said as he reached over to give her a tender, brotherly hug.
Lady Butterkist, who had been standing to one side stroking her pooch, moved forward and quietly announced that it was time for James to get in the car, as she had promised his guardians that he would not be late getting back.
“Polly, you need to let go of James. There’s a dear, for Giles has to get him home at the agreed time. Otherwise I’m amply sure there will be fireworks, and lots of them!” she gently reminded.
Polly was reluctant to let go of her younger brother.
“James, please hold in there, for I will be back soon, and this time we are going to stand together. All right?” James nodded his head and then tried to break free of her clasp.
“Polly, I’ve got to go,” he said, looking more than a little downcast.
“Take care,” Polly quietly whispered as James made himself comfortable in the backseat of the old jalopy. The car began to slowly
move down the gravel path, and James quickly stuck his head out of the back window to give her a final wave.
“Polly, please come home soon,” he loudly shouted as he then sat back on the seat. Polly could see him wipe tears from his eyes as they pulled away.
She watched until the car had completely disappeared from sight, and then she went back into the manor house to find a quiet corner, a place where she could privately read the handful of letters she had desperately longed for and had taken what seemed like an eternity for her to finally receive.
Finding herself that highly desired quiet corner, she slunk down onto the floor and tightly closed her eyes, as over and over she promised herself that she must not shed a further tear this day. So much for promises, for as she read letter after letter she could only resort to shedding more tears, for the letters made her laugh, and they also made her cry.
So, she determined to write him another letter the very next day. In this letter she would try her best to explain all that had taken place and why suddenly she had stopped all meaningful correspondence.
She was most happy to hear that he had done as she had specifically requested by licking off the splodge of chocolate on the bottom of each letter she’d sent, for he confirmed the chocolate to be truly delicious. He then went on to tell her that he had considered doing likewise; only as chocolate was in short supply in his region of the country, he was intending to end each letter by squashing a tasty roasted beetle or grasshopper perfectly cooked on an open fire, but then knowing Polly as he did, he wisely came to his senses and concluded that she would feel far to squeamish to even give these little African delicacies a try. He also felt concerned by a certain letter sent by her that assumed he wore no clothes. He went on to inform Polly that in some ways she was correct in her thinking, for indeed, there were many tribes in the forest that wore very little in the way of garments, but his tribe wasn’t one of them.
Polly, of course, was very relieved to hear this.
She allowed the tears to flow freely as he privately shared a large number of heartaches he had been forced to face since returning from Piadora, and he freely admitted that there had been many times that, like her, he had wanted to give up, for they had him no longer believing in Piadora or anything else associated with it. He also broke the news to her that since arriving back at the village, his eyesight was now deteriorating rapidly with each and every month that passed by. There was some talk of taking him to see a specialist eye doctor in a nearby town, but they needed to save a lot of money first if this was ever to happen.
“I need another miracle,” he wrote.
Polly wept at that sad piece of news. “Oh, Aazi, why do I ever complain about my life when you too have the most unbearable struggles to overcome?” she sobbed.
Polly slipped the letters back into the envelopes, and with her eyes closed, she held them close to her heart.
“Aazi, I will always love you. And we will see other again, and you will know immediately who I am, blind or not blind,” she whispered as she stayed for a while in the darkened room to calm her restless spirit and dream once more of Piadora.
Chapter Forty-Three
ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END
MANY WEEKS LATER and Polly was once more called to go and see Lady Butterkist in the drawing room, this time with Lucinda.
“Girls, come and sit down, and then make yourselves comfortable,” she said as she patted the comfortable sofa beside her.
With the girls both seated she began. “I have nothing but the deepest admiration for the both of you.”
“Thank you, Lady B.,” they happily replied.
“Both you girls have exceeded all my expectations in just about everything you have put your hand to. And, judging by the way you relate to the staff, as well as all the other young adults, I perceive that both of you are developing some very close and abiding friendships. This is most touching and rewarding for me to observe. I cannot even begin to tell you just how proud I am of both of you. Aunt Bessie also informs me that both of you have caught up with schoolwork, and so you are on target, proving my theory that you not only have pretty faces but you’re both highly intelligent as well.
“However, that said, I feel this is the perfect time to tell you that I will be going away for a week or so, as I have a few very important things to which I must attend. When I return, it will almost be time to bring this holiday to a close, and then sadly for all, we must head back home. Polly, you, my dear, will be returning to the castle. And as for Lucinda, well, you, my dearest, will have to be ever so patient with me. I have spoken with your parents this very morning, and as of yet they have not come to any decision as to whether they are able to have you home. If at the end of the day their answer is a firm no, then Lucinda dear, you are going to need to be very brave, as I will be left with no other choice but to deposit you back at Hellingsbury Hospital.”
On hearing this latest ghastly piece of news, Lucinda immediately collapsed to the floor. “Oh no, Lady B. Please don’t send me back there. I beg of you,” she cried.
Polly instantly dropped down beside her, and with an arm around her friend and tears in her eyes, she looked up and begged Lady Butterkist to go and visit Lucinda’s parents and persuade them to have her back.
“Lady B., don’t they realize how awful that hospital is? Please don’t let this happen. There must be something you can do,” she wailed.
“I’m sorry, Polly. I promise you that I am doing all I can on Lucinda’s behalf. I too will be bitterly frustrated if I am forced to take her back, but I will have no other option, other than to fulfill my original obligation.”
“Obligation!” Polly cried in utter dismay.
“Yes, obligation, and watch yourself, Polly dear, for once more you’re repeating me, something I find rather irritating to say the least.”
“Oops. Sorry.”
“Apology accepted. Now, listen to me. I promised to ensure that on Lucinda’s return she would be brought back to the safety of the hospital with its specialist team of doctors, although having been introduced to some of them, I personally am left completely at a loss as to where some of their so-called specialist skills truly lie,” she muttered. “And in Dr. Ninkumpoop’s case, I believe it to have been more on the golf course!”
“Lady B., you of all people are able to do anything and everything! So please think of something,” Polly begged.
“Look, girls. I will continue to put pressure on Lucinda’s parents, but in the meantime I need both of you to keep on track and have some faith. Believe me when I say that nothing is set in concrete, so you need to keep your hopes up by not allowing yourselves to go downhill,” she wearily cautioned.
“Yes, Lady B. We promise that we will try our utmost,” Polly assured her.
“Yes, remember, it’s not over until the fat lady sings, besides which, I still have a few undisclosed cards up my sleeve. So, I will leave you girls alone while I go to make some tea,” she quietly stated as she reached for the door handle and quickly disappeared.
“Oh, Polly. What am I to do?” Lucinda despairingly bleated.
“Honestly! At this exact moment I have no idea, except to say we must do as Lady B. instructed and hang on in there.” Polly tried her best to encourage her friend as she remained on the floor hugging Lucy as she attempted to comfort her.
“Polly, you know that they will lock me away forever in one of those awful padded cells, and then I will go horribly mad,” she wept.
“No you won’t, Lucy. I’m certain Lady B. will never allow that to happen to you again,” Polly said as she tried to reassure her very dear friend.
“Polly, I know at present you want to help, but you wait, in a few months’ time you too will surely have completely forgotten me. And then what?”
“Don’t say such things, Lucy! How could I ever forget or abandon you? It’s never going to happen. Look, Lucy, I promise if the worst comes to the worst, and you are sent back to the hospital, I will sneak o
ut and come visit you as often as I am able. If when we meet up you’re down in the doldrums, I will do all within my power to once more make you laugh. I will also bring you special little treats. You have my word.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, I promise, Lucy, but we are getting a little carried away with ourselves, for as of yet we know nothing of how the matter will fall, and Lady B. has given us her assurance that she will keep on trying.”
“I hope she will,” Lucy moaned.
“Lucy, although at the moment everything seems hopelessly bleak, I know for sure that Lady B. will not leave things as they are, for it’s simply not in her nature, if you know what I mean. So let’s try and trust her, shall we? Surely you agree that she is much too stubborn and bighearted to just walk away from this latest problem.”
“Hmm, never a truer word spoken,” Lucy said as she quickly began to brighten up.
“So Lucy, let’s just try and enjoy the remainder of our time together,” she enthused as she gave her dear friend an encouraging hug.
The next several days turned out to be very precious, as both girls sought to make their last days together really count. They raced each other up hills, and then with arms spread out like the wings of an eagle, they pushed against the wind as they soared and then swooped downhill toward the valleys below. They also paid regular visits to dear Boxer to whisper endless sweet nothings in his ear, as well as shower him with tasty pieces of apple and carrot and occasional sugar lumps they had sneaked from Aunt Bessie’s kitchen storehouse. They also took Lassie the Scottish border collie for plenty of long walks over hill and dale as they took it in turns to throw large sticks for him to chase after. They also saw to it that Lassie got her fair share of cuddles, as well as the odd terribly nice treat.
Many a day they chose to walk barefoot through cold, rippling waters as they chased scores of minnows and tadpoles on their journey downstream, and they made each other fragile daisy chain necklaces and weaved colorful flowers into each other’s hair. Lucy seemed obsessed with picking posy after posy of wild woodland flowers, which she would then conscientiously arrange in small glass vases before placing on top of Polly’s bedside locker.
The Trouble with Polly Brown Page 66