Ophelia has been staying with her Uncle Digory for what felt like an eternity. Her parents trusted him the most to look after her while the war was going on and Ophelia was more than happy to spend time with her uncle. He was definitely one of her favorite people in the whole world. As a child, he would tell her all about a magical land called, Narnia. It was a world filled with trees that danced and animals that talked and the most amazing lion named, Aslan. She always tried to get to Narnia whenever she could when she was a child. After a few years she gave up, her uncle saying to her, "If you are truly meant to find Narnia, Narnia will find you". She had hoped her uncle was right, but she had given up most of her faith.
Today, a family was coming to stay at her uncle's house. The professor had written back and forth with their mother about them staying there and Ophelia had learned that there were four children, but she couldn't remember their names. Nonetheless, they were coming today so she would get to see them soon enough. Ophelia woke up around 8, Mrs. Macready had just left to pick up the kids. Ophelia smiled and rushed to her dresser to pick out her outfit, she couldn't wait to have other children in the house with her. After dressing, Ophelia headed downstairs to grab some breakfast with her Uncle.
"Good morning Uncle Digory!" she said giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. He laughed quietly, "Good morning to you too, Ophelia. You're quite chipper this morning! Excited about the Pevensie children arriving"
Pevensie, that's their surname! she thought to herself.
"Oh yes, Uncle! It's going to be so fun having other children in the house with me! Don't get me wrong Uncle, having you for company is more than grand but it's nice to know I'll have some company from people around my age."
Her uncle laughed at his niece, she had spoken without pausing to take a breath for at least 60 seconds.
"Yes Ophelia, it will be quite exciting to have them here with us," he paused and leaned in closer to Ophelia and whispered, "let's hope Mrs. Macready feels the same way." Ophelia winced, "She won't."
Ophelia and the professor had finished breakfast just as Mrs. Macready arrived back home with the Pevensie children. She quickly brought her plate to the sink and rushed to the door.
"Aren't you coming, Uncle Digory?" He stood and brought his plate to the sink just as she did.
"Not now dear, I have some work to finish up. Let them know that I look forward to meeting them later on today." She nodded, "Yes, Uncle".
Ophelia raced downstairs and saw them in the parlor.
"Good morning, Mrs. Macready!" Ophelia said cheerfully knowing it would startle and annoy her. Mrs. Macready jumped and turned around. She took in a deep breath and said, "Oh Ophelia, good I'm glad you're here," she then gestured to the four people in front of her, "These are the Pevensies. This is Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy." Ophelia smiled and reached out her hand to Peter, "Very nice to meet you! I'm Ophelia Collins, the professor is my uncle." Peter shook her hand, obviously taken back by her forwardness and kindness.
"Nice to meet you too. Where is your uncle, we would like to thank him for letting us stay with him."
"My uncle is busy working right now but he said he is very excited to meet you later tonight."
Peter nodded and then Ophelia offered to show the Pevensies to their rooms which "the Macready" greatly appreciated (she would do anything to avoid interacting with kids). She lead them after their rooms, Susan and Lucy's room was first. "Here we are, Susan and Lucy. You'll be sharing a room with me if that's alright."
"Of course it is" said Susan, "Come on Lu, let's set up all of our stuff." Ophelia then lead the boys down the hall to their room. "And this room belongs to you boys. Just down the hall from your sisters and I." Edmund immediately went inside and put his bag on one of the beds while Peter stayed at the door. He turned toward Ophelia and smiled, "Thank you again, you've been so kind to my siblings and I. It means a lot to me, I'm supposed to look after them." Ophelia could tell he was nervous, "I know how you feel, I have a brother but he's 18 so he's off fighting in the war with my dad. I've never had to really worry about anyone younger than me, but having your dad and brother fighting in a war and you don't know if they're going to come back is pretty terrifying". Peter laughed and turned toward his brother, "Wow Ed, you're already unpacked!" The younger boy looked at Peter with an "are you kidding me" sort of look before saying, "I am capable of being a competent human being, Pete. Just because you don't believe in me,"
"Edmund that is not true!" Edmund just looked sad and angry and frustrated all at the same time. Ophelia's heart broke for these brothers and she didn't even know them.
"I'll leave you two alone for now and I'll let you know when lunch is ready." Peter nodded and mouthed a "thank you". Ophelia thought about what Edmund said for most of that day, she hoped that he would eventually feel differently.
It was now time for bed and Peter and Edmund came into the girls' room to tuck Lucy in. The radio was on but Susan turned it off when it started mentioning all of the bombings.
"Sheets feel scratchy" said Lucy, frowning. Susan sat down on Lucy's bed, "Wars don't last forever, Lucy. We'll be home soon." Edmund scoffed, "Yeah, if home's still there." Susan groaned at her younger brother, "Isn't it time you were in bed?" "Yes, mum" he replied sarcastically.
"Ed!" Peter said firmly which kept him quiet. Ophelia moved over to Lucy's bed from her own, "You guys saw this place, it's huge! We can do whatever we want here." She assured Lucy, and Peter added on, "Yeah Lu, tomorrow is going to be great"
Unfortunately, the next day came with rain so the kids stayed inside all day. They were all currently in a fascinating game of "guess the root of the word". However the only one enjoying themselves was Susan because she knew all of the answers.
"Gastrovascular" Susan said, but no one answered her.
"Come on Peter, gastrovascular!" she said with annoyance in her voice. Peter rolled his eyes and look at his sister, "Is it Latin?" he asked and she smiled, "yes"
"Is it Latin for: worst game ever invented?" Edmund said with a laugh, making Peter and Ophelia giggle. Lucy stood up and walked toward Peter, "We could play hide and seek!" Peter looked at Susan with a smug look on his face, "But we're already having so much fun!" Susan glared at him. Ophelia, who was lying on the couch said "This place is so huge, we could play a really wicked game of hide and seek."
"Come on Peter, please!" Lucy begged. He eventually gave in, "One, two, three" and they were off. Ophelia knew where the best hiding spots were so she rushed up the stairs but as soon as she got comfortable in her spot and Peter stopped counting, Lucy started yelling.
"It's alright, I'm back! I'm alright!" she started yelling. Ophelia rushed towards her, and found her with Edmund and Peter, not hiding. "You know, I'm not sure you two have the right idea about this game". Lucy looked confused, "Weren't you wondering where I was?"
"That's the point. That's why he was seeking you" Edmund pointed out as Susan walked in, "Does this mean I win?" Peter turns toward Susan, "I don't think Lucy wants to play anymore."
"I've been gone for hours" Lucy stated and they all looked at her incredulously. She couldn't have been gone hours, the game had only just begun. Ophelia stepped forward, "If you've been gone for hours, where did you go and what did you do?" Lucy grew a great big smile on her face, "Well I went to go hide in the wardrobe in the spare room, but when I went inside I discovered a magical land called, Narnia!"
Ophelia could physically feel her heart race. Could it be real? Could what Lucy was saying be true? Had Narnia come to find her after all these years? There was only one way to find out, and Ophelia ran as fast as she could to that wardrobe not caring if the Pevensies thought she was crazy.
She had to know if it was real.
-madeline x.