Like a torch, Lucy shines. Brilliant and bright yet incredibly fake. Hard to catch though is the truth. It doesn't lie in her beaming, white-toothed smile. Neither in her soft doe eyes. Those speak words, but can be faked. No it is apparent in her rigid posture, soft patience… But mostly in England.
Tis cruel to lose a throne. Yet to lose respect, dignity and leadership is harder to bear. Peter shrugged it on his shoulders and coped. Susan took pains to forget. Edmund tried to reuse Narnian life in England. Lucy lived with a belief in both worlds. They feared their old life would fade them to no memory of Narnia.
Through these troubling times Peter remains magnificent. No longer on the war field or among his people, but in studies and love. Edmund continues to be just, to show trust and inspire hope. He judges based on "now"s not "then"s. Susan no loner believes or remembers, yet still is gentle. Unfortunately its in mind and poise not love and family. Lucy is sweet and inspiring, she shows pride in her beliefs. Yet its through living through each England day where she shows valiance.
Peter and Edmund watch with disbelief and pity. Poor Lucy must accept her coddling mother and overjoyed father. She must accept her 11th birthday for the second time. Eleven candles glimmer with pride, there should be 26. Her father sits her on his knee. She should be upon a silver throne. She dances with her father ad brothers. She should be dancing with an entire kingdom. Alas she remains in England and not Narnia.
Her brothers feel for their beloved sister and bought gifts of art and music. Fine gifts for Lucy of Narnia. Lucy gently opens the gift of Edmund, covered with blue cloth. Eyes aglow she receives the perfected colors of pencils and rough paper. She thanks him with a kiss upon his cheek and her oath of love. Peter hands her a smooth parcel. Long and thin she remarks and quite light. Opened it reveals a sort of recorder that emits a harmonic sound. Lucy beams and cradles it like a newborn. Again thanking with a kiss and an oath of love.
Parents sit awkwardly fingering the boxes, which contain their gift. Lucy sits stiffly as she separates the tops from the bottoms revealing odd English dresses. The fabric is thick and scratchy, colors dull and grey. Yet Lucy ever faithful grants her parents with hugs and compliments. Her brothers remark of her everlasting sweetness with pride. Lucy isn't invincible, she can, has and will be knocked down. But she always stands up with a smile.
Finally Susan stands, her brothers exchanging confused glances. Susan had claimed that she would buy her gift alone. Both boys were gentlemen and didn't prod. They had suspected that Susan would buy stories of fine literature or canvases for her art. Eagerly Lucy pries open the odd wrapping. Her blissful face falls, crumbling down into heartache. Confused brothers watch as Lucy escapes the room. Then as they peer at the gift they understand.
Susan had completed the ultimate betrayal. For lying among wrapping lies a child's doll. Disproportionate and fake. Fit for a girl of eight maybe nine. A token of Susan's lost faith.