Summer 1904
EDDIE POV
Last summer, Eddie decided he did not like this Samantha girl. She was a peace loving idiot and he recently learned she thought she was smarter than him despite her being was a whole year younger. If she thought her pretty face could make up for her rudeness but she was sorely mistaken. He had gotten her back by putting a beetle down the collar of her shirt after their falling out in '03. It had been a never-ending war ever since. Eddie crunched some leaves under his knees as he changed positions. He was hiding in the hedge between the two houses. He saw his target was distracted and made his move.
He cupped both hands over his mouth "Samantha!"
She fell out of the tree she was perched on. Mission accomplished. Eddie let loose an ugly laugh. She glared at him. Eddie had already become immune to this by now. This is for ratting him out for his last deed. "You're so dumb you don't even know how to climb a tree!" he sneered.
"Go away, Eddie!" Samantha complained.
"I bet you also think that three times four is twelve too!" Eddie added.
"Three times four is twelve." Suddenly Samantha had her own sneer.
"Eddie Ryland, I know you keep your beetle collection behind that shed," she pointed, " and I will personally put them in the church basket and tell your mother that you did it, if you don't leave me alone!" Samantha was steaming. All the color left Eddie's face. Darnit. He sprung up from his hiding spot. He needed to find a new place for his beetle jar.
SAMANTHA POV
Samantha's shoulders slumped after being reprimanded by Grandmary again. She felt so ashamed that she almost said she would stop teasing Eddie. But she knew that was an impossible promise. She heard a rumbling by the window and perked up a bit. Uncle Gard popped out of the automobile and held his hand out to someone. Of course, it's Cornelia Samantha thought as she rolled her eyes. Samantha jumped out of her seat and ran to the door to greet Gard. Grandmary had beaten her to it. She was already berating her son, saying he'd kill himself in the contraption. Gard stood his ground and brightened up when he saw Samantha.
"Mother, you must keep up with the times. Driving is a very important lesson that Samantha will need in the future."Gard smiled.
Grandmary sighed in exasperation, "But Samantha's clothes will gather dust if she rides in that thing."
"Not a problem Ms. Edwards! Sam can wear my coat." For the first time, Samantha thought Cornelia was good for something.
Sam put on lifted up the hem of the too big coat as Uncle Gard escorted her to the automobile.
Samantha crinkled her nose. That little weasel Eddie was sitting in the front seat. They made eye contact. Eddie noticed Gard and got out.
Gard didn't pay much attention to Eddie, thinking he was one of Samantha's friends. He lifted Samantha into the passenger seat and walked around to the driver's side.
"You look really stupid in that thing" Eddie nodded at Cornelia's coat. Gard started up the car. And the engine roared to life. Samantha was much more fascinated by the car than Eddie's insults.
Eddie was annoyed by this lack of attention and puffed his chest out, "I know something you don't. A girl around your age that goes to my school is going to be living with us. Her name is Nellie" he announced.
This peaked Samantha's interest. She had Ida Dean and a few other girls at Miss Crampton's but it would be nice to have a girk live close by too. But she was choking on too much dust to respond. Uncle Gard started driving. Eddie scurried back to his house.