Chapter Two – Aunt Wendy comes to visit
I sat with the boys in our family room on Sunday afternoon. My Aunt Jade had been gone since midday and was to bring Aunt Wendy back with her, it was now past three o'clock and the boys were getting restless. I looked around at our family room. It was large with white muslin curtain's that hung near a window crowded with shrubbery. The walls were cover in with wall paper with thin strips of pale yellow and little rose patterns. There was a large brick fire place with a mantle on top which held up old photographs of the children and their parents. The sitting chairs with white with a golden – brown wood as a frame. There was also an old side piano which I used in my piano and singing lessons. It was a very old piano with a dusty top and a matt finish. It belonged to my mother's mother; Aunt Jade says when she was very young when she had it. I sat on the white sitting chair in my best dress – a blue satin dress with a straight skirt that reached my ankles. I only wore one petticoat seeing as I was never fond of big dresses; they weren't good to play in. It had sleeves that went three-quarters of the way down my arm. My honey brown hair hung loosely over my shoulders in ringlets and parts of it was pulled back by a matching bow. I leaned forward on so my chin rested on the palm of my hand – Why are that taking so long? I thought to myself. The boys had grown tired of waiting and started to mess around with the piano pressing random notes all at once it was really a horrible sound to hear. I stood up and walked over to them, Henry was sitting quietly on one of the chairs, which was quite unlike him.
"Now boys that is no way to treat such a valuable instrument, why the old, ugly captain of the Black Mist, Thaddeus Eiye would be most appalled," Captain Thaddeus Eiye was a pirate I had created to cover my stories with an evil veil that was released when the heroine or hero defeated him. The boys stopped and looked at me immediately, "Now seeing as the piano was indeed his favorite of all musical instruments wouldn't you want to honor it?" I asked look at them.
"But why would we want to honor something that the vilest pirate of the seven seas treasures?" Thomas said looking up at me – he had made a very good point. I beckoned them to come and sit on the carpet in front of my sitting chair. Henry had decided to join us, they all looked so teddy – bear like in their fine clothes and the way that they sat looking up at me attentively.
"Young Thomas you do have a point there, why would we honor something that the one person we hate the most treasure's, well to pass the time let me tell you a story of how the piano came to be the old captains favorite instrument," I paused and took a breathe, "Let me take you back a hundred years to a small sea port on the coastline of Ireland. It was a small shipping village with a small social ladder or the commoners, fishermen etc., merchants and the men who owed the big shipping businesses and then the governor. Now there was no army or navy to protect the village, so that's no one to protect the people if they fell under attack by pirate's or bandits from inland, but the village wasn't really known to the outside world, so the people were safe. However there had been encounters before where unfriendly seamen had come and raided the village of items ranging from gold and food and supplies to women and small boys. That type of crisis had not happened to the small port for ten years and hadn't been disturbed for which the town's people were thankful.
"The governor of the village was greedy man though and was harsh on the town's people; taking away their money in something he called 'tax' and sold off his children for money. But our story is about on of his children a young woman called Maggie. She was not sold off as her brothers and sisters were but kept in her father's house under the rule of her stepmother. Her stepmother was a cruel hearted person and forced Maggie to become a servant. She worked from dawn till dusk running errand's for the house, cleaning, attending, looking after the horses. She was forced to work far too hard by her stepmother and was often giving a gift for her work – a beating. Maggie longed to get away from her life and decided to ask for the opportunity to take up a career – a job" I added noticing Jackson's look, "as a piano teacher. She had been taught whilst her mother was alive in secret and thought it a good idea. Her wish was granted as her stepmother thought it would mean one less servant to deal with. Her lesson's started promptly and became a success with the girl's of the port. For once in her life she was happy.
"But on a cold night in autumn the wind change direction and all was quite throughout the town. Maggie was walking though the ports after making a house call for one of her music lessons when she heard the fishermen talk about strange ships docking at the port and a man that resemble someone touched by the devil. A man so cold at heart that he would slaughter men in his own crew if he found their very presence annoying. Many of the sailors referred to him as the Devil's Pirate. Maggie rushed back to her studio hugging her coat tight around her small figure; it was going to be an awfully cold night." I paused for a second to see the boy's reaction's to what I had just told them. They just sat there; I looked up at the clock briefly I had been going on for fifteen minute's already. I took a breath and started up again.
"Maggie had gone to bed late that night after she had been practicing her own pieces on the piano. The wind was now still and a strange moan seemed to drift up from the harbor. Maggie locked all the doors and windows tonight shutting the curtains and keeping the candle's burning. She settled down into bed and drifted into a dreamless sleep, right beside her bed a sword for protection. Outside, down the main street and in the harbor a fog a grown and a large ship with black sails and a flag with a black background and a white skull and crossed bone's on it sailed silently into the harbor. It docked at a free deck and swiftly and silently a vile group of men, unshaven, un-bathed, with black hearts and weapons of destruction. They entered the port and silently started to raid the houses and shops killing those who opposed them. The captain of this vile crew walked the main street calmly looking into the windows and door ways of the houses. He noticed Maggie's house and the piano inside.
'O'Toole!' said the captain calling for the first mate. 'Open this door,' the man named O'Toole did as he was told. The Captain of the pirate's walked into the house and was confronted by Maggie with sword in hand.
'Get out of my house!' she said through clenched teeth." By now I was on my feet acting out the scene standing beside the piano. I hadn't even noticed my Aunt's walk in through the front door.
"'You dare oppose me little girl?' Said the captain calmly stepping forward running his fingers over the piano, 'What a fine piece of furniture, what is its function?' he asked looking round at her taking off his feather hat." I stopped as my Aunt Wendy spoke:
"Well you children won't need the book I bought for you, you have a perfectly good one here," she said nodding to me smiling. I ran over to her and wrapped my arms around her waist as she was a head and shoulders taller than me. "Let me take a look at you," she said holding my shoulders at arms length. "My, my, you look more like your mother every time I see you." She said smiling after taking a long look at me. She walked over and sat on the easy chair by the fire place and the rest of us (my aunt, the boys and I) sat on the sitting chairs that held two or more people. I looked at my Aunt Jade who was sitting next to Jackson straightening his shirt.
"Aunt Jade, are they new earrings?" I questioned her; she didn't look up at me but answered quickly.
"Yes they are from you Aunt Wendy," she brushed down Jackson's shirt and looked up. They were small pearls on a golden hook. I knew my Aunt Jade loved pearls, all the jewelry that she owned (not very much may you keep in mind) was pearls. My Aunt Wendy must have known that she was fond of them too. Aunt Wendy clapped to get everyone's attention as we were all commenting on Aunt Jade's new earrings. Wendy pulled up a small, soft bag onto her lap and opened it. Inside she reached for a carefully wrapped packaged. It was rectangular and looked hard. She asked my cousin Henry to come to her and she handed him the package. He ripped it open and inside was a book with a leather cover and gold writing saying the Hobbit.
"Your mother told me that you like to read, so I bought you this book. It is from a very talented author and this is a very good book. I read it whilst attending university, you might need some help with it but it is worth the read," she said kissing him on the cheek. He walked away mesmerized by the book and started to flick through the pages. My Aunt reached into the bag yet again and brought out small book filled with blank pages and a box that looked like it was filled with paints and charcoal. "Thomas' this is for you, I expect some good work from you," she said kissing him on the cheek too. Thomas' loved art and held his present close to him. Jackson stood up expecting him to be next and walked over to Aunt Wendy. This time she didn't reach into the soft bag but behind her chair. She pulled out a long package, Jackson ripped the paper off to find a sword made with a wooden blade and metal handle, "It is wooden so that you don't hurt anyone and it is the same as the ones I got for you brother's last Christmas," he kissed Aunt Wendy on the cheek this time and ran over to his mother showing over the sword. Aunt Wendy then looked at me and motioned me to come over to her she reached into her bag one last time and handed me a soft package, "For your birthday she said," I opened the present and out slithered a pink silk night- gown with matching dressing – gown. It had thin straps instead of small puffy short-sleeved ones like my old night-gown, and had a princess cut. It was long and reached just below my ankles. I slipped on the dressing – gown over my dress. It reached half-way up my lower legs and the sleeves hung three – quarters of the way down my arm. It had one single button and button hole and nothing else. I twirled around and looked down at it.
"Oh Aunt Wendy, I love it!" I exclaimed running over to her and hugged and kissed her, "Thank you so much," I said hugging her again.
"Well I am glad you like it, is that supper I smell," she said sniffing the air. I looked back at the clock it was after five already, I talked to the boys for age's. Cook called out for supper and the boys ran into the dinner room, leaving their presents in the family room. Aunt Wendy and Jade followed the boys out into the dinner room and sat at opposite ends of the large table. I was now left alone in the family room and dutifully picked up the boy's gifts and my own and took them up stairs. As I walked into the nursery I noticed that the window was closed. Putting the things on the boys respective bed's I went to open it. The night was still again and the stars were already starting to show. The sky was no longer the pale blue of the day time but a haze red mixed with blue and purple. The nights were falling early for summer; I thought as I leant on the window sill, that these nights would be perfect for flying – like some of the hero's in my stories often did. I turned and looked towards the mirror on the far side of the nursery, Aunt Wendy was right I did look a lot like my mother. When I was young most people would comment on the many psychical similarities that I had with my father. Dark hair, dark eyes, short build, straight hair. But when I looked into the mirror I saw that I had change. I was no longer short but tall (well for my age) and my hair was no longer dark and straight but naturally fell into ringlets and was a lighter brown. My eye colour had not changed though to my disappointment I wanted blue eyes like my mother's. My sister had blue eyes and I always envied her for that.
I stood up and walked through the nursery into my room with my new bedclothes flung over my arm. As I walked into my room my eyes were looking down and I didn't notice the boy edging his was towards the open window. After laying my new night – gown on my bed and hanging my dressing-gown over a hook behind the door I turned around and looked in the direction of the window and to my shock and total surprise there stood a boy dressed in an outfit made from leaves and vines, with messy ginger hair, brown skin over his young features, a small dagger sitting at his holster on the right and cheeky eyes. I fell backwards in shock and rammed into my chest of drawers knocking off some of my needles and reels of thread. The boy too seemed startled and flew out of the window, followed closely by a little yellow light. I ran over to my window to see if he was there but there was nothing but the night. No trail of light from the small ball, and not a trace of the boy who was in my room. I sat on the cushions and kept looking out the window then remember that it was supper time. I got up and looked out of the window one last time and went down stairs. Everyone was sitting at the table, the boys already eating but my aunt's were gracious enough to wait for me.
"My dear hurry up or your food will get cold," said Aunt Jade pulling out a chair beside her. "What were you doing up there, we already said grace and the boys have started eating." Said my aunt brushing down the front of my dress, she had a habit of doing that. I took up my soup spoon and scooped up some then looked at my aunt.
"I was just putting away the boy's things," I said lightly taking a spoonful of the soup. My aunt still looked at me strangely a she broke of some bread to dip into her soup.
"Well," said Aunt Wendy, "After supper why don't you finish telling the boys that story about the girl called Maggie. I am dieing to here the ending. Sound's like perfectly scary story, what brought it about?" She asked as she finished of her soup and cook brought out the main meal. She looked to me waiting for an answer.
"To tell you the truth Aunt Wendy, Jackson and Thomas were playing around on the piano. Pressing random keys and making a horrible sound. To catch their attention I said that Captain Thaddeus Eiye would be disgraced of the way that they were treating the piano and that we should respect it in his honor. Then Thomas asked a very good question, why should we respected something that the vilest of all bad things treasures. Soon I got them to come and sit in front of me and I started to tell them the story of how it became the captain's most treasured instrument. I really only did that to pass the time as they were getting restless and frankly quite annoying," I concluded as Cook brought out a plate full of food for me.
"Well I am quite interested to hear the end to that story," she said promptly taking eating a piece of meat. "So how has school been for you this year Wendy?" She asked moving on.
"Very well thank you, I am finally getting the hang of things," I replied happily. The questions about how my life was going continued all through dinner and until all the plates had been cleared from the table. My Aunt Jade declared that she had to go into the tavern tonight to sort out some business (she didn't usually open it on Sunday) and I took the boys upstairs to get ready for bed. I told them that I would finish the story but that only made them harder to get ready. However in the end I succeeded and they all sat quietly on the floor in the nursery waiting to hear the rest of the story. Aunt Wendy then gracefully walked into the room and sat down on one of the beds and too watched attentively.
"Well go on Wendy, tell us the end of the story," she said urging me on. I took a deep breath and looked around recalling where I had left off:
"'What is its function you ask,' said Maggie looking sternly at the captain, 'I wouldn't dream of telling you anything,' she said bravely holding the sword out in front of her for protection. The captain looked towards her and shook his head.
'So naïve you are little girl,' he drew his own sword and flicked Maggie's out with shear grace. He now held the tip of his blade below her chin, 'Now tell me how it works,' he said with a threatening tone in his voice. She moved away from the blade and over towards the piano carefully removing the cloth that covered the keys. She sat slowly down on the stool and rested her long white fingers on the keys and started to play. It was a simple tune she played on the piano but the captain was intrigued. 'O'Toole! Take this young girl aboard the ship and bring this -,'
'Piano,' said Maggie finishing off Eiye's sentence. For months and years Maggie sailed with the pirate crew aboard the old ship. Some of the men were scared as they thought that bringing a woman aboard the ship was a curse and terrible bad luck – seeing as Pirate's are very suppositious. But Eiye would not put her on ground as he was intrigued by the way that she played the piano. She had taught him how to play – but not with joy in her heart as she did back at the small port but with complete fear. Of course fear came from the fact that she would often have a knife at her throat. But she continued too live none the less, never dinning with the crew. She was said because she was all alone and there was no one for her to talk too.
"However one cold night when the pirates were looting a small sea port she put into action a plan that she had been devising on her long and lonely nights. She was locked in her cabin but there was a door which linked to the Captain's cabin and she knew that his cabin would not be locked. So, when she knew that everyone had left the ship she crept like a small church-mouse through the door and into Eiye's cabin, sword in hand. Maggie then when over to the door and opened it. It was an old creaky door but that didn't bother her. She slowly walked up onto the deck staying out of sight of those very few pirate's guarding the ship. One by one she silently stabbed them in the back and making sure all was clear climbed down the side of the boat and swam to shore. However the pirates started to return to the ship earlier than she expected, loaded with jewelry and money along with rare silks and supplies. Maggie climbed up the rocky shore hoping not to be seen but her fears can true and waiting for her at the road was Eiye.
"He had a wicked smile stretched across his face. Maggie took a swing of her sword at him and just grazed passed his arm slicing off a bit of material. His face screwed up in anger as he drew his sword and met hers. Fear crept into Maggie's eyes but she did not move and took another swing at him, then another and another after that. Eiye was quite surprised at Maggie's determination. But the battle between the two had not been raging for long before the law enforcement of the town arrived.
"'What's going on here?' asked one of the men. Maggie turned around and told him her story in brief – she was believed and Eiye was bound and taken to the jail, where as the rest of his crew sailed away O'Toole becoming the new captain. Maggie settled herself down in the town far away from the jail and started up her piano lessons again. Eiye had much respect for her bravery and much respect for her piano. The end," I finally said taking a bow as my small audience clapped.
"Fabulous story Wendy, now I think it is time for some young boys to get to bed. And you too Wendy," said my aunt as the boys leaped up and jumped into bed. She tucked them in and kissed their forehead's, "Good night little one's. Good night Wendy, tomorrow night it is my turn to tell a story," she said and kissed my head, turning on her heal and walking out the door, turning off the lights but keeping the night light's on. I turned from the nursery and walked into my small room closing the door behind me. I started to take of my dress and put on my new pink silk night-gown. I took the bow out of my hair and put it on top of the chest of drawers. After pulling back the sheets on my bed I walked over to the window again and looked out whilst sitting on the cushioned window sill. I stuck my head out of the window and looked up and down to see if the mysterious boy who had been in my room earlier was there, but I could see nothing. Giving up on seeing him again I retreated to bed, turning on the night light and drifted off into dreamland.
I woke with a jerk on Monday morning. A little body had jumped on top of my bed awaking me from a pleasant sleep
"What...what," I muttered sleepily. As I opened my eyes I saw the two bright green eyes that belonged to Jackson. His face looked worried and impatient. He sat back on his legs as I began to sit up stretching my arms and rubbing my eyes, "What is the matter Jackson? Why did you jump on my bed?"
"Your going to be late for school, it is quarter to nine," I lazily closed my eyes then opened them wide in disbelief. He then ran out of the room and shut the door behind him to leave me to get dressed. I jumped out of bed and pulled the covers up so it looked like they had been made. Whilst in the process of taking my uniform from the chest of drawers a single thimble knocked down off the top and landed on my bed. I didn't noticed running down stairs to pick up my coat and book bag.
Jackson was indeed right I was late for school and landed myself in trouble again. I was not allowed out at lunch but was given lines to write out after finishing my food. It wasn't a particularly pleasant day at school and when I arrived home the house was empty. Not even Cook was in the kitchen, but she did leave a note saying that she had to run out and get some onion for supper – I never liked onion. I took my things up stairs and laid my book bag on the floor of my room. I then noticed that the hem of my tunic had come undone and was beginning to fray. I took or my tunic and pulled on a blue summer dress. Reaching for my sewing basket I noticed that my thimble was missing. Recalling back to that morning I remembered that the thimble had fallen onto my bed but now it was gone. Crawling around the floor I realized it was gone. Looking in the nursery for it would be tiresome but perhaps it would be there. But there was no sign of it anywhere. I replaced it with on of the spare one's from my aunts sewing basket, but I wondered where it could have got too.
After finishing the hem on my tunic I heard the door open from down stairs and the patter of little feet up the staircase. Jackson ran into my room and looked at me in an I-told-you-so manner.
"You were right my dear boy, I was indeed late for school," he chuckled then ran back into the nursery and started to play sword's with his brothers. I stood in the door way watching them and laughing. They could have been pirate's if they wanted too already had the right technique.
Aunt Wendy's stay was far too short for my liking. Before we all knew it we were standing out on the front stone steps waving good bye. She had her bags in her hands and a hat on her head with a carriage waiting for her. She hugged us each leaving me till last when she whispered in my ear: "Wendy, you are almost thirteen, and I have a piece of advice for you. If a boy comes to your window at night and has a little light following him and he wears garments made from leaves and vines, do not be afraid. If this boy offers to take you away to a place called Neverland...."
"Neverland? What is that?" I asked interrupting her. All she did was put her finger up to my mouth to hush me.
"If he offers to take you away to a place called Neverland and you say yes, never, I repeat never return," she said kissing my forehead. She said goodbye to us all one last time then turned and walked done the path and hoped in the carriage giving the coach man her bags she waved and then she was gone. We all walked back into the house and continued on with what we were doing. I went up stairs and into my room, soon night feel and it was time for bed - that was the last time I saw my Aunt Wendy.
My birthday was a joyous occasion. My aunt and cousin's gave me wonderful presents and one of the girls from school brought me in some flowers. Even my usually horrible teacher was bearable that day. Because it was a Friday no work was sent home and I had a pleasant evening playing sword's with the boys and telling them stories. But soon came the time for sleep and after putting the boys to bed I slipped into my silk night-gown and sat at the window. I think that I fell asleep, because when I woke up later on in the night I was still there. It was another still night; a clear night where all the stars shone brightly in the dark purple curtain that was the night sky. I could see the roof tops of the other house and all the lights were out. It was a beautiful night and it seemed as if it would be a fairy night. I turned around and looked at my room to find the same boy who had appeared some night's earlier standing there with his knuckles resting on his hips and a mischievous smile on his face. I was so startled that I fell backwards and out the window. Sure of death I closed my eyes and waited but there was nothing except two strong arms holding me. I slowly opened my eyes to see the strange boy carrying me. But even more to my shock was the fact that we were slowly floating up and back to my window. I was no longer scared but curious then I realized that he was flying. He slowly let me back down on the window sill and held my hand guiding me onto the floor. He soon followed suit and slowly let his feet touch the ground. He was half a head taller than me and looked older than me too. He looked at me then as if something jogged in his mind he made a low bow then came back up and looked into my eyes. Following suit I took the edge of my gown and curtsied. He then reached for something then held his arm outstretched to me with a closed fist then opened it. In his hand was a small silver thimble much like the one that I had lost on Monday. I picked it up with my fingers then held it in my hand and looked up to find him smiling with triumph.
"For your birthday," he said in a warm voice unlike any other I had ever heard before, I smiled.
"Thank you," it came out softer than intended – I couldn't really find my voice. I looked at him and then asked, "What is you name?" He smiled.
Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up I was on holidays! Tessa