"And That is the Way the Noise Begun"

My little old man and I fell out;

I'll tell you what 'twas all about,--

I had money and he had none,

And that's the way the noise begun,

-Rhymes of Mother Goose

Walter stepped lightly around the pond, a silver dimple on the earths green cheek, and headed towards the glowing Mount Holly. He stole dubious glances periodically to the group of boys who were sniggering from behind the ancient willow. He adjusted his mask and made for the ominous stone entrance, upon which were cast flickering shadows from lavishly hung fairy lights. A sigh of resignation and underlying excitement escaped his lips and he clicked his heels for his admirers' enjoyment.

He climbed with difficulty through the groomed bushes and was preparing to stumble into the light from the shadows, when he saw a figure highlighted by the moonshine's blush. A golden halo surrounded her unearthly radiant face and her heavy lids were cast downwards at her shining masses of lacy, sleek and ruffled garb. It was not the first time her had seen Bertha Willis, in his dreams or elsewhere. But he had never seen her in this light, so alone, fragile and miserable. Her mouth was small and buttoned in her delicate face which rested on one gloved hand. Her eyes were dark and desolate like those of a caged animal, seeing nothing of their surroundings.

Walter made to leave unnoticed, but clumsily fumbled and tripped over a root in spite of himself. He straightened up, crimson beneath his mask.

"Who goes there?" cried Bertha, sounding shocked and fearful

"Only me, I am so sorry Miss Bertha. I did not mean to intrude" Walter stuttered breathlessly, his eyes searching wildly for an escape lest she call someone to chase him off the property

"Oh Walter Shirley! Are you going to the party?" she asked, brightening like a lamp

"I-I...How did you know it was me?" he removed his mask slowly and held it with both hands. Once he had, wished with all his heart that he had left it on.

"I recognized your voice, I suppose. You weren't planning to sneak in were you?" she demanded in mock severity, a smile dancing on her lips

"Well I was dared you see." Walter stared at the ground and kicked the dirt like a guilty child

"I see," she took a serious tone, understanding that pride was at stake. Walter admired her for understanding. It seemed the upper class type rarely understood or attempted to understand the childish social games people played and their motives for playing them. Which struck Walter as odd because they played them too, and took them more seriously than anyone. But Bertha understood. She was different.

"Oh what fun," she continued, "Perhaps I can be of assistance?"

"No, pardon me Miss Bertha but I don't want be of any trouble. I'll be going now."

"Nonsense! Please do let me help. I am intolerably bored. And desist with the Miss, simply Bertha will do. It makes me feel old and pitiable."

"Excuse me Miss Bertha, but it wouldn't be proper"

"Why ever not?"

She was mocking him, Walter realized. A bruised pride complex bubbled over in anger then it evaporated as her laughter rang clear like water music.

"Well, I don't really know. I feel a vagabond like me ought to address a young lady with respect."

"Vagabond? Our lives are not so different Walter. I refuse to pretend to be better than you or any other person." she sounded a little wistful.

"Not different? You were raised by doves and I was raised by crows, we are practically a different species our lives are so dissimilar. Don't pretend you don't know that." His passionate soul got the better of him and showed itself without bidding, it always did.

"Either way, raised by dove or crow, we are still human. A wolf raised by rabbits is still a wolf is it not? And a human raised by humans is still a human Walter. I've an idea! I will show you my world tonight and you will see for yourself. It may hide all the ugliness but that does not mean it is not present. Doves still eat crops greedily and crows still fly freely and gracefully. Birds is birds"

"You'd prefer that all the cruelty be on the surface, for it to scar and maim the spirits of innocents?" Walters's voice went dark and his lips blanched. The treacherous noise of tossing seas and piercing torrential rains filled his ears. He heard his mother's distant cries, and his father calling his name though they sounded faded and worlds away. Walter looked away and shook his head violently.

Bertha looked wide eyed and apprehensive. She spoke slowly.

"No, all I am saying is that part of its ugliness comes from the fear and embarrassment that grows as something is hidden. Is anything wrong Walter?"

"No, nothing, I just had a bug in my eye." Walter's eyes were fixed on the ground

"Okay... Will you please come to the party with me? I don't believe I can bear much more of this" Her eyes were wild and desperate

"Alright I'll go. You won't get in trouble if I get caught?"

"See if I care if I do." Bertha looked reckless and dangerous. Walter was a little frightened. He knew that she would care if she got in trouble. He had heard the stories. They were more believable than ever as she stood there before him, pacing the balcony, an unearthly light glowing from behind her setting her features on fire and an unholy light glinting in her eye. Artemis, the Greek goddess of divine femininity, mischief and war stood before him.

"Why are you doing this?" normally Walter Blythe was not one for bluntness but his curiosity prevailed. Had she gone insane?

"Because I like you Walter," she looked in his eyes for perhaps the first time that night and Walter wondered if he had imagined the italics, I don't believe that he did, "You know what's right and what's left and I truly believe that you understand the beauty in things. You know... Plus, I was thinking maybe you could show me what your life is like." She had the air of one expressing a long fermented dream.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh you know, show me how the other half lives. What you do for fun, your favorite meals and haunts and I have always wanted to learn how to boat, but I've never been allowed. Maybe you could teach me how to boat Walter."

"NO! ...No, I-I couldn't possibly." The violent waves rushed through his ears again; he remembered his sister's wide eyes as she clung to his arm, the screaming crowds, the panic stricken look on the captain's face; everyone cornered by a certain death...

"Erm, okay then, perhaps something else. But meanwhile, I have to do my part. Put on your mask and sneak around to the front. I will meet you there, my mask is blue velvet. Okay Walter?" She looked concerned and curious again. Walter realized that his outburst must have been a little shocking. If she only knew, she would understand...but now was not the time for explanations. He agreed to her plan and he listened to his voice as if it were not his own and ran off into the night blessing the stars above.