Chapter Three
The dining room was a large rectangle with dark panelling on the walls, a large chandelier that reminded Rebecca of The Phantom of the Opera and a large oak table in the middle. There was an entrance from the adjacent kitchen where the servants brought out the food, and then the main entrance sat at the end of the room. Rebecca and Joy were the last ones to enter and took the seats, to their dismay, on either side of Mrs. Macready, who was sitting at the foot of the table. Rebecca sat down across from Joy who sat next to Lucy, who was seated beside Edmund. Sitting next to Rebecca was Peter and then beside him was Susan, who sat across the table from Edmund. The chair at the head of the table was empty, it looked like the Professor wasn't joining them again.
One of the three servants, Ivy, was bringing out the first course, when the double doors at the end of the room suddenly opened. Mrs. Macready stood up immediately. "Children stand up," she said in a sharp tone. Looking at one another in confusion, the children pushed back their chairs and stood up. Rebecca looked around Mrs. Macready's shoulder to see who the latecomer was.
An old man with shaggy white hair and old-fashioned glasses entered the room. It was Professor Kirke. Rebecca thought he looked very wise and gentle and he reminded her a little of Grandpa as he strode around the table. "Good evening children, Mrs. Macready," he said before he sat down at the head of the table. Mrs. Macready then motioned for the children to sit down and dinner resumed.
Lucy stared at the Professor, looking a little nervous, while Edmund, seated to the left of the Professor, looked like he was trying not to laugh and was trying to hide his smile behind his hand until Susan whispered, "No elbows on the table," and then he went quiet. Professor Kirke asked the children how they were enjoying their stay. Peter and Susan politely answered his question while Rebecca said nothing, trying to use proper manners under Mrs. Macready's scrutinizing gaze.
Joy hadn't said a word about her little detour to their room that afternoon, but Rebecca had a pretty good idea where she went: The Wardrobe Room. Joy had believed Lucy, that much was obvious this morning after hide-and-seek, but had Joy tried to go there herself? Rebecca sighed, taking a bite of her potatoes. Why did she have to get stuck being the older sister?
Lucy's story about the wardrobe came back to her and, although she wasn't sure why, a part of her wanted to believe to the story. Rebecca had to admit it made sense to her, but the others didn't believe Lucy, so maybe it was ridiculous. Still, a magical world? She shook her head; a mysterious world which disappeared and reappeared on its own accord and was hidden inside a wardrobe was utterly impossible!
A giggle across the table brought Rebecca out of her thoughts. Lucy and Joy were scribbling back and forth of a napkin, passing a pencil between them. Both girls' eyes were bright with excitement as they scribbled and whispered. Mrs. Macready cleared her throat and Susan asked them a question. Joy quickly pulled the napkin onto her lap while Lucy answered Susan. Rebecca was sorely tempted to get under the table and grab it, but in front of Mrs. Macready and the Pevensies, that wasn't a particularly good idea.
Then, Joy's eyes grew wide and she looked down at her lap, and then her eyes darted to the floor. Rebecca smirked, now was her chance! Rebecca stretched out her foot as far as it would go, until it bumped Joy's. The girls stared at each other, then the kicking started. Joy was constantly knocking her foot away, so Rebecca figured she was close to the napkin. Swinging her foot around, Rebecca dropped it to the ground and caught something. She pulled it back, then, feigning she dropped her napkin, picked up Joy's.
Did you see Mr. Tumnus? That had to be Lucy. No, but I met a fox who said you're a Queen. Now that part sounded ridiculous and Rebecca slightly shook her head. She took another bite of food and then returned to the napkin. Joy was talking about the fox and badgers and the White Witch and-
"What are you looking at Rebecca?" The voice made Rebecca almost drop her fork and she hid the napkin on her lap underneath the tablecloth before she looked up at Mrs. Macready.
"I'm sorry I was distracted Mrs. Macready, I was," she paused and glanced at Joy and Lucy, who looked like cornered mice "studying the cloth of the napkin. It's very fine, not what you usually see in Bromley." Mrs. Macready gave her the same no-nonsense look and the others resumed eating. Lucy and Joy sent grateful smiles over at Rebecca, who returned to the napkin. It was covered in scribbles, including a sketch of a lamppost, which were all smudging at the mere brush of a finger so Rebecca carefully turned it over again in her lap.
"Studying the napkin again?" Startled, Rebecca dropped the napkin at the sound of Peter's voice and then picked up her fork.
"No," she said lamely. She risked a glance in his direction and looked away quickly when their eyes met. Why was she acting like this? Looking again, he gave her a disbelieving look, and Rebecca scrambled for an excuse. "Oh, I was just thinking." She took another bite of potatoes and looked up. He was still looking at her. Apparently thinking wasn't the greatest excuse. She forced herself to say "About the book I'm reading currently." She swallowed hard, but at least once he looked back at his own plate so she could think again. Joy giggled from across the table and Rebecca fixed her with a glare.
"What book is it?" Why was he asking her this?
"A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, he's one of my favourite authors." Rebecca hoped she wasn't blushing, because she knew she had no reason to.
"By the way," he looked back at her, "have you found the library in this house yet?"
"Yes, I have," Rebecca chuckled "it was actually my hiding place today before I heard Lucy shouting. It was the only place I could think of."
He laughed and her heart suddenly picked up its pace. Dismissing it, she was about to ask him how he managed to deal with Edmund all the time when the Professor stood up, and Mrs. Macready made all the children stand up again. The Professor wished all the children goodnight, and then headed for his study no doubt. The children finished up quickly and Mrs. Macready sent all of them up to their rooms. "Goodnight, and don't let me catch you outside of your rooms this time." She fixed Peter and Edmund with a hard stare, then dismissed them all with a wave of her hand.
Rebecca kept the napkin folded up in her hand and as she closed the door, this was her chance to confront Joy about Narnia. "Joy?" Joy pulled the night gown up and over her head until her head poked through the top. Hair in a total mess, she looked over at Rebecca.
"Yes Bec?" Rebecca bit her lips to keep herself from laughing at her sister's messy hair. It was like the mad scientist look you saw in the pictures. Swallowing the giggles, she asked "Where did you go after Susan told you to come up here?"
"I took a little detour if that's alright with you, Mum." Joy turned her back to her and Rebecca took a deep breath, let it out, then continued talking.
"Mum told me to look out for you, so don't call me 'Mum', alright? Or I'll start calling you 'Joyce' again. I just want to know if you went to the wardrobe." Joy turned back towards her, trying to appear calm, then Rebecca held up the napkin. "Joy, I know you believed Lucy's story but it's not possible! How can there be a world in the wardrobe one minute and the next minute it's gone?"
"Because I went there myself!" shouted Joy. She threw her house coat down onto the bed. "I went there and I saw the magical wood. I met a Talking Fox who is on the side of Aslan, who is opposed to the Witch and he's the King of the Wood. So, everything Lucy said is true!" Rebecca stared, head spinning, and jaw dropped. Inside, that part of her that wanted to believe the story ran up her throat, ready to burst out of her mouth, but Rebecca swallowed hard instead, common sense must prevail.
Calmly, she said "Joy, I find it hard to believe-"
"But you want to believe it!" Joy was yelling now, looking angry. "You want to believe what's inside the wardrobe, I saw that this morning! But you're scared of what Peter and Susan would think of you!" Rebecca crossed her arms defensively.
"I never said such thing Joy," said Rebecca sternly.
"Lucy went to Narnia," continued Joy "and I went to Narnia, so it's all true." Joy sat down hard on the bed, wriggled under the covers with her back to Rebecca, and pressed her face into the pillow.
Rebecca was tempted to rip the covers off her and ask if it was all true; the faun, the Talking Fox, the forest, but what was the use? Joy wouldn't talk to her now, and then she might tell the others afterwards, including Peter. She quickly reminded herself that Peter's opinion of her did not matter, then changed, turned out the light, lit a candle, and pulled out her notebook again. She tried to finish her sketch of Father in his uniform, and that was the last thing she remembered before falling asleep.
"Joy! I went back to Narnia! You were right!" The light flashed on in the room. Slowly, Rebecca peeled open her eyes and realized she had fallen asleep without putting her stuff away! Her notebook was open on her lap, the candle was a waxy stub on the nightstand and past it, she squinted as a white-faced Lucy disappeared out of the doorway while dragging Edmund behind her. Joy was out of bed in a flash, pulled on her faded yellow housecoat and ran after her. Rebecca slowly got up, grabbed her own red one and followed her. She saw Lucy and Joy head into the boy's room up ahead, and ran down the hall. "Peter, wake up it's actually really there!" Peter squirmed out from under the blanket, his voice creaking with sleep.
"Lucy, what are you talking about?"
"Narnia, it's all in the wardrobe like I told you!" Susan squeezed past Rebecca and walked to Lucy's side.
"You've just been dreaming Lucy," insisted Susan.
"But I haven't!" Lucy turned sharply towards her. "I saw Mr. Tumnus again, and this time Edmund went too." Everyone turned to Edmund, who looked rather surprised and, in Rebecca's mind, a little nervous.
"You," Peter glanced at Lucy "you saw the faun?" Looking cornered, Edmund shook his head.
"Well," Lucy got up from Peter's side "he didn't actually go there with me. He," Lucy turned around to face him looking confused "what were you doing Edmund?" Joy looked at Rebecca smugly, as if this would prove that Narnia truly existed, and honestly Rebecca hoped to hear more of Narnia. Then Edmund rolled his eyes.
"I was just playing along." Joy's smug grin vanished, and Rebecca sighed with disappointment. "I'm sorry Peter. I shouldn't have encouraged her, but you know what little children are like these days," Lucy's eyes welled up with tears "they just don't know when to stop pretending." Lucy started crying and ran from the room. Joy quickly followed her.
"Lucy!" she called. Susan, Rebecca and Peter ran after her. Rebecca heard an "Ow!" come from the room as they ran down the hallway. Coming out of an alcove, the three older children found Lucy clutching Professor Kirke tightly around the waist, sobbing. Joy was standing off to the side, looking at Lucy with wide, sad eyes. Mrs. Macready thundered into the hallway.
"You children are one shenanigan shy of sleeping in the stable!" Her eyes grew wide when she saw Professor Kirke. "Professor!" she gasped. "I'm sorry, I told them" she glared at the children "that you were not to be disturbed."
"Its alright Mrs. Macready, I'm sure there's an explanation. But in the meantime, I think this one," meaning Lucy "is in need of a little hot chocolate." Mrs. Macready put an arm around Lucy's shoulders.
"Come along dearie," she said. Joy ran around to Lucy's other side.
"I'll go with you Lucy," she said, smiling at her, and then grabbed her hand as the three disappeared around the corner. Rebecca, Peter and Susan turned back to their rooms, and Rebecca stifled a yawn with her sleeve.
"Ahem," the three froze and slowly turned around. The Professor was giving them the look all children knew as the "We're going to have a talk" look. Rebecca hated that look, but reluctantly walked forward. The three followed the Professor into his study, where he sat at a large desk, covered with all sorts of papers and books and knickknacks, and started stuffing tobacco into his pipe.
"You seemed to have upset the delicate internal balance of my housekeeper," he gave all the children the look again, so Rebecca buried her hands into her pockets and looked down at the floorboards. Peter finally spoke up.
"We're very sorry Sir," he grabbed Susan's sleeve and started pulling her away "it won't happen again." Susan pulled her arm free and turned back to the Professor.
"It's our sister Sir, Lucy."
"The weeping girl," said Professor Kirke.
"Yes Sir. She's upset."
"Hence the weeping," he said with a wiry smile.
"It's nothing," Peter looked at Susan "we can handle it."
"Oh, I can see that," said Professor Kirke with a sarcastic tone. Rebecca tried not to smile. Then the Professor looked at her. "And your sister is Lucy's friend?"
"Yes Sir," replied Rebecca.
"Lucy thinks she's found a magical land," said Susan. The Professor smiled again, barely paying attention. "In the upstairs wardrobe." Professor Kirke's head snapped up, the joking gone from his eyes, looking shocked by Susan's revelation. He stood up and ushered the three over to the sitting area.
"What did you say?" he asked.
"Um, the wardrobe upstairs," Peter sat down beside Susan on the couch "Lucy thinks she's found a forest inside."
"She won't stop going on about it," said Susan. Professor Kirke sat down too, Rebecca sat in the arm chair next to his, sinking into the soft cushions.
"What was it like?" he asked.
"Like talking to a lunatic," replied Susan.
"No, no" Professor Kirke shook his head "not her, the forest." All the children's eyes went wide. He believed Lucy's story?!
"You're not saying you believe her?" asked Peter.
"And you don't?" asked the Professor.
"Of course not," said Susan "I mean logically it's impossible."
"What do they teach in schools these days," muttered the Professor to himself. Rebecca started to nod in agreement, then stopped when Susan looked in her direction.
"Edmund said they were only pretending," said Peter.
"And he's usually the more truthful one, is he?"
"No, this would be the first time." Peter looked from Susan to Rebecca.
"My sister Joy said she went there too, to the forest," Rebecca spoke quickly, hoping for no interruptions. Peter and Susan looked even more confused and concerned. Professor Kirke turned to her.
"And do you believe your sister to be truthful?" he asked. Rebecca sighed.
"Not really. But she believes Lucy's story wholeheartedly." She was tempted to add that she now believed the story, but based on the way Susan was looking at her, she stopped talking.
"Well then," the Professor turned back to Peter and Susan seated across from him "if your sisters are not mad, and they're not lying then logically," he pointed his pipe at Susan who frowned "you must assume they're telling the truth." He then lit his pipe.
"You're saying that, we should just believe Lucy?" asked Peter. Professor Kirke put the match out.
"She's your sister, isn't she? You're a family. You might just try acting like one." Rebecca slumped in her seat next to him, now how was she supposed to do that? Joy was furious with her. "Well, why don't you all get to bed and start working on that tomorrow?" He looked over at Rebecca. "Alright children?"
"Yes Sir," Rebecca got up and said "Goodnight," along with the others.
"Goodnight," said the Professor as they made their way to the door. Rebecca then decided to talk to the Professor herself.
"You go on without me," she told the others, then closed the study door. "Professor Kirke?" The Professor was seated at his desk again.
"Yes Rebecca?" Rebecca shoved her hands deep into her pockets, a habit of hers when she was nervous, and searched for the right words to say. "Is this about the napkin?" he prompted, eyes twinkling with laughter.
"You knew the whole time?!" said Rebecca with surprise. He laughed and Rebecca's face went red with embarrassment. "I guess I'm not as good a liar as I thought." Once the Professor stopped laughing, Rebecca spoke again. "Sir, I believe Joy's story, but I don't think my sister will believe me when I tell her," said Rebecca. The Professor put out his pipe.
"Then, I would say, tell her as soon as possible, and make sure that every time she brings up this world in the wardrobe, you listen to her story and don't question a single detail." Rebecca nodded then an odd thought struck her, and Rebecca looked at Professor Kirke again, suddenly very curious.
"Sir," she paused, afraid of how he would take the question "how did you acquire the magical wardrobe?" A light gleamed in his eyes, like he had a huge secret, and Rebecca instinctively stepped closer. "Did you ever go to Narnia yourself?"
"That is a story I'm afraid I cannot tell you now," Rebecca's shoulders fell with disappointment. "But I will tell you one day." He smiled, and Rebecca found herself smiling back. Then she yawned. "I would suggest you get to bed," Rebecca nodded, and yawned again. "Goodnight," he said, and she left the study.
Rebecca slowly entered her room, making sure the door did not squeak. Joy was on the far side of the bed, fast asleep. Rebecca hung up her housecoat and crawled in next to her. She turned her back to Joy and tried to sleep. But thoughts of Narnia, the Professor and that mysterious name Joy mentioned earlier "Aslan" kept on ringing through her head. When she at last got to sleep, she dreamt of a snowy forest, foxes running among the trees and lying in the snow in front of her was a silver blade, which spun around and around until she woke up feeling dizzy.
In the morning, Rebecca's plan to tell Joy that she believed the whole Narnia story fell apart once Joy woke up. Joy refused to talk to her as they got dressed for the day. The sunlight was the only thing brightening up the room, otherwise Joy was as cold as winter. "But Joy," she persisted "I really do believe you and Lucy."
"Sure," said Joy, buttoning up her sweater, refusing to look Rebecca in the eye. "You really believe that Narnia exists," she said in a low voice.
"Yes," Rebecca nodded even though Joy didn't see her "I believe your story." Finally, Joy looked up, and Rebecca sighed. Joy didn't believe her at all.
"You're only saying this so I will talk to you again," Joy marched to the door "well, if you really believe in Narnia, tell the others so." She left the room.
"I guess I can't argue with you there," was all Rebecca said before the door closed.
After a quiet breakfast, with no sign of Professor Kirke again, Peter and Susan decided to try and take the lead on acting like a family. Rebecca didn't know how to bring up Narnia without breaking up the family idea, so she only suggested to Joy that they could join in on their plans. Joy, looking a little sullen, walked over to Lucy and asked if she had found any good books here, and the two went off on their own.
The others decided to play cricket outside on the lawn, and Rebecca joined in. Peter was the bowler, Susan the umpire, and Edmund and Rebecca were the batsmen. Lucy and Joy appeared a little later, by the end of the first inning, and sat nearby under a large tree to read. Peter grabbed the ball and got ready to throw. "Peter winds up," he ran forward "poised to take yet another wicket!" He threw the ball and hit Edmund, who was staring up at the top floor of the house, right on the hip.
"Ow!" cried Edmund. He rubbed the bruise, scowling.
"Whoops," Peter chuckled "wake up Dolly Daydream!" Susan threw the ball back to Peter, and Rebecca stood off to the side so she wouldn't get hit by the bat.
"Why can't we play hide-and-seek again?" Rebecca glanced over her shoulder at Joy and Lucy. Joy was glaring at Edmund and Lucy had that sad look on her face again. Peter tossed the ball from hand to hand as he walked.
"I thought you said it was a kid's game."
"Besides," Susan cut in "we could all use the fresh air."
"It's not like there isn't air inside," retorted Edmund. Susan frowned back at him. Rebecca got the feeling this "acting like a family" idea was not going so well.
"Are you ready?" said Peter as he picked grass off the ball.
"Are you?!" said Edmund. He beat the bat twice on the ground and got ready to swing. Rebecca got ready to catch the ball if it flew out of bounds. Peter wound up and threw. Edmund swung the bat and hit the ball dead on. It went flying up, and right through one of the stained-glass windows on the top floor! Edmund gasped. Everyone heard a crashing sound from the room and froze. Looking over her shoulder, Rebecca saw Joy and Lucy exchanging smiles.