Courage

Courage

by Lydia Hazzard-Leal

Maple Leaf Writing Project

Brattleboro, Vermont

Copyright 2014

The Excitement

The hardest thing was leaving my mother all alone. I was excited to see my grandmother on the Isle of Wight but it was a journey. I knew about the war with Germany, I knew my father was fighting for England and I knew my mother was trying to hide it from me.

When I stepped onto the train I could tell people were worried about their loved ones and what was at stake. How I worried that all the people I loved would never be the same again.

When I pulled my shoulder bag in front of me I sat down next to a little brown haired girl who looked familiar. I could tell she wanted to talk from the way she was looking at me. Her eyes seemed worried. I asked her name.

“Mary Jane Smith. I’m in the first year at junior school.” I realized then that I recognized her because I was in the fourth year there . She was crying and blowing her nose into her sleeve. I looked in my bag for a handkerchief.

As soon as the train started to move slowly all the girls and boys began shouting to their mothers, “Good bye and farewell.” But Mary didn’t. All she said was, “I’ll mail you letters!”

When she said that my heart dropped. My mother winked at me and blew a kiss. As the train left the London I had no idea what my mother’s new address was or how to write to my father.

After two hours, finally the train stopped with a jerk and a loud screeching sound that made us all jump. We arrived at Portsmouth station. The kids grabbed their bags and ran as fast as they could down the aisle.

Mary and I were the last ones. As I stepped into the station I could see my grandmother and her curly hair in the mob of kids with their big bags. She smiled and gave me a wave to show she was there. I smiled back and waved. I said farewell to Mary, gave her a tight hug, and

“Good luck.” The hug felt good, like I was holding onto the past. I paused a moment, then I ran to my grandmother, dropped my bag and gave gentle hug . She kissed me on the forehead.

“Hello my dear, how are you?” my grandmother said excitedly.

“I’m quite worried …when I was on the train I realized that I don’t know where my mother is staying and my father...I don't know his address.”

She looked at me for a second.

“Honey don’t worry. We will find a way to contact your mother and father,” my grandmother smiled .

I smiled, picked up my bag and buttoned up my jacket.

“Honey, sorry to tell you but we have got to get a move on or we are going to be late for the ferry.” My grandmother looked at her watch.

I pushed my bangs to the side, my grandmother and I were off.

We started to walk down the stairs. That’s when I smelled the sea. I instantly smiled, gazing over the horizon. “Look dear it’s the ferry!” my grandmother pointing to a big boat at the end of the pier. My eyes were surprised to see a boat so big .

“Grandmother…..I already feel homesick.”

“Being home sick is better than being sea sick,” my grandmother said trying to cheer me up as we started down the mile long pier.

“My dear… when we get on the boat we will sit in the café and have a cup of tea and crumpets. That always makes me feel better,” my grandmother told me.

We walked quickly down the pier.

“I’m so thrilled to go onto the ferry,” I smiled and looked at a clock tower.

“Ten minutes to spare,” I said excitedly. All the boats near the dock were big, thrilling and exciting. I was looking at all the people with their bags and their long coats to keep them warm. I looked down at my untied laces on the wet wooden dock. I suddenly smelled a whiff of warm strong tea. My mouth started to grin.

“Do you smell that?...warm tea in the fresh spring air? ”my grandmother smiled.

On The Boat

While my grandmother was getting the two of us some tea I picked out a table with three chairs: one for me, one for my grandmother and the third seat was for my bag.

“Here you go sweetie pie,” My grandmother said giving me my cup of tea. “Now drink up. We are crossing the Solent, it is seven miles to the Isle and I have a little story for you. When I was a little girl my father was a fisherman and would be out for weeks at sea. I would always be scared and cry before bed and wish that he would come home. And every time he would come home, and with lots of food for us and the people in the town. So I really do know that your father will come home, I believe it with all my heart.” My grandmother smiled and looked into my eyes. There was a little bit of silence.

“The tea is magnificent,” I said to break the silence.

“Yes,yes it is,” my grandmother agreed looking down.

“Thank you for telling me that story,” I said politely.

“Any time darling...I would do anything for you,” my grandmother said cheerfully. We both smiled.

“May I get some crumpets for the both of us?” I asked.

“Yes..that would be lovely and a spot more of tea,” my grandmother said with a tear dripping down her soft, rosy cheek. My heart started to settle, I took a deep breath and walked to the counter where they had the tea & crumpets.

“Ma’am are you the lady that sells crumpets & tea? May I have two crumpets for my grandmother and myself?” I asked the woman behind the counter. She glared at me for moment.

“You see dear...there are a lot of people on this boat and so little food. I think one crumpet is enough...you and your grandmother can split one in half. ”

She said this with a slight bit of anger. I felt embarrassed that I asked for too much. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment, picked up the food and walked away.

“Grandmother they said that we would have to split the crumpet in half but I thought that maybe it wasn't worth it.”

“Oh that’s fine dear. We are in a war and need to be happy for what we get.” We ate silently. Then I looked into my grandmother's eyes. They reminded me of Mother.

“Grandmother, do you believe in mermaids?” I asked her.

“I can’t say,” my grandmother smiled. I love my grandmother so much but I never heard any of her stories of the ocean. She lived right near the beach but never talked about the ocean. My grandmother started telling me about the little girl that just moved in and made a big deal about what great friends we would be.

“Grandmother how old is the girl?” I asked.

“Your age darling...” my grandmother told me. “She is going to be in the school that you are going to.”

“ It would be nice to have a friend around,” I sighed. I walked over to the window. The ferry was moving toward the longest pier I had ever seen.

“Land ahoy, arriving in Ryde in just a few!” said the captain.

“That was quick,” I said to myself.

“Come on dear I don't want to lose you!” Grandmother said excitedly. I picked up my messenger bag and Grandmother picked up her little bag. Then suddenly the boat stopped and the boat trip was over.

In The Town

I looked at the little houses and little markets. I instantly noticed a group of girls & boys tossing a little red ball.

“Look Harriet, you see that girl with the long brown hair? Well that is Annie,” my grandmother pointed out.

“Oh yes I do...she seems nice shall I say hello?” I asked. I thought she seemed nice because of the fine dress she was wearing.

“Maybe later, it looks like they are busy,” Grandmother said. Annie did seem nice...but I didn't think I was ready for a friend yet, I had a lot to do. It was already six thirty and I was very tired. We were getting close to my grandmother’s when I remembered that her house had a beautiful view of the ocean. I started to run. I could hear the waves hitting on the rocks and the seagulls dancing in the sand.

“Come look at Annie’s house.” I turned my head. My grandmother was pointing to a white house with black shutters. I realized that all the houses on my grandmothers street looked like that. I turned back and looked at the ocean. I started to walk to the water I looked down at my shoes. They were getting a little wet by the waves. I closed my eyes for a moment, then walked back to my grandmother.

The Next Day

It was 7:50 am I believe, when it was time to go to my new school. I was very tired. I had breakfast, made my lunch,and made sure that my hair was not full of knots, when I realized that I had ten minutes to spare. I looked out the window and saw the most sunny day, the most beautiful day.

“Harriet what are you doing?” my grandmother asked.

“ I was going to throw a little bottle with a note inside and see if someone would write back,” I told my grandmother. She looked at me and then turned around and started to walk back to her house. I could hear her mumble and start to giggle I looked back at the sea. Suddenly I heard the smallest ring I ever heard. I think it was because we don't live that close to the bell here.

“Honey the clock just struck eight. Do you want to jog to school? Or I can get the bicycle out of the shed?” my grandmother said.

“If that doesn't bother you,” I answered .

“No,no its fine give me a minute,” My grandmother went into an overstuffed shed in the garden.

I looked at my watch. “I have five minutes to get to school, one minute to find my class room and I also have to try not to make a fool of myself...six minutes,” I muttered. Finally my grandmother got the shiny, ,ocean colored bicycle.

“Grandmother it is lovely!”

New school

When I walked in I realized that my uniform was very different from the other classmates. I could see my seat with my name on top of it. I could tell that I did not fit in. I felt water trying to burst out of my eyes but I forced myself not to cry. But I think every child feels that way right now in Europe. I sat down and took out my book, Sherlock Holmes and a Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle.

Most of the day I did feel like an outsider. I spent my recess reading my book on the monkey bars.

On The Way Home

I heard the bell ring and suddenly all the girls and boys ran as fast as they could down the hall of the school. I looked around to see Miss Maple yell at the kids to come back and walk down the hall but she didn't. I picked up my book and my bag. I walked out of the school. I smiled when I saw the turquoise color of my grandmother’s bike. I walked over. My shoes were unlaced but I didn't mind. I swung my leg over the bar of the bike, sat down on the seat and backed up, making sure my bag was just where it needed to be. I was off riding the bike down the curvy road. The roads were nice because they were smooth and not too busy. I finally was near the ocean. I lay the bike in the sand, took off my shoes and socks and started to walk to the cold water. I was sweating and very tired. It was low tide so I walked a while before the water reached my calves. I turned my head slightly. I thought I heard someone calling my name. I turned my head back to the sea and took a few more steps. I heard the voice again but this time I didn't bother turning my head I kept walking into the cool water not minding that I was shivering. I turned my head to the right then suddenly heard a splash coming from the left, I suddenly jerked my head around and saw what I always dreamed of seeing. The tips of a mermaid tail. I froze. I was staring right where I saw the tail before disappearing under a wave. I started to walk backwards then I turned my body around running forwards, water splashing in my face. I slipped on my shoes not bothering to put my socks on. I picked up the bike pedaled as fast as I could.

The Belief

I let the bicycle fall to the ground, ran to my grandmothers house, swung the door, and open ran into into the guestroom where I was staying. I closed and locked the door. I looked in my bag for the journal I was keeping about mermaids. I opened the journal, scanned the papers and found what I was looking for. It was an article that I found in the newspaper on Sunday morning. It was about a mermaid sighting on the Isle near my grandmothers house. I looked out the window with a grin on my face, my heart beating in excitement.

Next Day at School

It was lunch time on the second day of school. I had my usual school lunch, a little muffin with a cut up carrot and an apple. I had a small knife and handkerchief. I cut the muffin in half and in quarters and started to eat when Annie came and plopped right down next to me.

“Well we haven't met and you seem very...unusual,” she said trying to seem kind. I didn't really take it as an offensive comment.

“Well you seem very kind,” I said politely. She smiled.

“After school do you want to go to the ocean? I saw you there yesterday after school with your bicycle,” she said.

“Yes that would be great! If you don't have a bicycle my grandmothers bicycle has a little seat on the back..if you would like you can sit on that,” I offered.

After School

After school I met Annie outside.

“Hello Harriet! Is this your bicycle?” I nodded yes. Are we going to go into the water when we get to the beach? My curfew is 5:OO...sounds good?” she said.

“ I normally take off my shoes off and socks and put my feet in the water. My curfew is 5:OO also,” I replied. I sat on the seat of the bicycle and Annie sat on the little seat on the back of the bike.

I started to pedal faster and faster. I wondered if maybe this wasn’t a good idea to show Annie the mermaid. But I didn't mind that I had a little problem. It got my mind off missing my parents.

We got to the beach and saw the birds dancing in the sand and the sun beaming on the water. I waited for Annie to get off the bike. We ran down the beach. I sat down and took off my shoes and socks, stuffed them in my bag, and ran into the water waiting for Annie to join me. She took off her socks and shoes and ran over.

“Have you ever seen a mermaid?” Annie asked

“Well...I can't say it was a mermaid,” I said quietly. I didn't know if I should trust Annie.

“Let’s go in the water maybe we can spot what you saw,” Annie said excitedly.

I looked down.

“Yes maybe,” I whispered.

That Night

That night I received a letter from my mother. I looked at the return address. It said: 34 Maple Street Red Cross Services E15 6PP . It was addressed to Miss Harriet Watson. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Red Cross Services written on the white envelope. I heard my grandmother coming into the house from the store. I rushed to her, waving the envelope beginning to tear up.

“Honey what is it?” my grandmother questioned.

“Mother mailed me a letter...from the Red Cross Services!” I shrieked. Grandmother put down her bags, took off her boots and hugged me. She sat on the couch and I did also. I opened the letter.

my Dear Harriet,

I’m sorry if this looks alarming. I hope you understand that I sent you to your grandmother’s house because I thought that me working and all the trouble in London it would be better for you and your grandmother to be together in this rough time. When my father was away I would always wish and pray for him to come home. I also saw little figures and I thought they were mermaids in the waters. I would wish for my fathers safe return.. When I saw them I knew that they would carry the wishes away to a far and magical place and they would make sure my wishes would come true. If you believe Harriet, all your wishes will come true. Promise me you will never lose hope and you will always continue to believe in magic, because if you do, we will always be together no matter what happens.

I closed the letter and put it back into the envelope. My grandmother looked at me. I stood up and started to walk to the guest room. I can't say I saw a mermaid but I now knew my father would come home safely.

The Next Day

I woke up and smiled, feeling like a bird singing a spring song. I knew that if something did happen… I still would be loved and cared for. I knew that everything would be all right.