Third Pond

Maple Leaf Writing Project

Brattleboro, VT

~Dedicated to the Klein’s ponds~

Heat. Heat and I go hand in hand. My mind is always partial to “96 Degrees in the Shade.

I look out my window at Austin Texas, the heat haven of the U.S.A. Maybe the barbarian land of Texas is no place for a scant, self-centered Swede, like myself (Violet Taeh- Reverof Larson) but whatever. I adore Texas anyway.

Whenever I go to school my classmates call me “little sister.” because I'm little, and the center of attention, but they tease me. All of them just taunt me because they think that it’s funny, all of them except Live.

When I meet someone, I check what their name is backwards. You can learn a lot about the person that way. My middle name backwards is ‘forever heat.’ Is that fitting or not? When I met Live, I realized backwards her name was Evil! I’ve learned Live is the opposite of that. She is always backing me up. I wish she wouldn’t though.

Live always wonders. “It’s so mean the things they do,” she says. They call you little sister and tease you.’

”Live stop worrying, that’s really your problem,” I retort. ‘I’m fine with it. Worry about yourself, okay!’

Live looks annoyed and hurt. I don’t know why. But the thing is, I know something Live doesn’t; I love being the center of attention. The one the teacher calls on and everyone talks to. The one everyone adores.

If you saw me, you’d think I was shy. No way, I’m not shy, only little, and shy looking. I have black hair and dark hazel eyes.

For a sixth grader, I’m small, only four foot four. I look like a violet flower, shrinking into the sandy brush.

“Min älskling,” said Mom (she often speaks to us in Swedish).

“I’m telling you woman, if you speak one more time in that language I will kill you.” My dad is an exception in terms of Swedish. He is a small bearded American man starting to grow bald. He´s also, a lawyer who always wears suits and glasses. “If you don’t tell me what that means,” he said. “I’ll…..”

“Throw me out the window, wouldn’t you,” said Mom laughing.

Dad however, knew Mom’s weak spot. “I couldn’t,” he rebutted. “You’re too heavy.”

Mom ignored him. “It means my darling.”

“Just tell the girl about our decision.”

“As you know Vi,” Mom began. “There is a drought going on.”

I nodded, satisfied. “I love droughts.”

“Well, we can’t get enough water anymore and there is are many people than water sources. We want you to live a hydrated life, not digging into soil frantically praying for water. Therefore we’ve decided to move to Michigan.”

I felt like a huge bomb had been dropped on my head. “WHAT!” Then I realized. “Mom, don’t joke with me.”

“It’s not a joke, Vi.”

I felt woozy and fell over. Fortunately, I landed on the couch. Everything felt fuzzy. Lights went out.

“Violet, min barn- my child, wake up!”

Mom was shaking me hard. I was confused. Then I remembered why I had fainted.

Sadly, Mom remembered too. “There’s nothing wrong with Michigan,” she said.

“Are you kidding, it’s so cold. Texas isn’t 40 degrees each day.”

“Violet, you’re still thinking that because your middle name backwards spells ‘forever heat’ you’re linked to heat? That is rubbish. Children these days. You might have aquaphobia but you can survive without heat.”

“Oh I know I can’t survive without heat,” I said. “Michigan’s so filled with water they even call it the Great Lake state. I promise you when we get to Michigan I will get sick and die!

“Flicka, stop arguing. We are going to Michigan. Slutet av berättelsen- end of story.”

I ran into my room, tears melting down my cheeks like the rain that would pour down on me in Michigan. As hard as I could (which wasn’t very hard) I slammed the door and lay down on my bed, crying. I didn’t know how I would live through this.

The plane smelled of wet feet. I curled up like a sleeping cat and dozed into dreams. My popping ears woke me up and I was unsure of where I was.

At five in the morning, I woke up in a big bed. At first I was disoriented and I smelled something very sweet. Then later, I woke up again.

“Violet honey, we’re here,” Mom said.

I looked around. The room had my same pink rug and my blue curtains. My alarm clock was by my bed. On the screen it showed that it was ten o'clock.

“We are going to go on a tour of our new town in Michigan,” she said. “It’s called Berkeley.”

That was when I realized what had happened. I ran in my polka dotted night dress to the window, looked out, and gasped. There was a huge pond in our yard.

“We have a pond!!!!” I yelled at mom. “How can I live when each day I'm about to fall into a pond and drown?”

“There are three ponds actually,” Mom said.

“THREE!”

My dad walked up the stairs carrying a pan of crispy, crunchy, delectable bacon. I took a piece hungrily but Mom refused it.

“Americans,” she muttered under her breath.

“Well Vi,” my dad said. “Today we are going to unpack and go to your new school!”

My mind sprang into worry. What if they didn't like me? What if I wasn't the center of attention like I was at my old school?

"Class," Ms. Murphy said. "Meet Violet!!"

I looked at the class of sixth graders. Everyone sneered.

"Weird," whispered one girl to another.

"Look at her hair," the other girl whispered back.

At recess that same girl said: "Where are you from?"

"Texas," I said proudly.

"Well, I don't know what went on in your old school but anyone who messes with Tabby cat is a nobody."

Just then Tabitha Rodgers walked by. "Don't bother with her Bridget," said Tabby. "She already classifies as a nobody."

Bridget giggled. “Yeah, it is kinda impossible for her to be even more of a nobody.”

I ran as fast as my little legs would carry me. There was a little bench in the back of the school where I sat and cried my heart out. They hated me. I had been teased at Austin Center before but jokingly, not actually criticized.

It stung like a bee sting and it pained me to walk so I went to the nurse who said I had a high fever. Mom had to pick me up.

I had a headache and was woozy. Michigan was definitely not Texas.

I lay in bed, dismal and dreamy, wearing my golden locket. It’s my very favorite.

As my head contemplated my new school I felt a twinge in my hair and saw it move through the air. My locket was floating away!

The same force that moved my necklace moved me and I followed my grandmother’s heirloom.

I reached out and tried to grab it. I was confused and petrified.

Down the stairs we went and out onto the grassy dew and step by step to the third pond which my mother nicknamed porlande vatten- rippling water. The water stirred even with no wind.

I yelled and tried to resist the force but the locket fell into the glassy water.

I felt terror; I didn’t know how to swim but I was in. Water filled my lungs as I tried to scream, knowing I drowning.

My head was soggy and spinning. I saw shapes in the water. Their presence felt like the petals of a desert flower back in Texas so I instantly trusted them.

As my mind whirled I could just make out forms of color, color I didn’t recognize. Then, my tightening lungs opened and I knew by the warm color they changed that they had saved me.

One form of color came closer than the rest. Its presence felt female and warm.

The shape turned a color that signaled that her people were called the Alorosas. It was a pinky red color. A pleasant color. Then she turned into color that showed me her name was Petal. She wanted to know what mine was.

I struggled to speak but only bubbles came out. Frustrated, I struggled against the water. I tried to turn purple to show my name was Violet. The only color I turned though, was red.

I could tell Petal was laughing. She turned a blueish color. Use the water, it told me. I stared at her aghast. Water? Seriously? I swirled the scummy pond water a little bit then gave up. But strangely, Petal got the message.

Violet? she asked.

I nodded, alarmed, then swirled the water more. How did you know that?

I'm one of the Alorosas, spirits of the water. Petal responded.

I felt fear and struggled to swim but couldn’t. Petal changed a playful color which signaled come back and play with us!

Then I saw the locket floating and I tried to move towards it.

Play with me!!!

I swirled the water frantically. NO! I have to get the locket, I tried to swim towards it, but couldn’t! Get me the locket, Petal!!!!

She swam towards it and reached out but it kept floating away. I saw Petal was becoming a greenish color, she was exhausted.

She came back.

I ´m sorry, it just kept floating away.

She touched my heart with misty hand.

I knew she spoke truth.

************

In the next hours I was engrossed with fun I had never had. We splashed water on each other and Petal taught me a fun game in the water. It was unlike any other fun I had had before because I wasn't the center of attention. We were each other's center, it was strange.

More Alorosas came. Hilti, Almet, and Radi came to play. They were orange color and were beautiful in their own bright way. But not as pretty as Petal. She was my friend.

They told me about the Alorosa´s life story. They were the spirits of two things, color and water. They said they were the same thing as water. Of course I didn't believe them, but I didn't say.

Finally, I heard Mom’s frightened voice calling.

I swirled the water. Now it didn't seem strange, our way to communicate. We were talking through the water. It was simple. We talked through the water and sense. We were friends.

I have a to go, I swirled.

Bye. Come back tomorrow.

Play with me!!

It was Petal again.

Please. I want more friends to play with.

NO, I´m sick Petal!

Than she splashed some water on my face and I felt it’s cool, moist touch. It felt so nice.

Fine Petal. I’ll play for a little bit, but only a little bit.

Petal turned a color of pure happiness. It was orangish-yellow and energetic.

This time Petal taught me how to swim. Before I had just been held down by the power of the water and the Alorosas, but now I could control this new power. It was glorious.

Now try and race me, Petal said enthusiastically.

But I didn't have time to race her. A green slinking thing was coming towards us. Petal turned a auburn color. She was petrified.

What is that thing, Petal?

Petal didn't answer but swam as fast as she could away from the thing. I shouted after her but only bubbles filled my mouth. The monster swam after her greedily. I rushed after it.

My mind was racing. I had no clue what I was doing, it was just I had to save Petal. I had to.

Then I saw her. She was in front of the monster. Too scared to move.

Move Petal! Oh, Petal, MOVE!

It was no use though. The snakish beast entwined itself around Petal. My locket was clutched tight in her fist. Then Petal, my best friend Petal, disappeared in a blackish mist. She was out like a flame, extinguished.

I screamed but this time not only bubbles filled my mouth. Petal was gone so her protection on me was released. Water filled my lungs and I struggled to swim.

One stroke at a time with great force I pushed myself closer to the surface. Then, when I felt that all life was gone from me, I was on the shore, gasping like a fish out of water. Then, In exhaustion and depression I passed out.

Petal was dead. It seemed I cried about it even though I was asleep. I felt like I would cry until my own death. She was one of the only two friends that I had. She taught me more than Live had. She had taught me that you don't have to be the center of attention to have fun.

I woke up once to see Mom standing over me with a thermometer, praying. I was about to ask her why she was doing this, but fatigue came over me and I drifted back into dreams of Petal. Her death was replaying over and over in my head. I saw the slinking beast over and over again in sleep. Petal’s color was extinguished. Replaying.

Two days later I felt better enough to go to the Alorosas for Petal’s funeral. It seemed like their magic was in me now so I didn't need to get out of my warm bed for it. I could just…….go there.

They said that the monster that had killed her was Greed. It was the one who had pulled my locket out of Petal’s reach. Greed had wanted to be the ruler of the pond but the rest of the Alorosas had killed it. Petal’s death was the only loss.

With a jolt I realized that I had been greedy too. My selfish spirit, my forever longing of being the center of attention, not letting others be, was almost too much for my lightheaded head to bear now. Petal gave me an amazing friendship. She taught me to love water.

I tried to cry for Petal, but no tears came out. That just made me feel even greedier.

“There is no use in crying,” my grandmother had once told me. “It gets you nowhere.”

I will no longer be greedy, I told myself, my body pressed lovingly over Petal’s ghostly grave. It was put on the bottom of the pond. Then, I saw a flicker of gold catch in the sunlight that was glowing above the pond. It too was on the weedy pond floor.

I swam closer to investigate and realized with a jolt of sadness and love that it was my locket.

I picked it up and put it around my neck. How had it gotten there? The logical part of my brain said it must’ve floated here. But I believed that, from heaven, Petal had sent it to me. Thank you so much Petal, I thought. For that I would have to do more than stop being greedy. I would love water.

A little part in my brain was confused. But don’t you already? it asked.

I did, and I thanked Petal even more. I would deal with the brats at my school, for Petal. I would like Michigan for Petal. But not just for Petal, because I realized it was alright. I would give it a chance.

“Weird, isn’t it, Hyde?”

I heard my mom’s deep voice answer. “Yes. Very strange.”

“One day Vi was sick with a fever and hating every inch of Michigan, the next day she was going for a swim in the pond. She told me she thought Michigan was more enjoyable than Texas! What do you think happened?”

“I don’t care what happened,” my mother said. “I'm just glad of this change whatever caused it.”

“I already told what caused it, Dad,” I said waking up. “The Alorosas, the water spirits.”

Dad smiled then whispered to Mom, “Undoubtedly a dream.”

“I heard you,” I said. “But believe me or not it’s true. Now if you would excuse me, I'm going to get dressed and go see them right now. MOVE!”

My parents looked disappointed. I realized that I said something pretty mean.

“Sorry,” I said shyly. “If you wait for me outside my door I can give you the present.”

After I had dressed, I went out to meet them and give them my locket.

My Mom looked shocked. “For us, Vi?” she asked. “This was from grandma to you. It’s awfully special.”

“Take it,” I said. “Now it’s for you.”

They both hugged me.

“There is more,” I said. “Look inside it.”

They opened it and gasped, then hugged me harder.

Satisfied, I went down to the pond to play with the Alorosas.

We swam, dipped, and chased each other around Petal’s grave. It made us more connected to her, as if she was playing too.