A bio of today’s guest writer: She enjoys reading, writing, decorating, playing basketball, listening to music, watching old movies, practicing the piano, baking homemade brownies (it’s a secret recipe), scheming with friends and climbing trees.
Her name is Victoria and she is nine years old.
My serious, auburn-haired, freckle-faced thinker of grand thoughts and lover of words falls exactly in the middle of our family line-up.
She is sometimes sassy, often obstinate, frequently irritated by some or all of us and never amused by silly or sarcastic banter.
She is an impatient learner who expects to understand something immediately, yet her teachers tell me that she is an encourager of the children in her class who require a little extra help.
She knows the “right” way things should be done or situations should be handled.
She is a hater of injustice and hypocrisy and has been known to call me on both.
She is moody and spirited and fiercely independent.
She remains cool, calm and collected in pressure situations.
She is her father without the off-beat sense of humor.
She is both a blessing and a challenge from God and I can clearly see His fingerprints all over her.
(This piece was written entirely at school for an upcoming creative writing competition connected with her TAG class.)
Mary’s Summer Adventure
On a late spring day, ten-year-old Mary was walking home from school. It was the last day of the spring school session. She lived 3 miles out of town in a cozy brown cottage with her mother and baby sister, Anna. Her father, a medical doctor, had died in a shipwreck two years earlier. Since then the McLanes had been scrimping and saving just to keep their small vegetable garden going.
This year her mother had been able to pay off a couple of their debts because she had taken a job as an assistant at the hat shop. It was good that she was able to take Anna with her to work. She walked to town each morning with Mary so she could drop her off at school. Then each afternoon, they were able to walk back home together. One afternoon on their way home, Mother asked, “How was Amanda today?” “She was no worse than usual!”
Amanda was the mayor’s daughter. The mayor himself was a kind and just man, but his wife and daughter were cruel people. Amanda thought she should act like her mother and pick on anyone who she thought was below her station in society.
Later that evening after a small dinner they were having a conversation about their summer plans. Mother had more practical plans, such as enlarging the vegetable garden, but Mary wanted a more adventurous summer.
That July, Mary blindly followed her mother’s summer plans. She daydreamed about being the Queen of England as she hoed the new larger garden. She was jarred out of her daydream by her mother’s voice calling her to put on her sunbonnet before her complexion was completely ruined. Mary sighed and looked at her mother’s fair skin and beautiful hair. Then she looked down at her grubby hands and freckled arms. She knew she would never be as beautiful as her mother.
A few moments later her mother came to the gate of garden and called out, “I’m going into town and I’m taking Anna with me.” “Yes, ma’am,” she answered. “Are you sure you’ll be all right by yourself?” Mother anxiously asked. “I’ll be fine. I always am.”
About 45 minutes later, Mary heard horse whinnies and hounds barking and someone crying for help. She quickly threw down her hoe and ran out of the garden. As she ran in the direction of the cry, she was thinking that this could be the day of her big adventure. Instead of slowly making her way through the fallen leaves and crowded underbrush, she deftly made her way through the woods. She had walked these woods so many times with her father; she knew them like the back of her hand. As the cries grew louder, she saw a lovely chestnut brown horse. Then she saw the rider. She was lying crumpled on the ground. With a gasp, Mary realized who the rider was. It was the Queen of England! Mary knew who she was because she had noticed her crown and who besides the Queen would wear such a magnificent riding habit as that! The Queen finally noticed someone was there. “Francis,” she called out weakly. Mary stopped quickly and said, “No ma’am I am not Francis. I’m Mary McLane and I can help you. My father was a doctor.” Mary bent down and felt the Queen’s arm. “I’m afraid it may be broken. Wait here while I go get the doctor.”
She quickly ran into town and burst in on Dr. Smith just as the old doctor was sitting down to tea. “Come with me quickly. The Queen has been injured in Barrow’s Woods.” That brought the doctor to his feet. “Let me get my bag,” he said as he quickly walked off.
As they rushed through town in the doctor’s buggy, Mary explained what had happened. When they got to the edge of the woods, Mary jumped out of the buggy and raced toward the Queen. When the doctor got there, he examined the Queen and then said, “I’m afraid you have a bad sprain in your arm, Your Majesty. Let’s get you back to my office so we can bandage it up. Once it was bandaged, the Queen said, “You know, I don’t believe I’ve ever been in this part of the kingdom.” So Mary took her for a tour. As they were going down Main Street, they saw Mother McLane and baby Anna walking out of the General Store.
When Mother McLane saw the Queen, she curtsied. But the Queen said, “There’s no need for that. Your daughter rescued me.” “I’d be honored if you’d attend dinner with us but I’m afraid we do have some company,” said Mother. “Well, if I’m not intruding, I’d love to.”
Two hours later at the McLane cottage the mayor’s wife and daughter stared open mouthed as Mary related her tale of the afternoon. Later that evening after supper, the Queen climbed back on her horse and called out thank-yous and good-byes. “Are you sure you’ll be able to get back to your hunting lodge safely?” called out Mother McLane to the Queen. “I’m sure I’ll be alright. I’ve been coming and going to this lodge since I married the King.”
Later that evening as they were sitting on their porch discussing the events of the day, Mother asked Mary, “Did you enjoy your summer adventure?” “Oh, yes, Mother, it was the best ever.”
Suddenly a piercing voice rang out, jarring Mary from her daydream, as Mother cried, “Mary, Mary, why are you just standing there? You know the Mayor and his wife are coming to tea!”
The End
(Her momma hopes this is just the beginning.)
