Thanks Vorlon! I'm going to do one more childhood story here and then continue with the adventure tomorrow or Friday. Maybe BSF would explain the Durgon and Thurgon too? Although, after this, they won't be seen again for awhile.
The children managed to keep Gwen’s mind speaking ability a secret all through spring and summer. In autumn, however, another little girl shattered Gwen’s happiness, and Gwen took revenge. It all began on Gathering Day in the farming community, a day set aside once a month for the families to get together in the morning and discuss various farming problems. The grown-ups met inside a large assembly hall with rows of benches lined up. The children were divided into three age groups and met in three smaller rooms to the side of the great hall. Gwen was in the 4, 5 and 6 group and Aaron and Geoff were together in the 7, 8 and 9 group. There was also a 10, 11 and 12 group and then at 13, children were expected join the adults in the big hall.
Farmers did not have time to visit with one another on a regular basis, so on Gathering day, everyone got out their best clothes and buggies to make their way to the hall. Although Gwendolynn’s family had what she thought was the nicest buggy in the whole community, they lived the closest to the hall and Gwen’s parents insisted that they walk whether the weather was sunny, windy, rainy or snowy.
At the first fall Gathering, Gwen’s class was responsible for bringing refreshments. She had spent the week making apple jelly with Ida, and the morning of Gathering making biscuits with her mother to spread the jelly on. The biscuits looked dainty sitting in her basket bursting with red apple jelly, and she hoped the leader, Mrs. Andrews, would notice them. Gwendolynn had chosen her favorite purple jumper and white blouse, and her mother had tied her hair in a purple ribbon. She had skipped happily with her family to Gathering and had placed the basket of biscuits on the table next to the other treats.
After the meeting, however, a gloomy Gwen crunched through the leaves behind Geoff and Aaron who were chatting excitedly about Sowen’s Night. She was busy thinking about how everyone was ignoring her and just didn’t care about her problems when Mother interrupted her pleasure by saying “What’s wrong Gwendolynn? Didn’t everyone like your biscuits?”
Gwendolynn burst into tears. “It’s not fair! I made the biscuits with you this morning!” She yelled. “Prissy didn’t make them, I did!”
“Well of course we made them this morning,” said mother soothingly as she knelt down holding the baby. “Who says we didn’t?”
Gwen gasped between sobs and said, “I put my biscuits on the table with all the other food. I was the only one with biscuits and jelly, and they looked so pretty. I went back to my chair and waited for Mrs. Andrews to come in. When she came in she said, "Who brought these beautiful biscuits?’ Before I could even open my mouth, Perfect Prissy stood up and said, ‘I did, Mrs. Andrews.’” Gwen continued crying before she got out, “Everyone thinks I brought bread pudding! Nobody likes bread pudding!”
“I like bread pudding,” said Father trying to be helpful.
“Oh, honey!” said mother. “I’m sorry. Why didn’t you tell Mrs. Andrews the truth?”
“I did, but then Moira stood up and said, ‘Gwen is lying. She just always has to be the best. I helped Prissy make those biscuits myself. I saw Gwen put the yucky bread pudding down.’” Here Gwendolynn completely burst into tears. Her mother pulled her close in a soothing hug. Baby James kicked Gwen a few times, but she didn’t seem to notice.
“Well, the next party we will make more biscuits and I will take them to class with you so that everyone knows you brought them.” Soothed Mother.
“Okay, Mother,” sniffed Gwen. “Thank you.”
“Why don’t you catch up to your brothers? They’re planning a haunted walk through the orchard for our party. I’m sure they could use your help.”
“A haunted walk? Really?” Gwen perked up and ran after her brothers.
“Can I help please?”
“We didn’t think you wanted to,” replied Aaron.
“We asked but you just stood there sulking like a baby,” said Geoff.
“I‘m not a baby!” cried Gwen. “Perfect Prissy stole my biscuits!”
“Yeah, yeah,” said Geoff. “Any ways, we can hang some scare crows from the trees.”
“Yeah, let’s stick arrows through them!” said Aaron.
“Oooh! That will be too scary,” said Gwen.
“Well, if you’re gonna be a scaredy cat,” said Geoff, “you can’t help.”
“Let me help! Please! I won’t be scared,” cried Gwen.
“We were thinking you could be the witch, Gwen,” said Aaron.
“Yes! I want to be a real witch when I grow up!” said Gwen.
Geoff and Aaron started to laugh. “Well you better be a good witch, or the rest of the people will run you out of town,” said Geoff. “Like in that story Father tells us, Harrisburg and the Witch.”
“I’ll be too powerful for anyone to run me out of town!” replied Gwen.
“But you’ll still never be fast enough to catch me,” said Geoff yanking off the purple ribbon in Gwen’s hair and taking off with it.
“Hey! Give that back,” yelled Gwen running after Geoff. They ran all the way back to the farm. Gwen never caught him, but found her ribbon lying in a chair in the parlor.
Sowen’s Night was only a week away, so preparations for the Haunted Walk had to be made rapidly. The Von Holdens had decided to throw a big party that year for all the families in the area. The haunted walk had been Geoff’s idea, but Aaron had thought of many things for it. They were able to build almost everything they needed for it themselves, and they let Gwen do some of the more boring tasks such as stuffing the straw in the scarecrows and scooping the guts out of the pumpkins. The three children had put so much work and thought into it, that Father had agreed to pay some of the farm workers to stay that night and help out with the Haunted Walk so that the children didn’t have to ask their friends. The children had argued that if their friends had to help out, there wouldn’t be anyone left to go through the walk.
The entrance to the walk was a gate made of bales of hay with half a dozen carved pumpkins on each side. Carving the pumpkins had been Geoff’s favorite task because Father had helped him with it. Geoff had thought of an original gruesome face for each one. They had also carved a half dozen more that Geoff distributed throughout the walk to make sure children stayed on the right path. A ways after the gate, four stuffed scarecrows with arrows poking through them would fall down on ropes hanging from the tree branches. Two men would be up in the trees dressed in black to push them down and then raise them up after people had passed by. Next Aaron would be walking around asking people to taste his mashed eyeballs (it was actually oatmeal) and cat guts, (which was actually beef jerky). Then, two of the workers would be seen sword fighting each other. One would get his head cut off, but it would actually be a pumpkin rolling away. In the next section, Geoff would be breaking twigs and making birdcalls. Then he would do some howling followed by an earsplitting scream. Gwen would be running around on a broomstick screeching and telling people to watch out for the Dragon. The grand finale was a dragon they had rigged with a wooden frame draped in a black cloth. They were all proud of the dragon. It’s head and neck moved with a mechanism that Father had thought up. One of the workers was on the inside of the Dragon making it move around. Overall they were very excited.
The evening before the party, Gwen was running around the house yelling nonsensical words at the top of her lungs because of the excitement bubbling over in her. Finally her mother said, “Will you go get your witches outfit on Gwen? You’re making my head spin.”
“Yeeeeesssss,” replied Gwen running upstairs to her bedroom. Lying on her bed was a little black dress. The hem was torn in places, and the sleeves were too long for her. She loved it. She felt like a real wicked witch in it. She quickly put it on and then rumpled up her hair to make it look messier. She ran back downstairs. “How do I look?” She asked.
“Ugly, absolutely ugly!” replied her mother.
“Thank you!” cried Gwen.
“Now go outside with your brothers. The guests will be arriving soon, and you’ll have your first victim!”
Gwen tore out the door towards the apple orchard. Geoff and Aaron were busy lighting all of the pumpkin lanterns.
“Your hair isn’t messy enough,” said Aaron. “You look to clean. Here, put some twigs in it and maybe a little mud on your face.”
“Okay!” said Gwen happy to oblige. When she was finished adorning her hair with dead leaves and twigs, and smearing her cheeks with mud she said, “Is that better?”
“Much,” said Aaron. “Now go to your spot and get ready. I see some guests coming now.” Gwen ran through the path to her appointed spot. She was anxious to meet her first victim. She had been practicing screeching all week, and thought she finally had it down. She had lost her voice after the first day of practice, so she paced herself better the rest of the week. She was especially anxious for Perfect Prissy to come through. Gwen had a special surprise for the girl who had stolen her biscuits.
Darkness was finally coming to the farm. Gwen had decided the sun would be up forever, but the stars were coming out nicely now and the breeze was blowing any clouds in the air away. There was no moon that night which, Geoff had said, made the perfect Sowen night. She heard Geoff getting into his place nearby. She went and hid behind her appointed tree. Soon she heard screams of surprise as the scarecrows fell out of the tree. She listened closely as the guests made their way through the path. Soon it would be her turn. There was Geoff hooting and snapping twigs. She heard the footsteps draw nearer. Out she darted shrieking and yelling about the Dragon up ahead. The guests ran and yelled as the dragonhead turned toward them. As the guests ran out of the orchard, she heard them exclaiming with shouts of delight. Their Haunted Walk was going to be a success!
The night progressed in much the same way. Gwen recognized many of the children who came through, and some adults began coming through as well. After about an hour, Gwen heard a familiar voice on the path. It was Perfect Prissy. Gwen stepped out into the path. She stood waiting, looking small and muddy next to the tall trees. As Geoff chased Prissy and her older sister into the path Gwen concentrated carefully.
“You will not escape me Perfect Prissy!” thought Gwen to Prissy. “I will change you into a toad before the night is through.” As her thoughts went to Prissy, Gwen began raising her arms as if to cast a spell. She cackled in her mind. Prissy stood horrified. Then she let out an earsplitting shriek and began running as fast as her little legs would carry her. Her big sister ran after her. “What? It’s just Gwen looking muddy and dirty. That wasn’t scary!” Prissy ran right by the dragon without seeing it. She screamed all the way to her mother.
Back in the orchard Gwen smiled to herself. “That’s what you get for stealing my biscuits Perfect Prissy!”
Prissy tore through the crowd at the Von Holden’s party and found her mother who was talking with Gwen’s mother. She was sobbing and she hid her face in her mother’s skirts. “Whatever is the matter with you?” asked Prissy’s mother looking down. Prissy continued to cry as her older sister ran up. The older sister was about Geoff’s age and had little patience with Prissy when she started crying. However, she had been placed in charge of Prissy for the party, and knew she had better follow her to their mother. “What’s all this about, Jill?” said her mother in a surprised voice.
Jill shrugged. “She keeps saying Gwen told her she was going to turn her into a toad. I didn’t hear anything though.”
“That’s because she said it to my head!” sobbed Prissy.
Prissy’s mother laughed and kneeled down. “Now honey,” she began. “I think that haunted walk was too scary for you. You’re imagining things that didn’t really happen.”
“It did too happen!” insisted Prissy. “Gwen is a witch and she’s going to turn me into a toad.”
“Now that’s enough,” said Prissy’s mother sternly. “I think you have had enough party. Mrs. Von Holden was just telling me that Mr. Von Holden was getting ready to tell the story of Sowen. I think you and I will go home now, and Jill can come home with Father. Is that alright Jill?”
“Sounds good to me,” said Jill happy to be rid of her ward.
“That’s not fair,” protested Prissy. “You told me I could hear the story this year!”
“I’ve changed my mind. The haunted walk was sufficient excitement for you.” Prissy’s mother turned to Gwen’s mother. “Please forgive my daughter for her little scene. I think she is just over tired.”
“Quite understandable,” said Gwen’s mother. “Don’t be too hard on her though. There is probably more going on here than we realize, and I would not be surprised if Gwen is at the bottom of it. I’ll go talk to her now. Thank you for coming, and have a safe walk home.” The two women smiled at each other and walked their separate ways. Gwen’s mother made her way out to the haunted walk. She had noticed the children had been somewhat quieter the last few months and the housekeeper had been commenting on the number of cookies missing recently. Although there was no evidence, they both knew the children had somehow been getting them. If Gwen was telepathic, it might explain everything.
She walked through the haunted walk admiring the work her children had done and notifying everyone it was time to shut down. Geoff was told to put out all the pumpkin lanterns, and the workers were invited to enjoy the rest of the party. When she got to Gwen, she looked down at her small muddy daughter.
“What happened to Prissy,” Mother asked calmly.
Gwen looked up and began shifting the dirt beneath her right toe. “I scared her.” Gwen said simply.
“How did you scare her?” Mother asked.
“I’m the witch,” said Gwen. “I scared her like I scared everyone else.”
“Prissy was the only one claiming you had spoken to her mind. Did you do that?” asked Mother.
Gwen drew a circle in the dirt with her toe and looked down at it. “Yes Mother,” said Gwen quietly.
“How long have you had the ability to talk to people’s minds?” asked Mother.
“Since my birthday,” said Gwen. “Geoff and I discovered it.”
“That is a very special gift that nature has given to you,” said Mother. “It is wrong to use it to hurt or scare people. I know you were mad at Prissy for claiming your biscuits, but you should not spend your time plotting revenge every time somebody does something you don’t like. That will turn you into a dislikable little girl, and I am sure that you would rather be your likable self instead. Do you understand what I have said?”
Gwen looked up at her mother, her eyes brimming with tears. “I’m sorry Mother! I won’t do it again,” she sobbed. “I’ll try to get along with Prissy, and I’ll save my mind speak for…”
“Stealing cookies?” asked Mother. Gwen’s face turned red. “I think in the morning we will discuss your mind speaking with your father. Now it is time for bed.”
“But you said I could listen to the story about Sowen tonight!” cried Gwen.
“I have changed my mind,” said Mother. “Instead of listening to the story, you can spend that time thinking about what you did wrong. Prissy’s mother took Prissy home, and I think that was wise. Maybe next year the two of you will be ready for the story of Sowen. But now it is bedtime.” With that Mother marched Gwen back to the house and upstairs to her room.
Gwen got undressed sadly but obediently and went to bed. Mother kissed her goodnight and blew out the candle by Gwen’s bed. After Mother left, Gwen thought about what had happened. She couldn’t help but be pleased with herself for scaring Prissy, but the words of her Mother tempered her. “Maybe it was wrong to use my gift to scare her,” thought Gwen. “Maybe whatever gave me the power will take it away if they see me behave like that. Oh well. At least this once I got the better of Prissy.” Then Gwen closed her eyes and fell asleep.
In the morning, Gwen woke up a little later than normal. She jumped out of bed and was dressed before remembering her mother’s words about speaking with her father in the morning about her mind speak. She walked downstairs to the breakfast table slowly, wondering what was going to be said. She arrived just as Ida, the housekeeper, was laying out the food. Dale was in a boosted up chair already beginning his meal. James was in his highchair, already a blob of porridge having been served first. The rest of the family was sitting waiting. It was a plain breakfast of porridge, milk, toast and apples, but Gwen sat down silently without comment. Everyone wished her good morning, which she returned dutifully. Silence followed as everyone dug into the porridge.
Finally Gwen’s father said, “Your mother tells me that you have discovered telepathy.”
The boys erupted, “Gwen! That was supposed to be a secret! Why did you tell?”
“She didn’t tell,” said mother calmly. “She tried, and succeeded, to scare Prissy by talking to her mind. What was it you said, something about turning her into a toad?”
The boys started laughing. “Good one Gwen!” said Geoff. “I wish I had known what you were doing so that I could’ve seen her.” Gwen blushed and began to smile.
“Your mother and I do not see this as a joke,” said Father sternly. “The three of you should have told us what was going on from the start. This is a very special gift Gwen has been given, and not to be used on pranks.”
The children sobered as they listened to Father. “Gwen has the ability to get inside someone’s head and speak to them. If this gets out to the community, there will be a great deal of fuss. The Durgon and Humans of Kellingsbrook frown about magic. They would want her trained in one of the churches to make sure her powers are divinely given.”
“Powers?” interrupted Geoff. “But she can only do the one thing.”
“It might lead to more,” replied mother. “Your great grandmother had the ability to mind speak among other things.”
“Wow!” exclaimed Gwen. “You mean I might really be a witch?”
“We never called grandma a witch,” replied Mother. “We just called her grandma. She was very wise and greatly respected, and would have urged you to use your telepathy in a better way.”
“We realize you’re excited about what you can do, Gwen,” said Father. “But we’re going to restrict you to use it only among family and with Ida. Your friends are not to know. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Father,” said Gwen. “But what about Prissy?”
“We have discussed her,” said Father. “We will wait and see what happens. Her mother is a good friend of your mother and we may decide to tell her. But possibly Prissy will wake up and just think that maybe she had imagined it. We’ll see. Now, I thought you all did an excellent job with the haunted walk. Did all of you have fun?” The boys launched into stories of scaring people and Gwen’s mind speak was not spoken of again at the table.
After the discussion with her parents, Gwen restricted her mind speak to the family only, and Ida, who was considered to be a member of the family. Prissy, unfortunately did not think she had imagined Gwen speaking to her mind like Gwen’s parents had hoped. She knew what had happened and planned on letting all the children in the Kellingsbrook farming community know. Fortunately for Gwen, Prissy’s older sister, Jill, had overheard Prissy telling some other children about Gwen. Jill walked into the room laughing and told everybody how Prissy had been so frightened of muddy little Gwen that she had run all the way to mama crying loudly. Then Jill did an imitation of Prissy that set all the children laughing. Prissy had sulked and insisted that Gwen had spoken to her mind, but by then all the children were only interested in Jill doing her imitation of Prissy again. Prissy soon dropped the subject, so in a way, the problem of Prissy knowing about Gwen’s mind speak worked itself out. Gwen and Prissy, however, had a dislike for each other that continued to grow as they grew.
