The next morning, I woke up like a corpse come to life. It was Monday. The start of my least favorite time to be alive.
I hated school with a burning intensity.
The teachers were always yelling at me to "try harder". They would go on and on about me not "applying myself" or whatever else. I honestly started to think that they just liked the sounds of their own voices.
None of those books or equations mattered in the least bit to me. Because, well, I had known what I truly wanted out of my life since as long as I could remember.
It was a simple dream to be honest.
All of the popular social butterflies of my class dreamed of making it big as a performer or film star. The more book savvy children talked about being doctors, scientists, or vetinarians. There would even be the occasional boy who only wanted to be a military soldier.
Not me.
What I wanted was nothing extravagant or praise worthy. I didn't want to hear a crowd chanting my name, or to see myself in a history book of some kind. All of that seemed like nothing but superficial junk.
I was, and forever would be, a very simple person. I am exactly who I appeared to be. Give me a hot meal and a nice place to soak my feet, and you had yourself a very content kid.
What I truly wanted out of my life...
Was to make a boat from scratch with my own two hands.
Blood.
Sweat.
Tears.
All that stuff.
There was something about the very idea of swerving around the bends and curves of the swampy maze that surrounded Ferngolly that drew me in like a moth to a flame.
My own fishing vessel, sturdy and strong enough to haul my sky high piles of fish. I had the image of what I wanted perfectly sketched out in my mind, like some kind of museum art piece hanging high on pristine walls.
I had more personal reasons for this dream as well...
But, sadly all my attempts to bring to life the image so vivid in my mind ended up as just a few planks of wood hastily slapped together with crooked nails.
It was the best attempt an eleven year old could muster.
But, even after three failed attempts, I had not lost heart.
Not even in the slightest.
But, for now…
School.
Charlotte didn't take me up on my unauthorized offer to show her how to string a worm. That didn't surprise me one bit considering that the very concept of mud nearly made the poor girl pass out.
Suppose that's a good thing, since my stupid lips acted without permission in the first place.
My father was back at it on our vehicle that never seemed to ever actually get fixed. His loose fitting overalls were already coated in oil.
"You off?" He said, tightening a rusty socket that sent a metallic clank through the morning air.
"Yeah. Proly be back at sundown. Gonna go to the alcove after."
His response was just a simple grunt.
And so began my normal walk to school, passing by empty fields, run down houses, and the large church. But, even our crowning jewel of a steeple was absolutely miniscule compared to anything in the surrounding towns.
That's Ferngolly for you.
Quiet.
Unassuming
Population of four hundred.
And most of the people who lived there were aged, wrinkled, and moving slower and slower with each passing year.
The unofficial dress code for every living soul in Ferngolly was overalls and spring dresses for the adults, plain white t-shirts for the boys and… well, smaller spring dresses for the girls.
Like I said, everything was simple, unassuming, and probably boring to most people.
But, it was heaven for such a simple child as myself.
On my way to school, I did my usually trick to pass time. I kicked rocks, and whistled some old church hymns my mother used to sing to me every night before bed.
I didn't even know the words to any of them anymore, just the basic melodies.
Halfway on my walk, a second set of footsteps came quickly behind me.
A smile spread across my face before I even turned around.
The only person who ever ran at a full sprint towards me was...
"Andrew? Since when do you-"
...
Not Andrew...
"Um... H-Hi…"
Charlotte looked the same as ever, all too happy and cheerful. The only difference being the addition of long sleeves to go with her spring dress.
Odd considering how hot it was.
But, the humid air wasn't the only heat I was feeling anymore.
That unbearable heat...
My hands tightened around my backpack straps as I rolled my eyes.
"Uh… Howdy."
I turned away from her and continued my walk to school, thinking it best to just try and ignore her.
She clearly did not like that choice as her footsteps sped up to match my ever quickening pace.
"It's crazy that we have the same walk to school, isn't it?" She said, a bright smile across her face.
Stop... that... smile, ya witch!
I grunted, sounding all too much like my father.
"It looks like we will be getting to know each other quite a bit every morning from here on! How exciting!"
I didn't respond.
Clearly not one for silence, she kept going.
"Oh, come on, you said you forgive me. Why are you not talking?"
I continued to give her the silent treatment, hoping maybe she would just take the hint.
In one solid motion, she jumped ahead of me, her body stopping me dead in my tracks. She leaned down to look me in the eyes, her face growing far too close for me to handle.
Stop it! Stupid face, stop burnin!
That simple action only fanned the flame of that mysterious and all encompassing heat...
"So, let's start over, shall we?" She said with a soft chuckle.
Her hand shot out towards me, firm and sure.
"Charlotte Bellflower, a pleasure to meet you!"
Her smile was the definition of innocence, not a single hint of ill intent could be made out.
With a hesitant hand, I reached out, my palm growing more and more sweaty with every painful inch it moved.
I stopped my arm halfway along its journey, my fingers twitching in defiant anticipation.
This girl is-
Without warning, Charlotte broke the distance, her hand slapping against mine to form a solid handshake.
She leaned even close to my face then she was before, her eyes sparkling with an eager expectation.
I bit my lip, watching her smile grow more and more intense.
Way way way too close! She's a monster! A heartless little trickster!
"T-Tucker Greenwood…" I mumbled, my words barely audible.
I was hoping if I played a long for a second, she would have her fill, and move on.
"Pleased to meet you, Tucker! It's good to have a truly joyous introduction, isn't it?"
With one firm shake, she took a step ahead of me, yanking me behind her like a dog on a short leash.
"Come on! I don't want to be late on my first day!" Her innocent laugh continued to bellow from her stomach.
"H-Hey, I didn't give ya permission to go an yank on me!"
She chuckled.
"Oh, come on. You wouldn't make the lonely new girl walk into a strange place all alone, would you?"
I growled under my breath, gritting my teeth against one another.
Darn girl...
It seemed like my hand had decided to join whatever rebellion my lips had formed back at church. Considering, no matter how much I wanted to... I couldn't let go of her hand.
Rebellious body...
The rest of school was just a barrage of teachers yapping and kids not listening to a word they said, myself included.
Even if I did care to listen, I don't think I could have focused in the least bit. How could anyone be expected to pay attention when the new girl wouldn't stop staring at them over her shoulder the whole day. She wore that same unbearable and mischievous grin no matter what.
Annoying girl...
School was finally over, and I was beyond excited to get out of that special layer of hell. To run away from Charlotte as fast as humanly possible.
But, on my way out of the building, I was confronted with a dilemma.
A different little girl that I recognized from the class under mine was struggling to carry her overloaded backpack. The little pink bag was filled to the brim with books, notepads, pens, folders, and who knows what else. Way way way too much, that's for sure.
I didn't even know her name, but she looked like her tiny spine was on the verge of snapping.
"Ay… Ya need help with that?" I mumbled.
She quickly lit up, her eyes sparkling like the sky on independence day, her shoulders dropping in relief.
"Please!"
Luckily for me, her house wasn't too far from the school. She chatted my ear off about homework, some boy who teased her, and how one of her friends was, and I quote, "more annoying than usual".
Words cannot describe how happy I was to wave her goodbye.
"Finally…" I whispered to myself.
I got home, changing out of my school clothes, and into something more… freeing.
Shorts and a tank top.
Perfect.
I didn't even greet my father before I was off to the alcove again, throwing my backpack across our floor with an unearned righteous fury.
Sprinting over the hill, past that old bundle of wood that I think used to be a barn, and around the forest bend, I was finally nearing my promise land.
As I passed by the pile of wood, I snatched up my old rusty hammer that I had left there, its cold handle feeling all too natural against my palm.
My mind was already forming a new and improved strategy for the boat. I would start with the middle beam this time, then move to the end points once a definite foundation was formed.
A smile overtook my face the moment I smelled that murky water in the distance.
At long last... I'm home! Time to-
I barely even made it through the line of trees before something stopped me dead in my tracks.
"Gross gross gross gross! What is that?! Something moved!"
I could recognize that strange accent anywhere...
To my utter astonishment, that proper English girl was knee deep in the swampy water, holding her dress out of the ooze the best she could. Her face was as white as a ghost, drained of all its life.
"C-Charlotte? What in the world you doin here?"
Her head shot up towards faster than lightning.
"Tucker! Forget questions, just help me out of the water, please please please!"
She bounced up and down, her feet stuck firmly in the mud.
Ridiculous!
I didn't hesitate, my legs moving on their own as I grabbed her hand, yanking and pulling until she flew out of her boots, tumbling forward and landing hard on my chest. She let out a dainty grunt as her hand landed in the mud beside us.
"Ah! No no no! Disgusting!" She continued to shout, trying to push herself up as her hand sank deeper into the gunk with every struggled movment.
I slid out from underneath her, reaching down and grabbing her arm, doing my best to try and pull her up.
She winced as if it caused her pain the moment I began to yank on her arm.
Just... let her go, ya dang swamp!
The mud beneath her let out a gargle as it finally relented, releasing her from its grasp.
Once on her feet, she flicked her mud soaked hand, sending wet clobs of filth into the air, and all over me.
"This is so gross! How does anyone touch this stuff?!"
I raised my thumb, wiping off a clump of mud that had made its way onto my cheek.
"Easier to do that when it's my choice." I said in an annoyed tone.
She finally looked over at me to see that half of my body was polka-dotted with brown and dark green mud from her frantically flickering the mud from her hands.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"S'fine… What ya doin here anyways? "
She straightened her posture as her cheeks flashed red.
"I-Its nothing… I just-"
She lowered her face, hiding her eyes from me.
"I was… looking for your pole… That's all." She whispered, barely loud enough for me to make out what she was trying to say.
For a moment, I didn't react, far to stunned that this little girl was rustling through slop for… me.
I mean, granted, she was the one who lost it in the first place. But, the last thing I would have ever expected was for her to do... that.
She finally decided to raise her head a little, revealing cheeks and a nose the color of red crimson.
I couldn't understand at the time why that look almost floored me, my face growing far hotter than hers at the sight
"I'm sorry." She whispered, her tone quiet and solemn.
I nearly fainted, the tips of my fingers stinging like a sleeping arm or leg finally waking up. A static and shocking sensation.
"D-Didnt I say it's fine!" I yelled, quickly tightening my fingers around the heavy hammer still in my hand.
S-She's castin that spell of hers again!
I turned to try and storm off, completely forgetting my plan to work on the boat.
"Wait!" Her voice rang out across the alcove.
I stopped with my foot still hovering mid step.
"W-What…"
I couldn't bring myself to turn and face her.
"I saw you by the way…" that familiar smugness ran through her tone like before. Whatever embarrassment she had just a moment ago was completely and utterly gone from her voice.
A complete one hundred and eighty degree turn in her attitude.
"What you talkin bout?"
I heard her footsteps confidently begin to stroll towards me, each step proud and steady.
"I saw you help that girl after school. I mean, everyone else just passed right on by, including myself actually."
She finally leaned into my view, a wide cocky smile strewn across her face.
I couldn't believe it... Where was the embarrassed and apologetic girl that I had just tried to run away from? She was no where to be seen. Instead, the girl looking up at me was cocky, excited, and all too proud of herself.
Wait... Was she… fakin all that nonsense… to try and see what I would do? To watch me get flustered? To tease me?
Was I just a puppet in a little play she was putting on?
No way... No one is that crazy and unhinged...
"S-So what if I did help her? Ain't nothin!" I responded.
She giggled.
"Oh, I feel like I'm finally starting to get a bead on who Tucker Greenwood really is."
She finished stepping her way in front of me, her long golden hair flowing behind her like the leaves in the trees.
"Whenever there is someone in need. Someone in trouble. Someone struggling..."
She leaned back, placing the back of her hand on her forehead like a storybook damsel in distress.
"Tucker Greenwood comes rushing to their side, cape flowing behind him like the true hero he is."
I grit my teeth, my bottom eyelids twitching.
"Shush it! I ain't no knight from your stories, lady."
She let out a playful laugh, holding her stomach like each exhail hurt her.
"Oh, but you are. Let's begin the list!"
She straightened her posture again, lifting one finger towards me, her eyes closed and brows raised.
"Number one! On the day we first met, you let me use your favorite pole, leaving yourself the bad one." For a moment, that cocky smile softend, turning into a thoughtful grin.
"Don't think I hadn't noticed that." She whispered quietly, reminiscing on the moment like it was from ages long past.
"The one you gave me had fresh string and was way better taken care of than the one you kept for yourself. Honestly, it surprised me. The words you were saying to me were snappy and bitter. But, your actions spoke much louder than that."
She slowly opened her eyes, their bright blues looking deep into mine.
"You're a kind person, Tucker..."
That genuine smile on her lips sealed mine.
She winked at me before leaning forward, flashing up two fingers this time.
"The second reason! When I lost your favorite fishing pole, you didn't snap and insult me. Sure, you got upset at the situation. But, I would say that much is understandable. I mean, some random stranger barged into your life and lost something you cared about. But, what matters is that you didn't call me names, or start harassing me. You didn't force me to search for it. And you didn't curse me out."
I began to raise my shoulders, trying to hide my face, embarrassment taking over.
"I really am sorry for that Tucker. Truly, I am. But, you are compassionate... I... ran away that day because I felt horrible about making such a dreadful first impression. It was nothing you said, I swear it!"
She flicked up a third finger.
"The third reason how I know Tucker Greenwood is a good person!"
She smiled warmly at me.
"Not only did you forgive me the very next day, you offered to teach me how to do that kind of stuff myself. A selfish person wouldn't have done such a thing!"
She slowly began to walk towards me.
"And the last two reasons…"
She stopped directly across from me, far too close.
"You helped that girl out today, even when no one else cared in the least bit. And, when I decided to test you just now to see if I was actually on to something, you passed in an instant, no hesitation. Just like that!"
She turned to walk away, glancing over her shoulder at me.
"The conclusion is rather simple, you see. Tucker Greenwood is kind, compassionate, helpful, forgiving, and best of all-"
Her eyes narrowed, seeming to attempt to search the depths of my very soul.
"A knight in shining armor. See you around, Sir Tucker."
With that being said, she left me standing in complete bewilderment, my boat project being completely forgotten behind me.