Little Town
An early spring morning, James exited his house, going into the cosy village. Book in hand, ready to exchange it for a new one at the village's only library, he was ready for the day.
The air had a small bite to it as it was still early. No one was awake yet.
James knew that as soon as the clock would chime eight, everyone would be awake and ready for the day.
Walking past the clock, James turned to it, checking the time. It chimed eight as soon as he laid eyes on it, the town quickly becoming louder and more awake.
“Bonjour James,” A cheery voice says. James turned to see a familiar smiling face.
“Bonjour Mary,” James greeted, “How are you today?”
“I am good thank you James.” Mary smiled, lifting her tray of bread to get a better grip on it. “I just feel as if I’ve lost something.” Despite her cheer, she sounds nervous.
“Don’t worry, Mary.” James reassured her. “I am sure you’ll find what you are looking for soon.” James liked Mary. She was a bit of an older woman. Old enough to have a kid, but that didn’t stop James from befriending her. She was a kind person. One of the few that didn’t judge him.
“Where are you off to today, James?” Mary asked.
James smiled widely. “The library. I just finished this amazing book about a beanstalk and an ogre.”
“Oh, of course you are.” Mary laughs. “Well, I’ll leave you to it.”
James walked away from her smiling as he greeted some of the people along the street. He could hear people whispering about him, but he didn’t care. He was ok being abnormal, as long as he was happy with his life.
James walked up to the library and went inside. The small bell above the door rang.
“James!” Marlene greets. Marlene co-owned the library with her wife, Dorcas.
“Is James here?” Dorcas shouts from the backroom, coming out. “Well if it isn't the only bookworm in town?”
“Dorcas, you read just as much as he does.” Her wife argued in a joking manner.
“Oh shush Marlene, he doesn’t need to know that.” She giggled, kissing Marlene on the cheek.
James smiled to himself.
“Do you have anything new ladies?” He asks, inspecting the shelves.
“Not since yesterday, Jamie.” Dorcas answered .
He placed the book he’d just read on the shelf, and picked out his favourite.
“Again, Jamie?” Marlene asks. “You’ve borrowed this one three times.”
“I know Marls, but I just love it so much.” James hugged it to his chest. “It’s about two boys in a hidden relationship, who lose each other for years, until they find each other again.”
The two girls laughed as James went off into his own world.
“Well Jamie, if you love it so much, you can keep it.” Dorcas told him.
“Oh I couldn’t possibly-”
Marlene rolls her eyes. “Just take it James. You know you want to.”
James smiles. “Thank you, girls. Thank you so much.”
The girls smiled back.
“Goodbye, James.” Dorcas says, as James walks out, already reading the book.
He walks down the town, narrowly avoiding the people around him. His mind was taken to a new world.
“James!” Glinda calls. “There’s my future husband.”
James rolls his eyes at the voice of Glinda. Annoying, egoistic and self centered are three words James would use to describe her.
James avoids her, trying to get away with not talking to her.
“James, did you not hear me?” Glinda asked.
“I think he heard you, Glinda.” Peter said. “You were quite loud.”
“Peter, just shut up.”
James kept his laughter to himself. Peter was a young man just out of school and didn’t yet know how foul a woman like Glinda could be.
In the time that Peter distracted Glinda, James got away heading back to his house.
“Hi.” A small voice was heard.
James looked down to see a young girl. She couldn’t be older than 6. She had a small smile on her face, like she was nervous. Her eyes were full of hope.
“Why hello,” James smiled down at her.
Her nervous smile turned into one of joy. “My mummy tells me that you are funny.”
James keeps a smile on his face but his eyes turn sad. He knows people around the village don't necessarily think he’s normal, whatever that is, but it hurts hearing it from someone.
“Does she now?” James asks in return, with less enthusiasm in his voice.
“I don’t think you are weird Mister James.” The girl says. “In fact, I want to be like you. I want to be able to read.”
James’ mood quickly changes. “Yeah?”
“Yes!” She smiles wildly. “Please teach me?”
He nods, and they sit down on a bench nearby. James opens up his book to the first page.
“Can you read this sentence for me?” James asks, pointing to the first sentence.
‘He woke up in the dark.’ The sentence read.
“He,” the girl started, “Woke. Up. In. The.” She pauses and ponders for a second. “Dark?”
“Yes! You did it.” James smiles at her.
“I did it?” She asks with joy behind her voice.
James nods to her.
“James Potter!” Someone calls. James and the little girl turn their heads and find the principal of the primary school shouting. “Do not teach that child to read!” He shouts.
“Uh oh.” The little girl says.
—
After a scolding from the principal, James heads back to his house. It isn’t too long of a walk home. He walks under the afternoon sun. Arriving at his cottage, he can hear a quiet song playing inside.
He opens the old door, going inside.
“Dad?” James asks.
“In here.” Monty calls from his working room.
James walks in, hearing the music come from the record player. He walks over to the record and lifts the pin up, stopping the music. He then looks up at the painting of his mother. She was young in the painting. She’s wearing a beautiful green dress and holding a rose in her hand.
“What are you making dad?” James asks, turning around to look at his invention. It’s a small box, painted blue with small yellow flowers drawn on. It has a small clasp on it in the shape of a gold shell.
“It’s called a music box.” Monty grabs the shiny clasp and undoes it, opening the box. Inside has a mirror on the lid. James can see his reflection, his messy brown hair, dark eyes and brown skin. There is a small ballerina in a pink leotard sitting right near the mirror.
“Is that just a decoration?” James asks pointing the the small figure. Some people may call his dad weird, but James thinks his dad is amazing.
Monty shakes his head. “No it isn’t.” He smiles and spins the box around, revealing a gold handle. “Wind it around three times, James.”
James grabs the handle and spins it once, twice, three times then lets it go. Monty spins the box around and James watches as the ballerina spins in circles as a pretty song plays. Monty quietly hums along.
“That was your mothers favourite song, James.” Monty smiles sadly.
Monty will rarely talk about James’ mother. The small things that Monty will say, James holds onto.
“Tell me one more thing about her? Please?” James begs.
Monty looks up at James with tears in his eyes. “She was fearless. So fearless.”
Then, Monty closes the music box.
—
“Are you ready for the market, dad?” James inquires as Monty climbs onto his horse, Philippe.
“I believe so,” Monty smiles down at James. “Now, what would you like me to bring you from the market?”
James thinks for a few seconds. “A rose. Like the one mother is holding in the painting above the record.”
“Just a rose?” Monty asks.
“Just a rose.” James confirms.
Monty smiles, his eyes crinkling. “Then I shall bring you a rose.” Monty positions himself, holding the reins, ready to leave. “I love you, James.”
“I love you, dad. Stay safe.” James steps back and watches his dad ride off. Laughing when his dad twists his body to wave.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, James.” Monty shouts.
“Tomorrow!”
—
“James!” Glinda calls from behind as James feeds the chickens. “Heard you had a little trouble with the headmaster. He never liked me, either. Can I give you a little advice about the people in this village, though? They’re never going to trust the kind of change we are trying to bring.”
Glinda walks into James’ garden, destroying all the plants.
James rolls his eyes. “All I wanted to do was teach a child how to read.”
Glinda ignores him completely. “You know what? Maybe you’ve not yet met the right woman.”
“It is a small town, Glinda, I’ve met them all.” James grits out.
Glinda leans against the fence. “Maybe take another look,” She gestures to herself. “Some of us have changed.”
James shakes his head and walks up the stairs to the front door. “We could never make each other happy, Glinda, and no one can change that.”
“James, do you know what happens to the people of the village after their fathers die?” Glinda points down the street to Agathe. She’s a kind lady, even though people are often rude to her about her homelessness. “They beg for scraps and money, like poor Agathe. For simple people like us, it doesn’t get better. We need to make the most of it.” She walks up to James and tries to cradle his face.
“I might work on a farm, but I am not at all simple. And I will never marry you, Glinda.” James spits avoiding Glinda's hold.
Glinda rolls her eyes. “Soon you’ll see how much you love me.” And she walks off.
James walks up the rest of the stairs.
“Could you imagine? Me? The husband of that rotten, selfish, brainless woman.” James spits in anger to himself. “Mr. Glinda. You cannot even see it.”