Vignar - Introduction
Up the bridge, down the fence, across the stream. That was the quickest way to reach their playground, right in the forest. She had met a girl there once, and they had been friends ever since. They called it the queendom, a place where adults weren’t allowed and they ruled as princesses. Her friend had been there every single day, adding more and more things to their castle or making the village bigger and greater. She was never mad at her when she couldn’t go; no, she wasn’t like the other kids, demanding and arrogant.
Down the fence, across the stream. She put special effort in keeping her dress and shoes spotlessly clean. They got angry at her if she didn’t get home exactly as she left. Her long, black braids were starting to get messy, but she could fix that later. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Across the stream. Be careful with the stones, don’t fall into the water, don’t wet the shoes. She had arrived home soaked once, and, man, were they mad. Just a bit more, and she could meet her friend.
Her golden eyes got bigger trying to see in the forest darkness. She was really close, so close she could hear her humming. She smiled when she finally saw the brown, curly mess on her friend’s head and the stained hoodie. For being a princess, she was quite unsophisticated. And she liked her all the same.
– …Hi –
– Oh, ey! Princess Lisette! You here! You maked it! – her friend greeted, wide smile and shiny, chestnut eyes. Even with her broken English, they could perfectly understand each other. Games don’t need proper language. She chuckled.
– It wasn’t easy, but I really wanted to play with you… –
– Heh, thanks! Come, I finded somethin’ nice for da queendom! – she called, pulling her hand and going right to the opposite side of the huge rock that played as the queendom walls. There, over a sunny field, laid a lot of tiny buildings made of sticks, leaves, flowers and anything they would find, and in the middle of all that, a huge, broken playhouse: the castle.
– Oh, the graveyard got bigger since the last time I’ve been here… –
– Sí, I finded some… em… nut’s animals…? –
– Do you mean squirrels? –
– Sí! Squirrels. I taked them here. Now they can sleep, no? –
– Yeah… What did you want to show me anyways? –
– Ah, sí! – her eyes shone again as she made her way to the castle and let a flower curtain fall over the door frame – Ta-tan! See! We have door now! –
– Woah, fantastic! Shaiel, this looks amazing! – she gasped, hugging her and making her chuckle.
– You sayed you want door, and da princess wishs are orders, no? I make windows tomorrow! But come! I seeed some rocks today! You like it! – she said, making so many mistakes her friend laughed.
– Shy, you don’t say “seeed”, it’s saw! Or seen! Seeds are for plants, not for watching! –
– Ah. Well, I seen some nice rocks, and I want you see they! –
– Pfft- Ok, ok, let’s see them! – she agreed, realizing teaching her would take more than just correcting her every now and then. Her friend grabbed her hand again and she led the way to a small waterfall, all the stream covered with rocks and little, shiny stones.
– See! Nice rocks! – she smiled, getting to the water without even taking off her trainers.
– Wait! Won’t your parents ground you when they see your clothes? – she stopped her, worried. Her friend looked at her stained hoodie and wet trainers. One of the sleeves was ripped, and the shoelaces were covered with mud.
– No? Why? – she asked, confused, staring at her and realizing her clothes were too perfect for that dirty forest – Ah. Well, if I use that clothes I get ground! I use my bad clothes! You can’t use that clothes here, Lise, it’s forest! –
– Well… Yeah… I know, but… –
– Princess use shorts, Lise. See me! I’m princess, no? I use shorts! – she said very seriously, trying to convince her.
– Fine… I’ll bring shorts tomorrow… –
– You here tomorrow? Yay! –
– I’ll try to! But it’s getting dark, I have to go, Shy –
– Oh, ok… See ya tomorrow, Princess Lisette –
– See you tomorrow, Princess Shaiel! –
Across the stream, down the fence, up the bridge.
Up the bridge, down the fence, across the stream. Her friend was right, shorts and trainers were way better; now she could run and jump without fearing wounds.
Down the fence, across the stream. Actually, no, screw that, climb the fence! And swim in the stream! No more worrying about that; if she got stained, she could wash herself in the water, and if she got wet, she would dry up with the field’s sun.
Swim through the stream. She could get some stones, even, to surprise her. Her friend would be so glad to see her working on the queendom too, they would work together from now on!
She ran all the way from the waterfall to the sunny field, her arms full of shiny stones.
– Princess Shaiel, I’m here! – she called, trying to settle her breathing. Weird. She didn’t answer – Princess Shaiel? Shy? Are you here? – she called out loud, dropping the rocks without noticing. Clearly there was nobody there. But she wouldn’t get mad at her, no, she had never gotten angry at her when she couldn’t go, she wouldn’t do that to her only friend – Well, maybe she got sick from the wet trainers… – she tried to convince herself. Yes, that should be it. But then again, there was no point in staying there if her friend wasn’t with her.
Across the stream, down the fence, up the bridge. She would come back tomorrow to play.
And yet, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that she wouldn’t see her again.
…No?
Many years later…
And there it was, the last time they would hear the ring bell that week. Now they were free to do whatever they wanted until Monday came. Well, while respecting the school rules, that is.
– May I retain your attention for one last minute? – asked the teacher, and everyone froze in their seats. Would she give them more homework? They already had a bunch of her Math’s book pages to solve, she wouldn’t give them more as the tutor, would she? Those self reflection questionnaires were even worse.
– Listen. This weekend, a new student will arrive. She’s really delicate and she will be in this class specifically because of your kindness. There’s one warning: whatever you do, do not touch her. She’s haphephobic, she really can’t stand it. If you get in trouble because you touched her, you can’t say I didn’t warn you. Please, be nice to her. And don’t forget to do your homework. You are free to leave now – she finally said, and immediately everybody started talking as they made their way out of the classroom. A haphephobic who needed an extra amount of kindness? That was kinda rare there.
You can bet everyone forgot about that Math’s homework right away.