The medics bandaged my hand, and then the five of us went out for a hamburger feast.
“I’m really proud of my girl,” Dad said. “It’s been hard getting used to the things you do, but I’m really proud. I only hope you live through it.”
“I was so torn when the Sheriff called for your boots,” Mom said. “I was proud, but I wanted to tell them to let someone else do it.”
“But Mom, Penny’s the only other person who could have climbed into that tree!”
We talked and laughed some more. When we were just about to leave, my dad said, “You know, Honey, you’re going to have to tell people at school what happened,”
“No I don’t,” I said. “It’s not their business and they don’t have to know.”
Then Mom said, “Well I’m going to call the school and tell them . . .”
“No!” I yelled and stared at my mom. “I have to go to school there, not you! Do you know how hard it is being different, Mom? You always ask me why I don’t have more friends. Well, it’s because hardly anybody will even talk to me because I do my homework, and because I do strange things like swimming and tree climbing. Please don’t make it worse!” I was crying and Michael had his arm around me.
“I’m sorry, Honey. I just wanted to let the teachers know . . .”
“Yeah, and they’ll just stand up in every class and blab it.”
Everyone was very quiet on the way home. Penny had to go back to school, but Michael stayed out to be with me. We went for a walk.
“I know I should be proud, Michael, but I’m just scared instead.” We walked on a little ways. “Scared that if I tell anyone about Search and Rescue and stuff, then they’ll find out about the Grove too.” I was quiet for another minute. “And scared that if I start doing it to be big at school, I’ll get conceited and won’t be able to do magic.”
“Can I tell you what’s really happening?”
After a while I said, “Okay.”
“Everyone knows . . . about the demos you did, and about Search and Rescue, and about your swimming speed and climbing and things. But they don’t know the truth, just vague and sometimes twisted rumors.”
I walked in silence.
“It seems to me that you can either teach them what it’s really like, or let them believe the rumors.”
I thought about it all evening and half the night, the half I didn’t sleep.
At my very first class the next day, the teacher whispered in my ear, “Do you want to share anything with the class?”
I thought about it for a moment. I knew everyone could see my bandaged hand. With my heart in my throat, I looked at him, “Yes, I do.”
As soon as he had taken attendance, he nodded to me. I sat on my desk and started talking to them.
“Yesterday I met a little four-year-old boy, and for about an hour, he was more important to me than anyone else in the world . . .”
Michael met me after school and we walked home together.
“How did it go?”
“I did it! I told them! And I didn’t feel like I was doing it for glory. I knew I was some kind of teacher, but I had been thinking I would just be a teacher of Wood Sprite magic. You made me realize that maybe I have something to teach all the kids.”
“Weren’t you afraid they’d find out about the Grove?”
“I was. But now I think I have to trust the Sprites to be careful. And if we
all are, nothing should happen.”
When we got to my house, Mom said, “There’s a letter for you on the table.
Your Search and Rescue leader brought it by.”
“Thanks,
Mom.”
I got some cookies out for me and Michael and we sat down.
“Michael!” I said, opening the letter, “there’s money in here! Lots of money!” I counted it. “Mom! There’s a thousand dollars in here!”
“Read the letter!” she said.
Dear Ariel,
I was so happy to get my little Benjamin back that I forgot about you for a while. It was only after you had left that I found out you were a volunteer, and a young person. Benjamin only knew your first name. He liked you very much, and talked about you for hours. I also learned you hurt your hand. I hope this money covers all your expenses. Thank you so very much, Ariel.
Love,
Sally Smith
Tears were rolling down my face. “I thought they had forgotten all about me.” I hugged Mom and Michael. “I’m going to the bank!”