This is a reimagined version of the classic tale The Bridge To Terabithia. This is a part of my NaNoWriMo or the Novel Writing November Exercise.
Leonie walked up the path to the Aarons' house, a sense of trepidation mingling with her curiosity. She had met Jesse, and the encounter had left her feeling unsettled. His parents, on the other hand, had been warm and welcoming when they spoke to her over the common fence separating the houses. Mrs. Aaron –Elaine had offered Leonie to come by every afternoon for lunch before she left for work at Page & Paige.
Leonie was so delighted at this offer that would save her the time to cook a meal and then rush to the bookshop.
As she knocked on the door, it swung open to reveal Elaine, beaming with a warm smile. "Leonie, dear, come on in! We're so glad you could join us for lunch."
Leonie stepped inside, her eyes adjusting to the bright interior. The house was airy, bright and cozy, with plush furniture and the scent of home-cooked food wafting from the kitchen.
"This way, Leonie," Elaine said, leading her to the dining table. "I hope you're hungry. I made chicken salad, Mushroom risotto and Peach sorbet."
Jesse and May Belle were already seated at the table, their faces expressionless. May Belle,with her piercing blue eyes, stared at Leonie with an air of superiority. Jesse, his eyes narrowed, leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Hi," Leonie said, trying to make eye contact with them, but they both looked reticent.
Elaine patted the seat beside her. "Sit down, dear. Let's eat.Have a glass of Iced Fruit Punch first."
Interactions were awkwardly painful with Elaine doing most of the talking. Leonie's attempts at conversation were met with monosyllabic responses from Jesse and May Belle. She began to feel like an outsider and her smile faltered.
As they finished their meal, Elaine turned to Leonie. "We're so glad you joined us, Leonie. Please come back again tomorrow? I make a mean lasagna."
Leonie forced a smile. "I'd love to, thank you."
****
May Belle suddenly pushed back from the table, her eyes flashing with excitement. "I want to show Patches to Leonie," she said, her voice high-pitched.
Jesse darted a look at her , but May Belle pretended not to notice. She grabbed a surprised Leonie's hand, pulling her towards the backyard. Leonie hesitated, feeling a sense of unease, but May Belle's grip was firm.
As they reached the rabbit hutch among the Hyacinth stalks, May Belle's expression turned sly. "You can pet Patches, but if you scare her, I'll never forgive you."
Patches was a rabbit kit only a month old. Leonie smiled, reaching out to stroke the rabbit's soft fur. Patches snuggled into Leonie’s jacket and moved up her shoulder to sniff her cheeks. Leonie giggled as Patches’ silky whiskers tickled her. May Belle's eyes watched her, her gaze cold.
Suddenly, May Belle yanked Patches from Leonie, her hands closing around the rabbit's neck. Leonie's eyes widened as May Belle's fingers tightened. Patches' eyes bulged in fear.
"May Belle, stop!" Leonie shouted, trying to pry the girl's hands open.
May Belle's face twisted, her eyes flashing with anger. "You can't have Patches! She's mine!" she hissed under her breath.
Jesse appeared beside them, his eyes blazing. "May Belle, let go."
May Belle's grip tightened, and Patches let out a faint squeak. Leonie's heart pounded, her mind racing with fear.
Elaine rushed over, her face pale. "May Belle, what's going on?"
May Belle's eyes flashed with defiance, but she released the rabbit. Patches scooted in a trice, into the safety of the hutch, her eyes wide with fear. May Belle turned around nonchalantly and walked into the house.
The silence was oppressive, with only Patches' labored breathing breaking the stillness. Leonie peeked into the hutch. Her mind reeled from the scene she'd just witnessed.
Elaine's voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm so sorry, Leonie. May Belle can be...difficult sometimes."Leonie felt a shiver run down her spine.
Jesse's eyes were fixed on the ground with a grim expression. "I think I'd better go," Leonie said, her voice shaking slightly.
Elaine nodded, her eyes filled with apology. "Yes, dear,you have to be at work."
Leonie's hands shook as she closed the main gate of the Aarons’. The image of May Belle's hands around Patches' neck seared into her mind. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unease, but her stomach churned with anxiety. The afternoon air, usually crisp and refreshing, felt heavy and smothering.
****
As she walked to Page & Paige, the familiar sights and sounds of Lake Creek District failed to calm her nerves. The rustling leaves, the chirping birds, and the ripples of the lake's waves seemed to fade into the background.
Her feet moved mechanically, carrying her through the winding lanes and past the quaint cottages and farmhouses. The scent of freshly baked bread wafting from the village bakery, usually enticing, only added to her nausea.
As she approached the bookstore, the bell above the door jingled and Ellen looked up from behind the counter, a warm smile on her face. "Good afternoon, Leonie! You're right on time."
Leonie forced a smile, trying to hide her turmoil. "Hi, Ellen."
But Ellen's eyes narrowed, her expression concerned. "Leonie, dear, are you okay? You look a bit...shaken."
Leonie's eyes dropped, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm fine, just...had a bit of a rough noon."
Ellen's face softened, and she came around the counter, guiding Leonie to a chair. "Tell me what's wrong," she said, her voice gentle.
Leonie hesitated, unsure if she should share the disturbing scene with Ellen. But something about the older woman's kind eyes put her at ease, and she found herself recounting the incident with May Belle and Patches.
Ellen's expression grew increasingly concerned, her hands clasped together. "Oh, dear child, I'm so sorry you had to witness that. May Belle can be...a handful sometimes."
Leonie's eyes widened, her voice shaking. "A handful? She was hurting Patches! How could she…it was a rabbit kit…”
Ellen gently guided her back to the present, handing her a ledger. "Let's get you started, dear. Work can be a great distraction. Start with the itinerary and list all the books in Aisle A. New stocks are arriving tomorrow. We'll talk more about this later, okay?"
As she began to work, her mind remained stuck on May Belle, Patches, and the dark undercurrents of the Aarons' household.
The late afternoon lull arrived and Ellen patted her hand. "Take a break, Leonie. I'll make us some chamomile tea. I have some cherry cupcakes too"
Leonie nodded, grateful for the reprieve, and stepped outside into the crisp air of the patio. As she sipped her tea, Ellen's eyes met hers, filled with concern. "You're going to be okay, Leonie.The Aarons are good people. They've been through a lot. You know, Winnie Grey…then there was Leslie, a good friend of the family...”
Ellen's gaze drifted, her expression wistful.
The bell above the door jingled, and Ellen's expression shifted, a warm smile spreading across her face. "Ah, hello, Mrs. Thompson! How are you today?"
Leonie's thoughts lingered on Winnie Grey, trying to connect the dots. Who was Winnie Grey…
As Mrs. Thompson departed, Leonie's curiosity got the better of her. She turned to Ellen, her voice low. "Ellen, about Winnie Grey..."
A preoccupied look flashed across Ellen's face, her eyes flicking to the clock on the wall. "Leonie, dear, let's focus on the stocktake. We're running behind schedule. I'm paying you by the hour, so chop-chop."
Leonie's face flushed--- a colour rising on her cheeks. She was shown her place. Ellen's tone had been gentle, but firm – a reminder of their employer-employee relationship. Busying herself with the shelves, she wrote down in the heavy ledger.
The afternoon passed in a blur of books and paperwork. As the clock ticked closer to closing time, Ellen's demeanor softened. "Leonie, you're doing great. I appreciate your help today."
Leonie's smile was tentative, her eyes searching Ellen's face. "Thanks, Ellen. I'm sorry if I...overstepped earlier."
Ellen's eyes crinkled at the corners. "You're fine, dear. Just remember, we're here to work, okay?"
Leonie nodded. As she walked home, the evening air carried the sweet scent of fresh grass and pine, but her thoughts were preoccupied with the Aarons and Winnie Grey.
****
As she approached Rosemonte Greene , she noticed Jesse in sportswear sprinting past her, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. They passed each other in silence. There isn't an ounce of cordiality in this ill mannered boy. She turned to watch him race away, her eyes tracing the lines of his tall frame.
"Leonie, dear! Don't forget to join us for lunch again tomorrow." Elaine called out as she passed by their gate towards Rosemonte Greene.
Leonie turned, a smile spreading across her face. "Thank you, Elaine. I'll be there at noon."
Elaine beamed, her eyes warm. "Wonderful! We'll see you then."
As Leonie walked away, she caught sight of May Belle, her face dark and brooding, watering the Hyacinth beds with a deliberate splish-splash of the hose. Their eyes met, and for a moment, Leonie felt a shiver run down her spine.
The only sound was the bubbling of the hose. Without a word, May Belle slammed the hose down on the grass, turned around haughtily and strode back into the house.
As Leonie too was about to make her way in, she heard a faint rustling in the hedge near the divider fence and saw Patches trying to wriggle through the gaps to her side. She picked up the wee kit gently and cradled it in her palms stroking its fragile forehead. Patches blinked at her as if pleadingly and tried to snuggle inside her jacket again.
" You're scared for your life, aren't you lil one? " she said, eyes brimming with tears.
As briskly as she could, Leonie dashed inside her house and took Patches into the warm kitchen. As the kit thirstily lapped up a small bowl of water and nibbled on pieces of cabbage leaves, May Belle's frenzied cry tore across. Patches! Where are you? Come out, you silly mongrel! If I find you hiding away again I'll skin you alive and make a soup out of you!
Leonie quickly put out the lights in the kitchen and took Patches with her into her bedroom on the far side of the house with the lake view.
Patches would be safe here from prying eyes…for the time being...
https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogrolls/chapter-8-bridging-memories-terabithia-reclaimed
To Be Continued...
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