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Live From the Moon
~The Beginning~
Chapter 2
-1980/81-
Bobby walked into his new classroom, grade one. He was in a real class now with real desks and real work. With pride, he hung his coat up on the hook with his name taped above and shifted his knapsack to the floor. He pulled out his new pencil case, scribblers and runners. Bobby's tongue stuck out as he concentrated on typing his shoes - a new skill he only recently learned. Done, he looked down and beamed. It looked as good as his mum did. With his hands full, he walked to the back of the room and sat down in an empty desk.
Soon, others joined him, some scared, some like Bobby proud to be in grade one and anticipating an exciting year. The bell rang. All students became quiet as the new teacher walked into the class. Bobby's heart dropped when he saw someone walk in beside her - that crazy girl who lived next door! He glanced around and noticed the only empty desk in the class was right beside him. Bobby squeezed his eyes shut as he sent up a silent prayer, "Please God, I'll brush my teeth every day, I won't put frogs in my mum's laundry basket and I promise never to lie again if you make that girl go away." He opened his eyes and to his horror, saw Mary-Anne sitting down beside him in the empty desk. Bobby stared straight ahead, not looking right nor left. Maybe if he stared long enough, she'd go away. A quick sideways glance confirmed this was not going to happen. Oh why did she have to return to school? Why did she have to be in this class and why beside him? What had he done so wrong, he deserved this punishment? Subconsciously he rubbed his arm in remembrance of their last encounter and shifted nervously in his seat.
Bobby didn't hear anything the teacher said that morning. He was too focused upon the blonde hair imp sitting beside him. He noticed that she kept looking at him, sometimes a glance, other times a full stare. His left leg bounced nervously as he tried to concentrate on the lessons.
Finally the recess bell rang and Bobby jumped up as if his seat were on fire! He ran out the door, forgetting to change his shoes and headed straight for the playground. With his friends running behind, Bobby headed straight for the empty swings. Just as he was ready to jump onto an empty swing and fly off to outer space, he heard a familiar giggle. She was sitting there, laughing at him, pushing her feet on the ground, and causing the swing to rock back and forth.
"Hey, get out! I called dibs!" Bobby yelled, furious that his favourite swing had been invaded. First his classroom and now, his swing. Behind him, he heard his friends laughing and joking around that his swing had "girl germs."
"Ain't gonna move. You're cute!" Mary-Anne stuck out her tongue and giggled some more, as she pushed off and set off to swing high enough to touch the sun.
Bobby heard the taunts of the boys behind him and his anger increased. He had enough of her crazy ways! He grabbed the links of the swing as she headed to the sky and shook hard.
"Get off my swing, you stupid girl! It's mine! I said dibs!"
"Teacher! Bobby's hurting me! Help!" Mary-Anne cried out as she held fast, kicking out with her feet, becoming dizzy as the swing swirled around in circles.
"My swing, I said dibs, don't you get it? Get off! Get off now!" Bobby gave one final pull, which caused Mary-Anne to tumble off, hitting the gravel hard and scraping her knees. Instantly, screams pierced the air. Bobby shoved her aside and attempted to climb onto the swing.
"Bobby Parson, get off that swing right now and follow me!" The teacher ordered in a very firm voice, "We are going to the principal's office, right now!"
Eyes narrowed, Bobby glared at the still screaming Mary-Anne as he walked beside the teacher. Mary-Anne glanced over and stuck out her tongue, as she limped along, holding a peer-helper's hand. While Mary-Anne was in the medical room, Bobby sat in the office hearing how bad he was and how disappointed everyone was in his behaviours, especially with it being only the first day. At one point, Bobby tried to explain how insane Mary-Anne was but he was ignored. Deep inside, Bobby knew they wouldn't believe him anyhow and just remained silent as the lectures continued around him.
At home, his parents kept asking why. Why? He was a good boy. He was usually so friendly and kind. He wasn't usually so mean. And why was he so mean to Mary-Anne? Hadn't they explained she had a hard life and only wanted to be his friend? She was new to the school. She didn't have any friends. Why couldn't Bobby just share the swing with her? Bobby just sat there; ignoring his parents rants and planned the tree fort he was going to build on the weekend.
After that, Mary-Anne followed Bobby all over the school without ever speaking to him again. At first his friends teased that he had a girlfriend but after he beat up a kid for saying that, the others stayed silent and they all simply tolerated her presence. Sometimes he'd find silly notes in his desk. Notes with hearts drawn on them with no words. He'd simply throw them in the garbage with only a short glance. Bobby asked teachers for help but they told him to be friends, after all she was the new one in the school, just be kind. He tried to talk to his parents but they told him the same thing - just be her friend. Finally he gave up and accepted he had a strange shadow in his life.
Winter finally arrived and school breaks were filled with building snowmen, snow forts and tobogganing down the school hill. Bobby loved to take his GT down the steep hill. It sure could fly! Felt as if he was going to take off and fly to the moon, he went so fast! Today was beautiful, bright sunshine, crisp winter air and excellent snow conditions for his GT. As usual his shadow followed and was sitting at the top of the hill, watching his every move.
Bobby jumped onto his sled and sped down the snow-covered hill, laughing all the way. As he tumbled off at the bottom, he crashed into his friends. Laughing they stood up and shook off the snow ready to take on the hill once more. Everyone grabbed their sleds and started the long trek back up the hill. Bobby glanced up and stopped, a few others banging into the back of him. There was Mary-Anne being pulled by a strange man! Bobby dropped his GT and ran straight up the hill, puffing hard, stumbling at times in his heavy winter boots.
"Hey! Stop! Leave her alone!" He screamed out as he continued to race to the top.
Mary-Anne tried to scream but the stranger placed his gloved hand over her mouth and dragged her away. Bobby took a deep breath, his lungs screamed in pain as the frozen air hit and he jumped hard, reaching the top in one large leap. Mindless of the others, he ran hard, putting his head down and he slammed straight into the stranger's stomach. Startled, the stranger fell backwards releasing his strong grip on Mary-Anne. She reacted quickly, turning around and kicking at the figure lying on the snow. Screaming. The man rolled up tight as Mary-Anne's foot connected with his groin. Bobby yelled loudly for help as Mary-Anne continued her assault, her feet kicking hard as the man struggled to protect himself.
Bobby jumped as a teacher grabbed him, pulling him away from the scene. She reached over and quickly pulled Mary-Anne off the abductor as other teachers yelled towards the school building to call the police. The teacher ordered Bobby to take Mary-Anne into the school and he didn't hesitate, grabbing her hand and running hard for the safety of the brick building. Inside their classroom, he pushed her into a desk and collapsed on the floor beside her, shaking and terrified at what had just occurred. Shortly after a teacher appeared and sat down beside them both, explaining in soft caring tones that the police had taken the stranger away. She further explained their parents and a social worker had been called and would shortly be there. Bobby looked up at the teacher with questioning eyes. The police and parents he understood but a social worker? Mary-Anne simply sat there, staring at the wall, silent.
Finally everyone arrived in the room. Bobby's head spun with all the questions. His parents kept telling him how brave he was. He didn't feel brave. He just didn't feel at all. Mary-Anne's parents kept thanking him for saving her and how he was a hero. He wasn't a hero. He was only 6 years old and everyone knew you had to be 20 to be a hero. At least it was that way in all the comic books he read. Through all the chaos, Mary-Anne sat silent, staring at the wall, frozen to the desk. Bobby looked at her confused. Never had he seen her so silent and he wondered if she'd ever talk again. And he wondered if maybe that was a good thing if she didn't.
At bedtime, Bobby's parents explained the stranger was actually Mary-Anne's father who had abused her since birth. With halting words, his parents explained what abuse meant and Bobby felt very sick inside. His parents further explained how Mary-Anne's father had gone to jail for hurting his daughter but had been released yesterday. Bobby cried when they told him how Mary-Anne's father vowed to get his daughter back but no one anticipated he'd actually attempt to abduct Mary-Anne from the schoolyard.
"Mummy, does Mary-Anne live with her mum now?" He asked innocently, his voice breaking with pain.
"No dear, Mary-Anne lives with foster parents. Those are people who take children into their home and keep them safe, when they have no where else to live."
"Mummy, why doesn't Mary-Anne live with her mum?"
"Honey, I know this is all so confusing for you to understand but some things are best left alone. You must be tired. Try to sleep with sweet dreams, my brave boy. You've had such a hard day."
With those parting words, his mother softly kissed him on the cheek and tucked the blankets around his neck. She left, closing off the lights and shutting the door.
Mary-Anne never returned to school. When Bobby asked his parents, they explained she was having a hard time with her dad showing up at the school and needed to live in a special home right now. Bobby never did tell anyone but he missed his shadow. He had become used to her being around and felt lonely without his Mary-Anne following his every step.
A few months later Bobby saw Mary-Anne at a special ceremony where he received a medal for bravery. Mary-Anne was sitting with foster parents, staring off into space, looking neither right nor left. Locked in frozen silence. Bobby walked over and got down, staring up into her icy blue eyes. Before anyone could speak, he kissed her. Startled, her eyes flew wide open and she smiled. Bobby smiled back and as his mother dragged him away muttering about how strange he had become, he looked back and saw Mary-Anne return to the frozen statue she had been before.
© 2001, Beverley McInnis
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