Chapter 10 – Mer-people in my pond (3)

“You were doing something else, and Steve was saving seats and Stella was in line with me so I asked her to join us. Well Steve and Stella were deep in conversation and I overheard Sara talking to that Jason kid, he gives me the creeps, and she said her mom told her there were mer-people in the pond. Jason said the same thing I was thinking, there’s no way, but she insisted that there were. That’s why I asked you.” She turned to Doug and almost gasped, he was as white as a sheet. “Doug, are you alright?”

“Oh man, this is bad.” He sat down on a stump and started to rub his head. “Listen, no one is supposed to know about this, I mean no one! This is one of the most highly-guarded secrets in the wizarding world.”

Chapter 10 – Mer-people in my pond (2)

They finally got to the little bay where the water nymphs usually would come to visit with them, but Doug kept going. He was going further into the woods that either Steve or Ronnie had ever been. The trails they usually followed were pretty well worn, and as long as you headed towards the open sky you could find your way out of the woods. However, Doug was heading deeper into the woods, where the trails were just a shadow of disturbed leaves and the three had to climb over fallen trees and cross muddy creeks. The good thing was Doug had slowed down enough that the other two could catch up with him. The other good news was he seemed to be back to his good natured self.

“Ronnie, give me your hand, that rock is a little wobbly.” Tentatively Ronnie took his hand and was relieved to see the friendly sparkle was back in his eyes. He stayed put to offer his hand to Steve next. “Here Steve, that rock’s…” it was too late, Steve’s foot slipped and his leg went knee high in black goopy mud.

Chapter 10 – Mer-people in my pond (1)

As Doug, Steve, and Ronnie were heading over to check on the water nymphs, they were busily eating chocolate covered lightning bugs. A tasty delight of crunchy insides with a rich chocolate covering that left your teeth glowing for hours.

“You know these remind me of inside-out M&Ms” Steve pondered “crunchy on the inside, chocolaty on the outside.”

Chapter 9 - Lunch room stories (2)

As if in a dream, Ronnie slowly became aware that the conversation between Steve and Stella was now focused on her. “Ronnie? Are you ok?”

“Oh, sorry Stella. Yeah I’m fine. I must have zoned off. What were you saying?”

“Well, I was telling Steve about the wild reaper roses that grow all around here.”

“Really? What’s a reaper rose?” Ronnie was trying her hardest to feign interest while still trying to catch any bits of Sara’s conversation.

Chapter 9 - Lunch room stories (1)

“No, you can’t sit there! I’m saving both of those seats.” Two large boys were looking down at Steve menacingly.

Ronnie could see the commotion across the room as she waited in line. “You know, Steve is really a nice guy, but he sure doesn’t get the finer side of diplomacy.”

“Really?” a dreamy voice came back from a slight blonde girl standing behind her.

Chapter 8 - To the pond (3)

They all stood there looking at each other. “I don’t know, my mom, I guess… No wait! I remember Bethany, Bethany Murine, I mean Professor Murine. She and my mom are best friends, and she used to come over to our house and tell me stories by the fireplace all the time. Isn’t that how the story ends?”

“Well, I don’t know... I heard the goblet was lost when the Europeans invaded.” Ronnie pondered.

“When I was little my mom told me it was buried with the wizard that created it. I also read a story that said it was dropped in a volcano, but another story said it was lost at sea.” Steve paused. “I think I’ve heard a few other variations, but I never knew about it being used during the witch trials.”

“Ok, whatever, back to the story Steve, what did your mom tell you?” Doug prodded.

“Oh right. She said she thinks the goblet is here!”

“Where?”

“Here, at the school somewhere!”

“Why? I mean why does she think that? I’ve lived here my whole life and I’ve never heard anything about the goblet having any relation to the school.”

“No… but even you said Salem…” Slowly a grin stretched from ear to ear and his eyes glimmered. The only problem he was the only one who had caught his train of thought.

Chapter 8 - To the pond (2)

“Hey Doug!” Ronnie shouted, as soon as she got a glimpse of her friend.

Steve shook his head. “I don’t think Professor Sampson would consider shouting Doug’s name across the woods as moving quietly…”

Ronnie laughed, but didn’t shout again. “Well then, come on, or we’re going to miss him,” she taunted in a playful whisper.

Chapter 8 - To the pond (1)

The weather had started to turn cold. Doug woke to the first frost of the year.

“Hey, Mom! I’m going to run over to the lake and check on the water nymphs before class.”

“Ok, but stay out of the water!” she hollered as the door slammed shut. “And don’t slam the door…” She finished to herself. From the first time she saw Doug she had adored him. She and her husband Donald had tried to have a family of their own for years but were never able to, and when Don was killed in an accident, she had given up all hope of becoming a mother. But when Doug showed up on that fridged night so long ago she was the first one there to help care for the little bundle of energy. And when Professor Murine mentioned they were looking for a foster parent she could hardly contain her excitement. It wasn’t long before she was asking the head mistress if she could adopt him as her son. She can still remember the long pause and the head mistresses’ stern eyes that quickly melted into a warm embrace and tender tears of joy.

Chapter 7 - Magical and Mythical Cultures (2)

As soon as the bell rang Ronnie knew Steve was going to give her a hard time. “Ronnie, I can’t believe you did that.” He said.

“What? It wasn’t like anyone was listening to Professor Murine.” Ronnie said trying to act innocent.

“You know that’s not what I mean; you did that on purpose to shut Sara up.” Steve said.

“So?” Ronnie shrugged her shoulders and started to walk away.

“So! I told you before you don’t want to make an enemy out of her.” Steve under his breath.

“Listen Steve, it’s too late, I don’t like her and she doesn’t like me. There’s nothing I can do about it.” Ronnie said flippantly.

“Well, you don’t need to agitate it.” Steve said defensively.

Doug quietly stepped between the two of them. “Listen Steve, I know where you’re coming from and I admit, starting fights isn’t smart,” he quickly put his hand on Ronnie’s arm “But, I think what Ronnie did was brilliant! Sara was totally out of line, she was taking advantage of Professor Murine and was ruining the class for everyone else. I wish I would have had the claws to do the same thing.”

Ronnie blushed, there was something about getting a compliment like that from Doug that kindled feelings she didn’t quite understand.

“So Doug, why do you like that class so much?” Ronnie asked, keeping the conversation moving in a different direction.

“I just love all the different cultures of magical creatures. Like did you know that the mer-people have a really strict legal system? If you are a mer-person caught in a crime the punishment is immediate.”

“Wow really, no trial or anything?” Steve asked.

“Well, their trial system is different than ours. All they need are 3 mer-people who either saw the crime or were nearby to sit on a makeshift jury. The accuser tells his or her story, the accused tells his story, eye witnesses tell their stories, and then the three jurors take a vote.”

“Wow, that doesn’t seem fair.” Ronnie said.

“Well, it seems to work well for them, they have very little crime. Because any mer in the vicinity of the crime could be sitting on their jury the culture is very friendly and amiable. It even goes so far that the mer-people will go out of their way to protect one another because they don’t want their actions to be misinterpreted. In fact, not doing the right thing in their culture, can be as bad as doing the wrong thing.”

“But what if no one sees the crime?” Steve asked.

“Well, then their trial system is similar to ours, the major difference is most mer-people would rather admit to the crime and find a way to fix the problem, then to try to defend themselves. When a mer admits to being guilty then he is on trial to fix it.” It was obvious Doug could talk for hour on this subject.

Ronnie laughed “You know more than professor Murine does! So again, I have to ask, why do you like this class?

“Well, if it wasn’t for that fact that she’s the one that taught me most of what I know,” he chuckled back, “Professor Murine used to babysit me when I was little. She would bring her photo albums from all around the world with pictures of every magical and mythical creature I could think of.” Doug’s whole face lit up with just the thought of these memories. “She used to stop by before she came over and would ask me what creature or culture I wanted to learn about, then she would bring piles of pictures, some of them she even let me keep. Then she would tell me stories of her adventures.”

Steve shook his head and looked Doug straight in the eyes. “Dude, you are such a nerd. Anyways, I can’t image Professor Murine having an adventure…”

Ronnie patted Doug on the shoulder and said sarcastically, “Don’t worry Doug, he’s just jealous.”

Steve gave a wary smile as he thought about how true that statement really was.

Chapter 7 - Magical and Mythical Cultures (1)

A mousy professor stood at the front of the room trying to keep the attention of her students. “The culture of the Great Lakes water nymphs varies dramatically from even the cultures of local ponds, rivers, and tributaries. In global terms, the Great Lakes are very near to our waterways, however, in terms of water nymphs there is no way for the Great Lakes nymph’s culture to venture up stream.”

Uncontrollable snorts from a horsey little girl in the back of the room quickly distracted the class. As whispers turned to laughter and the snorts became indecent, the entire room lost focus on the tiny little professor. Everyone’s attention was on the back of the room.