Broken Wings

Chapter 2: Encounters at the Well

Ruby and Chris came to the well again today, because they want to discuss something from out of earshot. Ruby had called him there. They have been visiting the well which was roughly at the centre of the forest since they were both seven years old.

"What's so important and why does it have to be so top secret?" Chris asked. He could not wait a minute longer than necessary.

"Chris, I think I'm the favourite for winning the spring music contest," Ruby declared. She held her breath for his response.

"Oh, where did you hear that? What makes you think so?" Chris asked carefully. He tried to focus on the lovely colours of the forest today. He had arrived before Ruby and he had been enjoying the beautiful view of green trees and colourful birds for a while before she arrived.

"Well, last night my music teacher phoned me at home and asked me to dress up really glamourously for the competition," Ruby told Chris excitedly.

"She made it sound very important," Ruby said in a serious tone.

"Okay now, what makes you think that she did not ask the other contestants to do the same?" Chris asked contemplatively, while he rubbed his chin.

"I asked around, silly!" Ruby was impatient. "You know how my instinct is always right," Ruby warned with a wagging forefinger.

She then turned around to look down into the water of the well. "Remember how often we used to throw our coins in here and make wishes?" she reminded Chris.

"Yes and then you became too busy with your music lessons and I became busy on the farm," Chris responded.

"Did any of your wishes come through for you?" Ruby asked Chris, in a very serious tone.

“I made a pact with myself that I would make them come true," Chris said.

“Oh, and how do you do that?" Ruby was now very curious.

“Well, I will simply make sure that I do everything which I can to help my dream come true and I don't do anything which would endanger my dreams," Chris replied with a sense of strong determination.

“Okay. Now that's about exactly what I am doing about my dreams concerning my music success," Ruby said.

There was a cold breeze coming up and it was getting late. “We have to go home now before it gets dark," Ruby announced suddenly.

“So just remember: Please don't let anyone know about what I said about my chances of winning," she said as they walked back in the direction of home.

“I wonder if anyone else has ever found out that we come here," Chris remarked.

“You mean after all these years?" Ruby asked.

“Yes. I mean we have never encountered anyone here, but we can't really think that nobody else has discovered the well. The forest is not that dense," Chris pointed out.

“Well if there are other people going there then it means that the well is not just a figment of our joint imagination," Ruby remarked.

These words made Chris think really deeply, later in the evening, while he was sitting in front of the fireplace, reading. What if what Ruby mentioned was actually something that did exist between the two of them? He wondered. What if they did have some kind of telepathy? That could then also mean that they were soul mates? Chris thought about this very seriously right then.

*

Ruby started dating Leroy on the day after she and Chris were at the well, discussing her chances of success with the music contest.

She had done some school projects with Leroy in the past. Recently they had been out to the burger den with other school friends and they enjoyed each other's company. Yesterday he had met her in the music room alone and declared: "I really find you special, Ruby Sinclair. You're so different from other girls."

"How do you mean?" she had asked.

"Well, you are talented, self-confident and you can make your own decisions. You don't follow the crowd." Leroy had said, just before the piano teacher had arrived.

Ruby had been watching Leroy for a few weeks. He did tickle her movie star fantasies.

This afternoon Leroy was waiting for her in the school hallway.

“Ruby Sinclair, how would you like to accompany me to the movies on Saturday? After lunch in town, of course," Leroy asked very casually, but confidently.

Ruby was impressed with his sense of self-confidence, as well as the fact that he had the good taste to ask her out on a date in town instead of the school cafeteria. She also liked his curly brown hair and the cleft in his chin.

“I will check on my schedule and let you know by tomorrow," Ruby answered with an equal measure of self-confidence. “Meet me in the school library tomorrow at three o'clock?" she asked, with her head held charmingly to the side and a challenging grin on her face.

“Sure, will do just that," Leroy responded and then he made a half bow, before dismissing himself.

Ruby felt really good about the way that she had handled the situation. It was going to be her first date ever! It was so exciting. She walked at a much faster pace than usual.

*

Ruby and Leroy dated for two years after that first date. She was seventeen years old now and in grade eleven. She wondered whether Leroy would be her Prom date, because he was rather distant lately. Ruby decided to visit the well by herself, so that she could have some time to herself and think clearly.

She decided to do voice training, as she walked alone. Her wishes along the lines of her music were coming true. She had won numerous competitions and she was still going to conquer the world.

As Ruby approached the well she heard some voices. Could there be someone at the well today? Did Chris perhaps decide to go there with someone else? To their secret place?

Ruby slowed down her pace and approached carefully. As she approached the well, she heard a male voice and a female voice. The male voice strangely sounded like Leroy's.

Ruby was totally shocked to see Leroy at the edge of the well. He was kissing Marion De Fleur, her classmate.

“What on earth is going on here?" Ruby screamed.