By Ivan Ashley
(First of Three Excerpts)
The following comes from Red Island Clay (2010, Big Bridge Music, 214 pages), a novel about love and life in rural Canada spanning the second half of the 20th century. Published with the author's permission, this excerpt is set in 1950 when protagonist Tom Lowden is 11 years old. For more information: Big Bridge Music, P.O. Box 55, Elmsdale, PEI, Canada, C0B 1K0.
As Tom cycled along the road, he could see Buck getting closer by the minute. Soon they would meet and slew and swerve their bikes beside each other in the sand, making fresh marks, just like boys always did. They then continued on to High Meadows and soon were walking back the farm lane to try the trout.
In no time at all, they were joined by Stubby, the Lowdens' trusty border collie, who was waggling his tail as he tagged along, so happy to be with the boys.
In a small field behind the barn were the Lowdens’ two horses, Queen and her daughter Princess. The horses didn’t get to do as much anymore as the Lowdens had purchased a new Cockshutt 30 tractor about a year ago. Stubby then let out a couple of sharp barks causing the giant steeds to kick their heels and gallop to the far side where they would find shade under the tall oaks.
Tom and Buck, with Stubby leading the way, continued on to their favourite fishing hole. Their walk would take them to the top of the grade and past the North Pasture where they could see countless acres of woodland and fields, and miles and miles of ocean blue.
Finally after about a 15-minute walk, they reached the small wooden planked bridge where the busy waters flowing beneath soon would reach the great sea beyond, sinking into its depths and disappearing forever.
As they began to bait their hooks, Buck uttered, “Tom, I've got some news. My Uncle Ray and Aunt Mary Browning are moving to Crossfield from New Brunswick. They are buying Harry Bragg's place. Old Harry is retiring and moving to Braxton to live with his sister.”
Bragg was a bachelor, getting up in years and in ailing health, perhaps also getting tired of looking under the hoods of the many cars and trucks that he repaired. The sound of his fiddle coming from his open windows on calm summer evenings was going to be missed. Bragg was a shy man and would never perform his music in public.
Tom then asked whether the Brownings had any kids, and Buck told him that they had three girls.
Tom, who was not very happy with what he had just heard, said, “Buck, do you like girls?”
Buck replied, “Not especially, but they are my cousins so that's not the same. How about you, Tom? Do you like girls?”
Tom quickly replied, “No, I don't. I like my mom. She's a girl, but that's not the same either.”
The boys dropped the subject as they began fishing in whole earnest, catching a total of eight nice pan-size trout between the two of them….
(Days later)
Soon the dinner meal was over, and Tom was playing in the lane with some of his toys. The world around him was completely shut out. How could he ever know that he was about to live a defining moment that would profoundly impact his life, forever and for always?
Tom suddenly heard voices behind him. As he stood up, there was his friend Buck, along with two girls.
Buck said, “Tom, these are my cousins.”
Pointing to the younger one first, he said, “This is Faye Browning.”
Then he said, as he acknowledged the older girl, “And this is Ann Browning.”
He pointed out the fact that Ann was 11, Faye was 10 and that they had a younger sister Lucy at home, who was only seven.
Tom said hello to Faye and then turned to Ann who extended her hand in lady-like fashion.
She said, “Hello, Tom. How are you? I'm so pleased to meet you. Buck has been telling me a lot about you.”
Tom's heart was beating just a little bit faster as he held her by the hand and said hello. He then suddenly realized that he was looking at the most beautiful girl that he had ever seen in his life. Without missing a single detail, he noticed her dark brown hair, each perfect feature and a certain look in her big blue smiling eyes that said, “Come and get me, hold me close, I just could be yours.” It was a look and expression that Tom never forgot, never for a lifetime. Where was the boy, who was now suddenly a young man? The boy who had just stated a few days ago that he didn't like girls?
For the rest of the afternoon he and Buck gave the girls the grand tour of High Meadows. They walked back the farm lane and all the way to the little bridge that crossed the brook. Buck told them all about the many trout that he and Tom had caught there over the years. Soon they were back to the barnyard again and Tom proceeded to show them the calves in the barn and the one that was his favourite. Then he told them about a pigeon's nest in the loft with two young ones that were in it. This, the girls would have to see for themselves, so up they all climbed on a new ladder that Tom's brother George had built just the day before. The mother bird flew noisily off the nest as they climbed up high on the newly stowed hay. The girls were amazed at the young birds that were just beginning to grow their first feathers. From there they climbed down the ladder, Tom first, followed by Ann, who was holding onto his arm in order to steady herself so that she wouldn't fall. He had never experienced a feeling quite like this before. It certainly had turned out to be an awesome day, a day to remember for sure.
After they stopped by the house and Tom's mom was introduced to the girls, they all hopped on their bikes, each with a fresh molasses cookie, hot right out of the oven, and headed down the lane. From there, Tom watched as Buck and the girls pedaled away. He liked everything he saw about Ann. He was in love. Oh my, he was surely in love.
Later on that evening when Tom retired to his room and his bed, Mary Lowden stepped into her son's room and sat on the side of his bed like she had done so many times before.
She then said, “Tom, the Browning girls seem very nice. They are also very pretty. Ann is gorgeous, don't you think?”
Tom replied, “Ah, she's okay.”
His mom smiled in amusement as she said good-night and closed his door. Tom had sweet dreams all night long, something about a beautiful young girl dancing among the stars.
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