By Ivan Ashley
(Second 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.
On Thursday evening, Fred and Mary Lowden finally found the time to take their two youngest sons to the exhibition. On arrival, they walked through the livestock barns.
Tom's dad quickly found someone to talk to where the Shorthorns were located. The Lowdens never showed cattle, even though they were known to have one of the best herds of Shorthorns to be found anywhere. However, on occasion they sold cattle to other farmers who would show them, this making it all so interesting for the Lowden family.
Soon they went through the Women's Institute building, looking at all the baked exhibits as well as the fine crafts. Tom, who was dragging his dad by an arm and begging to go to the midway, soon got his wish. He wanted so badly to have a ride on the Ferris Wheel.
Suddenly amid the noise and excitement of the midway, a girl's voice was heard. It was Ann Browning, and Tom was so surprised to see her. She was with her mom, dad and her two sisters. It was the beginning of a close friendship between Mary Lowden and Mary Browning that would last for the rest of their lives. They were interested in all the same things, even to spiritual matters, so it wasn't surprising that they shared common ground.
Then as they talked, Ann blurted out, “Am I ever going to have a ride on that Ferris Wheel?”
Mary Browning replied, “Ann wants to go up on the Ferris Wheel, but nobody will go with her.”
Then it was Mary Lowden's turn to speak, and she said, “Tom wishes to go as well, so maybe they can go for a ride together.”
Both Tom and Ann jumped at the chance, bought their tickets and were soon aboard, anticipating the ride.
The big wheel moved ever so slowly at first, as new patrons kept getting on. Finally, when all the seats were filled, the big engine roared out in the night air and the giant wheel started going round and round. Ann then began to scream and grabbed Tom by the arm, hanging onto him tightly. Soon they came to a stop with Tom and Ann squarely sitting on top of the world.
Ann giggled as she suddenly reached over and gave Tom a kiss, almost on his mouth. Tom, thrilled to his toes, thought to himself, it sure paid me to wash behind my ears, brush my teeth and comb a bit of brylcream into my hair. He surely could see that the results were already turning out to be in his favour.
On their way back down to the ground level and before they got off, Ann, with her hand still in Tom's, said, “About the kiss, Tom. No one needs to know about it. We can keep it our little secret.”
Tom agreed and replied, “We'll tell no one, Ann. Cross my heart.”
Meanwhile, back on planet Earth, the two Marys were still talking and Fred Lowden and Ray Browning were engaged in conversation as well. Seems the Brownings were going to open up a garage and do repairs on motor vehicles, farm machinery and almost anything else. Ray Browning was an expert mechanic and welder and would certainly be a welcomed addition to Crossfield and the surrounding farm communities.
On the way home, Charles said to his parents, “I do believe that little brother has it pretty bad for that oldest Browning girl. He looks pretty sweet with all that brylcream on his hair too, doesn't he?”
Tom quickly replied, “You look pretty sweet yourself there, Goody Two Shoes, except for your long face and that extra sad look.”
It was then that Fred Lowden interrupted and said, “End of subject. I don't want to hear another word from either one of you.”
Both boys knew better than to make even another sound. Fred Lowden was one who could put an end to something like this with only a word or two and would not even have to raise his voice.
After they reached home and Tom went to his bed, he found it hard to get to sleep, going over the events of the evening in his mind, time and time again. Finally morning came, but he was not up with the rest. His dad milked Bessie and never mentioned a word about it.
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