Past Lands (Part 1)

“Willow! Will you please come and get your breakfast?” shouted Mrs. Fawn. “Yes, mother, just give me a moment.” replied Willow. She was sitting in the front yard and studying a patch of clovers. 

“Just a little good luck,” she said to a bird. “And my dream would come true. See, Mr. Bird, I wish that… that it would rain here.” It hadn’t rained Blue Sea City for the past 95 years, and no one knows why. 

Willow looked up, dreamily staring at the sky. “I never even learned about the water cycle in school. No one here knows about it.” Suddenly, she heard a soft tune. Her mother came outside. “My goodness,” she started, “Willow, that’s the sound. The sound I heard when your father came back from Russia. I just wish your father would return again, someday.” 

“Don’t be silly, mother. And besides, you know it hasn’t rained since father died. We never know, though. And rain might mean he will return. Still, I’m not sure, but my fingers are crossed,” said Willow. “Yes dear, that can happen. But the music must mean good luck! Now, come on, and take your breakfast.” 

Macie Crystal stared out her window. “Her father couldn’t have possibly died 95 years ago! That’s crazy!” she groaned. “Macie!” yelled Mr. Crystal. “I told you not to look at the Fawn family. They are cursed.” Macie nodded. “And dad, it is all their fault that it’s never rained!” 

Later that evening, Macie knocked on the Fawns’ door. Willow opened it. “Good evening, Macie,” greeted Willow. “I know you are cursed! I know your father is the one who stopped our rain! And if your father still lived, he would be over 100 years old!” screamed Macie. “Willow Fawn, I will tell the mayor about this! Once it finds out, my dreams will come true! And some other city will have to suffer from your spell.” 

Macie walked into the woods. She saw a stream, which was almost flooded. “Water? But how?” she wondered. She kept on walking and saw a blue light. A very young man was laying on the ground. Macie splashed some water on him. “You touched it! You touched my water!” he screamed. “I am very sorry,” Macie apologized, “But what is your name?” “Richard Fawn,” replied the man.  

“You are the man who cursed us! I demand you to give us rain!” shouted Macie. “No,” said Richard. “I didn’t. My wife, she hated me so much, that moved away from me with my child, Willow. Just then I had returned from a business trip in London, and I was counting on my wife to help me get home. My legs were severely hurt, so I could not walk. She called me 5 years later, saying she would curse our city. And my wife has forgotten about everything. I died later.” 

“How old is your child?” asked Macie. “My child is thirteen,” said Mr. Fawn. “But I am 304. You have now walked into the past. If we go farther south, I can tell you about everything.” As they went south, they saw the terrifying scene: Mr. Fawn waiting for his wife to come on a rainy day. “My goodness! Rain!” squealed Macie. “Yes, indeed,” said Mr. Fawn. “I will tell you about that later. And you may be wondering how I am still alive. You see, child, I have walked from the past into the future. I know it’s crazy, but here, you redo anything you regret.”  

Macie got an idea. “Please take me to Blue City Park and make me close to the fountain.” There, they saw little Macie, leaning forward to the fountain. Big Macie pulled little Macie away. “No!” yelled Big Macie. “My darling, I am you from the future. And it was a horrible experience, falling into the fountain.” “You are crazy, yes you are! You’re just someone who wants to be me. I am NOT going to fall!” And then, little Macie leaned too close to the fountain and fell in. She got up. “Well, at least you’re not hurt,” said Mr. Fawn. “Let’s go back to your lands, shall we?”