So here goes my wannabe L.M.Montgomery/Meg Cabot attempt (unedited for reasons of authenticity) at a story..what i so lovingly and modestly had named - The Unfinished Symphony (oh thats coz the story was left incomplete) (try and read with a straight face and do please please remember that it was a 12 year old girl who wrote that - I've got to be honest - in earnest and unfortunately not as a spoof. So be kind.)
Chapter 1
It was a fine summer day. The sun smiled down on mellow pastures, blessed the cool green meadows with its warm radiance and even the clouds seemed relaxed and content.
Under the azure blue sky, on the path fated to be one of those many paths which change destinies forever, walked a young girl whose destiny was fated to be changed by that very path. Menley was one of those creatures to whom life is always a warm sunny day. Lucky she was not to know of the other side of the world, which had gone unseen by her carefree, happy eyes. Menley didn’t see the beauty all around her, she moved as if in a dream thinking of the school she was to join that day. Not once did she have an attack of the nerves like any other newcomer might have - Menley was just used to moving around from town to town joining a new school wherever she went.
As she neared the school, she woke from her reverie seeing a gang of boys playing football. A blonde haired boy kicked the ball high and it fell at her feet. Without any hesitation she kicked the ball back and ran to join them. Now Menley, I forgot to mention was a tomboy. She despised girlish behavior of any sort and scorned gossip and girl talk.
Boys, she thought, were fun and uncomplicated and easy to talk to. Girls – bah – were so silly, fickle and never exerted themselves – talk, talk, talk was all they did. The boys just stared at her for a minute and then without a word welcomed her and they played vigorously for half an hour. Menley was just about to score another goal when the bell echoed through the grounds. “Good game”, the blonde haired boy shouted out to her.
All the others nodded at her. Menley was enjoying all this attention when one boy came up to her and said, “Girls should not play football”. She was dumbstruck. Who was this rude boy to come up to her and say such a thing when she had scored most of the goals in the game? No one no one dared speak like this to her! Flames of anger leapt into her eyes. “Well they should - the standard of the game would be much better then”, she shot back, turned around and left with her chin up in the air and her back straight – very haughtily in fact. That was a lie but she had to say something to preserve her honour!
A gang of girls under the shade of the maple tree in the corner of the grounds had been watching the game in progress. “Who is that girl? She is shameless!” “Did you see her doing that flippy flippy kick?” (She was referring to the cycle kick Menley had made)
“Roughing it out with the boys like that and she a new girl! God, no shame!” ”That’s the most disgusting thing I've ever seen in my life!” “Is she mad? What sort of a girl is she? I mean look at her! No dignity at all!”
“I think she's wonderful - I mean she is a new girl and has already made friends with so many.”
At this everybody went quiet. “But Narcy!” one exclaimed.
“Come on girls, it’s so unbelievable for a newcomer to make friends with so many people in half an hour. Of course, I don’t approve of her playing football either. But give her a chance. We hardly know her.” The one and only defender of poor Menley was Narcissa Wentworth. Narcy was the exact opposite of Menley. Narcy was glad to be a girl – proud of it actually. She was not all joy and sunshine like Menley was. I don't mean to say she was depressed and melancholic all the time; she just at times was a bit quiet and sad.
Oh yes - she was also very self-conscious.
All the other girls thought her very confident, sometimes arrogant and fun to be with.
Poor Narcy was never really understood by anybody. All she had for supposedly close friends were Regina, the golden haired princess who always devised means to bring Narcy down from the position of most popular girl of the school. Amber, the mousy, timid and shy slip of a girl who thought the world revolved around Narcy and Anna, the boisterous, noisy big boned red head who thought the world revolved around herself.
Narcy got up and went towards Menley followed by her posse. “Hi, I’m Narcissa Wentworth .What is your name?” “Menley Stonewall”, she said brusquely and walked away.
“I told you she wasn't to be bothered with Narcy”, said Anna with a smug expression on her face. “So arrogant! Did she hurt you dearie?” asked sweet Amber.
“Never mind”, said Narcy, “She looks as though she's angry with something or someone. Now no one can say I didn't try to be friendly. Come on we don't want to be late”
Blahblah High School was one reputed to be unusual and different in their approach to educate children. A lot of stress was applied on freedom of the students and it was more about learning how to live life than learning life itself.
Narcy entered the classroom to see Menley arguing hotly with Jamie Seymour of all people! Usually he was such a nice guy, always laughing and having fun. But then she recalled seeing them talking on the field and she thought that maybe she had annoyed him somehow then.” Break it up people,” Narcy heard a voice behind her and turned to face Miss Longleaf. Narcy liked her and smiled at her. She walked off to a seat beside Amber. “First day of school and both of you fighting?”
“Miss Longleaf ,it's not my fault. She is so conceited that I had to bring her down a notch or two.” Jamie complained.
“Well Mr. Busybody, it’s none of your business how I behave or what I do and I just met you and you think you've already figured me out? Keep out of my life!” Menley cried. The whole class gasped – she was a new girl and was talking like that to Jamie Seymour!
“Why you prickly little thorny bush! I - “ “ENOUGH”, shouted Miss Longleaf. You both are 15 and I won't have u behaving as though you are four. Go sit down and don't let me hear this nonsense anymore.”
Yeah that's how i thought 15 year olds behaved, back then:-)
Anindhita
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