Inpired by the numerous Enid Blyton novels I cherished growing up, I woke up one fine day, an eleven year old, and decided it was time to write my own book. Yes, you read that correctly. Naturally, my inspiration did not last very long, resulting in barely a chapter of what would have been the whole book (Perhaps that is a good thing; I may have done the world a favour.) Regardless, I commend the effort of my childhood self's worldbuilding - I had developed an elaborate plotline and character backstories that would have eventually been scripted into my "book".
My story was to be about a young girl going to boarding school for the first time in her life (if you are familiar with dear Enid's works, you may already start seeing the connection at this point). However, my spin was that Felicity actually had dormant magical powers she was unaware of. And as she spent her days at school discovering the complex stories of her classmates, winning their hearts and helping them "heal through their past trauma", she would eventually come to realize her powers. Which would then be required to destroy an unnamed all-powerful evil force, of course.
Also, here's a quick disclaimer: The title, despite its similarity to a certain popular franchise, was coined years before the creation of said successful franchise. "Stange Things" seemed an apt title to me, as strange things would happen around my main character as she discovered her magic.
ANYWAY! This was the first bit of "serious" writing I ever tried to pursue, so let's give my childhood self some credit. However, any cringing, hair pulling or other reactions of embarrassment are not the resposibility of the author, who, like any other eleven year old, was not adept at writing.
Enjoy!
“I’m couldn’t be more glad that you’ve decided to send me to Wiona Towers Mummy”, said Felicity while packing her things with her mother.
“Well I’m quite sure that you’ll like your school so much that you’ll forget all about me”, said Mrs. Fawcett humorously.
“Of course not mummy”, said Felicity rather indignantly.
“Oh, I know you won’t dear”, said Mrs. Fawcett smiling.
Felicity Fawcett was a tall and lanky girl. Her long and cascading black hair was neatly tied all the time. She was thirteen years old, and was going to boarding school for the first time. She was extremely excited about going to Wiona Towers.
“I am a little sad to leave you, daddy and Rhea but I am just so very happy to go to Wiona Towers”, said Felicity truthfully.
“So happy that you forgot to pack your night case”, began Mrs. Fawcett. “You know very well that your entire luggage will be unpacked on your second day at school and you’ll-”
“All right, I’ll pack it right away”, said Felicity. “Thank you for reminding me”.
“Don’t forget your tennis racket”, said Mrs. Fawcett.
“I’ve already packed it mummy”, said Felicity. “I did forget my night case but I’m sure I’ve remembered everything else.
“Good”, said Mrs. Fawcett.
Tennis was one of Felicity’s dearest activities. She had been on her school team in all of her previous schools. Many people had told her that she would do well in basketball. Felicity had tried her hand at the sport, but in vain.
“Time to go now”, called Mr. Fawcett, making Felicity jump. “If you don’t hurry up we’ll be late.”
“All right daddy”, called Felicity. “There, I’m done”.
Felicity happily skipped down the flight of steps with her luggage and tossed it in the car. She, her parents and her sister were ready to go.
“I just remembered”, Felicity said suddenly. “I forgot to say bye to the trees the birds, the squirrels, the grass -”
“And everything else. I know, so go quickly”, said Mr. Fawcett impatiently. “And come back in five minutes or we shall be late”.
Felicity sped out quick as lighting. She said goodbye to everyone and everything. Then she shot back to the car like a bullet.
“There, I’m back in five minutes”, said Felicity.
“Oh, no! That was five minutes and twenty seconds Felicity”, said Mr. Fawcett laughing.
The journey began. It was rather long. They had an early picnic lunch on the way because no one could not bear their hunger any longer on such an exhausting day. After lunch they set off again. Finally they reached the station. Strangely Felicity did not get tired after her journey of passing a few towns.
“Felicity is so exited that she has forgotten all about her exhaustion”, Mrs. Fawcett told Mr. Fawcett.
“Only too true”, said Mr. Fawcett.
“All third formers, gather up here.”
“Mummy, daddy I’m a third former, lets go”, said Felicity restlessly.
Felicity dragged her parents to the place where the teacher was standing.
“Easy there Felicity, your school’s train still hasn’t arrived”, said Mrs. Fawcett.
“It seems to be late”, said Mr. Fawcett, checking his watch.
“That’s all right, but can’t we go faster?” said Felicity still excited.
They half-walked, half-marched and half- ran to the teacher who was calling out.
“Good afternoon”, she said. “I’m Miss Thompson. I am the third form teacher. Are you in the third form?”, she asked Felicity gently.
“Yes”, said Felicity “I’m Felicity Fawcett.”
“Oh”, said Miss Thompson “Felicity is one of the first students to arrive. I am sorry that the train is late as usual and you will have to wait”.
“‘As usual’?” chuckled Mr. Fawcett.
“Yes,” said Miss Thompson smiling. “Sorry Felicity”.
Miss Thompson was a young teacher who seemed to be kind, gentle and loving. Felicity never expected to like a person when she first saw him or her, but it seemed like she had found an exception.
“There’s another student”, said Miss Thompson. “Come here Emily”.
A responsible looking girl walked up to Miss Thompson. “Good Afternoon Miss Thompson”, she said.
“Good Afternoon Emily”, said Miss Thompson. “This is Emily. She is the head girl of your form Felicity”.
Emily turned to Felicity. “Hello Felicity”, said Emily in a pleasent tone. “You have arrived in the middle of the year, so you must be quite clueless. I can clue you up” said Emily.
“Thank you”, said Felicity quite relived that soon she would know more about her school.
Suddenly Felicity started hearing more and more voices. She had already seen that many of the senior students had arrived, but Emily was the only girl of her own age she had seen. So she was quite happy when she saw students of her own age.
“Hallo Sally! Had nice holidays? Good to be back again. I wonder if any new students have arrived. Look there is Emily. Do think Violet has forgotten some thing again? Hallo there Hilary. Hey there is a new student. How do you think she will be?”, are a few things Felicity heard.
A troop of first formers with there parents came to Miss Thompson. The girls of the troop were glowing with excitement and chattering away.
“Hallo Miss Thompson”, all of them said happily.
“Good Afternoon Girls”, said Miss Thompson kindly. “Did all of you have good holidays?”
“Yes Miss Thompson”, they all said at once.
“Finally”, said Emily looking at the train of Wiona Towers arriving. “The train has arrived. Felicity once we get in you can be with me. You will not be lost then.”
“Thank you”, said Felicity, all ready feeling lost.
All the girls of the first form had arrived. All of them including Felicity bid farewell to there parents.
“Good bye mummy and daddy. I promise I will not be miserable at school” said Felicity to her parents.
“That is good Felicity dear”, said Mrs. Fawcett lovingly. “Enjoy school.”
“Good bye Felicity”, said Mr. Fawcett.
Felicity kissed her parents goodbye and went into the train with Emily.
“This whole train belongs to Wiona Towers so there is enough space for every one and no one needs to stand”, Emily told Felicity.
Every two carriages belonged to one form. Felicity sat on the best window seat she could find. Emily did not like window seats unlike Felicity so she sat next to her. Three people could sit together so a first former named Nora came up and sat beside them.
“If you do not mind, may I sit here?” she asked Felicity and Emily.
“Sure”, said Felicity “Do you want to sit at this window seat?”
“No thank you”, said the girl. “I don’t like window seats.”
“Felicity this is Nora”, said Emily “And Nora this is Felicity. She is a new student in our form.”
“Hallo Nora”, said Felicity leaning a bit to see Nora clearly.
“Hallo”, said Nora in a meek voice leaning a little as well.
Nora seemed to be a meek girl. She was small in size, so small that if Felicity was not introduced to Nora, Felicity would have thought that Nora would be two or maybe three years younger.
It was a long journey. Everyone kept them selves entertained with some thing or the other. Some people got some snacks while others got books. Some girls got games while others chattered away with each other. Miss Thompson was fluttering between the two carriages of the first form. She was keeping the two carriages in control.
It was six o’ clock when the train reached London. About half an hour after that Felicity saw the first glimpse of Wiona Towers.
“We will see the first glimpse of Wiona Towers in a few minutes”, Emily told Felicity about five minutes before Felicity got her first sight of Wiona Towers. “After that we will see Wiona Towers a few more times. You will like the view Felicity.”
Felicity did not like the view. She loved the whole view. She liked the way how Wiona Towers was standing steadily close to a cliff. She liked the way how below the cliff there was a calm, blue and sparkling sea. She liked the way how the school looked with its shining white marble. She liked the way how vines were beautifully growing on the school building.
They reached the London station. Buses labelled ‘Wiona Towers’ were waiting for the train. All students came out of the train with their night cases. Porters picked up the trunks of students and put them into the buses. Girls climbed into the buses happily, chattering away.
“Let’s sit close to the front, it is fun sitting there”, Emily told Felicity.
“All right”, said Felicity.
So Felicity and Emily went together to the buses with their night cases. They were lucky that the front seats were empty.
It was a fun and windy journey. The train had arrived late so the buses were trying to make up for the lost time by going fast. This made the journey windy.
Finally all the buses reached Wiona Towers. The children hopped out happily, jumping from one place to another.
Wiona Towers was a beautiful white marbled castle. It stood steadily on a cliff. Beautiful vines grew on the building in the most majestic manner.
“You can see that Wiona Towers has four towers”, said Emily. “All the classrooms are here. Wiona Towers has seven stories. Each storey belongs to one form. The upper six stories belong to the forms and the first storey belongs to the teachers. The dining hall is also here. We are in the first form so the highest story is ours.”
Emily noticed Felicity’s disheartened face. Felicity was disappointed that she would have to climb so many floors every day.
“You will be tired at first but you will be used to it soon”, said Emily. “We have to report to our matron now.”
“Hi Emily!” suddenly called out a girl’s voice. The girl ran towards Emily.
“Hallo Violet. How were your holidays?” asked Emily.
“Wonderful. How about yours?” said Violet.
“Good as well. Violet this is Felicity and Felicity this is Violet”, said Emily.
“Hallo Felicity”, said Violet.
“Hallo Violet. Nice to meet you”, said Felicity.
Violet was a tall girl. She had a welcoming smile. She had curly black hair.
“Violet I hope you have not forgotten your night case again”, said Emily.
“Oh my! I did forget it. I think I left it in the bus. What ever am I supposed to do now?” asked Violet.
“The buses have not yet left, why don’t you go and search for your night case?” said Emily.
Before Emily could complete her sentence, Violet had already rushed towards the buses.
“Let’s go to matron now Felicity”, said Emily.
Felicity and Emily went up to the matron.
Matron was a plump and elderly lady. She had a very warm smile. She was so neat and tidy that all the prim and proper girls felt extremely untidy when they were with her.
“Ah! Emily”, she said. “Hallo dear child. Who is this with you?”
“I am Felicity Fawcett”, said Felicity.
“Felicity is a new student in my form”, said Emily. She glanced at Felicity’s happy face. “I think that Felicity likes you already Matron.”
“Well I am happy about that”, said Matron with a warm smile. “Anyways, you have to give me all your money for safe keeping but you can keep a small sum of money with you. Whenever you run out of money come to me for some more. This is a school rule so you have to follow it like all other girls do.”
Felicity and Emily willingly handed over their money to Matron.
“That’s a good girl”, said Matron with a wide grin on her face. “Some children make a fuss out of this rule and do not give their money. I am glad that you are not one of those girls”.
“Thank you Matron” said Felicity.