Way Beyond

Way Beyond

Melda always wanted or expected more. Her parents worried about her interaction with other kids and their parents. They hsd thoght about another sibling for Melda, so that she would learn to share and act better ith others being the main goal.

Nature did not bless Meg and Jack with anothe sibling for their daughter. IVF was expensive and Meg had lost babies due to miss carrying before Melda had come along. A rosy baby with rose hip lips Melda had been given everything possible. At thirty eight and forty Jack and Meg had accepted that Melda would be thrir only child.

Mothers stared at Melda, she had thrown ink at a child for borrowing her crayon at school. Hence poor Meg losing a days pay at the Supermarket to see the headmaster about Melda. The way she was going she woud be expelled. Her school work was good so why did these incidents happen? At sebrn years old Jack and Meg hoped their daughter eould change.

Meg thought that often motjers talked about her behind he back at the school gates. Or gave a look of pity in the supermarket when hey shopped.

If she was brought the wrong colour

Ice cream Melda would throw a tantrum. Parents had stopped giving Meg and Melda lifts to school. Meg hsd lost a very good friend in Mrs Jones, when Melda had hit Mrs Jones soon apparently for no reason and Melda would not say why.

It had to happen, on this sunny bright Spring day, as the daffodils and tulips began to how their pretty heads. Soon butterflies wold glide throug the plants on Dury Park. Melda was in a stroop, her mother was late meeting her from school club. Silly stupid after school club. Well Melda had decided enough was cetainly enough she would walk home through Dury Park.

If her parents worried so be it. Her silly mother would probably ring her father Jack, blaming the school. A scare would do them good. A smile appeared on Melda's lips as she reached the pond in the middle of the park. Looking at the ripples on he pond imaging small tadpoles on the reeds at the bottom of the pond. Maybe a dirty croaking frog to. Tadpoles were ok, but not slimey frogs. The white water lily stood out surrounded by green leaves Melda must have this. Slowly she tried to reach the lily with a stick from one of the trees.

It was not going to work the lily was further out than she had expected. Having it was more important than any of her dolls and teddy Jacob. Slowly Melda removed her shoes and socks. It would not take her long to reach the lily she longed to hold. The water was old Melda gave a shiver not as easy to capture the Lily as she had thought. Anger appeared on her small round face as she ran towards the lily. Her foot slipped upon a shiny stone at the bottom of the pond. Melda gave a shrill scream. She would be joining the frogs and tadpoles on the bottom of the pond.

Harry Edwards liked sailing boats and went to the pond noticing something or someone lying on the bottom of the pond at nine years of age he was beging to man up feeling grown up. What could he do? Looking behind him he saw a crowd of people chatting probably mothers from the school. Harry alerted them to the pond. The park keeper had managed to lift Melda from the pond, minus the longed for water lily.

The ambulance had been called Melda looked as if she was in a deep sleep. Wrapped in warm blankets on a streacher she was taken to hospital. Harry was allowed to go with her. He now held tightly to her small hand rubbing it slowly the circilation had returned.

Melda's parents had been at the hospital. When Melda was better and back home they had invited Harry and his parents over for tea. Meg had a new friend in Delia the park keepers wife and Harry enjoyed sailing his toy boat with Melda. The longing fot the water lily forgotten. Harry always looked out for Melda at school. Often they would walk home together from school. Melda would stay at the park keepers lodge till her mother or father would collect her after they finished work.

Basically Melda had been a lonely child, wonting eveyones attention. If she did not get their attention she would rebel, taking it out on others. She had become afraid of losing out getting uptight if things did not go her way. Instead of making friends she had pushed people away. Until fate had bought Harry along to save her.

At the time Jack and Meg had not scolded Melda, over the incident with the pond. They had been glad to have their daughter back alive and well. After the incident with the pond Melda had stopped drawing attention to herself. Never going to the pond again without Harry or her parents. They had been glad she had found a friend in Harry and bought her a small toy boat to sale with Harry. Melda did not say anything about falling into the pond. She liked her new sailing boat it was big enough to hold her teddy. Her mother had knitted him a nice stripped jumper.

The girls at school had started to talk to her. Although she wold not share her biscuits and lunch with them. She only did that with Harry after all he was her hero. Like having an elder brother around. He had tought her how to read pirate books. More exciting than a water lily that would die any way. Yes life was looking good. Her parents hoped that she and Harry wold continue their friendship into adult hood.

Now Meg dreamed about a white wedding for her daughter. She and Jack had more time for each other, now that Melda was not such a worry to them. All three of them felt safe and happy about thr future.