21 Someone Else in the Garden

CHAPTER 21 Someone Else in the Garden Dickon pushed Colin around the garden. Colin wanted to hear about every tree, flower, and blade of grass. Sometimes he laughed at Dickon's stories and Mary had to remind him to speak softly. They finally stopped under the apple tree. Colin noticed something new. "That old tree over there," he inquired, "is it quite dead?" "Aye," Dickon said. "But the roses have climbed over it. When the flowers bloom,

it'll be the prettiest in the garden." "It looks like a big branch has broken off," Colin remarked. "I wonder how that happened." Mary felt uneasy because she didn't want her cousin to know about his mother's accident. She was relieved when the robin distracted Colin by darting over to its nest with a fat worm in its beak. Colin chuckled softly. "He's taking an afternoon snack to his mate. I could use some tea and biscuits myself." Maybe the garden was magical, Mary thought. Colin seemed like a completely different boy. His face glowed, and he laughed; it was as though nothing could make him angry or afraid. "I don't want this afternoon to end," Colin said, "but I'll come back tomorrow and the day after, and every day after that. I'll see

spring and summer here. I'll watch everything grow—I'll grow here myself!" Dickon said, "We'll have you walking and digging before long." Colin's face flushed. "You think so?" Dickon answered cautiously, "Well, you've got legs, same as other folks." Mary was nervous until Colin said, "There's nothing really wrong with them, except they're very weak and thin. I'm afraid to stand because they shake so much." "You'll stop being afraid after a while," Dickon smiled. They were all quiet for some time. They wanted to enjoy every last minute of the afternoon. But their silence was broken when Colin said in an alarmed whisper, "Who's that man?" while pointing to the high wall. Mary and Dickon instantly turned around. It was Ben Weatherstaff on a ladder,

peering down at them. He shook his fist at Mary. "I should have known it was you! You're a bad one—always poking your nose where it doesn't belong!" Mary called back, "It was the robin who showed me the way!" This made old Ben madder. "Don't you be blaming the robin!" he bellowed. Then his curiosity got the best of him and he asked, "How did you get in?" Before Mary could reply, Ben saw something coming across the grass: it was Colin in his wheelchair. Ben's jaw dropped in astonishment. "Do you know who I am?" Colin demanded.

Ben was so shocked, he could hardly speak. He hadn't seen Colin since he was a baby and had only heard the stories people told. At last Ben said without thinking, "Aye, I know you. You have your mother's eyes. You're the poor crippled lad!" Colin's face turned beet red. He sat up and yelled, "I am not a cripple!" "You don't have crooked legs?" Ben asked in a hoarse voice. This was too much for Colin. His anger

and pride made him forget everything else. He threw the blanket off his legs and called to Dickon for help. Colin grabbed Dickon's arm, stuck out his thin legs on the grass, and stood up—tall and straight as an arrow. "Look at me!" he shouted. What Ben did next was even more surprising to Mary. The old man choked and gulped, and tears ran down his wrinkled cheeks. Ben gasped out, "You're as thin and white as a ghost, but there's not a bump on you. Bless you, boy—you'll be a man yet!" Colin stayed standing. In his rajah voice he said, "When my father's away, you have to obey me. This is my garden. Get down from that ladder—Miss Mary will show you inside. Now that you've seen us, you'll have to keep our secret." Ben could hardly take his eyes off the boy.