Elly Eriksson
August 20, 2006 3:33 AM
Building a swing by Elly Eriksson
Far from gazing at her bewildered, or questioning her request in any manner, Saul the Guide simple grinned, and said, “Absolutely!”Delighted, Elly followed Saul as he jumped from the stairs and hurriedly made his way through the common room, expertly dodging other students, and out into the garden. It was here the second year started bellowing for the groundskeeper, which reaffirmed Elly’s suspicions that they were related; it was unlikely just anyone could shout around for staff members like that. Still, Elly was pleased it wasn’t just her who thought that bellowing for people really was the best way to find them.
Elly wasn’t prepared, however, for the sight that next greeted her. She was standing a couple of steps behind Saul, both of them facing a hedge that marked the edge of the labyrinth. She had been expecting the caretaker to arrive as she’d usually seen him – torn jeans and scruffy t-shirt. Instead, a man blatantly dressed as a king, complete with both crown and long purple robes, stepped around the hedge to greet them. Elly stared for a couple of moments before her face relaxed into her characteristic grin that wouldn’t look out of place on the face of a maniac.
Saul, on the other hand, seemed to find this kind of behaviour (dressing up as a king, that is) completely normal. In fact, he played right along, even kneeling down and bowing at the ‘king’ (Elly was now convinced beyond doubt they were related). “Your Majesty,” Saul said, “I bring before you a fair maiden, Elly.”
Elly allowed an involuntary giggle to escape her. ‘Fair maiden’ was certainly something she’d not been called before. She suddenly became very aware that her hair was being held in check by a shoelace. She watched the exchanged between Saul and Simon with amused interest and was, as usual, unprepared for the question directed at herself.
“Uh,” she began, most ungracefully. “I want to build a swing,” she said boldly, still aware that this statement could sound inordinately weird to someone who wasn’t acquainted with the pleasures and benefits of swinging. “All I need is some rope, then a bit of wood or maybe an old tyre. I’ve built loads of swings before, and I’m sure the gardens here have plenty of spots I could build one.” Elly decided she’d better stop there – she knew only too well how her rambling could get out of hand if given the chance.
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