Lessons in History

Richie and Lil: Preface

The micro-ecosystem surrounding the waterfall was like a world in itself. The trees wove themselves into a high arch over the stream, blocking out the sun, creating a muted cove of moss and stillness. Otherworldly, like it didn’t belong in the grasslands that surrounded it. Things were more green and also deep charcoal, hinting that it used to be brown, or something else completely. Everything was wet, even when her fingers told her it wasn’t. The charcoal rocks were green, too. They grew little patterns, showing signs of a secret, silent underworld. The mushrooms, hiding the fairies.

Lilly was a lightfoot wanderer, plopping from rock to rock, across the stream, never soiling her polka dot dress. She was particular about being clean.

Her brothers were playing war games around the rocks. Her dad bought the plastic army men and the model plane paint. They spent hours painting the uniforms to mirror the exact wars they were reenacting. Richie was the General, always. Richie was nine.

Eventually, Lilly would grow tired of plopping around and was grateful when the wars were won, or lost, whatever was necessary and whatever the difference was.

Then it was time to collect all the fallen men, or the survivors, once again. They were meticulously counted, one was missing. An hour of searching commenced. ‘No men are left behind,’ her father said. Giving up was not an option.

Lilly saw him, the lonely soldier, craftily hiding behind a similarly coloured leaf. Maybe he liked leaves more than fighting. Shape, shadow, silhouette. ‘Silhouette is how I found you, Mr. German Man,’ Lilly thought. Her dad was so proud, almost as proud as she was. Lilly saved the day, she saved the hiding soldier.

***

Years later at a dinner party. The age when board games became a thing.

“Goodness, you are good at 30 seconds. How do you know all of that?”
“I haven’t read a history book in my life,” Lilly said.
“All I had to do was listen.”

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“The secret kings.”

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