Sheila's Dribs 'n Drabs

Puppet Master (5 - the Secret) Seasons changed and fortunes grew. Alisha’s parents recovered their gold, and nobody knew why Alisha lay growing sicker alone in her room. For a deadly secret was killing the maid, a truth she’d told to none but the lantern that lightened her evening shade. “I love him.” She had loved and he was gone. After many long years a boat came to shore, its master grown weary and old. He carried a lantern, came knocking at Alisha’s door. Alisha brought her lantern too, and both the lights spoke truth to lonely hearts. “I love you Alisha.” “I love you Mark.”

The Puppet Master (5 - Magic Lantern) Meanwhile, at sea, the rejected suitor gazed into the haze. “I loved her so,” he thought, wondering why she’d turned him down. He remembered her frown, her nervousness, and hoped she’d changed her mind. As darkness fell he lit the lantern, studied finances and routes, and saw her face. “I love you,” she declared, the voice so real. “I love you.” He wished it was how she might really feel. Then he turned out the light, no money left for oil. He loved the girl. He loved his boat. But if wind and hope didn’t change he’d lose them both.

Puppet Master (4 - Welcome Gift) “I’ll see her if I like,” cried the poet, and behind him his footman waited bearing gifts. “What’s in the box?” the father asked, but the poet was calling, loudly now, “Annalea!” She hurried downstairs, her older sister eagerly trailing behind. “Mike, Mike,” she cried. “Will you marry me?” “Yes!” shouted Annalea, though neither parent seemed able to agree. The footman carried the box inside and showed all the treasures it bore, documents, deeds and promise notes. “Not quite a starving poet,” said Mike, “but I wanted to be sure you loved me for myself.” “Then all’s well,” said Dad.

Puppet Master (3 - Unexpected Visitor) She dreamed a tall handsome stranger who’d take her away. They’d sail the evening tide, under skies like silk with the breeze like milk and honey. He’d lead her to his bridal couch and lie beside her there. “Oh Alisha.” Her sister laughed at her. “With your luck there’d be a hurricane and the couch would be all that survived.” A knock at the door brought shouts. “I’ll see her if I like!” “It’s Mike,” cried Annalea. Little sister dreamed of a small ragged poet who turned her whole life standing on its head. “Most unsuitable indeed,” her parents said.

Puppet Master (2 - desert days) “How dare you refuse him,” her father exclaimed. “How dare you embarrass us,” Mother complained. “How dare you try to make me marry for money.” They all agreed, money’s not everything, but its lack was surely going to be everything lost. “He’s such a nice man,” Mother said. And “You’d soon learn to love him if you tried.” “What if he don’t love me?” He’d sailed away on the tide for fourteen days. A fortnight without him, Alisha thought; a fortnight for him without her. “Time will tell how he loves,” she told her journal then, her wellspring of dreams.

Puppet Master (1 - puppets) “Father pulls the strings and we dance,” shouted Alisha. But she wasn’t dancing now. She trounced into a corner of her room, hurling books till the shelf stood bare. Neither reading nor dancing. Her sister waited for quiet to follow storm. “It’s just his way, Ali,” she said. “You should give your fiancé a chance.” But Alisha had no desire to entertain marriage just to salvage her father’s business. Bad enough she’d used to wonder if clamoring suitors were after her money. Knowing her father was after theirs instead—it was the last straw. And then the last book fell.