**
The Journey to Finkleton
A village can be breathtaking.
-Harry Finkle
And so the Finkle family left Bath and traveled to Finkleton. During most of the journey the children spoke of what they planned to do as soon as they arrived. Their father told them many stories about his childhood along the way, painting delightful images in their minds.
Just outside of Finkleton, William decided they should stretch their legs. He thought the horses might appreciate a bit of a rest as well.
The place where they stopped overlooked a wide, fertile valley filled with enormous trees and colorful flowers. They enjoyed the sound of a trickling spring, and a warm breeze that smelled fresh and lovely.
William smiled and spread his arms towards the view. “Our new home awaits us. We’re almost there.”
“How do you know, Father?” Jack asked. He picked up a few rocks and threw them as far as he could to help pass the time. He was rather tired of the day’s journey. What he wanted most was to see what Uncle Harry had left for them.
“Well,” William said, pointing across the land, “you see that valley down there?”
“Yes,” Jack said. “Yes I do, Father.”
“That, my boy, is Finkleton,” William declared, patting Jack proudly on his shoulder.
Lizzy, eavesdropping as usual, overheard their conversation and skipped toward her mother. “We’re here, Father? We’re here? Mother, Robert, we’re here! We’re finally here!” She hugged her mother with much delight, then grabbed Robert’s hands. She jumped and twirled him around in circles, and the two of them sang, “We are here! We are here! We are here!”
Emma laughed at them both, then winked at Jack and William.
“Well,” Jack said, rolling his eyes at his siblings’ childish behavior, “if the people of Finkleton didn’t know of our arrival before, they most likely do now.”
William laughed out loud and put his arm around Jack’s shoulder. He gave his son an affectionate little shake and gazed back toward the valley below.
William breathed in deeply. “Oh, smell the fresh country air! There’s nothing else like it. Can you smell the trees, children? Go on, take a whiff.” William laughed as they inhaled. “It smells much cleaner than the city, that’s for sure!”
**
The dirt road that they had traveled on during their journey from Bath turned into crushed stone as they approached the village. Once they arrived in Finkleton, the crushed stones turned into cobblestone. The sound of the horses’ hooves on the path produced a rhythm that was almost musical.
The buildings of Finkleton were built so close together a person could barely walk between them, though they were framed by small alleys. Some of the houses were even built so that they touched each other, as if there were one long building separated only by windows and doors. Vines climbed up the front and sides of the buildings, some of them blooming small flowers colored white, pink, purple, or blue. Shops lined the street, and there was a neat little apartment above each shop where the owners lived after business hours.
Every locale in England has at least one pub that stays open well into the night. Finkleton’s was the Hogs Nest Pub, and the voices of men singing could be heard as the Finkle family passed it.
“I wouldn’t mind having a pint of what they’re having,” William said with a chuckle.
Finkleton was as modern as a village away from a big city could be. Lampposts scattered along the paths lit Finkleton in the evenings. Indoor plumbing and water closets were treats to those not used to living in larger towns. Even so, most people continued to keep a chamber pot under their bed.
The scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the smell of burning wood and coal, drifting through the air. William took in the aromas with a slow, deep breath, and smiled.
“Bread to fill your belly, and fire to keep you warm.”
When at last they arrived at Uncle Harry’s general store, they were amazed. The shop was magnificent in stature. All of the buildings in Finkleton had at least two levels, and some had three. Although Uncle Harry’s shop appeared to only have two levels, it towered over the other buildings, dwarfing even the ones with three stories.
Most of the buildings in Finkleton were built with dull gray stone, but the general store was constructed of dark red bricks. The building appeared to be a giant with many windows, each of them adorned with wooden accents.
The large windows on the lower level protruded outward, their dirt-darkened panes of glass separated by thin pieces of wood in need of paint. The window coverings were clasped closed to deter bystanders from peeking inside, and the simple slate sign that hung in the window of the shop door read “Closed.”
The building looked a bit sad, as if it knew it had been abandoned. In fact, the entire village appeared to be asleep, aside from the singers in the pub. Uncle Harry’s shop was in the center of town and had probably been the life of the place. But now the building needed some minor repairs and painting to bring it back to life. The wooden shutters that had once been painted white showed signs of fading. All of them were closed, with the exception of a few that dangled loosely off broken hinges.
William gave a polite wave and a nod to a few people they passed, even though he didn’t know any of them. That didn’t concern him. Soon they would know everyone in Finkleton.
As the family approached their new home, William pointed out the large barometer in the center of the little village, just a few feet from the shop. Most communities chose a giant clock for their centerpiece, but in Finkleton what people focused on was the weather.
William remembered the stories he’d been told about the barometer. All the farmers of Finkleton visited the general store to trade and sell their crops. While they were there, they gazed up at the barometer, preparing for any weather changes.
There was nothing like the barometer in the rest of England. Uncle Harry’s great-great-grandfather had built it based upon the barometer found aboard ships sailing the seas, but on a much larger scale—it was the size of a small room, and made with brass that shone in the sun.
The family returned its attention to the shop. “It doesn’t look like much on the outside, but that’s nothing a little work couldn’t fix,” William said, noticing how quiet his family had become. He stood and hopped off the wagon, bringing them to attention. “Our living quarters are located upstairs on the second level. Let’s get unloaded and go inside, shall we?”
“Yes, Father,” Jack, Lizzy and Robert, said in unison as they climbed down from the wagon.
“Jack, my boy, see if you can get the door open for your mother,” William said, placing a skeleton key in Jack’s hand. “I think she’s eager to see the inside of our new home.” When Jack nodded, William patted his son on the shoulder and gave him a quick wink.
Jack glanced toward his unmoving mother. She continued to sit in the wagon, staring in awe at the building in front of them. Jack thought it was rather strange for his father to say that his mother was eager to go inside, as it didn’t seem that way. Jack shrugged and headed toward the door.
While William, Lizzy and Robert started to unload the wagon, Jack unlocked the shop. The old wood door was reluctant to open, so he gave it a little shove with his shoulder. It finally loosened enough to unstick with a pop.
When Jack opened the door, the hinges groaned with a low creaking sound that echoed. Then the bright, cheery sound of a bell rang overhead.
Although it was bright as day outside, the inside of the shop was dark and gloomy. Not much to see, Jack thought, as he walked slowly alongside the counter. He slid one finger experimentally over the smooth wood, then inspected it for dust.
From what Jack could tell, the arched ceiling was quite tall, and it held two chandeliers that were unquestionably the crowning glory of the room. Even in the dark, large glass pendants hinted at a twinkle as they dangled around the center of the chandeliers in a massive circle.
A wide, black cast iron stove sat halfway along the center of the longest wall. Beside the stove was a small stack of wood, a bucket of coal and an empty soot box.
An array of covered windows decorated the walls, hiding the sunshine from the enormous room.
At the far back of the shop, Jack could see a dark stairwell as it climbed the wall and disappeared through the ceiling, heading to the upper living quarters of the building.
Emma bustled through the shop door carrying a few bags, interrupting Jack’s thoughts. “We need to get a bit of light in here, or we’ll surely trip over ourselves,” she said, then looked at Jack and smiled. “What do you think, Jack?”
“It’s not much to look at, Mother. It needs a good bit of cleaning. This is going to take a lot of work,” Jack admitted, wearing a sour face as he continued to inspect the shop.
“No time to get started like the present,” Emma said cheerily. She set the bags down and began opening the heavy window treatments. Rays of sun filled the large room with bright light, warming the dust-speckled air and allowing them to see more clearly. “Oh, Jack. Just look! Isn’t it glorious?”
The rich, dark colors of the wood blanketed the shop from the floor to the ceiling. Wooden shelves lined the walls, swaddling glass jars and tin cans as if they were being hugged. The drawers built into the long counter were all closed, but their contents were clearly visible through individual glass panes.
“You see, Jack?” Emma said, smiling as she dusted her hands off on her skirt. “It’s already beginning to look much better. Don’t you think? The shop is going to look brilliant after it’s been thoroughly cleaned.”
Jack heard the old door creak open again, and Lizzy and Robert stormed inside. They dropped the bags they were holding onto the dusty wooden floor and looked around with their mouths hanging open.
“Blimey!” Robert exclaimed. “It’s enormous! Just look at the size of this room!” With a grin, he stretched out his arms and started running through the shop, following the line of the long counter, ducking around tables and making happy noises that echoed in the room.
Lizzy stood in the doorway with her arms crossed and looked critically about. “I wonder where all the books are?” she asked.
Jack thought it was quite rude that they had only just arrived and all Lizzy could think about were books.
“Mother? Where are the books?” Lizzy asked in a slightly less demanding voice, hoping for an answer this time.
“I’m sure we’ll find the book room later, Lizzy, but for now we really must help your father unload the wagon. I believe he would be most grateful for our help,” Emma said.
Lizzy regarded her mother critically. “If it’s a room full of books, as Father said, then it’s not called a book room, Mother. Everyone knows it’s called a library.” Lizzy rolled her eyes.
Emma chuckled. “My mistake, darling Lizzy,” Emma replied. “You’re absolutely correct, my dear. A room full of books should in fact be called a library. Now I suppose we could help your father unload the wagon, couldn’t we?” Emma raised her eyebrow, awaiting Lizzy’s answer.
Lizzy stomped one little black shoe. “What does helping Father unload the wagon have to do with finding the library?” she asked, huffing.
“I should think the faster we unload the wagon, the sooner he will be able to show you exactly where it’s located,” Emma said.
Lizzy’s eyes popped open. “Oh yes, Mother! Right away! Come Robert, let’s help Father unload the wagon. Quick, quick!”
“What are you doing under there, Robert?” Emma asked, bending low so she could see him. He was crouched on his knees, inspecting the underside of the counter.
Robert enjoyed learning how things worked, no matter how big or small. “I’m wondering what this lever is doing here under the counter,” he said. “It has a string attached to it that disappears through the floor. It’s very unusual, I must say.”
“Robert, I’m sure you will be the person to solve that particular puzzle. Now you really must come off that floor or your trousers are going to get quite dirty with all of this dust. We will sweep up once we are all moved in, and then you can look again.”
Emma wiped her dirty hands together, then shrugged when the grime didn’t come off right away. A more serious cleaning would be required. “Robert, let’s not forget that your father is dreadfully tired, as we all are. He could use our help unloading the wagon. Perhaps you can solve the mystery of the lever at a later time?”
Emma turned and walked outside, leaving Robert behind in the hope he would soon follow.
But he didn’t. Robert was too distracted by the strange lever, and he stayed exactly where he was. He didn’t understand why the lever was there and wanted very badly to know what it was. Robert continued to examine the bizarre lever and the string that was attached.
“Let’s see what you’re for, shall we?” Robert declared, and he pushed the lever backwards.
All of a sudden it began to rain. Robert heard the rain falling in a loud shush outside the door. He also heard his parents laughing, and Lizzy squealing with dismay. Robert giggled as he listened to Lizzy complain about the unexpected wetness.
“Oh, my beautiful dress will be ever so ruined,” Robert said, mocking her quietly, dramatically placing the back of his hand on his forehead as if he were going to swoon. Then he snorted. “She’s such a girl,” Robert said. He rolled his eyes and giggled.
“It’s only a little rain, darling. You’ll soon dry out,” William said, laughing as Lizzy huffed about the wagon.
Robert returned his attention to the lever he’d pushed backward just a moment ago. It hadn’t seemed to have done anything when he pushed it.
“You must be broken,” he muttered. Robert reached for the lever and pulled it forward to its original position.
The rain stopped.
“Finally!” Lizzy yelled from outside.
Robert looked toward the door, then quickly brought his attention back underneath the counter. It was far more interesting than the silly rain.
“Yes,” he said to the lever. “You are most definitely broken. Maybe you’re stuck or something. That’s it. You must be stuck.” Robert grabbed hold of the lever and pushed it backward again.
It abruptly began to rain.
Robert quickly yanked the lever to the front.
The rain stopped.
Robert heard Lizzy whine. “Father, is the rain always this strange in Finkleton? I have never known rain to suddenly start and stop so frequently.”
William laughed as he brought some packages through the door. “And I’ve never known a little rain to hurt anyone. Now be a good girl and bring in the last of the bags, will you please?” William continued to chuckle contentedly. He put his arm around Emma and gazed about the store.
“What do you think of the place?” William asked Emma.
“I think it’s wonderful, William. Just wonderful,” Emma said. She sighed and placed a hand just below the front of her neck. “I never could have dreamed it would be so remarkable.”
“It feels smaller than I remembered as a boy. But then again I’ve grown taller since then,” William said, laughing.
“It’s simply breathtaking. And to be truthful, I didn’t think Finkleton would be so charming, but it’s simply adorable,” Emma said, beaming with pleasure.
“My stories didn’t do it justice, my dear. Not much has changed from the looks of things.” William continued to scan the room, taking in all the little details. “Everything is just as I remembered. I didn’t realize how much I missed visiting Uncle Harry after my mother passed. It’s certainly nice to be back,” William said, smiling as he reminisced.
Emma smiled with him. “I always enjoyed reading your Uncle Harry’s letters. He sounded like a wonderful man,” she said, wrapping her arm around William’s waist.
“I wish you could have met him,” William said. “You would have liked Uncle Harry. I’m sure of it. He was an eccentric man with a cheery soul. He loved to talk about anything and everything. But mostly he liked to talk about the weather.”
“And now this is our home,” Emma said, gazing happily up at William.
“Yes indeed,” William replied, placing a soft kiss on Emma’s forehead. He smiled warmly. “Welcome home, my dear. Welcome home.”
Robert was still crouched under the counter. He rested his chin on his hand while pondering the mystery of the broken lever. He pretended to move the lever backward and frowned. Then he pretended to pull it forward again—and all at once his eyes grew wide. In a sudden impulse, he grabbed hold of the lever and shoved it backwards, then jumped to his feet so he could look outside through the window.
The rain had started again.
Lizzy squealed, and came running through the door with a bag in each hand and water dripping from her hair.
“Father, I don’t like the rain here! My hair will be a tangled mess! And just look at my dress. It’ll be ruined for sure!” Lizzy’s bottom lip stuck out, and she squeezed her eyes shut to hold back the tears that threatened to fall down her wet red cheeks.
“Well, Lizzy, I don’t control the weather, so I’m afraid I cannot accommodate you on this matter,” William said, chuckling. He gathered up a few more packages and walked through the shop, heading toward the stairs.
“There, there. You’ll be fine, dear,” Emma assured her, using her best motherly voice. She walked over to Lizzy and wrapped an arm around her wet shoulders to console her. “A nice hot bath will do you some good. You’ll see.” Emma guided Lizzy toward the stairwell to go upstairs.
Robert dropped to the floor, grinning, and pulled the lever forward again.
The rain stopped. Robert popped his head above the counter, hardly able to control his excitement.
“Father! Father!” he cried.
“I’ll be with you shortly, Robert,” William replied, glancing back over his shoulder. “We need to get unpacked and take a good look at the old place before dinner, don’t you think?”
Robert crouched back down and stared at the lever in amazement. He touched it gently with one finger.
“You can make it rain,” Robert whispered to the lever. “It’s magic. The best magic ever.” Robert lowered himself until he sat on the old dusty floor, still smiling at the lever. “You can be my very own secret.”