**
Robert’s Secret and Mr. Lowsley
Secrets never stay secret.
-Harry Finkle
Lizzy looked stunned as she watched the rain fall to the earth. Cautiously, she reached back under the counter and pulled the small lever forward.
The rain stopped.
“That’s amazing!” Lizzy squealed.
Lizzy turned to Robert with wide eyes. She whispered, “Do you know what this means, Robert?”
“No.” Robert crossed his arms and huffed. He hadn’t wanted to share his secret with his nosey sister. “No, I do not. And I don’t care, either. Just leave me alone.”
Robert turned his back, not wanting to hear what Lizzy had to say, and feeling very much like he wanted to cry. He couldn’t help sniffling.
Lizzy placed her hand on Robert’s shoulder and spoke softly. “What’s wrong, Robert? What’s wrong?”
Robert turned around to look up at Lizzy. He used the back of his sleeve to wipe away a tear.
“The lever was my secret. I didn’t want anyone to know about it,” Robert said, his lower lip quivering.
“Oh, Robert,” Lizzy said. Then she grinned and bent down to his level. “That little lever, your secret lever, that is, it controls the rain!”
“I know. I’ve known since the day we arrived,” Robert grumbled. “Do you think I’m daft?”
Lizzy gasped at Robert’s choice of words.
“Robert! Where on earth did you learn such language?” Lizzy was shocked.
“I overheard Father say it, so it must not be a bad word. Besides, I asked him what it meant. He said–”
“Oh you did, did you? And what did Father say it meant?” she asked, hands on her hips again.
Robert sighed. Not only is my sister nosey, but she’s also very bossy, Robert thought.
“If you would keep quiet and allow me to speak, I’ll tell you!”
“Fine, speak then! But you had better make it quick or I’ll box your ears!” Lizzy threatened, pointing a finger at Robert’s chest.
“Father said it meant that someone was mental. And I’m not mental!” Robert crossed his arms and stared Lizzy in the eyes.
Before Lizzy could respond, the shop door opened and the bell chimed.
“What’s this all about?” Jack asked, noticing the glares Lizzy and Robert were giving each other. He closed the door and patiently waited for an answer.
Caught off guard, Lizzy and Robert both spoke at once.
“Guess what Robert found,” Lizzy stated.
“Nothing,” Robert announced loudly.
“All right, then,” Jack said as he walked toward the back of the store. “It doesn’t look like either of you has gotten much done since I left. Who wants to explain?”
Jack didn’t expect an answer. They all had their little quarrels, as many siblings do. And he didn’t actually care about their spat. He assumed it was about something meaningless, as it usually was.
Lizzy started to speak, but Robert abruptly grabbed her by the arm to keep her quiet.
“What?” Lizzy asked, looking at Robert’s hand on her arm.
Robert placed a finger over his lips and said “shhh.” He nodded toward the storage room so Lizzy would follow him. Lizzy rolled her eyes. Robert let go of her arm and glared at his sister. He stuck his hands on his hips, imitating what she had done a moment earlier. With a sigh, Lizzy stomped toward the storage room with Robert in tow.
“Don’t be too long!” Jack called. “We have plenty of work to do before Mother and Father return.”
Once they were in the storage room, Lizzy spun around and glared at Robert. “What are you up to?” she demanded.
Robert hung his head. “I just don’t want Jack to know about the lever.”
“Do you honestly believe we can keep it from him?”
“Yes. Yes, I do.” Robert stuck his chin out in defiance.
“And how do you propose we do that, might I ask?” Lizzy crossed her arms and started to tap her foot.
“We just don’t tell him, is all,” Robert said. He stood firm and crossed his arms, mimicking Lizzy.
“We just don’t tell him,” Lizzy mocked.
“Yes. We just don’t tell him!” Robert raised his voice above their whisper.
Lizzy didn’t say a word.
Robert frowned. “Well, I won’t be telling him. So if he does find out about the lever, it will be because you told him.”
“Okay. I won’t tell him,” Lizzy spat out the words. “But I don’t understand why you don’t want him to know.”
“I found the lever, and it’s my secret. If you weren’t being so nosey, then you wouldn’t even know about the lever!”
“Fine, if that’s the way you want it. But mark my words, Robert. One day you will have to tell Jack about the lever. It’s much too important not to tell him.” She frowned at him. “What about Mother and Father? Are you not going to tell them either?”
“It’s my secret, Lizzy! Who I decide to tell is none of your concern,” Robert declared, wanting to strangle his sister.
“I understand your not wanting to tell Jack, because I don’t want to tell him anything either. But I can’t believe you won’t tell Mother and Father,” Lizzy said, sounding shocked.
Robert didn’t want to give in. It was still his secret, even though his sister knew about it.
“I’m being serious, Robert. That lever is not something to play with!”
“I know It’s not a toy,” Robert replied with a groan. “Like I said before, I’m not daft!”
“Robert!” Lizzy yelled. “Do not use that sort of language again!”
“What are you going to do about it if I do?” Robert challenged.
Lizzy grabbed Robert by the ear and pulled him toward the shop.
“Let go of me! Let go of me!” Robert screeched, struggling in Lizzy’s grasp.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Jack demanded.
“Jack, you need to tell Robert he can’t use foul language!” Lizzy snapped, then released Robert’s ear.
“What sort of foul language might that be?” Jack asked. He cocked an eyebrow and stared at the pair of them.
Robert hung his head, realizing he actually wasn’t sure if the word “daft” was appropriate for someone of his age to say out loud.
“Well?” Jack pressed.
Lizzy spoke up because Robert was being silent. “It was a horrible word. Not a word a little boy should even know!”
Robert brought his attention quickly to Lizzy. “I’m not a little boy! And if Father can say it, so can I!”
Jack laughed. “He’s got you there, Lizzy. If Father can say it, so can he.”
Lizzy crossed her arms. “Father is much older. Robert is too young to be saying such things!”
“Oh, don’t be daft, Lizzy. Young Robert is growing up and will soon be a man. He’s bound to learn several words that you do not approve of,” Jack said, laughing. Robert giggled.
“Boys!” Lizzy shouted with irritation. She swatted Robert on the side of his head before she stormed out of the shop.
“Now you’ve done it, Robert,” Jack said, watching Lizzy stomp up the stairs.
“She should mind her own business,” Robert said, then flinched when a door slammed upstairs.
“Well, now we’ll have to do Lizzy’s work as well as our own.”
“I don’t mind,” Robert said. “I don’t mind one bit. She can stay upstairs and read her silly little books forever for all I care.”
“I said those things just to irritate Lizzy,” Jack explained. “I love to irritate her. However, you do need to learn your manners. When you choose to use such language, you must not do it in front of a lady.”
“Lady? What lady? Lizzy is not a lady. She is our sister,” Robert said. He was looking quite confused. “And she has terrible manners.”
Jack laughed and patted Robert on his shoulder. “Yes, Robert, Lizzy is a lady. She’s a young lady, but a lady just the same. Such language should not be repeated in front of her.”
Robert looked dumbfounded. He couldn’t understand why Jack would think Lizzy was a lady of any sort.
Jack bent down to look Robert in the eyes. “Do you understand?”
“Yes, I understand,” Robert said, but he really didn’t.
“I think you owe your sister an apology,” Jack said.
A look of horror crossed Robert’s face. “Why should I apologize?!” he demanded, rubbing his head. “She grabbed my ear!”
“Despite what you may think, Robert, Lizzy does have gentle ears,” Jack said, chuckling under his breath.
“Maybe she has gentle ears. But her hands aren’t gentle. My own ear hurts!”
“Regardless,” said Jack, “you should apologize to her and promise to not say such things in front of her again. And if you choose to say them anyway, maybe you should try covering your ears before she has a chance to grab them.” Jack grinned, trying to contain his laughter.
“All right,” Robert said, then reluctantly stomped up the stairs to search for Lizzy. “She’s not a lady. She’s not a lady,” he kept mumbling.
Jack shook his head and laughed out loud.
Just then, the shop bell rang. Jack turned to see three men walk into the shop. Two of them were rather rough-looking, and the other was dressed in a fine suit.
The one in a suit cleared his throat and directed his gaze toward Jack. “You there, young man. I am in need of assistance and wondered if you might be able to accommodate me.”
Jack ran his fingers through his hair. “That would depend on what sort of assistance you are in need of, sir. If there’s something you care to buy, this is our shop, so we will do what we can.”
The man chuckled. “This is their shop. Did you hear that, gentlemen?”
Jack frowned. He didn’t like the condescending manner but wasn’t sure what to do about it. The man seemed the type to get whatever he wanted. Jack also noticed the man hadn’t removed his hat when he’d entered the store. That was a sign of disrespect to the lower class.
“I don’t mean any harm, young man. I do apologize for my teasing. I heard about your Great Uncle Harry’s passing, and I offer my condolences to you and your family.” But then, strangely, the man smiled. It seemed to Jack that someone should look at least a little sad when expressing condolences.
“Thank you, sir,” Jack replied simply. “How may I assist you today?”
“Allow me to introduce myself,” the man said, taking a small bow. “My name is Lewis Lowsley. Mr. Lowsley to you, young man. And these are my companions, Peter and Paul. I can’t remember their surnames, but that is of no consequence to the matter at hand.”
Jack nodded in the direction of Peter and Paul, and said “Nice to make your acquaintance.” That was a lie. Jack wanted them to leave and take their rude behavior with them.
“You seem a fine young man,” Mr. Lowsley said. He walked slowly about the shop, touching items here and there, but he didn’t seem interested in anything in particular.
Jack watched Mr. Lowsley in silence, and kept an even closer eye on Peter and Paul. They looked a little shady to him. Lizzy was always saying “You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover,” but Jack had a gut feeling not to trust any of them.
“I used to visit your dear Harry from time to time. He said he would notify me if any land in Finkleton became available for purchase.” Mr. Lowsley wiped his hands on a handkerchief that he’d pulled out of his coat. He acted as if he’d gotten them dirty by touching the things in the store. Jack couldn’t help thinking that Mr. Lowsley didn’t appear to be a farmer of any sort. Why, then, would he be interested in land?
“I’m not aware of any land available for purchase in Finkleton. You see, our family has only just arrived,” Jack replied, hoping that would end the conversation and the visitors would soon be leaving.
Mr. Lowsley looked at him with a small smile. “If you hear of anything, please make me aware of it as soon as you can. I will be staying in Finkleton for a week, and I will come to visit you in a day or so.”
“Yes, sir. I can do that,” Jack said, and nodded. That seemed harmless enough. If someone wanted to sell their land and Mr. Lowsley wanted to pay the price, no harm done.
“That’s a good boy,” Mr. Lowsley said, then tossed a coin in the air toward Jack. “Thank you for your assistance. We will meet again very soon.” He tipped his hat and left the shop, followed by Peter and Paul.
Good riddance, Jack thought.