**
The Broken Lever
Accidents can be prevented.
-Harry Finkle
Jack carried several boxes from the storage area into the shop and set them down. Just as he’d finished, he heard a muffled cry. Jack followed the weeping sound to behind the counter, where he saw Lizzy hugging a sobbing Robert. Then Jack saw the sacks of salt and pepper scattered around them.
“Robert,” Jack said in a gentle voice, “it’s all right. None of the sacks look as if they’ve broken open. There’s no harm done, and no point crying. I’ll help you set them back up.” Jack smiled as he walked toward Lizzy and Robert.
Robert quickly pulled away from Lizzy and yelled, “Don’t touch anything! I’ll do it myself! You’re always breaking something!” Robert hastily wiped his tears on his sleeve and stood up to face Jack.
Lizzy also stood. She placed her hand on Robert’s shoulder. “It’s all right, Robert. He didn’t know. How could he?”
“What didn’t I know?” Jack asked. He was dumbfounded by Robert’s accusation.
Lizzy bent down to whisper in Robert’s ear. “You must tell him.”
“No, no! I will not tell him,” Robert said, loud enough for Jack to hear.
“It’s unfair to accuse me of doing something and not telling me what that something is,” Jack pointed out. He raised his eyebrow and folded his arms, waiting for an answer.
Robert glared at Jack and wouldn’t respond. The more Robert thought, the angrier he got. First Jack broke the string on the hourglass. Then Jack broke the magical lever. Jack is always breaking something.
Lizzy spoke up to interrupt the silence. “Jack, when did you stack the sacks of salt and pepper under the counter?”
“After both of you left Uncle Harry’s office last night,” Jack replied. “I also mentioned it to Robert this morning after he came down from breakfast.”
Lizzy bent down to whisper in Robert’s ear again. She cupped her hand so Jack couldn’t hear what she was saying. “Robert, it’s been raining since last night. It’s been raining this entire time and hasn’t stopped. We need Jack to fix the lever. You must tell him.”
Robert’s eyes grew wide. He remembered peeking in Uncle Harry’s office and seeing the small dash lines covering the entire map of Finkleton. Lizzy’s right, he thought. It’s been raining ever since Jack stacked the sacks under the counter last night.
Robert finally spoke, breaking his angry silence. “Jack, have you seen the map in Uncle Harry’s office this morning?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I have. Why do you ask?”
“Did you see the lines covering the entire map of Finkleton?”
“Yes. I’m pretty sure the lines mean that it’s raining,” Jack replied.
“Don’t you find it strange that it’s raining all over Finkleton?”
“You said you fixed the hourglasses, Robert. It’s just Mother Nature. Nothing to worry about,” Jack said softly.
“No, Jack, it’s not Mother Nature!” Robert cried out.
“Well,” Jack said, not liking Robert’s angry tone, “if it’s not Mother Nature, then please tell me what you think it is.”
“You broke something very important. Just as you broke the string on the hourglass!”
Jack scratched his head. “Robert, calm down. You’re talking in circles. Just come out with it already. I have things to do.”
“The hourglasses aren’t the only things that can make it rain in Finkleton, Jack! You broke the lever! You broke my secret lever! You’re always breaking stuff!” Robert covered his face and began to cry again.
“I don’t have the foggiest idea what you’re talking about,” Jack said. “If I’ve broken something, I’m sorry, and I’ll fix it. But explain what it is or I can’t help you.”
Robert wiped his tears away and pointed under the counter. “There. The lever is there. And you broke it.”
Jack knelt down to see what Robert was pointing at. Under the counter hung a broken wooden lever dangling from a string.
“What’s so important about that lever?” Jack asked.
Robert sniffed. “It can make it rain,” he whispered.
“What do you mean, it can make it rain? I thought the hourglasses controlled the rain in Finkleton.”
“The lever controls the rain too,” Robert replied. “Pushing the lever towards the wall makes rain fall all over Finkleton. And pulling the lever away from the wall stops the rain. It’s magic.”
Lizzy interrupted. “It’s true, Jack. The lever really can make it rain. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
Jack stood up, dusting off his trousers. “And neither of you thought this was important enough to tell me?”
“It was Robert’s secret to tell,” Lizzy explained. “He found the lever and discovered its magic, and he swore me to not tell anyone.”
“I’m not just anyone. I’m your brother!” Jack exclaimed, clearly annoyed.
“No offense, Jack. But every time you’ve come near a magic object, you’ve broken it and caused rain to pour down,” Robert said, folding his arms.
Lizzy stared earnestly at her older brother. “It’s been raining all night. If you don’t fix the lever soon, the rain will ruin Finkleton. The farms will flood and everyone will be forced to move. You must fix it, Jack. And you need to be quick about it.”
“All right,” Jack said. “Let’s calm down. I’m sorry I broke your secret lever, Robert. But in my defense I didn’t know it existed. Father could have broken it just as easily as I did. I’ll fix the lever and then you’ll show me how it works.” Jack went to the storage room to get repair tools and materials.
Robert started to feel a little bad about yelling at Jack. It’s true Jack didn’t know about the lever, Robert thought. If he had known, he would’ve been more careful.
“Maybe keeping a secret isn’t always the best thing to do,” Robert muttered to Lizzy.
Lizzy sighed. “There are some secrets that can be safeguarded better when shared with a select few,” she said. “But I kept my word and didn’t tell your secret. You’d best remember that.”
“I’ll not forget. Thank you,” Robert said, and smiled at his sister.
Jack returned with tools and wood. Lizzy and Robert moved the sacks and tin cans out of the way so Jack had enough room to work. While Jack set about his task, Lizzy placed glass jars on the shelves and Robert filled drawers with dried herbs.
The store was looking magnificent. The shelves, drawers, jars, and tin cans were full with everything imaginable: tonics, medicines, spices, honey, fabric, candles, sweets, fruits, vegetables, dried goods, and much more. Uncle Harry would have been proud of their hard work.
The shop door opened with a cheerful ring of the bell, and in walked Miss Caroline. “Hello my dears, hello,” she said, setting her dripping umbrella in the corner but sounding as chipper as ever. “I’ve come a bit early to make sure I don’t miss the chance to talk Mr. Cornerly out of selling his farm. I understand why he’s unhappy. I’ve not seen it rain this much in Finkleton in all my years.”
“Hello, Miss Caroline,” Lizzy said, welcoming her with a smile.
“Oh, I think that’s Mr. Cornerly coming this way now,” Miss Caroline said, peering out the window.
Lizzy strolled back toward the counter and whispered just loud enough for Jack to hear. “Are you almost done? Mr. Cornerly is coming this way!”
“I’m working on it as fast as I can, Lizzy,” Jack grumbled.
“Might you work a little faster?” Lizzy asked through gritted teeth.
Jack stopped what he was doing and glared at Lizzy with stern eyes. That’s all it took.
“All right,” she said. “I’ll leave you alone. But please work faster.”
The shop door opened again, and this time Mr. Cornerly walked through. He removed his wet hat, then walked over to the wood stove and held his hands over the heat to warm them.
“Hello Mr. Cornerly, hello,” Miss Caroline said as she walked toward him.
“Hello, Miss Caroline. Fancy seeing you here again,” Mr. Cornerly said, smiling.
“Yes, indeed. Mr. Cornerly, might I be so bold as to inquire whether or not you’re going to sell your farm?” Before Mr. Cornerly could answer, the shop door opened once again, and in walked Mr. Lowsley and his two companions.
“Ah, there you are, Cornerly,” Mr. Lowsley said in a rather cheery voice.
Miss Caroline nudged Mr. Cornerly. “You mustn’t sell your farm! You simply can’t!” she exclaimed.
“Miss Caroline, as much as I respect your thoughts on the matter, I must say that it’s no concern of yours. I have to do what’s best for my family,” Mr. Cornerly said, sounding sad.
Mr. Lowsley interrupted. “I mean no offense, Miss Caroline, but I think it best if you learned to keep your nose out of other people’s affairs. Don’t you agree?” Mr. Lowsley said, smirking.
Miss Caroline gasped, and placed a fluttering hand over her chest. “And you must learn to respect your elders.”
“Oh come now, Miss Caroline,” Mr. Lowsley said, then opened his hands. “I meant no disrespect. But this conversation does not pertain to you. It is what it is. Business.”
“Very well,” Miss Caroline said, but she did not move away.
“I have the contract with me, Mr. Cornerly, if you care to look it over before you sign. I’m sure you’ll agree I’ve offered you a generous price,” Mr. Lowsley said smoothly while handing the contract to Mr. Cornerly. He also handed him a pen.
Mr. Cornerly read over the pages of the contract and took the pen in his hand, ready to sign.
“Mr. Cornerly, Mr. Cornerly,” Miss Caroline cried.
“Yes, Miss Caroline?” Mr. Cornerly asked, not looking up from the contract.
“You said that you would make your decision at noon. It’s not quite noon yet,” Miss Caroline said. She smiled and touched his arm.
“What does a few minutes matter, Miss Caroline?” Mr. Lowsley demanded. “A contract is a contract, noon or no.”
“Mr. Lowsley, I understand that you are a busy man and are in a hurry. But we are speaking of Mr. Cornerly’s farm. And I believe that miracles tend to present themselves in the nick of time,” Miss Caroline said. She smiled and Robert saw her cross her fingers with hope.
“Miracles, you say?” Mr. Lowsley laughed. “What miracles could you possibly be speaking of?”
Miss Caroline sniffed, not used to such rudeness. “Mr. Cornerly said he would make his decision at noon and that’s what he should do!”
“Yes, that I did,” Mr. Cornerly said. He set the pen down and looked at the clock on the wall. “I am a man of my word. And if a miracle wants to present itself and stop the rain by noon, then I will not sell my land.”
“You can’t be serious, Mr. Cornerly. It’s been raining constantly since last night. Do you honestly think it’s suddenly going to stop in the next few minutes?” Mr. Lowsley asked, laughing.
“Miracles do happen!” Miss Caroline snapped. “Might I remind you, Mr. Lowsley, that this is Finkleton. Its lands are filled with magic.”
“Magic, you say?” Mr. Lowsley asked, laughing louder. “Did you hear that, men? She says Finkleton is magic!”