The next morning, I woke up like a corpse come to life. It was Monday. The start of my least favorite time to be alive.

I hated school with a burning intensity.

The teachers were always yelling at me to "try harder". They would go on and on about me not "applying myself" or whatever else. I honestly started to think that they just liked the sounds of their own voices.

None of those books or equations mattered in the least bit to me. Because, well, I had known what I truly wanted out of my life since as long as I could remember.

It was a simple dream to be honest.

All of the popular social butterflies of my class dreamed of making it big as a performer or film star. The more book savvy children talked about being doctors, scientists, or vetinarians. There would even be the occasional boy who only wanted to be a military soldier.

Not me.

What I wanted was nothing extravagant or praise worthy. I didn't want to hear a crowd chanting my name, or to see myself in a history book of some kind. All of that seemed like nothing but superficial junk.

I was, and forever would be, a very simple person. I am exactly who I appeared to be. Give me a hot meal and a nice place to soak my feet, and you had yourself a very content kid.

What I truly wanted out of my life...

Was to make a boat from scratch with my own two hands.

Blood.

Sweat.

Tears.

All that stuff.

There was something about the very idea of swerving around the bends and curves of the swampy maze that surrounded Ferngolly that drew me in like a moth to a flame.

My own fishing vessel, sturdy and strong enough to haul my sky high piles of fish. I had the image of what I wanted perfectly sketched out in my mind, like some kind of museum art piece hanging high on pristine walls.

I had more personal reasons for this dream as well...

But, sadly all my attempts to bring to life the image so vivid in my mind ended up as just a few planks of wood hastily slapped together with crooked nails.

It was the best attempt an eleven year old could muster.

But, even after three failed attempts, I had not lost heart.

Not even in the slightest.

But, for now…

School.

Charlotte didn't take me up on my unauthorized offer to show her how to string a worm. That didn't surprise me one bit considering that the very concept of mud nearly made the poor girl pass out.

Suppose that's a good thing, since my stupid lips acted without permission in the first place.

My father was back at it on our vehicle that never seemed to ever actually get fixed. His loose fitting overalls were already coated in oil.

"You off?" He said, tightening a rusty socket that sent a metallic clank through the morning air.

"Yeah. Proly be back at sundown. Gonna go to the alcove after."

His response was just a simple grunt.

And so began my normal walk to school, passing by empty fields, run down houses, and the large church. But, even our crowning jewel of a steeple was absolutely miniscule compared to anything in the surrounding towns.

That's Ferngolly for you.

Quiet.

Unassuming

Population of four hundred.

And most of the people who lived there were aged, wrinkled, and moving slower and slower with each passing year.

The unofficial dress code for every living soul in Ferngolly was overalls and spring dresses for the adults, plain white t-shirts for the boys and… well, smaller spring dresses for the girls.

Like I said, everything was simple, unassuming, and probably boring to most people.

But, it was heaven for such a simple child as myself.

On my way to school, I did my usually trick to pass time. I kicked rocks, and whistled some old church hymns my mother used to sing to me every night before bed.

I didn't even know the words to any of them anymore, just the basic melodies.

Halfway on my walk, a second set of footsteps came quickly behind me.

A smile spread across my face before I even turned around.

The only person who ever ran at a full sprint towards me was...

"Andrew? Since when do you-"

...

Not Andrew...

"Um... H-Hi…"

Charlotte looked the same as ever, all too happy and cheerful. The only difference being the addition of long sleeves to go with her spring dress.

Odd considering how hot it was.

But, the humid air wasn't the only heat I was feeling anymore.

That unbearable heat...

My hands tightened around my backpack straps as I rolled my eyes.

"Uh… Howdy."

I turned away from her and continued my walk to school, thinking it best to just try and ignore her.

She clearly did not like that choice as her footsteps sped up to match my ever quickening pace.

"It's crazy that we have the same walk to school, isn't it?" She said, a bright smile across her face.

Stop... that... smile, ya witch!

I grunted, sounding all too much like my father.

"It looks like we will be getting to know each other quite a bit every morning from here on! How exciting!"

I didn't respond.

Clearly not one for silence, she kept going.

"Oh, come on, you said you forgive me. Why are you not talking?"

I continued to give her the silent treatment, hoping maybe she would just take the hint.

In one solid motion, she jumped ahead of me, her body stopping me dead in my tracks. She leaned down to look me in the eyes, her face growing far too close for me to handle.

Stop it! Stupid face, stop burnin!

That simple action only fanned the flame of that mysterious and all encompassing heat...

"So, let's start over, shall we?" She said with a soft chuckle.

Her hand shot out towards me, firm and sure.

"Charlotte Bellflower, a pleasure to meet you!"

Her smile was the definition of innocence, not a single hint of ill intent could be made out.

With a hesitant hand, I reached out, my palm growing more and more sweaty with every painful inch it moved.

I stopped my arm halfway along its journey, my fingers twitching in defiant anticipation.

This girl is-

Without warning, Charlotte broke the distance, her hand slapping against mine to form a solid handshake.

She leaned even close to my face then she was before, her eyes sparkling with an eager expectation.

I bit my lip, watching her smile grow more and more intense.

Way way way too close! She's a monster! A heartless little trickster!

"T-Tucker Greenwood…" I mumbled, my words barely audible.

I was hoping if I played a long for a second, she would have her fill, and move on.

"Pleased to meet you, Tucker! It's good to have a truly joyous introduction, isn't it?"

With one firm shake, she took a step ahead of me, yanking me behind her like a dog on a short leash.

"Come on! I don't want to be late on my first day!" Her innocent laugh continued to bellow from her stomach.

"H-Hey, I didn't give ya permission to go an yank on me!"

She chuckled.

"Oh, come on. You wouldn't make the lonely new girl walk into a strange place all alone, would you?"

I growled under my breath, gritting my teeth against one another.

Darn girl...

It seemed like my hand had decided to join whatever rebellion my lips had formed back at church. Considering, no matter how much I wanted to... I couldn't let go of her hand.

Rebellious body...

The rest of school was just a barrage of teachers yapping and kids not listening to a word they said, myself included.

Even if I did care to listen, I don't think I could have focused in the least bit. How could anyone be expected to pay attention when the new girl wouldn't stop staring at them over her shoulder the whole day. She wore that same unbearable and mischievous grin no matter what.

Annoying girl...

School was finally over, and I was beyond excited to get out of that special layer of hell. To run away from Charlotte as fast as humanly possible.

But, on my way out of the building, I was confronted with a dilemma.

A different little girl that I recognized from the class under mine was struggling to carry her overloaded backpack. The little pink bag was filled to the brim with books, notepads, pens, folders, and who knows what else. Way way way too much, that's for sure.

I didn't even know her name, but she looked like her tiny spine was on the verge of snapping.

"Ay… Ya need help with that?" I mumbled.

She quickly lit up, her eyes sparkling like the sky on independence day, her shoulders dropping in relief.

"Please!"

Luckily for me, her house wasn't too far from the school. She chatted my ear off about homework, some boy who teased her, and how one of her friends was, and I quote, "more annoying than usual".

Words cannot describe how happy I was to wave her goodbye.

"Finally…" I whispered to myself.

I got home, changing out of my school clothes, and into something more… freeing.

Shorts and a tank top.

Perfect.

I didn't even greet my father before I was off to the alcove again, throwing my backpack across our floor with an unearned righteous fury.

Sprinting over the hill, past that old bundle of wood that I think used to be a barn, and around the forest bend, I was finally nearing my promise land.

As I passed by the pile of wood, I snatched up my old rusty hammer that I had left there, its cold handle feeling all too natural against my palm.

My mind was already forming a new and improved strategy for the boat. I would start with the middle beam this time, then move to the end points once a definite foundation was formed.

A smile overtook my face the moment I smelled that murky water in the distance.

At long last... I'm home! Time to-

I barely even made it through the line of trees before something stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Gross gross gross gross! What is that?! Something moved!"

I could recognize that strange accent anywhere...