The Frigments of Fern Valley

By Helen Parramore

Charles, 7, and Victoria, 9 , are sent to spend the summer with Aunt Emily Amelia on a farm in New England. They spend most days playing in the woods. They build a little village.and Charles adds toy soldiers, Indians and cars. Victoria models little women from clay. One night a terrible thunderstorm rages and the children fear their village will be ruined. However, they discover that the lightning has brought the village to life. The little people are called Frigments and are pilgrims come to make a new life in a new land. They are independent, religious and self- sufficient, and want nothing to do with the children. They know that Big Folk bring trouble. The children find ways to help the little people and eventually they become friends. Soon the Frigments have the cars running and they cover the woods and barns, taking whatever they need. The local folk think they have an invasion of varmints, the Frigments think they have a god-given right to make the land their own, and war breaks out. Charles and Victoria, caught in the middle, feel responsible for both sides, and they are the ones who must take drastic action to prevent bloodshed. The last day of their summer on the farm is a day they will never forget.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Mar 27, 2009
• ISBN: 9781440133084

Helen Parramore

Helen Parramore taught Art and Humanities in Florida universities for 30 years. She has published books for adults (memoir, mainstream, mystery/comedy) written and illustrated for children (two pre-school and two mid-grade.) She has three grown children, seven grandchildren, one great-grand and lives on Boca Ciega Bay in St. Petersburg, Florida.

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Copyright © 2009 by Helen Parramore

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This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-4401-2943-8 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-4401-3308-4 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

iUniverse rev. date: 3/23/2009

THE FRIGMENTS OF FERN VALLEY

Written and illustrated by

Helen Parramore

Author of Maiden Voyage, Skunk Stew, Maudie’s Promise and Will, Titch and Isis

iUniverse, Inc.

New York Bloomington

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Dedicated with great love to Martin and Joanna,

good listeners and critics, and to Colleen, my

patient, faithful guide in computerland.

Contents

Chapter1 Fronthingham Farm

Chapter 2 The Woods

Chapter 3 The U.S.S Alabaster City

Chaper 4 The Frigments

Chapter 5 The Cost of Freedom

Chapter 6 The Price of Safety

Chapter 7 Susanna’s Gifts

Chapter 8 The Bountiful Land

Chapter 9 Ransom and Resue

Chapter 10 A Gift of Laughter

Chapter 11 Tomorrow Comes

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Charles pressed his nose against the window of the bus and watched the New England countryside go by. With a very serious face he asked for the eleventh time, When will we get to Frothingham?

His sister sighed and for the eleventh time said, I don’t know. The bus driver will tell us when to get off.

Will she be waiting for us, Vic?

Yes, replied Victoria, Don’t worry, Charles. She knows we’re coming.

But suppose...

Suppose, suppose, suppose! answered Victoria impatiently. I dunno, I dunno, I dunno! Quit worrying!

He turned toward his sister and tears welled in his eyes.

She’ll be there, Charles, don’t worry. She sighed, and for the eleventh time she went over the plans that Mama had made with them, hoping that Charles would stop worrying. Aunt Emily Amelia is Daddy’s big sister, just like I’m your big sister. She lives all alone on the farm where Daddy grew up. She wants us to spend the summer with her. She’s been planning for us to come for a whole year. She has our school pictures, so she’ll know us, and we have her picture so we’ll know her.

Victoria reached in her bag and brought out a faded snapshot of a tall, thin lady standing in a vegetable garden smiling into the sun. She showed it to Charles. You see? And we have her name and address and telephone number, just in case. We also have twenty dollars, just in case.

But Charles wasn’t sure about anything. The tears were gone from his eyes, but his hands twisted his shirttail into a tight knot. With a worried, sad little face, he asked, Are you sure?

Yes, I am sure.

But just in case of what? In case she meets the wrong bus? In case she takes home the wrong kids? Suppose...

Charles, have a bubble gum. No, have two! She reached into her bag again and pulled out two Bazookas. He took them gratefully and settled down to serious chewing, and even more serious contemplation of their situation.

He had never been away from home before. Neither had Victoria. They had never visited their aunt, or, for that matter, ever seen the country. They lived in the city near the office building where their mother and father worked. They went to school in the city, and their friends lived there. Once Aunt Emily Amelia had come to visit them. Victoria said she could remember her, but Charles had been too young. She had always sent them Christmas presents and birthday presents. She wrote them letters and always said that when they were old enough, she would have them come and spend a summer on the farm with her. Now that Victoria was nine and Charles was seven, they were old enough. Their mother said it was a wonderful opportunity, but for children who had never seen a chicken with its feathers on, and thought that eggs came from egg cartons, it seemed more like punishment.

Victoria acted as if she weren’t worried about a thing, but she was. She didn’t really remember Aunt Emily Amelia, not really. She just told Charles she did so he would feel better. She hoped that Aunt Emily Amelia would be at the bus station to meet them, but she wasn’t any more certain of it than Charles was. She knew that sometimes people didn’t follow plans exactly, and that sometimes they got caught in traffic, or had flat tires. And then, those pictures of Charles and her weren’t very good ones, and the one of her aunt was very small. They could make mistakes.

But Victoria didn’t have a big sister to worry for her. There was nothing to do except ride the bus to Frothingham and hope for the best. She put a chunk of bubble gum in her mouth and gazed out the window, chewing and wondering what it would be like to live in a town that had the same name she had. Victoria Regina Frothingham of Frothingham, she whispered to herself, listening to the sound of it in her head. She watched as the woods, trees and fields gradually gave way to more houses, and finally to some shops.

The bus driver called, Frothingham! Here you are, kids. This is where you get off.

He’s so nice, said Charles, grateful for the bus driver’s attention. I wish we were spending the summer with him.

Well, we’re not, so get your stuff and be ready to get off, ordered his sister.

Most of their things were in a trunk that had been checked through on their ticket, but they each had a backpack with snacks, books, little toys and their toothbrushes. They climbed off the bus and looked up and down the platform for anyone who looked as if she could be Aunt Emily Amelia. Victoria held the snapshot in her hand and studied it.

Charles pointed to a plump, smiling woman who looked like a good cook. Is that her, Vic? he whispered.

Too fat, said Victoria. Look for a skinny one.

Charles’ brow furrowed and he pressed his lips together to keep from crying. Maybe she got fatter, he suggested.

The plump woman waved with a bright smile and hurried toward them. They smiled back at her, but she went right past them and hugged a man standing behind them.

I told you that wasn’t her, said Victoria. I think maybe she isn’t here yet.

Charles’ face puckered up again and he twisted his shirt into a knot at his belly. Victoria said quickly, C’mon, we have to get our trunk. That gave him something to do, so he unpuckered a little and let go of his shirttail.

The baggage was unloaded from a compartment beneath the bus, and the porter left their trunk with them on the platform. One by one the people at the station were met by friends and family and left the station. The door of the bus hissed closed and it pulled away. The sounds from the men working in the baggage room echoed up and down the empty platform, and newspapers blew underfoot.

Charles and Victoria sat very close together on their trunk and waited for what seemed like ages. Finally, an old blue pickup truck carrying empty garbage cans rattled to the curb. They sat close holding hands and watched a tall, thin woman in blue jeans and boots get out and walk toward them.

Is that her? whispered Charles.

Gosh, I’m not sure, whispered Victoria. Maybe...

She came straight to them and with a huge smile said, Charles Edward Frothingham? Victoria Regina Frothingham? Welcome to Frothingham! I’m your Aunt Emily Amelia, and I’m so happy that you have finally come to visit me.

Her quick smile, broad and bright, surprised Charles. He pulled back behind Victoria so she could do the talking for both of them.

Hello, said Victoria shyly. We were getting worried that you forgot us.

Aunt Emily Amelia laughed out loud. Heavens! I would never do that. I’m a little late because I went to the dump on the way in to get rid of the garbage.

She said it like gah-bage and Charles wondered if it was like regular garbage or maybe something different.

Let’s load up and get going, she said, and with that she hoisted their trunk into the back of the pickup truck with a strong, sure swing that left Charles staring at her with his mouth open.

My gosh, you’re strong! he exclaimed.

Farming builds all kinds of strength, she said, and with another unexpected quick movement, she swung Charles up into the back of the truck just as easily as she had the trunk. Ride back here, she said. "You’ll love it.