Sophie’s Secret
FICTION
“Look mother, see what I made for you at school today!”
Young Graham jumped excitedly onto his mother’s bed waiving a piece of paper. The frail looking woman smiled and tried to sit up in bed. It was no use. She collapsed back onto the pillows and slowly closed her eyes.
That was the last time Graham saw his mother alive. Now as he sat on his bed, remembering the woman he had loved so dearly, tears flowed easily. He looked down at his calloused hands and knees. Life as an orphan was hard.
Shortly after his mother’s death a cousin by the name of Jean-Paul had appeared on the scene and established himself as Graham’s legal guardian. But Jean-Paul did not like children. He was of the view that they should be seen and not heard. He treated Graham like a slave, making his home life hell, and at school it was worse. All the kids made fun of him because of his appearance.
But there was one thing that made Graham happy. It was seeing Sophie, the brown-eyed girl who’d recently moved to the area. She spoke to him — even if it was only to dare him to do crazy things. The first time he won a dare she gave him her magic box as a reward. It started off as a joke, but soon became their tradition. Whenever he lost the bet he had to give the box back to her.
“What’s in the magic box Sophie?” he’d asked her one day.
“I can’t tell you that because then everything would change,” she’d replied mysteriously. “I’ll tell you when we’re both eighteen.”
He’d laughed at that. Such a mysterious but interesting girl. Graham never once tried to open the box. It made the mystery surrounding it more intriguing.
Shortly before they turned 18 Sophie came to him. “I dare you to gate crash the Prince’s Ball in six months’ time,” she’d said unexpectedly.
“Sophie, you know I can’t do that. I don’t even have the clothes that would make me look the part, even if I scrubbed myself clean,” he’d cried out with despair.
“I dare you!”
That was the last time Graham had seen Sophie. He later learnt that her family had moved to another part of the country, and life was never the same without her. The thoughts he’d entertained of one day marrying her came crashing down. Life at home got harder. The kids at school made even more fun of him and it hurt. Life was no longer worth living. Every night he wrestled with his thoughts. Even if he did go to the ball, Sophie wouldn’t know about it and he wouldn’t get his reward so there was no point.
One afternoon he walked down to the river where he normally washed himself. He removed his clothes then jumped into the water. He felt free as he splashed about but suddenly felt conscious that he was being watched. Feeling self-conscious he waded out of the water. His clothes were gone! In the distance he saw a small man scurrying off. He didn’t even want to think what Jean-Graham would make of this.
Rather than risk walking naked and meeting people on the way home, he waited until sundown before making his way. Jean-Paul was not happy. He made Graham sleep in the basement as punishment. He stopped him from going to school. Days turned to weeks. He missed the Prince’s Ball. Not that it mattered. He couldn’t have gone anyway. Thoughts of despair filled his mind. One night he made up his mind to escape from his life of misery.
“Graham! Graham! Wake up!”
Bright sunlight blinded Graham as he opened his eyes. Where was he? And who was calling him? After running for days he thought he’d gone as far away from home, as he possibly could, to a place where he’d neither be known or found. Now this. He couldn’t bear the thought of being taken back and decided to get up and run but his legs refused to obey him. It was then that he noticed a small man — the same one he’d seen at the river. He was holding something which caught Graham’s attention and made his heart race. He’d know that box anywhere. It was Sophie’s magic box.
“Come with me!” the man said. It was more of an order than a request. Graham obeyed without questioning the man’s intentions. He followed him to a small cottage.
“I believe you know the owner of this box. I need your help to find her.”
“But, but…” Graham stammered.
“No buts. Just do as I say and you will be rewarded accordingly.”
“But I don’t know where to look.”
“I didn’t ask you to do it by yourself, now did I? I said help me. The one doing the looking is me. Get it?”
“Yes.”
Graham felt as if he was either dreaming or hallucinating as the man mysteriously produced a set of clothes and ordered him to change. He was then led through a door at the back of the cottage and found himself in what appeared to be a palace. He was led to a throne and presented to the King as the prince. Did he hear that right?
“At last and about time too.” The king didn’t seemed to be in the least bit surprised. “Bring the princess in and start the festivities,” he ordered.
Sophie, beautiful as ever, walked in. What was going on?
Graham learnt later that she’d known his secret all along. She’d turned down numerous suitors, vowing he was the only man she’d ever marry. The plan to get him away from Jean-Paul by stealing his clothes while he bathed had failed. However, thanks to providence, he had escaped the clutches of his evil cousin!
Graham was still curious about the contents of Sophie’s box. When he was alone he broke the seal. There was a note inside.
“You are a prince and not a slave. Go home to your real family.”
If only he’d known…
. . .
. . .