I’ve dedicated my entire life to the goal of enriching the lives of the children of this world. Nothing, almost nothing, brings me as much joy as watching those small faces light up when they learn something that makes their lives feel more exciting. I wish everyone shared my passion for it.
Oh, where are my manners? I’m Mrs. Marie, and I run the School of Joy on Windfall Island. I saw a need to bring joy to this little patch of land on the endless sea, and I couldn’t ignore the call to fulfill that need. After the departure of my late husband, I needed to move somewhere where I could feel like I could start again, somewhere I could create a new life for myself. Finding this haven was the perfect escape and chance to teach a whole new generation of people how to find their joy.
Some students love to learn and are eager to listen, but some would rather be anywhere else, doing anything else. It comes with the territory, and it’s nothing I’m not used to, even from adults, who I know from experience can create some of the largest problems with their inability to listen. But I have to admit, the latest patch of kids was quite the handful. I lucked out though, as the most promising young learner I have met in a long time drifted into my school one day and gave me the chance to really work on the hearts of those troublemakers.
This young man was different than any other youth I’d seen. There was something about him. He had the demeanor of a good man in the making. He was so very different from Ivan and his friends, who like to call themselves the Killer Bees. I knew this new boy would be able to help, especially after chatting with him for a moment. He understood that those other boys needed to listen to their elders. This child — Link, I believe was his name — was such a breath of fresh air. He reminded me of my husband when we first met.
And my goodness, it did not take him long to set those boys straight. Honestly, it seemed like it only took him a few moments. I don’t know what he wants to be when he grows up, but he certainly has what it takes to be a good teacher. He even surprised me with some jewelry that the other boys asked him to give me on their behalf. I don’t know how they knew it, but jewelry is my one weakness. I love all manner of jewelry, but Joy Pendants are by far my favorite. And to my pleasant surprise, those boys, Link included, gave me one for my birthday. It warmed my heart to see such a change in those kids. I thanked Link for his help, and, half-jokingly, I told him that if he were to find any other Joy Pendants, I’d be happy to take 20 more.
If I didn’t know better, I would think that Link believed my innocent request was a challenge. Bless his heart, he did seem to love seeing people happy, because he returned one day after being gone quite a long while and he had more Joy Pendants with him. I was overcome. No one had shown me this much kindness in a long time. It was part of the reason I moved to Windfall, to find people who would share in life’s joys. I had to pay him back somehow. That’s when I knew the perfect reward for this act of friendship.
You see, I owned a small island to the south, and long ago on that island, I built a cozy little cabana. It was one of the leftovers from my old life when my husband was still with me. But I needed to let it go and cut my ties with it. Having the deed to it was like holding onto some evidence of a past I no longer associate with. And I don’t travel much anymore, so what was the point of retaining the burden of upkeep? Link would enjoy it much more than I ever did. And I hope he is.
Though, I hope he doesn’t find his way into the basement. I sealed its entrance up best I could, but I didn’t think about how resourceful and determined Link is. An inquisitive mind still might find a way to get in there, and there are some things down there that should stay in the past. They’re certainly not things that a boy should concern himself with.
