Chapter 1

 

Water ripples around the lake as the swan lands, flapping its wings. Its feet land on the surface and push the swan forward as its body slowly folds up into the graceful swan shape. It looks around as if nothing has happened and this is just a normal part of its life. Though it may look beautiful with its white feathery wings, there’s no doubt about its speed. The swan is constantly pushing forward, its feet hidden under the water’s blanket. As it carries on, there’s no way of making out its eyes even though it seems to be looking in all directions. The orange beak stands out on its snowy skin. It seems to be pressed closed and suggests that there is no prey nearby. Despite this, it can keep up its speedy swim and an elegant posture.

A sound like elephants’ feet is heard as another swan lands a few metres away from the graceful one. The newcomer swan swims up to the other swan. The elegant one looks at it then turns away as if disappointed and expected something better. The two swans swim away in opposite directions. The only sound that is to be heard is the water. Not a sound from their beaks.

The flash of my camera causes the swans to look my way and then look away again. SNAP! The sound startles the birds to swim away at a faster pace. I feel guilty but at least I got my photos. These birds are beautiful and perfect for my photo album. My favourite bird by far… their long necks are what make them different from other species of bird.

“I see you have found the secret place.” A voice speaks behind me.

Chapter 2

 

I turn around to see an old man behind me. He is wearing a sailor’s type hat, dark blue jumper, grey neckerchief, anorak and wellies. He has a sparkle in his deep blue eyes, and I smile politely.

“Secret place?” I ask, looking around, not thinking this spot to be secret. Though to be fair, there are no people around.

“Yes, I like to think of it as my secret place. I’m glad that someone has found it. No one comes to this part of the park anymore. Everyone’s so interested in the café and the play area for the children.”

I look at the man. He smiles warmly and then looks out at the lake at the swans who are starting to swim towards us. The man takes out something from his pocket and suddenly the air is filled with the smell of warm bread. Slowly, he starts to break small pieces from the bread and leans forward. A few ducks follow the swans who have now caught the scent. The swans and ducks climb out of the water and peck gently at the man’s hand. He extends his arm and opens out his hand as the birds start to eat the bread pieces.

SNAP!

I take a photo but this time the birds are too distracted by the bread that they don’t even notice! I take a few more pictures and then place my camera down on the rock I am sitting on. I walk over to the birds. At first, they hesitate and take a step back but then they come towards me to see if I have any food. I look at the man but before I can ask, he takes my hand and hands the bread to me. I mouth a ‘thank you’ and he nods back. I begin to crumble the bread to pieces and then let the birds peck at my hands. The pecking tickles but I laugh quietly at the sight. I can’t believe that the birds are actually coming to me! I turn to the man, but he has vanished. I frown, looking around to see if he is hiding somewhere but he has gone without a word. Then, one by one, as the bread starts to finish, the birds are waddling back into the lake. It seems peculiar that the man would just leave but believe me I didn’t hear a thing when I was feeding the birds. I brush the breadcrumbs of my lap and walk around the lake to take some more pictures from different angles.

Chapter 3

 

Here I am, back at the park, in my usual spot, by the lake, the very next day. I’ll admit, I am looking for the old man. But to keep myself occupied, I turn on my camera. Just in the nick of time too, because I can see that the elegant swan from yesterday is ready to take off. Its very still for a moment but then starts to run on the water and beats its wings rapidly. It zooms past the other swan and the ducks and then slowly starts to lift from the ground. Its wings slow down a little as it starts to glide rather than flap. It’s a wonder. It really is. I watch the swan fly away until its nothing but a dot in the distance. My camera films it all. I stop the recording and smile to myself.

“That one’s looking for her mate.” A familiar voice speaks behind me.

I turn and see the old man again.

“Pardon?” I ask, thoroughly confused.

“The swan. The one that flew away. Her partner went missing a few days ago. She’s been in pain since.”

“Oh,” I say, not knowing what else to say.

A silence passes between us.

“How do you know?” I ask.

“Ah, I know this place like the back of my hand. And you can tell from the swan’s attitude towards the other swan.” The man looks at me.

“You know, this place used to be someone’s garden. This whole park. The family had a lovely grand house which is now that high school. Imagine what it was like back then. What we think of as a park, to them as a garden!”

I stare at the man in disbelief. I must’ve looked very shocked because he let out a small chuckle. Woah! This is huge! How could a park be a garden? Imagine… what would it be like?

“There are boards showing the history on your way into the park. It’s very interesting. You should read them.”

I think about it.

“I think I will. By the way, I never caught your name Mr…”

“Phil Saunders. Call me Phil. And you are?

I hesitate at first and then look at Phil and smile.

“Bluebell Langdon. A pleasure to meet you Phil.”

Chapter 4

 

Some days the old man is here, but some days he’s not. I come here everyday and watch the swans and the ducks as time goes by. I even bring bread once a week as a treat for the swans. I know you’re not supposed to feed them but that’s mine and Phil’s secret. The bread packaging lies by my feet as I decide to take a little walk through the trees. I find the nearest bin and dispose of it before starting my walk.

Being on my own can help me think. No one comes to this part of the park and Phil told me that there are many more secret places located all around the park, even some that he doesn’t know of! I don’t know why I didn’t come here sooner. The trees sway in the breeze as I walk past them and between the branches, I catch a glimpse of the sun smiling back at me. Birds nests are planted all over the trees and a few heads pop up and tweet a welcome. I carry on forward until I hear a rustling behind a bush. I frown. What could it be? I peer my head around and see the swan who has lost her partner. The swan seems to be in despair. I feel so sorry for her that I crouch down next to her. But then, a light bulb suddenly just lit in my head. The swan is nesting.

Chapter 5

 

Something’s wrong. And I am not talking about the mother – to – be swan. I am talking about Phil. He told me that he comes to the park at least once a week. It has been three weeks and still no sign of him. I have stayed with the brooding swan every day, waiting for Phil to come, knowing that he would know what to do. But he hasn’t come. Not once since I found out about the swan. I get up and brush the dirt off me. The swan watches but doesn’t make a sound.

“I need to find Phil. He’ll know what to do.” I say to the swan.

The swan doesn’t move a muscle, but something tells me she understood. I walk to the lake and sit on my rock. Waiting. Watching. Waiting. Time goes by but still no Phil. I sigh and walk over to the café.

“Hello love, what can I get for you?” the man behind the till asks politely.

“Sorry to disturb you but I was wondering if you might know a man called Phil Saunders and where he might be?”

“Ah, old Phil. Can’t say I’ve seen him around lately but if you do find him, do tell him that I miss his stories of the past. He makes it his job to know the history of pretty much everywhere.”

I thank the man and buy a loaf of bread from him for the ducks and make my way out. I trudge along the path to the exit. I might as well phone a vet or someone who can help the swan. Poor swan. Expecting and her partner’s missing. I’m just about to leave when my eye catches something. The boards about the history of the park. I stop in my tracks to read them. My eyes pop out of my sockets when I do. The first owner’s name was Phillip Saunders.

First owner = Phillip Saunders

Current owner = Phillip Saunders Jr.

Chapter 6

 

I re-read the board again and again. So, Phil owns the park! He never mentioned it! No wonder he knows so much about the park. It’s his!

“Phil, when I see you, boy are you going to be in trouble for not telling me this.” I murmur to myself.

I am just about to leave when an envelope blue – tacked to the board flaps in the wind. I grab it and read the name and to my utter disbelief, it says mine!

 

Bluebell Langdon

An excellent photographer

Lakefront Gardens Park

 

This feels very strange but hey, its for me so I tear open the envelope. Believe it or not, it’s from Phil!

 

Dearest Bluebell,

I knew you would read the boards. A clever girl like you is bound to be interested in the history of the park. I am sure you have a million questions to ask but just hear me out. Yes, I do own the park. The garden the park used to be, belonged to my great great great great great grandfather. I have been named after him and on the picture on the boards you may notice the close resemblance. I know I should’ve told you but even after all these years of ownership of the park, even I find it quite unbelievable that it belongs to me. Forgive me, but I thought it better for you to find out yourself. And I am sure that’s not the only question you want answered. Where I am you ask. Well, my friends at the old people’s home had offered to help me find the female swan’s partner. So, we went searching and he is now in good hands at the vet. Poor thing is injured but should be as good as new soon. I dread to think what the female swan is going through. I trust that you took good care of the swans and ducks. I know. I should’ve told you Bluebell and I shouldn’t have left you on your own. But you must understand that it was for a good deed. I am sorry and I will be back very soon with the swan.

Yours,

Phillip Saunders Jr

 

Chapter 7

 

I take all of this in. Of course I understand. In fact, I feel relieved that the swan has been found and that Phil is ok.

“Bluebell, my friend,” says a voice behind me.

“PHIL!” I turn and jump into his arms for a hug. He returns it and then places me down on the ground. He sees the letter.

“I see that you read the letter.”

“Of course. And I understand. Speaking of which, where’s the swan?” I ask peering behind Phil to see if he is hiding it.

“The vet took it ahead to the lake to meet its partner. We should be heading there now.”

Phil holds out his hand. I take it and we walk towards the lake. I feel happy for the swans and glad that they can be together again.

“Oh, by the way, I was meaning to tell you this sooner, but the female swan is nesting. I think that’s why she was so desperate to find the male. I found the swan behind a bush on the ground wrapping her wings around her eggs with her head bent and making small crooning noises. I’ve been camping near the lake recently to take care of her. I have grown rather fond of the swan. I think she enjoys my company too.”

Phil’s eyes widen.

“No wonder! Quick! We had better return to her then! The cygnets could hatch at any moment! It’s been a long time since we’ve had cygnets in the park. Come on!”

Chapter 8

 

The vet crouches next to the swan and inspects the eggs carefully.

“The eggs should be starting to open up in the next half hour,” she informs us.

Phil’s eyes glaze over as he looks proudly at the swans. The male swan speaks to the female swan in their own language and the female swan looks overjoyed. She nestles into the ground as she starts to feel small movements from the eggs. The eggs rock a little, back and forth until they suddenly stop. CRACK! A small crack appears in one and then another and another until all the eggs are marked with a crack through the middle.

“Any moment now,” the vet says.

I watch in awe as one by one small heads pop out of the eggs. The cygnets look around and take in the surroundings before cuddling close to their mother. They have small dots for eyes, greyish-black beaks and oh so fluffy bodies.

“Aw,” I coo at the new born babies.

The cob (male swan) looks at the babies and then waddles over and puts a protective wing around them. The mother seems so relieved and embraces her babies. She looks at me and Phil and through her beak, I can almost make out a smile.

“Thank you for telling me Bluebell. Its not everyday you see cygnets hatching. I am so proud of you for looking after the swan so well these past few weeks. Even I wouldn’t have gone to that extent.”

I roll my eyes.

“You don’t need to thank me, silly. It was my choice to, and I’ve loved taking care of her. I’m so glad I got to experience this. I will never forget today. It has been an honour Phil,” I reply.

Phil nods his head and then makes an announcement.

“I have something to say. I won’t be in this world much longer and I need a person to take on my job as owner of the park. And it would make me the happiest man in the world if you, Bluebell Langdon, accept the role. I have no relatives or children to pass it on to, but I have seen you take such good care of the wildlife and nature here at Lakefront Gardens Park that no one else would be better for the job. The swans and ducks enjoy your company and before you know it, they’ll be coming to you to protect them and look out for them! Yes, it will be hard at times, controlling littering, too many people, wild dogs and so forth. But the beauty is, you can enjoy your time here. So, what do you have to say?”

Chapter 9

 

I don’t think I heard Phil correctly. Me? Owner of the park? In your dreams Bluebell, you must be imagining it. But at the same time, I know I’m not. Phil is looking at me expectantly and even the vet turns to smile and nods encouragingly. I glance at the two swans and the babies and realise that I love where I am. I take a deep breath and walk over to Phil.

“I, Bluebell Langdon, would be delighted to take on this job as owner of Lakefront Gardens Park. I am the luckiest person alive. I thank you Phillip Saunders for the exciting opportunity. I wish you could stay longer but, in my heart, I know that eventually you will have to leave. That makes me sad but thrilled to have the park at the same time. Thank you so much!”

My eyes fill with tears as I give Phil the biggest hug. The vet leaves us to it and the swans swarm around us. I laugh and stroke each cygnet in turn. They open and close their beaks as if to say ‘again, again, again!’

Phil nods.

“Your time has come. I am very proud of you. Goodbye Bluebell.”

He gives me one last hug and then walks away leaving me with the swans rubbing their heads against my legs. I watch Phil leave and although I know I will miss him, at the same time I know I have a huge job ahead of me.

Chapter 10

 

One year later…

It’s officially the cygnets first birthday! They have grown independent and know how to fly and swim without fear. They have developed white feathers and are mostly the white-snowy colour. Their beaks remain grey but should turn orange in the next couple of years. They swim around in formation behind the mother swan and do a little swim routine for me whenever I come. It gets me smiling every time!

I gaze beyond the lake, into the sunset. The sky bursts with colours of pink, orange and yellow. It has been a year since the park belonged to me. Yes, there was a LOT of paperwork but apart from that everything has been awesome. I visit Phil from time to time because he is permanently in bed now and I share my stories with him of what happens at the park. We have a good laugh and that’s when I remember how proud I really am of myself.

So, let’s not end this story about Phil or about the swans or about the park. Let’s end it about me. A young girl, who started off just coming to the park for the photos but now comes for the enjoyment and pleasure of it. Being outside with nature is the best thing in the world. And that’s what really matters…

The End