It was Elizabeth’s second last year in her dear old school. Julian and Elizabeth were sitting in the audience and cheering for Patrick in his practise match. A girl came and sat beside Elizabeth and introduced herself as Susan or Suisse as called by her friends. She was an adventurous type girl who had a very fashionable sister called Hannah.
“Eliza, John wants to meet me and show me his garden. Meet you both at the common room early this evening.” Julian said
Eliza and Susan kept discussing about their school as Susan was a newcomer and so was Hannah who was nowhere to be found. After the match Patrick was congratulated by the girls as he had won the match.
“Suisse lets go to the common room and wait for Julian.” Elizabeth said
“No Elizabeth. I have to search for Hannah.”
“Ok Suisse as you wish.”
In the common room Elizabeth meets Joan (Her best friend), Belinda, Catheleen, John and Julian. Meanwhile Suisse searches everywhere for Hannah but could not find her. Finally she finds Hannah and Arabella near the stable. Arabella was Eliza’s enemy who had recently become her friend (Just to gain her trust)
“Come on Hannah let us go.” Suisse said
They all went to the common room. There Elizabeth introduced Arabella to Hannah and Suisse.
Next day she sees Joan and Hannah talking to each other for a long time. From that day Joan started to sit with Hannah every day and started ignoring Elizabeth. Later that day Arabella and Hannah met each other at the common room after every one had gone out to play.
“ Is my work done Hannah?” Arabella said
“Yes I have started creating misunderstanding between Joan and Elizabeth? But do you remember my prize?”
“Surely, A new Diamond set would reach your house during this vacation.”
“But why are you trying to destroy Eliza and Joan friendship when you are her friend?”
“Friend no never. I did the friendship to gain her trust. I still feel jealous when someone praises her.”
“Oh I see. Okay then. Remember my prize. Bye”
Arabella went to meet Elizabeth.
She said to her “Eliza, Why do you think Joan is ignoring you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe now Hannah is her closer friend.”
“I will tell you why. She does not need you anymore.”
“No Joan will always be my best friend.”
“Okay think for yourself.”
Elizabeth started thinking about her words seriously.
The next day was the school meeting. They had a school meeting every week where children were the judges and used to listen to all the complains and accordingly punished the guilty. The head judges were William and Rita. They had completed the school a few years but the students thought that no one could take their place so they used to come once every week to attend the meeting. Apart from them 12 monitors also accompanied the jury. They had to give all their money in a box and each one had to take out 2 pounds. If all the money was not given the person could be punished.
After everyone had put money in the box and 2 pounds were given to everyone William asked whether anyone had any complain. Much to Elizabeth’s surprise Hannah stood up and said “Elizabeth has snatched Joan’s key and locked Joan’s locker with it.”.
“If this is the truth then I am sad that you could do something like this. I will give you I week and I expect you to return her the key by then.” Rita said
Elizabeth wanted to tell that this was a lie but Julian held her hand tightly.
After the meeting Susan came and said “Eliza I know you cannot do that. Julian and I am with you.”
“So am I” Arabella said
“Elizabeth I did not expect this from you” John said and Patrick supported him.
“John it is not true. It was a lie. I.........” Elizabeth wanted to continue but Julian stopped her.
After everyone had gone Elizabeth said to Julian “Why did you stop me now as well as in the meeting?”
“Eliza shouting or arguing would not help. I do not think anyone would believe you.”
“Elizabeth now do you understand your so called best friend Joan?” Arabella interrupted them.
“Eliza I think you must talk to her before. Bye.” Julian said
“Eliza, I am with you always. You can trust me.” Arabella said
After the discussion Elizabeth started searching for Julian. She found him sitting under a tree and asked him to accompany her for a small horse ride trip.
Meanwhile Hannah was reading a fashion magazine when Arabella entered the common room.
“What did you tell Joan about that girl Elizabeth?” Arabella asked
“I told her that Eliza doesnot treat her as a friend but as a timid girl who needs her help. She has made you a friend just to take your help to take her revenge from her enemy Olivia.”
“Good Idea.”
“What did you tell Eliza?”
“I told her that Joan is her friend just to get popular and hides various things from you.”
“Wow Arabella, Now what should we do?”
“Tell John and Patrick the same thing you told to Joan.”
“Not a bad idea.”
Later the next day Hannah did what she had been told to do.
Next meeting was also full of complaint against Elizabeth.
“Has Elizabeth given the key?” Rita asked
“Yes but has beaten Joan a lot.” Patrick said.
“Elizabeth you are really a very bad girl.” William said.
“Elizabeth no games for a week. Okay?” Rita said
“But William, Rita I did not do anything?” Elizabeth said
“Elizabeth, we cannot believe you anymore.” Rita and William said.
After the meeting Elizabeth and Julian went for a walk. Next day Elizabeth went to a lake to spend her time and moreover she did not want anyone to see her crying. According to a rule of their school going to the lake which was about two miles away from the school campus alone was not allowed. That time Arabella and Hannah were also going to that lake. They got a new complaint for the school meeting. Just before the meeting Elizabeth and Arabella were attending their French class. Arabella asked Elizabeth whether she could see her pencil box or not. Elizabeth allowed her to do so. Arabella quietly pushed a note of ten pound into her box. Elizabeth went to the meeting with her box. After collecting the money from everyone Hannah stood up and complained that Elizabeth had hidden some money in her pencil box that she got from her parents.
After taking the cash from Elizabeth Rita spoke up “ Do you know why we have this rule?”
“To make sure no one has more money than the other. So that no one is rich or poor. So that there is equality. If you wanted some more money you could have asked like everyone does Elizabeth?” William said.
“Any complaints?” William asked.
“Elizabeth went to the lake near our school alone” Hannah said.
“Alone?” Rita asked.
“Yes Alone.” Hannah replied
“Elizabeth this year you would not be allowed to stand for the elections to choose the monitor.” Rita said
After the meeting Arabella came too Elizabeth and said “I know that Hannah is very bad. She is giving such false complains to drag you into trouble. She is no more my friend.” Arabella said all these just to show Elizabeth that she is not helping Hannah. But Hannah overheard everything and thought that Arabella is not with her anymore.
She went to Joan and said everything about her plan as now she thought Arbella was not with her. Joan rushed to William and Rita’s room and told everything to them. William and Rita arranged a meeting next day. In the meeting William and Rita told everyone about Arabella and Hannah’s plan.
So they decided to cancel all the punishments given to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth stood up “I have made a mistake. I have gone to the lake alone. Punishments must be given to me.”
“Ok Elizabeth your punishment is that you have to forgive Joan and stop your enmity.” William said.
“Yes Elizabeth you have already suffered punishment for what you have never done.” Rita said.
“How many of you are choosing Elizabeth as a monitor?” Rita asked.
Elizabeth had already been elected as a monitor once and was very good at her work too and as an answer to Rita’s question almost all the students raised their hands.
Arabella and Hannah were punished and Elizabeth was elected as the monitor. Elizabeth and Joan hugged each other and promised never to allow anyone to create misunderstanding between them again.
After this incident everyone went back to their homes for Winter vacation.
