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This family story spans 4 generations. Mystery, History and Romance. [16,292 words.]Albert Barrett, a school inspector was not impressed.Does the woman take me for a fool! First she instructs children to put up their right hand if they know the right answer, and left if they don’t.... Then there is the fiasco of the art display. It is understandable that she should display the best of the children’s artwork. But to hang one of her own drawings with the infants’ work!The drawing had indeed been done by one of the infant class. Albert thought it shame that such talent was wasted on a labourer’s daughter who would leave school as soon as she could and go into service.While Albert Barrett thought it was a shame, Mary would leave school early: for her the day could not come soon enough. At first, she was teased because of her bright red hair. ‘Carrots’ however was not a name that upset her. If you had red hair you got called Carrots or Ginger. It was her other nickname, ‘Contrary Mary’, that hurt.... She did not mean to be contrary, but could not help it. What was her crime? She wrote with her wrong hand! Mary had a secret friend. Some nights she would dream about Amber was about her own age. Then one Sunday, they met in the church yard.“Hello Mary.”“Amber? But – but.” “Mary O’Neil is daft! Talking to herself!” mocked some other children. Suddenly she realized – others could not see the girl. Was she a ghost? If she was, she seemed like a nice one, anyway. “I wonder if it means anything, because we’ve met in the daytime now. I hope it doesn’t mean I can’t see you again,” whispered Mary.“You could draw a picture of me. I have heard you are very good.”“We must go back to my house. My things are there.”Amber would disappear after doing something that Mary would be blamed for. *The Christmas card Competition. Mary now aged 19, is a parlourmaid.One afternoon in early December, when bringing tea to the mistress, she was surprised to find herself being introduced to a young man called Frank Hart. “Now I want you to answer me truthfully, Mary. Did my son ask you to draw the front of our house?”“Mr. Arnold saw my summer picture – which I did just for fun. He said would I do a winter one and gave me a shilling, Mrs. Smythe. I thought it would be all right – he is a grown man.”“Don’t look so worried, Girl. If anyone is in trouble it is my son, for passing off your sketch as his. He entered it into a Christmas card competition, and won first prize - five guineas.”“I came here to offer Mr. Smythe a position as a greeting card and story-book illustrator with my father’s printing firm. Then he owned up. Do you have any more sketches?”*Arnold Smythe’s action would not only lead to Mary’s new job, but be responsible for her meeting her future husband.“Mary – I’d like us to go – to go. Well I want to buy you an engagement ring.” “No.”He looked away. Had he misread the signs? Was it too soon?“I don’t think I should be there when you buy it. I will like whatever ring you get.”They kissed. While it was not the first time, it never lasted so long as this. It was the kind of kiss Mary would have thought sounded revolting when she was younger – but was so right now. She also thought about whispered conversations about what married people did. Perhaps the practice of such things would also be better than they sounded. Mary blushed, thinking how awful it must look with her pale skin and auburn hair.She’s such a sweet girl, for a kiss like that to make her blush. I hope marriage won’t be too much of a shock.Mary worries about whether Frank's family will think he has married beneath him. One member makes her feel welcome from the start. Uncle Albert Barrett.*Everyone said Mary's grandson and his wife were expecting a second son. The scan said so. They think Mary is a foolish old woman who longs for another girl in the family. A girl is born, and Mary is asked to choose a name for her.

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