Waitland

A mother cradles her newborn, "If and when I'm ever gone, and you wish long and hard."  

She soothingly hums, "You will find a place of mine, filled with love and memories..."

Nine-year-old Eleanor Carroll sighed, weary of her new school, classmates, and especially Autumn. Autumn was a quaint town nestled between a mountain and a forest, where nature not only existed but thrived. Although life here seemed dull—like any typical town in the middle of nowhere—Eleanor would soon discover there was more to it.

After a week in her new school, Eleanor already felt like an outcast. No one dared talk to an out-of-towner, someone who was not born here. But Eleanor didn't care. Autumn was only temporary, and not forever, at least until her mother returned from her business trip.

The only upside to school was Ms. Honeydew, the only teacher Eleanor liked. She was young, pretty, and funny. An enthusiastic type, thrilled about everything, even things that lacked excitement.

Ms. Honeydew began distributing flyers to the class.

"Attention!" Ms. Honeydew claps. "Don't forget about the Fall Festival..." She reminded everyone. "We need more volunteers!"

The class uniformly moans, but Ms. Honeydew playfully turns her frown into a cheerful smile.

There were two things that Ms. Honeydew enjoyed the most: sipping hot tea in the morning and learning more about her students. And today was the latter, an oral presentation about hobbies.

"Brent, why don't you go?" Ms. Honeydew suggested with a wink.

Brent Andrews was the son of a wealthy businessman, which made him the most popular and meanest kid in school. If Brent didn't like someone, it meant no one else would.

"Vacationing is my hobby!" Brent boastfully said. "I've been to ALL the exotic and expensive places..."

Brent purposefully named the things he knew his classmates couldn't afford. He smirked as he flaunted his wealth and superiority. But thankfully, Ms. Honeydew caught on to him.

"Brent, dear..." Ms. Honeydew calmly smiled. "Vacationing is a fine hobby, but can you tell us why?"

"Why what?" Brent said cluelessly.

"Tell me more about these places. Any interesting landmarks? How about where on the map they are?

It was ironic that, despite having been all over the world, Brent had never once left the comforts of his hotel. He was the type who indulged in the things he already knew, rather than exploring new experiences.

"A hobby is for leisure, not for grandstanding!" Ms. Honeydew reprimanded. "Take a seat!"

Brent sat down, embarrassed. Ms. Honeydew, noticing Eleanor hiding, decides to call on her.

Eleanor stands in front of the class, "Theatre..." she mumbled.

"Go on..." Ms. Honeydew encouragingly mouthed.

Eleanor told the class that her hobby was the theater, something that she and her mother would often see. Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and A Midsummer Night's Dream were all musicals that intertwined music and ballet, taking the audience on a magical journey.

The class all "ooh" and "aah" as Eleanor twisted, twirled, and tiptoed, showcasing her ballet skills. This was the first time anyone in class really paid attention to Eleanor, and they were all impressed.

One boy cheered, "Amazing!"

"Where can I learn!?" A row of girls asked.

Eleanor proudly told the class that before meeting her father, Eleanor's mother was a famous ballerina. And after her brother was born, her mother opened a dance studio. She taught her everything she knew, and often booked performances.

Brent grimaced with jealousy. "Does she still teach ballet?" Brent aggressively interrupted. "Maybe we can ask her at pick up?"

The class was thrilled with the idea. Meeting a real-life ballerina was exciting, and even Ms. Honeydew was on board.

"N-no..." Eleanor stuttered. "She can't!"

"Why? Brent asked with an impish grin. "Does she not live with you?"

"Brent..." Ms. Honeydew scolded him. "That's enough."

"S-she's on a business trip."

"Where?"

"Brent!" Ms. Honeydew warned.

"...Waitland!" Eleanor clamored.

"Yeah, right!" Brent folded his arms and then rolled his eyes. "Your parents probably got divorced, and your mom left!"

Eleanor tightly gripped her notebook, glaring at Brent's stupid face. Being called a liar wasn't upsetting for Eleanor, but the thought that her mom had left her was. Infuriated by Brent's smug face, Eleanor hurls her notebook at him, smacking him in the face and causing his nose to bleed.

Clutching his nose, "Ow! You psycho!" He moaned.

Ms. Honeydew quickly presses a handful of tissues against Brent's nose.

"You'll be sorry!" Brent vowed.

"That's enough!" Ms. Honeydew dragged him to the classroom's sink. "Hold still."

After school ended, Eleanor waited outside for Lucas. His high school was down the road, and Aunt Julia insisted they walk home together.

But Eleanor hated waiting, especially since Lucas was always late. She was also annoyed by having to watch the other kids with their mothers.

"Missing mommy?" Brent mocked as his two friends laughed. "Better be careful walking home," he chuckled.

"You don't want to end up like Piano Boy." Brent's friend Rodney added.

"Piano Boy?" Eleanor remarked.

"You don't know?" Franklin, a boy with freckles, asked. "The Troll of Traglor Woods took him."

"Liars," Eleanor said under her breath. "You're all liars!"

"He kidnaps outcasts..." Brent grins. "People who've been abandoned, like you!"

Ms. Honeydew exits the side of the school and sees them. "Is everything okay here?" She sternly asked everyone.

No one said anything, innocently looking away.

Ms. Honeydew glances over at Brent, "Isn't a bloody nose enough for today?"

Brent and his lackeys reluctantly ride off on their bikes.

"Do you need a lift?" Ms. Honeydew offered.

Eleanor shamefully declines. "L-Lucas should be here soon..."

"You know, Eleanor." Ms. Honeydew sat beside her, "When I was a kid, I used to act out scenes from a movie."

"Really?" Eleanor giggled. "What movies?"

"Silly cartoons with song and dance."

"So musicals?"

"Maybe?" Ms. Honeydew laughs. "I used to bug my brother to help, but he was always busy—He was a music prodigy."

"Lucas does that too." Eleanor sighed. "Ever since we moved here, he's been different...too busy."

"One year, my parents forgot my birthday." Ms. Honeydew stared into the sky. "I was so angry I ran away. And it was my brother who came for me..." She turns and places her hand on Eleanor's back. "It may seem like brothers don't care...but they do. More than you know."

After Ms. Honeydew left, Eleanor waited for Lucas, but he never showed. Soon clouds began to gather, and shortly afterward, rain fell.

Wet, cold, and most of all annoyed, Eleanor decided to walk home alone.

Halfway down the road, Eleanor hears the peddling of bikes.

"Get her!" A voice screamed.

Brent and his friends ambushed Eleanor, pelting her with dirt.

"Quit it!"

Eleanor ran off the road and into the woods to escape. But the boys gave chase, laughing as they continued their assault. Eleanor had no idea where she was going, running sporadically to get away. Turning a corner, she stumbles upon an old and decrepit bridge.

"Whoa!" All the boys swerved their bikes.

"Afraid of little water!?" Eleanor taunted.

Every step she took towards the bridge frightened them.

Franklin shivered. "B-Brent."

"Let's go!" Rodney pleaded.

Brent seemed uncertain of his next move, but as the weather worsened, the crackle of thunder made that decision for him. Spooked by lightning, all the boys ran cowering in fear.

Eleanor cackled with amusement. But then an eerie voice came to her.

"This way," The voice replied, "Over here..."

Eleanor shrieked. "Who's there!?"

The wind scattered the leaves, brushing them against her face. Fog suddenly appeared, and from the other end of the bridge, a figure.

"W—who are you?" Eleanore nervously asked.

"Elle?"

Eleanor's eyes widen. "M-mom?"

No one but her mother called Eleanor by that name. Tempted by the idea of seeing her mother again, Eleanor slowly walked towards the other side. But as she makes it halfway, Aunt Julia's cat unexpectedly appears.

"Go away, Binx!" Eleanore shoos him.

Eleanor rushes past Binx and straight into her mother. However, the warmth she had longed for and expected was missing. Instead, it was replaced by an eeriness. It was then that Eleanor realized she had been fooled, hugging a fake person made of twine.

"What is that!?" Eleanore shouted in disgust.

The voice chortled, "Oh, so close..."

Something protruded from the twine-like person, leading down from underneath the bridge. Eleanor didn't know what it was, nor did she want to stay and find out. But before she could do anything, two massive arms emerged.

Binx instinctively leaped into action, clawing and biting one of the hands. But his efforts failed, and he was quickly flung into the water.

"B-BINX!" Eleanor choked.

The bridge then snapped shut, closing on Eleanor like a mousetrap. It then retracted into the water, as though it was never there. Slowly drowning in the water, Eleanor begins to black out. Memories filled her head, alongside a familiar hum.

"If and when I'm ever gone, and you wish long and hard. You will find a place of mine, filled with love and memories."

"Waitland!" Eleanor bolted upright, "W-Waitland?"

It was the second time that day Eleanor had mentioned Waitland. However, she didn't know why or where she had heard it from. Yet somehow, it had become etched in her mind.

Eleanor found herself in a strange swamp, unsure of how she got there. She wiped the dirt off her face, then set out to find her way back to Autumn. However, after an hour of walking, she realized she was utterly lost.

"Hello?" A voice inquired.

Eleanor grabs a stick.

"Over here," The voice politely directed.

Eleanor looked around and saw a giant rock, waving at her from the middle of the slough. Startled at the sight, Eleanor hid behind a tree.

"Young miss," the rock said with a pleasant tone, "I require...assistance?"

Upon closer inspection, the rock was simply a gentleman covered in gunk. Eleanor hastily grabbed some vines, tied one end to a tree, and tossed the other end.

The man tipped his hat. "You have my thanks!"

Back on solid ground again, the man began cleaning himself with nearby leaves. Eleanor was amazed to see a man made out of glass.

"W-what—Who are you?" Eleanor asked.

"I don't recall." The man responded. "I've been here for so long..."

"Hmmm...." Eleanor rubbed her chin. "I'll call you Glassman...for now!"

Glassman happily nods. "Shall we?"

The duo eventually manages to escape the swamp, reaching a fork in the road. It was there that yet another challenge appeared, figuring out which of the many roads to take.

"Welcome, travelers!" A voice greeted.

Startled, Eleanor quickly jumps behind Glassman.

"Hello?" Glassman replied. "Who's there?"

Eleanor shrieked as she pointed to a tree with a face.

"I'm called the wise tree of the crossroad." The tree announced. "How can my wisdom guide you?"

"We're looking to leave..." Eleanor stated.

"There are many roads that lead to many places..."

"H-home?" Glassman shrugged.

Eleanor realized this was her chance. "Home is with my mom—wherever she is!"

"And where is that exactly, child?"

Eleanor shook her head. "I don't know where she is..."

"And what of you, man of glass?"

"I don't...remember."

"Hmm." The tree groaned. "I may have an idea."

Guided by the words of the Wise Tree, Eleanor and Glassman find themselves atop a mountain. Searching for the Entrance to Everywhere, a magical path that will take them to their heart's desire.

Eleanor sits down, exhausted. "You sure you don't remember who you are?"

While staring at Eleanor brushing snow off her hair, Glassman saw flickers of a similar girl her age.

"I...was in the woods." Glassman recollected. "I think I have a sister..."

The ground began to shake, loudly rumbling as it collapsed. A giant sinkhole formed, and a creature emerged from it. Enormous, hideous, and reeking, it called out for Eleanor.

"I've been looking for you," The creature grumbled. "Eleanor."

The creature, known as the Troll King, was the voice from the bridge. He was obsessed with talented children, and Eleanor's ballet skills were what he wanted next.

"Get away from her!" A voice shouted from behind.

"A talking cat?" Glassman said in awe.

Eleanor panted. "You can talk?"

In one fell swoop, the Troll King grabs Eleanor. Grinning a grimly grin, the Troll King squealed with joy, hopping from side to side.

"Unhand her..." Glassman demanded. "Foul beast!"

The Troll King smirked with surprise. "Piano Boy?"

The name reminded Glassman of his past. Recalling that long ago, his sister had run away and was caught by the Troll King. In exchange for her life, Glassman offered his own.

"I'll call you Ell-erina..." The Troll King delightedly told Eleanor. "Ballet Girl?"

Resentful after learning the truth, Glassman musters all his strength and attacks the Troll King, shattering his arm in the process. With thousands of glass shards embedded in the Troll King's leg, Binx jumps and claws at his face.

"Go! Find your way home..." Glassman tells Eleanor, pushing her into the hole. "...be with your mom."

Falling into the depths of darkness, the last thing Eleanor sees is Glassman waving goodbye, just before a giant hand shatters him into pieces. Eleanor splashes into an underground aquifer, carried along its raging current.

"Binx!" Eleanor called out. "Where are you?"

"Eleanor!" He replied.

The strong current threw Binx against the rocks, knocking him unconscious as he sank below the surface. Eleanor quickly submerges, swimming after him.

The current gushed through the channel, sending Eleanor and Binx on a wild rollercoaster ride. And what felt like hours eventually ended, as they arrived on a shore alongside the incoming tide.

Eleanor discovers a marvelous meadow, filled with hundreds of beautiful rings of flowers. And as the sun rose, it all felt nostalgic to her. A familiar scenery that reminded Eleanor of her mother. And like a faint whistle, she heard her voice.

"Look beyond the meadow's rings, where the sun meets the sea."

"Binx!" Eleanor cried with joy. "I know where we are..."

"You will come upon a tree, look beneath its many wings."

In the distance stood an old oak tree with butterfly-like leaves.

"And there you'll find what you seek, for those who've come and gone."

Beneath its shade was a person, a woman who seemed oddly familiar.

"My beautiful, Elle..." She welcomed with a smile. "I've missed you."

Eleanor ran into her arms, "Mom!" she cheerfully cried.

Eleanor wept into her mother's chest, eagerly sharing her adventure. Her mother softly kissed her head while caressing her back, and like magic, all her anguish dissolved.

"Binx got hurt saving me."

Eleanor's mom places him on a bed of radiant flowers. "Let's let him rest for now."

Mother and daughter were finally reunited and shared a moment atop a hill, taking in a majestic view filled with clouds, flowers, and the ocean.

"Waitland's incredible!" Eleanor said with astonishment. "It's as you said..."

"I used hum you to sleep..." Eleanor's mother laughed. "Telling tales of this place."

Eleanor's mother explained that in life, people come and go, but their presence lingers in our hearts and memories. Eventually, when it's time, you'll be able to see them again, and Waitland is where they'll be.

"I'm afraid you're a bit too early..." Eleanor's mom informed her.

"What do you mean?"

"It's time to go."

"Great! Let me get Binx!"

"No, Elle..." She somberly said, "It's time for YOU to go."

"Why can't you come?"

"I can't..."

"Can I visit?"

Eleanor's mom shook her head, pointing to a boat waiting below. But Eleanor didn't want to leave. It was too soon. They had only just reunited.

"This isn't goodbye." Her mother told her. "I'll be waiting here, in the exact spot, until it's your time."

Eleanor was surprised to find Binx miraculously recovered and already waiting on the boat. With tears in their eyes, mother and daughter said their farewells. As the ship drifted away, Eleanor thought to herself that this was only temporary, and not forever.

Mixed with the sound of waves crashing, Eleanor could hear music. High above a cliff, she saw a boy on a piano, playing a song as some sort of send-off.

"Eleanor!" The boy waved. "Binx!"

"Glassman?" Eleanor cheered. "Is that you!?"

Glassman throws his glasses at Eleanor.

"Eleanor, give these to my sister!" Glassman said happily. "...And tell her it's not her fault!"

"What's her name!?"

"Jennifer..." He shouted. "Jennifer Honeydew!"

Beyond the horizon, where the sun meets the sea, home was waiting. And as the light enveloped them, Eleanor awoke to find herself back on the bridge in Autumn, just the way she had left it. She wondered if everything that had happened was real. But as the weather cleared, Eleanor noticed that Binx was missing.

"Binx?" She called out. "Where are you!?"

From a distance, a voice called for her. But to her surprise, it was Lucas and not Binx. He'd been desperately searching for her, anxious when she wasn't at pick-up. Lucas, who had been so indifferent towards her, was now in tears.

"I'm sorry!" She cried. "I'm so sorry."

"I'm sorry too." Lucas sighed. "I know I haven't been myself. It's... There's something—"

"Mom's not coming back..." Eleanor blurted. "Is she?"

Lucas finally revealed the secret he had kept for months. They embraced, shedding tears of hope and strength. And as they return home, he pins a pink ribbon onto her jacket.

Every night, just before bed, a mother kisses her children goodnight. Softly whispering in their ear as they sleep. A woman with a pink ribbon pin on her shirt.

"If and when I'm ever gone, and you wish long and hard. You will find a place of mine, filled with love and memories. Look beyond the meadow's rings, where the sun meets the sea. You will come upon a tree, look beneath its many wings. And there you'll find what you seek, for those who've come and gone. A place just before heaven, we've come to call Waitland."