Version of  a Lifelong Fan

    by Hélène

    Chapter 1

    Anthony! Anthony! I have to do something quickly... Candy took the horn...The desperate call sounded over the whole valley and the plains around...My God may the assistance arrive quickly may...

    Not far from there, Archi and Stear were the first ones to hear this call, being the nearest ones..."Candy! what happens-My God Anthony!" Now Stear and Archi ran down the plain..."Hello the emergency department...quick...An hunting accident yes...on the Andrew property..."

    Arrival of the ambulance...Anthony was carried to the mansion as fast as possible...And now all of them-- the Great Aunt, Archi, Stair, and Candy were waiting anxiously for the doctors' diagnosis...Time was elapsing without ending...Anxiety, fear, wait...Hope, anguish...

    Second was following second in inexorable addition to the period of time previously elapsed, endured...Oh my God let us hope that...At last the specialist went out of the bedroom and headed towards them: "He will live. But..."

    "But? Tell me the truth, Doctor, what..."

    "His state is very serious. Mrs. Elroy, it is necessary to transfer him immediately to New York. Unfortunately his spine has been hit. However the cause of the infirmity may be temporary with an appropriate treatment. Together with a profound will to be cured..."

    "Anthony my God...Yes, Doctor, please take all the necessary arrangements.Take them quickly."

    "The ambulance is here, Mrs Elroy. We are taking him..."

    They had been leaving for severals hours...Candy would have wanted to follow them...But the Great Aunt Elroy had decided otherwise.

    "Candy, Anthony has left the hunting and has been so unwise because of you. And my God he is the one who has paid for this...Since you have been here Candy, Stear, Archibald and Anthony have been impossible and now here is the result...I order you to stay here do you hear me you will never see Anthony again I forbid you to. I fordid you to go to the hospital!"

    And despite Stear and Archi's protests and prayers against this injustice the Great Aunt had refused to know anything, to understand anything..."Don't worry Candy we 'll find a solution...And Anthony is going to be cured you will see...".Archi and Stear had been able to whisper some comforting words to her before the ambulance moved off.

    "Anthony I ...I do wish...Klin but what..." A message hung on his neck.

    Archi and Stear had managed to bring him with them without the Great Aunt's knowledge and as the faithful and quick messenger he was he had run laden with the missive...Anthony had regained consciousness for good thank God...Anthony be cured quickly you can't remain an invalid...

    "Candy!" Archi and Stear were there in front of her. She has spent hours waiting. She was worried sick and in the morning the Andrews' car had come back. The Great Aunt has taken refuge in her apartment without saying a word. The two cousins have been able to reach Candy's bedroom without incident...

    "Listen Candy visits will be authorized as soon as tomorrow.We will go there with my car. Grandma won't know anything about it..."

    "Oh Stear, Archi, do you think we will be able to..."

    "We will Candy, don't worry I am going to service the car and she will stand up to it..."

    The evening had seemed long to them...They had left at nightfall...Stear kept accelerating...The three of them were feeling so happy at the thought of seeing Anthony again, and of knowing that he was alive above all...But may he be cured quickly? No, he couldn't remain an invalid...

    "Here we are this time we have arrived for good! What time is it Archi?"

    "Almost nine o'clock good!..."

    Once the entrance passed by, and after having asked a welcoming nurse their way they found themselves in front of the number 63. At last...Archi knocked, pushed the door open...Anthony was there and he was smiling at them. His face was lit up..."Candy!"

    "Anthony Anthony!"

    He stretched out his arms towards her and she dashed towards him.They found each other again.

    "Candy don't cry I...I promise you I will walk again...Archi, Stear ...You have been able to come..."

    "Yes, we have, Anthony. But Grandmother..."

    Anthony's face clouded over and his tone hardened. "No she couldn't have dared to do that. Archi, Stear tell me she hasn't..."

    The door gently shut behind them. "Candy..."

    "Yes Anthony."

    "Candy I ...I won't let the Great Aunt or whoever that may be part us...Never... I swear it to you Candy...I...I will write to you everyday...And I will do all my best to be cured I swear it to you...I will try with all my will..."Anthony tried to lift himself up..."Candy don't cry..."

    "Anthony...I...I will write to you everyday too...Anthony..."

    Archi and Stear entered the room again, followed by the nurse who was annoucing that time granted for the visit was over. And now they were riding again towards the Andrew's residence...

    However...Alas! A bad surprise was in store for them when they arrived. Informed by Neil and Eliza about the disappearance of Stear's car and the three of them, and of course, having been impossible to find them all day long, the Great Aunt had no longer any doubt regarding the veracity of the Reagan children's suppositions as far as their destination was concerned. Alas! Summoned to her study at once, they had their car consficated and were confined to the property.

    "Candy how dare you disregard my orders? Archibald, Stear, since things are what they are, you too are staying here. No one among you three will leave this house! I will see to it! Such a behaviour! No, it is unbearable!"

    The words kept sounding in Candy's memory, who was locked in her bedroom for an unspecified period...No it wasn't possible, no longer...ass Pony Sister Lane you love me you will understand me...Anthony...May you be cured quickly...Candy's decision was taken...She just had to find how to tell Stear and Archi about her departure...Writing was impossible since the Andrew's mail was checked...

    Sneaking out at nightfall, she would leave a note under the door and leave without being seen...Klin would be with her...Yes that was the solution...

    The night had fallen. Candy,with her little suitcase in her hand and Klin following her, went through the gates of the property. As expected, no major difficulty in twisting the rope which had enabled her to find her freedom again. The note which was waiting for Archi and Stear when they were going to wake up had been a little more difficult to write but...she knew they would understand...And Pony Home wasn't so far away. Archi ,Stear it is farewell and not adieu I will see you again soon, I know. And besides whatelse can I do?...No I want to leave to find my freedom again...Comfort too...And above all...Anthony I want to have the right to love you...Anthony when will we see each other again?

    Candy was going on following the road...At last in early hours she saw the Pony hill come up in front of her...Some more steps to take..."Candy! Candy!"

    "Miss Pony! Sister Lane!"

    "Candy is here! She came back...Candy!"

    The children surrounded her, so happy because of her return. Informed, Miss Pony and Sister Lane were already going to meet her. Suddenly Candy felt a bit lighter, liberated. Yes, Anthony was going to be cured, yes she would see him again soon... And here and now she reached the big oak tree on the hill and there she stayed for hours, writing...Watching then for her friend the postman to come by...Of course he promised to put a letter in the mailbox at the neighbouring village the very day... Anthony I love you... If I could come back to New York... But you see despite everything we have been able to do the trip ...Archi,Stear and I...

    And that very day when Anthony received this message of love and of hope, Candy too had the happiness to meet up with Anthony again within his first letter... Reassuring, confident about the future the message of her dear Anthony was doing her heart good..."Candy...Be confident...Everything will be OK I promise you... Candy I love you..." And thus with each letter from Anthony, Candy was gradually recovering her courage and was finding a moment of happiness again. The same with Anthony of course, whom each letter from Candy was helping to fight a bit further.

    Chapter 2