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Hello, friends, and welcome to Sleep Tight Stories.
Nicole and her mother have uncovered so much about the garden and what has been happening.
Nicole wakes up and thinks about all of these things before she jumps out of bed and gets ready to visit Angus.
Nicole and the Box in the Barn, Part 24.
Nicole stretched under her covers and grinned at the ceiling crack that had become her old friend.
Wow. Just wow! Had all that really happened yesterday?
She rolled over and buried her face in her pillow. but her brain was already racing like a hamster on a wheel.
Okay, Nicole, let's think about this step by step.
Because honestly, this stuff is so crazy that even I can barely believe it.
And I'm the one living it. First, I found a magical garden, like actually magical.
The flowers literally turned toward me when I talked to them.
How cool is that? And there's this door that lets me visit the past.
Not just any past, but our past. right here on this farm.
Second, I made a friend named Angus who lives in that past time, and he's...
Well, he's probably the nicest person I've ever met.
Plus, he can milk cows, which is apparently harder than it looks.
Third, get this? Angus's family, the McDonald's, used to work for my family, the McLean's. but not just regular farm work.
They were special caretakers who knew about the garden's magic and helped protect it.
They even lived in a special little house just to watch over everything and help people like me when we traveled through time.
Fourth, That old woman I met in the Magical Market?
Her name's Margaret MacDonald, and she's from Angus's family.
She's one of the caretakers who's been helping McLean guardians like me for... Okay, this part's really weird.
Way longer than should be possible. But I saw her picture from 1892, so I know it's true.
And fifth? My dad and great-grandfather both knew about all this magic stuff.
We MacLeans are the guardians. The ones the garden chooses to travel through time.
The McDonald's are the caretakers. who protect the garden and help us understand our magic.
Today, I need to tell Angus the truth about how our families are connected.
Nicole threw off her covers and jumped out of bed, suddenly eager to start the day.
All this family history stuff was like having the best secret in the world.
And she was bursting to share it with someone who would actually understand.
She pulled on her jeans, the ones that were now officially her garden clothes, and headed downstairs, taking the steps two at a time.
She could smell pancakes and hear the familiar ding of email notifications from the kitchen.
Morning, Mom, she called. sliding into the kitchen in her socks.
Perfect timing, her mother said. But she sounded different.
Happy. but also kind of serious. She was staring at her laptop screen.
Sit down, sweetie. We need to talk about something.
Uh-oh. Nicole's stomach did a little flip.
What's wrong? Nothing's wrong. Actually, it's good news.
I just got an email from the Prince Edward Island Public School Board.
Her mother turned the laptop around so Nicole could see.
You're officially enrolled at Kensington Intermediate Senior High School.
You'll be starting grade seven in two weeks.
Nicole stared at the screen. There was her name, her grade, and a whole bunch of information about bus routes and supply lists.
Two weeks? That was practically tomorrow.
I know it's soon, her mother continued, but I'm excited.
You'll finally get to meet kids your age who live here.
And look, They have an amazing art program and there's even a gardening club.
Nicole tried to smile, but her brain was spinning.
School meant schedules. School meant homework.
School meant way less time for magical gardens. and visiting Angus and figuring out this whole guardian thing.
Are you okay? Her mother asked. Yeah, I just... Nicole looked toward the garden through the kitchen window.
I guess I didn't realize how fast summer was going by.
The garden will still be there after school, Nicole.
Magic doesn't disappear just because you have math homework.
But Nicole wasn't so sure. What if two weeks wasn't enough time to learn everything she needed to know?
As soon as breakfast was over and her mother started making shopping lists for school supplies, Nicole grabbed Margaret's photograph from the counter.
She had to see Angus today. Had to tell him everything before it was too late.
Nicole practically ran to the garden, clutching Margaret's photograph in one hand and her heart hammering with excitement and panic.
Two weeks. She had two weeks before everything changed, before she became a regular student with homework and tests. and way less time for magical adventures.
The garden seemed to sense her urgency. The flowers turned toward her as she rushed past, and the door was already glowing softly, like it had been waiting for her.
Okay, garden, she whispered, pressing her hand against the warm wood.
I really need to talk to Angus today. This is important.
The familiar shimmer washed over her as she stepped through, and when the world solidified around her, she was standing in Angus's familiar farmyard.
She could hear the usual sounds, cows mooing, chickens clucking, and the rhythmic thunk of an axe splitting wood somewhere behind the barn.
Angus, she called looking around. Nicole!
His voice came from near the woodpile and he appeared around the corner of the barn. wiping his hands on a rag.
Well, this is a nice surprise. I was wondering where you might have got to.
That's actually part of what I need to talk to you about, Nicole said, catching her breath.
Can we sit down somewhere? I have some really amazing things to tell you.
Angus nodded, leading her to the hay bale near the barn.
You look all excited about something. Nicole took a deep breath.
This was it time to tell him everything.
Angus. I need to be honest with you about who I am and where I come from and I think you're going to find it pretty hard to believe.
Well... I figured you weren't just some regular neighbor girl visiting from away, he said, settling onto the hay bale.
You ask the strangest questions and know the most peculiar things.
Nicole pulled out Margaret's photograph.
Your family and my family have been connected for a really long time.
Look at this. Angus took the photograph and his eyes widened immediately.
That's Great Aunt Margaret, but this picture looks awfully old.
Where'd you find this? It's from 1892, Nicole said.
Angus, your family, the McDonald's, used to be special caretakers for my family, the McLeans.
Your great Aunt Margaret helped people like me when we...
Nicole paused, realizing how crazy this was going to sound.
When we traveled through time. Angus blinked at her. through time?
Nicole, that's, that's impossible. People can't travel through time.
I know it sounds crazy, but I'm not from your time, Angus.
I'm from the future. way in the future, like maybe 80 or 90 years from now.
Angus set the photograph down and stared at her for a long moment.
The future? You mean, like, next century? exactly like next century.
He was quiet, turning this over in his mind.
Then he picked up the photograph again, studying Margaret's face.
You know... Great Aunt Margaret used to tell the strangest stories when I was little about visitors who would come and go through the garden People who knew things they shouldn't know.
Who asked peculiar questions about things that didn't exist.
Angus looked at Nicole with greater understanding.
She said our family had a special job helping these visitors understand their gifts.
They weren't just stories, Nicole said gently.
Your family really did help mine. The McDonald's were caretakers who protected the garden's magic and helped McLean guardians like me.
Guardians, Angus repeated slowly. That's what Great Aunt Margaret called them.
She said someday another guardian would come and we should be ready to help.
He looked at Nicole with wonder. You really mean it, don't you?
You're really from the future? I really am.
And that explains why I don't know how to milk cows or why I've never seen fresh bread being made.
Angus laughed. That explains everything.
No wonder you're always so surprised by perfectly normal things.
Angus, I have to tell you something else, Nicole said, her voice getting more serious.
I'm starting school in two weeks in my time, which means I won't be able to visit as often.
Probably just weekends and maybe some evenings.
I don't want you to think I'm abandoning you or anything.
I would like us to be friends. Nicole, Angus said with a warm smile.
My family has been helping McLean Guardians for who knows how long.
You think we're going to stop now just because you have to go to school?
We'll be here whenever you need us. Nicole felt relief wash over her.
So you're okay with me visiting less often?
I'll miss having a friend who visits from the future, Angus said with a grin, but I understand.
Besides, Now that I know the truth about who you are, I feel like we're part of something really important together.
Speaking of something important, Angus said, standing up with sudden energy.
Wait right here. There's something I need to show you.
He disappeared into the barn and emerged carrying a small wooden box. similar to the one Nicole had found, but made of darker wood.
As he sat back down beside her, Nicole could see that some of the symbols matched the ones she'd been finding all over the farm.
Great Aunt Margaret gave this to me before she went away, Angus said, setting the box carefully between them.
She told me to keep it safe and that someday I'd know when to open it.
I think today might be the day. Nicole leaned forward eagerly.
What's inside? Things that prove our families really have been connected.
Angus lifted the lid and Nicole gasped. Inside were more of the carved wooden pieces just like the ones she and her mother had been finding.
But there was also a folded piece of paper.
Angus carefully unfolded the piece of paper.
This is a letter she wrote. She told me to read it when I met the young guardian from the McLean line.
He looked at Nicole. I'm pretty sure that's you. he cleared his throat and began to read.
To whoever finds this letter, if you are reading this, Then the young MacDonald has met the young MacLean.
And it is time for both families to remember their purpose.
Nicole felt goosebumps rise on her arms.
Angus continued. The McDonald's have been caretakers for over 50 years now, and we have never forgotten our promise.
We watch over the garden. We help the guardians understand their gifts and we keep the magic safe for those who would misuse it.
The McLean's are chosen by the garden itself.
They can travel between times and see possibilities that others cannot.
Possibilities, Nicole repeated. That's exactly what I have been experiencing.
But remember, Angus kept reading. Magic is not a game.
Every choice made in one time affects other times.
Every door opened must eventually be closed.
The guardian and the caretaker must work together to keep the balance.
Angus looked up from the letter. There's more, but it's mostly instructions about taking care of magical plants and What to do if strangers come asking about the garden?
Nicole stared at the box and its contents.
Angus, your family has known about all this for decades.
You've been waiting for me. Not just waiting.
Angus said with a smile, preparing. Great Aunt Margaret taught me all sorts of things, which plants in the garden are safe to eat. how to tell when the magic is strong or weak, even how to help someone who gets dizzy from traveling through time.
Is that why you always seem so calm about everything?
You've been trained for this? I guess I have been, Angus admitted.
Though I have to say, meeting a real guardian is much more exciting than just hearing stories about them.
Just as Angus finished speaking, a familiar voice drifted across the farmyard.
Well, it's about time you two figured it all out.
Nicole and Angus turned to see Margaret MacDonald walking toward them from the direction of the garden. looking exactly as she had in the market and exactly as she had in the 1892 photograph.
She moved with the same calm confidence Nicole remembered, her eyes twinkling with warmth and something that might have been pride.
Great Aunt Margaret, Angus jumped up, nearly dropping the wooden box.
But you, you went away months ago. I went where I was needed, dear boy, Margaret said, settling onto a nearby stump.
And now I'm needed here. to talk to both of you about what comes next."
Nicole found her voice. You're really her.
You're really the same Margaret from the photograph and from the market.
Time works differently for some of us, child, Margaret said gently.
When you've been helping guardians as long as I have, you learn to move between the moments when you're most needed.
Margaret gestured to the box in Angus's hands.
I see you've shared our family secrets. Nicole's starting school soon, Angus said, in her time.
She's worried about not being able to visit as much.
Ah. Margaret nodded knowingly. The eternal challenge of every guardian.
Learning to balance the magical world with the everyday world.
Nicole leaned forward eagerly. So other guardians have had to go to school too?
Of course. Your great grandfather was barely 14 when he first found the garden.
He had to finish his schooling, learn a trade, even get married and raise a family.
But he never stopped being a guardian. Margaret's eyes sparkled.
Some of the best guardians are those who live full lives in both worlds.
But what if I forget about the magic? What if school makes me too busy to care about the garden?
Margaret smiled warmly. The magic will always be here, Nicole.
But growing up and learning about the regular world will make you a better guardian, not a worse one.
Trust in the connection between our families and trust in yourself.
Nicole felt her worries ease. She looked at Angus, then at Margaret, and realized she wasn't facing this alone.
She was part of something much bigger. a tradition that had lasted for generations.
I guess I should head back, Nicole said finally.
I have a lot to think about. and Mom's probably making lists of school supplies by now.
We'll be here, Angus promised, whenever you need us.
As Nicole walked back toward the garden door, she felt different than when she'd arrived.
She wasn't just a girl with a magical secret anymore.
She was a guardian with a caretaker family to help her.
And somehow that made everything, even starting grade seven, The door shimmered as she stepped through, carrying her back to her own time. where new adventures were waiting.
And that is the end of this part. Good night.
Sleep tight.
