The Fearless Girl

All people have fear. Whether it is of spiders or heights or even death itself. But in a very small town in a very large world there was a girl. A girl without fear. She had been asked many times what her greatest fear was. Never could she answer because never could she think of one. She loved the thrill of looking down off high cliffs and spiders seemed to be her friend. Death never scared her because she knew life didn’t stop there. She often dreamed of having a pet tiger and being able to camp in the amazon jungle.

Not only did Elaine have no fear, she was the prettiest girl you ever did see. But no one knew about it except for the townsfolk, who adored Elaine. She was the oldest youngling in the town. And there were no boys her age to crush on her. So she had no fear of a broken heart or even falling in love for that matter. She played games with the little children and told them stories that they’d never heard before. Everybody simply loved Elaine. She made your day full of sunshine when your cloudy frown has let it down.

Even though Elaine loved her little town, her biggest dream was to travel the world. See all that there was to see. But she didn’t have the means to do so. And when she made a little money she often found herself without it because she had bought flowers for the sick widow or bought supplies for a pie and made it for the farmer whose son was lost in war. The town treasured Elaine and wanted to help her in anyway they could.

So without her knowing, they started saving up for Elaine to go to Europe and at least see a little of the world she loved so much. A year went by and they finally made up the money for her to go. On her nineteenth birthday the town threw a big party at the town hall. There was dancing and music and children. All the things Elaine loved most. Then as the night came to an end, they brought her to a hidden table with her luggage and the tickets to go to Europe on it. Her face lit up even more than the sun and she was speechless. The rest of the town was quiet as they waited for her to take it all in and say something.

After about a minute she said, “When does the train leave?” and when she did the town cheered and sang her happy birthday for the fifth time that night. She was to leave in two days, after her guide came. “The guide?” she asked?

“Well of course.” Said Farmer Grey, “We know you’d be okay on your own, but just to keep our fearless girl extra safe, we brought in a guide. He should be here tomorrow”

“He?”

The farmer chuckled. “Yes, he. Don’t worry. He’ll keep you safe. Remember Mr. and Mrs. Brown who moved about 3 months after you were born? Well of course you don’t remember, but it’s their son who’s coming to take you to London.”

“Oh. Alright then. Thank you so much everybody. This is the best birthday present I shall ever receive in all my life.”

The next day the “guide” came. The town rushed to the train to welcome him. By the time Elaine got there, there were too many people to see who he was or what he looked like. A little boy turned and saw Elaine at the back of the crowd. He went and stood at the top of the tall fence and shouted, “Hey! Elaine is here! Make way and let her see the guide that is to take her to London!” Immediately the crowd parted and she saw her guide for the first time. Elaine had seen countless beautiful things in her life. But this boy was the prettiest thing she ever did see. He had a smile like hers. A smile that lights up the whole world. “Hello.” He said in a lovely deep voice that fit him just right.

“Hello.” she said, “Very nice to meet you, um—“

“Jack. The name’s Jack Brown.”

“Very nice to meet you Jack.” She smiled.

Although nobody knew it, Elaine went home a different girl than they knew before. They next morning they were off to Europe. As the train started to chug along, the whole town was there to wave bye and wish them luck. Elaine had a thrilling and excited feeling running all through her veins. “Nervous?” Jack asked.

“Ha!” she laughed “Nervous? Never. Just terribly excited.”

Soon they were in London, then France, then Germany and Italy. She loved every bit of it. But what she didn’t realize was Jack was her favorite part. The things she remembered most were when he made her laugh or when he pointed out something terribly interesting.

What seemed a very short time later, it was time to return home. As they got on the boat to go home, Elaine was very quiet. For those who knew Elaine, she was never one to be quiet when you could be talking. It seemed as if she had found out something and she kept thinking about it in her adventurous little mind. From the boat to the train Jack finally asked her what the matter was. “Oh. Nothing.” Elaine brushed off.

“Oh really now? I don’t think so, Miss. There’s something bothering you. Now what is it?”

“Oh I couldn’t tell you. You’d just think it’s silly.”

“Well if it makes a drop of sunshine like yourself bothered, it must not be silly.”

“Ha. Oh but it is.”

“Well the only way you can tell if it’s a silly thing is if you tell me.”

Elaine sighed. “Alright. But you can’t laugh at me.”

“Oh never!” Jack assured her.

“Well you see, I’m a girl with no fear. Er, was a girl with no fear.”

“Was? What are you suddenly afraid of?”

“It’s not suddenly, I’ve sort-of always had this fear. I just didn’t know it until now.”

“Well what is your fear, if you don’t mind telling me.”

“Well you might as well know since you’ve done so much for me this past week.”

Jack waited in silence.
“I have a fear of not getting married and be able to have children of my own. Everyday in the town I play with the children and my biggest dream, even above traveling, is to be a good wife and mother. And while I was traveling I found that I missed being home. I missed it a lot. I miss the kids and the silly town gossip and I just—sigh.”

Jack looked at her with a deep understanding. “Sorry for asking, but why won’t that come true?”

“That’s the thing. I know that it probably will, but there’s just that slight chance it won’t. That’s what I’m so terribly afraid of.”

“Well I’ll tell you this: it’s not a silly fear. In fact, it’s one of the best fears I’ve heard of. And Elaine, I’m about to sound completely crazy, but I do believe I love you. Ever since I saw you with your face all aglow and studying me.”

“Oh Jack!” Elaine excitedly exclaimed. “That’s just marvelous! And to tell you the truth, I do believe I love you, too.”

When they got back to the little town in a very large world they announced their engagement and got married 4 weeks later. Nobody, except her beloved Jack, ever knew or found out that the girl without fear had a fear after all.