It was truly weird how the boy with the jar knew where to look for her.
Well now, the story goes that she could have been anywhere. Wandering off in a daze and mumbling to herself was the main reason her elderly guardian had agreed to have her admitted to the institution in the first place. However, in the dead of night, he found her in the woods, just like that. Hardly surprising, really, they were best friends. He’d only known her for a year, but when you’re young that seems like a long time. Taking a narrow path off the main track, he found her staring up at the top of a grassy mound were a large bush sat glistening in the moonlight. Her mumbling slowly changed to a soft chant. She became aware of his presence and turned to him with wild eyes that creased to a smile when she saw the glass container. She pointed up and beckoned as she began to climb.
He wasn’t sure whether he should be encouraging her in whatever she was doing. Should he try talking her into getting back to the institution, where he felt she would be safe? As he watched her climb, he could see that she was driven by some unknown resolve. Although he had come here looking for glow worms, he decided to follow her.
As he reached the top, panting from the steep climb, he found her walking around the bush chanting again. A recent rain had left the tiny leaves beaded with raindrops. By the light of the moon, she took the jar, removed the lid and held it below branches that she tapped gently. He looked on in fascination as the droplets were gathered. He watched as she screwed the lid back on and held it up to the light. She looked so happy. Taking the jar to look for himself, his foot slipped on the dewy grass and he tumbled backwards, cracking the back of his skull on a piece of rock. In a daze, he carefully made his way down the slope holding his head.
At the bottom he found a tree stump and sat down. Luckily the jar had not broken. As he sat there, the wound was becoming more and more painful. He was rubbing the bump that he could feel swelling up at the back of his head when he heard laughter. In the gloom he could just make out what she was doing. She was laughing madly as she rolled all the way down. It was then that he began to have fears for both of them. He knew she was not in a fit state to be out here acting like this, even if she was enjoying herself, and he also knew that he needed medical attention. His eyes began to water from the pain.
It was at this point that, as though all of this wasn’t already weird enough, something really strange happened. She got up and went to where he sat and examined his head.
She had him lean forward while she felt the bump. Then she told him to sit still while she wandered along the path, where she found a scrap of paper. It was brown with dirt, but she picked it up and shook it. When she returned, she removed the lid from the jar and poured the liquid over the bump, then she placed the paper over the area and pressed down on it firmly. Jack complained that the paper was dirty, but she explained that it was all part of a mystical healing process. As she continued to maintain the pressure she also explained that she intended to gather dewdrops and use them in a potion she was going to brew. She said she was happy to sacrifice them because he had always been a good friend. Moments later, he was amazed to find that the swelling had gone down and the pain had completely stopped.
He stood up and took her hand. He thanked her for what she had done and convinced her that it was best if they returned to the institute to let them know they were all right. When they arrived, they found the girl’s guardian and the doctor, both anxiously waiting for them. While her guardian sat in the waiting area, the doctor led the girl and boy to the sick room. After checking them out he had them both climb onto sick beds, saying that after they had rested she could return to her room and her friend could go home.
The doctor went back to the guardian and assured him that no harm had come to either one of them. He said he didn’t understand how the boy had found his patient. The guardian shook his head, agreeing. He said that he felt that Jack and Jill had always had a rather peculiar relationship.