Exceptional A new direction for Kilian and Arie Saving Mr. Calvin : Saving Mr. Calvin - Chapter 17 by Jim Wile Book of the Month contest entry

Background A story about the origin and the future of the game of golf See Author Notes for the list of characters and unfamiliar terms. Recap of the past few chapters:  As they improve in the game, and each one develops his or her own special skill, they decide they would like some competition but need to spread the game to achieve it. They decide to demonstrate it at the Amsterdam Fair, and Kilian and Arie ride to her uncle’s farm near Amsterdam to see if they could create some holes on his property for the demonstration. Oom (Uncle) Gerrit welcomes them, and they show him the game, giving him and Arie’s papa a chance to try it themselves. Oom Gerrit is very agreeable to her request to create holes on his land and to provide transportation for the fairgoers. In preparation for the fair, they make many clubs and balls to sell, and Lotte draws pictures of the swing. They lay out the three demonstration holes, and it’s time for the fair. They put on a very successful demonstration of many shots at the fairgrounds. Now it is time for a demonstration of the game itself out at Oom Gerrit’s farm. This demonstration likewise goes well, although Arie is accosted by rude remarks of a sexual nature from two young men. The remainder of the demonstrations go well and the group is in high spirits following. While returning from a trip to the relief houses, Arie and Lotte are attacked by the two young men. Lotte escapes to warn the others who come to her rescue and save her just in time before she is violated. Fireworks cap off an eventful day at the fair.     Chapter 17     Buoyed by our success at the Amsterdam Fair and the fledgling growth of the game we had invented, the five of us, which now included Lotte, began our attempts to popularize the game in earnest. We redoubled our efforts to make balls and kolfs for sale as well as instruction scrolls. Lard had officially begun courting Lotte, who had recently turned 13, and he started slimming down as he began to care more about his appearance. After a while, I quit calling him Lard, as the nickname was no longer appropriate. Now he is just Lars. We taught Lotte the game, and although she was quite a ways behind us in her level of skill, her new understanding of the swing helped her a great deal in drawing more accurate pictures for her instruction scrolls. We all continued to play as often as time allowed, as we still had our shepherding and farm duties to perform, but our parents were generally supportive of our efforts. They understood that we would soon be setting out on our own to pursue our dream of a traveling kolven company with the intended goal of promoting the game throughout the land. It was after Arie and I had finished a few holes one evening in October during a particularly nice summer-like period that I said to her, “Arie, I think we need to make a change.” “What, to the game? You’ve thought of something new?” “No, to us.” A sudden look of dismay came over her face. “Kilian, I’ve beaten you before on occasion. You aren’t upset that I beat you this evening, are you?” I laughed. “Of course not! I’m proud of you for beating me. I played well, but you played better and beat me fair and square. No, I think we need to make a different sort of change.” “Well, don’t just keep saying that. Tell me.” “No, I will ask you instead.” “Kiliannn! Ask me what?” I was enjoying this. “Arie, will you marry me?” Her face lit up as the irritated look dissolved into a big smile. “Of course I’ll marry you! I thought you would never ask me. I was getting impatient with waiting and was thinking about asking you.” I took her in my arms then, and we sealed it with a kiss. “Let’s go tell our parents now!” she suggested. “I think they will approve.” “I know they will.”       We made the trip to her farm first. Dhr Papin was outside playing a game with his two young sons when we entered the farmyard. “Papa, come inside. Kilian and I have some news we want to share with you and Mama.” I smiled at him, and he gave me a knowing wink. We found Mevr Papin preparing the evening meal with Lotte in the kitchen. She looked up at us. “What are you two grinning about?” she said. “Wait until Papa comes in,” said Arie. When he and the little brothers had filed in, Arie and I smiled at each other and said in unison, “We’re getting married.” Mevr Papin shrieked with delight and spread her arms around both of us in a grand hug. “Fredrik and I have been waiting for this news for a number of weeks now. We are very pleased to welcome you to the family, Kilian. It’s almost like you are a member already as much as you are here.” “Thank you, Mevr Papin.” “Why don’t you begin calling me Anneke?” “And why don’t you call me Fredrik, Kilian?” he said as he came over to give us both a hug. “I’m so happy for you two.” “Thank you, Dhr… I mean, Fredrik.” “And you can call me Frans.” “And I’m Hennie!” shouted Arie’s little brothers. “I already call you those, you silly goofs. Come here.” When they came close, Arie and I bent down and embraced them too. It was Lotte’s turn, and she hugged Arie tightly and then me. “I’m so happy for you both and wish you the best. Now, if only Lars will ask me, I’ll be as happy as ever.” “I don’t think you’ll have to wait long, Lotte,” I said to her, and she gave me a big smile in return. Arie asked her ma, “Can Kilian stay for the meal with us?” “Of course he can. Why don’t you help us finish preparing it, Arie? I’m sure the men have a few things to discuss." Fredrik said, “Kilian, let’s take a little walk while they finish up with the meal.” “Certainly, Fredrik.” We left together. The little brothers started tagging along, but Fredrik told them to stay where they were. Once outside, Fredrik put his arm over my shoulder and said, “Kilian, I know you will make a fine husband for Arie. She can be a handful, though, and she never hesitates to speak her mind. Sometimes she might say things that could get her into trouble with folk, and I’m counting on you to remind her of this and to protect her from the consequences of an ill-fated remark. She tends to be overconfident at times and needs to be toned down a bit. I’ve seen you two together, and I think you are just the one to do this. You are an even-keeled lad and good for her.” “Thank you, Fredrik. I’m aware of all these things you say, and I promise I will do my best to protect her and to help assuage her feelings when she gets her dander up.” “She is a very passionate girl about everything she does, but she is also able to laugh at herself and see the humor in situations. A rare combination. And you’ll find no one more supportive and kinder to friends and family. But to her enemies, watch out!” “All the things you just said are the things I love about her, Fredrik. I will do my best to be her partner in life, and I thank you and Anneke for your blessing of our marriage and your good advice. I probably would have asked for her hand sooner, but I was always concerned about our young age and whether or not I could support her.” “Well, you needn’t worry on either count. Anneke and I wed at a similar age to you. It is not unusual for young people to marry. She has just turned 14, and you will be 15 soon. That is normal. As for supporting her, there will be a rather large dowry to give you a good start, and I have every confidence you will be successful in your new enterprise. You have developed a wonderful new game, and I’m convinced it will grow in popularity as you travel around promoting it.” “Thank you for your vote of confidence, Fredrik. I’m very encouraged by our success at the fair.” “Yes, that was a big success, and I think your new trade will flourish. Now, if you can only get your friend Lars to similarly propose to Lotte, all will be right in the world. He is a fine lad too.” “I think it will happen soon.” “That is good news. And now I think it is time to head back for the evening meal.”       After the meal, we bade her parents farewell as we set out to tell my folks the good news.     Author Notes Dutch words kolf: a club in ancient Dutch. It is also used as the name of the game that uses it. kolven: the verb form of the word, i.e., clubbing or golfing Dhr: Mr. (Abbreviation for Meneer) Mevr: Mrs. (Abbreviation for Mevrouw) Oom: Uncle Tante: Aunt schatje: sweetie vriend: boyfriend nicht: niece CHARACTERS - 2032 California Kevin Parsons: The narrator of the story. He is a 28-year-old mechanical engineer living in Santa Barbara, CA. Paul Putnam: A good friend of Kevin who is an electrical engineer. Ernie (Dumbo) Dumbrowski: Another good friend of Kevin who is a computer genius. Art Calvin: An old, retired golf course architect whom the boys meet one day while golfing. CHARACTERS - 1247 Holland Kilian Pauls: A 14-year-old shepherd boy in 1247 Holland. Arie Papin: A 13-year-old farmgirl in 1247 Holland. Lars (Lard) Jansen: A fellow shepherd boy and friend of Kilian. Ruben (Rube) Meijer: Another shepherd boy and friend of Kilian. Fredrik Papin (Dhr Papin): Arie's father Mevr Papin: Arie's mother Lotte Papin: Arie's younger sister Frans and Hennie Papin: Arie's little brothers Oom Gerrit: Arie's uncle (Fredrik's brother)

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