A Football Crafted from Leather
In the quaint town of Aberdeen, a local mystery has been unfolding, surrounding the return of a lost leather football signed by the 1971 football squad. The football, which had vanished over the playground fence, has made its way back home to David McKenzie, much to the relief of the young football enthusiast.
The parcel, addressed to David, contained the much-missed ball, along with a note written in a handwriting reminiscent of a spider's footsteps. The note was from an unexpected source – Christina Smith, a resident living behind the school who had claimed to have found the ball and chosen not to pursue the matter further.
Christina, who is often referred to as the "old crone" by the children, took it upon herself to refer to herself as a young person in the note. This unexpected revelation has added a new dimension to the local's perception of her.
Meanwhile, the school day ended at 3.30pm without any reprimand or the dreaded 'strap'. The children, who are currently working on a history project about Aberdeen, are now waiting for the Headmaster's secretary. It remains to be seen how the Headmaster will react to the return of the football and the circumstances surrounding it.
Step Hen, a fellow student known for his intelligence, has been a subject of interest in this tale. He is described as being very precise about how his name is spelled, Stephen, and makes a big fuss about it. It is rumoured that the narrator admitted to copying answers from him in Maths.
There is also a local legend about another resident, Wifie Smith. Neil, David's friend, may start winding him up about the situation, as brothers often do, by bringing up stories of Wifie Smith flying about the scheme at night on a broomstick. However, it appears that Wifie Smith, who is described as being ugly with a scar on her chin, dressed in black, and resembling a witch, is not documented in the common historical or popular records about Aberdeen football from 1971 or related football narratives.
Despite her absence in official records, Wifie Smith's presence is felt in the community. She lives in a house with a neat and tidy garden that is often visited by crows. She has even won 'Aberdeen in Bloom' multiple times, with flowers named after her.
As the mystery of the missing football continues to unravel, the children of Aberdeen are left to ponder the enigma that is Wifie Smith and the role she may have played in the return of the prized football. The town waits with bated breath for more revelations in this intriguing tale.
The note's sender, Christina Smith, revealed an unexpected fact about her age, contrasting the children's nickname for her as the "old crone".
The mystery of the returned football raises questions about Wifie Smith, a local resident not mentioned in historical or popular football records, yet whose influence on the town remains palpable.
