The Secret Behind the Meadows:
Risa Zhou ‘28 Contributor

The Meadows. The enigmatic backyard of the Loomis Chaffee School. What truly happens there? No one can say for sure. For decades, rumors have circulated about a secret society hidden in the shadows. Tales are told of rituals, ceremonies, and something even bigger, tied to a group shrouded in mystery. However, if you’re observant enough, you just might be able to catch a glimpse of their symbol-The Fish. It’s a simple one-stroke drawing of a fish, but once you see it, you can never unsee it. It’s everywhere: the walls, your notebook, even the toilet paper. Students who claim to know more say that the fellowship is called The Pelican Circle of the Hidden Fish.
Over the years, rumors about the Circle have only gotten stranger. Many believe that they’re always lurking, secretly watching everyone amongst the trees. Others blame them for the school’s slow Wi-Fi or the half-cooked rice in the Dining Hall. However, the most popular one has to be that every year, a select few are invited to join the Circle, but only if they pass a series of trials.
According to the legend, to pass the first trial, one must stand at the edge of the Meadows and call forth at least ten pelicans. The second trial requires one to do a lap in the Cow Pond with a raft made of canned tuna (not cardboard this time.) The third and final trial involves tasting an unknown fish and correctly identifying it. After surviving all three trials, one will be allowed to meet the leader of the Circle, known only as ‘The Grand Fisher’, who will determine the worth of the candidate.
No one has ever seen The Grand Fisher’s face. They always hide behind a large pelican mask. However, it is also said that on the last day of the Fall term, ‘The Grand Fisher’ will appear at sunset in the Meadows, and if you are able to correctly answer their riddle (considering that you survive finals), you will receive a small pin, engraved with the Fish insignia, which is said to grant you the Circle’s help- once.
To this day, no one has ever fully uncovered the mysteries surrounding The Pelican Circle of Hidden Fish. Maybe they’re just a group of Pelican enthusiasts who love fish, or maybe… they’re plotting something much bigger. Whatever the case, if you ever find yourself in the Meadows and you hear the faint sound of pelicans, run. You might’ve wandered too close to something you’ll probably never unsee.