“Mom, Mom, why is the T.V. Making that loud noise?” Both of my children were in an uproar having never heard the gut wrenching sound that the Emergency Broadcast System let out during their tests.
I wiped my hands on my apron to remove the flour I had left on them from the chicken I was frying. I rushed over to the screen to see what all the commotion was about. I kept waiting for the generic man to say “ This is a test.” But, that never happened.
The television began to spout off instructions on how we needed to take cover because an asteroid was headed towards earth at a fast-moving pace and this little town on the coast of Florida, where we just so happened to reside was going to catch the brunt of it. I couldn’t handle my emotions, I began to cry. It was just too much and at the same time a Hurricane was forming in the Gulf. This must be a nightmare
I grabbed a few items and took the boys down to the Storm cellar that we used for storage. My husband was in the military and I knew there was no chance of contacting him quickly. I took the old transistor radio and some extra batteries with us.
Once secured, the boys and I played UNO for hours until finally we heard the “all clear.” I held their hands as we slowly went back up the steps and back out into the World, not sure what we were going to find.
The radio was still playing and the News casters, with so much emotion, called the event nothing less than a miracle. I couldn’t understand it until I was once again in front of the T.V. The picture captured by a satellite showed the Hurricane rise from the sea and as the asteroid fell from space, The Hurricane reached up and cooled it’s fiery flames, saving us all from what could have been a catastrophic event. I fell to my knees and rejoiced.
“Lucas, come here!” Matt summoned me as he ran up ahead, the leaves crackling under his feet. Unfocused, I was mesmerized by the statuesque trees and the way the sun was shining so bright through their branches.
Suddenly, I recaptured his voice calling out to me. “Lucas, nooooo!” He screamed just as I felt myself slip into what I thought was a hole in the ground, a home belonging to a critter, maybe?
“Mattttt…” I yelled up to him trying to claw my way back to the surface when I figured out I was on a slide of some sort, as it wrapped around, circle after circle with the feel of great stars being sprinkled upon my head. I was sure something magical lay in store for me.
My bottom hit the ground hard. I jumped up quick to see if anyone seen my landing. The place was empty. The only thing that came to my attention was a bench and carved into it’s stone were the words “Playtime”.
I was startled to hear Matt fall to the ground next to me.
“What is this?” He asked. “I have no clue.” I replied. “Ah hahahahaha… you boys do know what this is.” A voice came from the darkness. Matt and I screamed. It was Roy Taylor, the man That owned the property above, we explored daily – He was dressed in a clown suit. “It’s playtime boys!” We tried to run. He grabbed us both by the collar and threw us onto the bench. We were automatically strapped on to this thing and then …. the seat began to spin. “Ahhhhhhhhhhh” we screamed as Mr. Taylor let out a hideous laugh and raised his hand and a sword he had hidden on his person, to the unfamiliar sky.
When I heard that noise come flying around the corner, I knew we would dance again. That sound had always been a comfort to me. It was a ‘57 Chevy with a 283 under the hood. The rumbling of that engine gave my heart a jump start!
I couldn’t for a moment begin to figure out how those bubbles Dick Clark blew into the air at midnight on New Years Eve separated me and my Stassi for this long but, they did! We had been sitting here for nearly a week. I tried everything in my power to bust through those bubbles. Our need to dance was far more sinister than one could imagine. We didn’t need food or water to survive. We just needed to be fancy free with our footwork!
I looked up from the position we had been frozen in trying to figure out who was driving that old Bel Air as I felt a gust of wind even from inside this friendly looking cage. I put my hand up to Stassi as a reminder.
I was nearly blinded by the shine coming off of those Chrome wings – The black paint made the car even more prestige.
You’re going to get a real kick Out of who was driving that bad boy…The one and only…. The best D.J. ever – Wolfman Jack!! He backed that Classic right on up, hit those bubbles with that exhaust and “Bloop!” We were no longer captive! Stassi’s shoes were glowing like never before and I felt my energy come back over me like a roar of thunder! Glitter spilled out from the skies and fell down by our sides!
I grabbed Stassi and tossed her up with one hand, I watched her twirl back down past the tree that had also been covered by a bubble. Each leaf that she passed turned into a golden record. We never stopped moving! Dance was the key to everything.
It was just another countdown paving the way for generations to come. Man has always tried to keep things exactly the same. Nobody really likes change.
Not everything’s meant to be packaged and hidden away, especially not the arts!
Wolfman drove off laughing and in that famous gravelly voice, he called out over the airwaves “Don’t touch that dial!”
Stassi curtsied, I took her hand and we American Graffitied the night away.
“In the pines, in the pines where the sun never shines, And I shivered when the cold winds blow.” I sat atop this mountain expecting to hear My Grandmother make the sound that resembled the howling wind just like she had done a million times before when I played her favorite song.
That noise was an actual parts of the lyrics and always sent a cold chill down my spine as if a draft really blew in my direction. I believe it was just the Spirit within me reminding me of how blessed I am.
This was the one place I could come to find solitude, to be alone with my thoughts and to mourn the loss of My Grandmother.
She wasn’t my biological Grandmother but she and my Pa were all I had. They found me wandering through the streets of Jackson – Dirty, Shoeless and with a soiled diaper when I was just a toddler. She had fallen in love with my red tinted hair that was much like her own. The red hair that gave her the temper she was known for around town, the temper that she used to persuade child services to let her and my Pa bring me up in their home. I was blessed beyond belief.
I knew it wouldn’t be long before my Pa came to rescue me from my own pity party to which I was the only one in attendance. Pa was on up in his seventies and didn’t doubt one bit that my Grandmother was with the Good LORD.
I strummed that old guitar a little longer before I heard his Cub tractor making it’s way up the hillside. Why he continued to make that steep journey, I would never know and especially at his age. He flipped that tractor at least twice in the past years.
“Come on down now boy. There ain’t enough Pine trees in Mississippi to bring your Granny back and if there were, she wouldn’t want to be back in this cruel world anyway.”
“Hey Bro. Can you hear me? Your headset has static. Jimmy and Troy are winning, collecting all the Inky Cap mushrooms! This is why I can’t be on your team!” I laughed.
Vix had been my homie ever since he moved next door when we were eight.
Normally he would have snapped on me for attacking his Play Station skills.
The noise cleared but when I called for him I got nothing.
Jimmy spoke up “Yeah, I wonder why? You should put yourself on hush mode too, as bad as y’all are getting whooped. These Inks are all over the place – Troy, did you see that? I just snatched one from the grizzly Lycanthrope’s mouth – The one hiding beside that marsh pit! More points!”
“Yeah Baby!” was Troy’s only response. His mind was warped from hours of playing Inky Cap Terrain.
I paused the game from my location causing a simultaneous “Boooooo.”
“Shhh… Guys, Listen… Do you hear that?” I whispered through the headset so my Mother wouldn’t know I was still awake.
It sounded like a growling noise coming from Vix’s microphone.
“What is that?” Jimmy asked. “Who knows, now turn the game back on!” Troy was already having withdrawals.
“I’ll be right back.” I told the two of them.
I removed my headset and sat it down. I slid my feet across the Shag carpet until I reached the window. I could see into Vix’s room – something we figured out in Elementary School.
I moved the curtain back and quickly ducked out of sight – almost out of breath from panic as a set of large, glowing, savage eyes stared back at me.
The moon was as big as the sun but the night was extraordinarily dark.
The creature then turned and gracefully positioned himself back on all fours. When I snuck another glance, he looked back as to mock my fear. His fangs identical to the werewolves in our game but drenched in blood – Vix’s blood!
“Get up! It’s time for school. Your Mom let me in.” Vix was right there in front of me. “Vix? I thought you were….” I grabbed him.
“Let go of me! You made us lose again last night, falling asleep. You need to start taking naps!”
I may never sleep again. These nightmares had taken their toll on me.
Ever since I can remember, I spent a majority of my time fantasizing and imaging what really went on in the statuesque, imperial towers of the Neuschwanstein Castle.
My family and I lived in a small village that outlined the Palace.
Jonas would sit with me for hours, He was my Best friend but he felt so much more like an Alter Ego. We were so close in fact, that whenever I looked in the mirror – I could see him staring back at me.
He was a tall, lanky lad that made me laugh even during a most serious conversation. His overbite only made him more comical to look at and his stories less impressive.
There was one tale he told about being chased by a Castle Guard after he found himself close enough to hear a young girl screaming from atop the far tower.
“Leon, I heard her. You may not believe me but it’s true. She’s trapped in that tower.” He said.
“Jonas, where do you come up with these ideas?” I asked.
“I don’t have to make stuff up! I’m not a child! You should know me better than that, You’re the child! You’re the one who still lives with his Mother!” His temper was flaring as usual.
“One day soon, I will go to her rescue.” He knew he didn’t have to prove anything to me but carried on anyways.
“Are you going to call for her to let down her hair? Like Rapunzel?” I teased.
He grabbed his backpack and ran off, turning only to tell me that he would go today.
“I will be a hero!”
“Jonas, Come back.” I pleaded with him as he threw his hand up in a “Good bye” gesture.
I sat there a little longer staring at the ground with only my thoughts.
Jonas had good intentions, He just wanted me to be a good person – Maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on him.
I was startled by a noise coming from the crawl space underneath my own home.
If I could just remember to give her fluids on a schedule.
I stood up and wiped the dirt from my jeans. “Hold your horses Rapunzel! I’m bringing your water.”
My wife got this wild idea that we needed to go to Maine and meet Stephen King. We’re from the south and hadn’t lost a thing up there.
I suggested that we just look at his house online but she had other plans.
She insisted that Lake Brewer backed up to his home in Bangor. I begged to differ but then as a husband, I had the choice to be right or happy and well… Let that sink in. We made the trip.
The lake was a beauty and I just wanted to fish. But, she found an old row boat; paint chipping and wood buckling. I rowed us all the way to the other side in the name of love. My arms felt like fire but, daggummit, we made it.
Now here we are; “Ma’am. Put your hands behind your back.” About to be charged with theft and trespassing. I was already cuffed and sitting on the ground.
“I didn’t do anything! Michael, tell them!” She insisted.
“Honey, we took a boat that didn’t belong to us.” I reminded her. I guess that was the plan all along. I should have known.
She was just a crying and through her tears she mumbled “I just needed to touch the hem of his button-up, collared shirt to be a better writer.” That felt like blasphemy to me but she believed it was true.
The place was lit up in all blue, Cop cars everywhere. Then, out of nowhere a Tesla comes flying around the corner, kicking up dirt. The car slid to a stop. I coughed a bit from the dust.
Wouldn’t you know it, Mr. King himself exited the vehicle and my wife passed clean out.
“Sara Jane, Are you alright?” I hollered over in her direction.
“Fella’s, What’s going on here? I noticed all the commotion from the road.” King asked the police.
Sara Jane’s eyes popped open “I’m your……”
“Number one fan?” He asked. “No, you already have one of those!” We all laughed.
The cops let us go as a favor to the novelist once he heard why we were there.
He took us for coffee.
Turns out Sara Jane didn’t need anything more than some encouragement.
These are a few pages from Chapter two of my most recent finished Novel. It came in at around 72,000 words and would be classified as Sci-Fi / Horror.
CHAPTER TWO
“Ready, Set, Go!” Brother Heizer blew a loud whistle something like a Basketball orFootball coach would have done to instruct their team to make moves or not – His, instead was used to signal the start of the Egg Hunt. It was an appropriate start to the competition as the noise put you in the mind set of winning. The age-old question stillremaining Who would be this year’s winner?
There were colorful eggs scattered all over the property, some half way hidden and the others just lying still in tall patches of clumpy green grass. I can remember how excited Iwould get at Easter time when I was but a boy. The thrill of the hunt, the satisfaction of the find and the hope that the Golden Egg would be mine – It never happened though. Inever found the Golden Egg. I couldn’t even tell you what they filled it with back then.
The story of my life – I am only and have always been simply mediocre at everything.Children ran off in every direction, I kept my eyes peeled and was aware of every move Katrina made. My Mom was cheering her on and snapping pictures of her as she clumsily dropped a number of the eggs she put into her basket. My Father followed behind her and quickly picked up the lost eggs and put them back into her basket. This was one of the few activities he participated in with her.
He liked to be classified the victor just as much as the next man even in child’s play. I think more men held this characteristic than women but I believe everyone has a competitive side. I watched as she moved closer to the street, hoping that My Dad was paying close enough attention to not let her actually enter into the road. He had a tendency to glance at all of the Mothers who were there helping their children find eggs.
He did that a lot – Look at other women. I suppose my Mother noticed his behavior but she never said a word at least not in front of us anyways. I wonder if he ever thought about his actions and how embarrassing that would be for my Mother, for me and Katrina – if any of the other Church Members ever picked up on his gawking?
I started walking closer to where the two of them were and just as Katrina screamed “I found it!”
Another large truck passed by – the Driver laid on the horn for what seemed like forever.
My Dad snatched her up by her little arm and pulled her in close to him. He saved her from what would have been a fatal hit undoubtedly – Everyone around us knew that to be true. The Egg hunt virtually stopped while everyone screamed in excitement because she had found the Golden Egg or at least that’s the reason Katrina thought they were all running towards us and her.
My Dad’s face turned red with anger – Attention had been called to him and not because of some magnificent deed but because his child was almost run over by a semi – A late arriving Circus truck.
I took Katrina from his arms and began to walk away with her. She nuzzled her face into the area between my arm and chest. She whispered “But Nicholas, I found the Golden Egg.” “I know you did. You are the winner. Let’s go inside and check to see the contents of all these eggs you found.” I told her. My Stomach turning from the idea that we could have lost her to something so grizzly and at a Church function. I would have never been able to come back here.
We sat down at a large table in the back corner of the room and began to open her eggs.
Some of the older women were making circles around us as they cleaned up all of the mess that was left from lunch. It saddened me that grown folks would leave plates and cups still full of leftover food and drink for these ladies to throw away. How hard could it be to carry those items to a trash can? There were so many placed around the room.
Never the less, they worked tirelessly to keep our Church building in tip top shape.
“Excuse me Sweetie.” A lady that I didn’t recognize was running her already dirty cloth across the table Katrina and I were sitting at. “I’m sorry Ma’am – I thought maybe you ladies had already cleaned this one. There wasn’t a spot on it.” I was telling her that as a compliment.
She stopped for a second and looked me dead in my eyes. “There was a spot on it, Nicholas!”
She grinned and with teeth just like that of the passenger in the Circus truck I saw earlier.
She had an extra tooth or so more than what his mouth contained. How she knew my Name didn’t even cross my mind until later. I grabbed Katrina and moved closer to my Grandmother who was in the Kitchen wiping down some counter tops.
“Are you alright son?” My grandmother asked me. I told her that I was fine and just needed a place where Katrina and I would be out of the way.
“Just sit on the floor – You will be fine over there Nicholas.” She smiled and pointed towards a corner that was unoccupied and usually not used for anything. Thank the Lord my Grandmothers teeth still appeared normal. Maybe my mind was tricking me earlier.
Maybe I was just reacting to the trauma of Katrina almost being ran over. There is no way that Old Ladies teeth shared such a resemblance with those of the Circus Creeper.
“Nicholas, Look what’s inside my Golden egg.” Katrina was tugging at my shirt trying to get my attention but I was now listening to everyone coming in from outside and the conversations they were having. The focus had shifted from Katrina’s near-death experience to the fact that Tommy had found the Golden Egg. “Uh – uh – Nicholas.
Tommy didn’t find the Golden Egg. It was me, I found it.” She was getting angry and I knew this was going to turn out really bad plus now I find myself having more questions about all of this. I put my hand loosely over her mouth but covered it enough so I could make a point to her. “Shhhhh….” I told her. “Don’t say a word. Let me listen, okay? I need to hear what they are saying.”
“Mmmm..hmmm..”She shook her head yes and made a mumbling noise inside my hand that gave my fingers a bit of a slobber bath. I moved my hand away from her mouth fast and wiped it on my jeans. “Ugh. That was nasty!” I said as she giggled a little bit which prompted me to just shake my head. I loved my little Sister so much but she had the tendency to work my nerves.
I was listening closely to the crowd. “Hey Tommy, what did you get in your Golden Egg there boy?” I heard someone ask. Tommy responded in his squeaky little four-year-old voice – However strange his tone was; He was still an exceptionally smart kid. He was already in Kindergarten – He and Katrina shared a classroom. ” I got Five dollars and two quarters and I got this sticker of a smiley face and .. and.. I got this paper.” He said as he held it up – his little eye glasses sliding down his nose; he carefully pushed them back into position.
“What is that paper?” His Mother asked him. “I don’t know them words yet, Mom.” He said and the crowd laughed.
She took it from his hands and began to read aloud “Dear Golden Egg Winner” the note started. “Please take this with you throughout your whole entire life.” She continued on.
“Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” She finished and looked over towards the leader of our congregation “Good one Preacher!
We could all stand to keep this close to our hearts.” She said.
“Amen, Sister! You don’t know how right you are.” He replied and peacefully walked out of the room towards his office. He stopped midway down the hall and turned back, scanned the room and continued on. I could see and hear everything that was going on even though Katrina and I were out of the crowd’s sight.
Mom and Dad were back to enjoying themselves and chatting once again with the neighbor folks.
I took the Golden Egg that Katrina had in her hand and slowly emptied its contents.
“Look Bubba, Circus tickets.” Katrina said to me. “Four of them. You, Me and Momma and Daddy – We can go there. We can go there and eat Cotton candy.”
I wasn’t sure how I was going to crush her heart from this Circus dream but we were not going to anyone’s Circus. This couldn’t be legitimate. I mean why was the egg sitting basically in the street? None of these Church going people would have even let that thought cross their minds – to hide an Easter Egg in the road. No, No way.
The only other thing that the egg contained was a brass colored coin about the size of a half dollar- There was a picture of a trapeze artist stamped into it. I took it and the ticket and then I put them in my pants pocket.
“Katrina, you can’t tell Mom and Dad about this. Okay? I know you want to go the Circus and I promise you I will figure it out to where you get to go. But you have to swear to me that you will not tell Mom and Dad, Pinky Promise?” I held out my Pinky finger and she locked her finger around mine. We now had an agreement – But she’s five and I knew this wouldn’t last long. I had some detective work to do and fast.
I needed to know, who left the egg and was it solely intended for Katrina to find and our family to attend this so-called Circus?
“Nicholas, Katrina.” My Dad was calling for us. “It’s time to go.” He said. He walked back to the Kitchen to kiss his own Mother bye and spotted us on the floor. “What are the two of you up to?
It’s time to head out. Get all of those eggs and pack them up.” He pointed to the floor and directed his instructions to Katrina.
I knew she wouldn’t move too quickly so I got them all together and as a family, we headed out to the car.
I did basically what the Preacher had done during his exit. I turned, looked over the crowd and walked out. Where had the table cleaning lady gone? I don’t recall her leaving.
Oh well, another mystery I suppose. I added her to my list of unanswered questions for Easter Sunday, 2000.
Every year just as Fall began to show its colors, Kenny Trummel would appear at the station, ask to see me and then insist I take him on the same ride we have taken for the past few years.
He was nine years old when his Mom and Sister went missing down by the old mining site. He lost everything that day. He had no Father to speak of.
The once gravel road showed little signs of travel and was now blocked off to the public after many discourteous videos began to surface on the internet, placed there by self-proclaimed Ghost Hunters and thrill-seeking teenagers. This town didn’t need that type of publicity.
We pulled into the drive and Kenny stopped me from continuing on. “Sherriff Ford, park here. We don’t want to stir up the leaves that have fallen just in case there’s any clues to Momma and Gi-Gi’s where-a-bouts.” Gi-Gi was short for Giselle, she was five when they disappeared.
As time went on the land became more and more lively as if beauty itself kissed each and every acre. We got out and combed through the area and just like the years past, our efforts were in vain.
When we reached the end of the road, Kenny fell to his knees and began to pray, I joined him on the ground though it took me longer to get down there; my knees were failing me.
The sun was bright, nearly blinding but I could still see the Fawn and Doe approach Kenny and stand over him with familiarity. He gazed up at them and then whispered the words “I love you.”
Just like the years before, that was our cue to exit.
“What if a time comes that you no longer see the deer?” I asked, once we were both settled back in the cruiser – Concerned for this poor boy’s heart. “That would mean I am no longer looking, Sherriff. Seek, and ye shall find.” He replied.
I believe Kenny knew I was here more than I let on – I would never stop looking for them. But, what Kenny didn’t know is that Giselle was my daughter.
As I walked across the stage to the podium, I could see all of my supporters clapping and cheering – Streamers and confetti flying through the air, my thoughts were all over the place. I couldn’t believe I had made it thus far.
I walked to the microphone and tapped it – “Can you hear me?” I shouted. “I want to thank you all for your support! We did it!” The crowd roared even louder.
I looked out amongst the people. There was a story, I realized I must share with them. They quieted when I began to speak.
“I can remember the last 4th of July, I spent with my Grandfather as a child. I can still hear the waves crashing against the rocks and I can hear his quivering yet strong voice calling to me.” ‘Son, come here and stand next to your old Pa.’ He was a stoutly man; large, tall.” I paused in remembrance of the old fella.
“He held in one hand a small American Flag and a Sparkler, together. I looked up at them in anticipation of what was going to happen next.” ‘I want you to listen closely to what I have to say.’ “He spoke with sincerity and I trusted his words.” ‘The Fireworks represent the good times, A Commemoration of the sort. The Flag represents the people and when one American struggles, we all struggle. There is no need for a celebration then. Remember the pledge; One nation, under GOD with liberty and justice for ALL. Let what is right, always guide your footsteps. If you ever have the chance, be the one who slices the American pie so that every man, woman and child will be able to obtain it.’ “I watched closely as the sparkler fizzled out.” ‘Do not grow weary of doing good – Just as this sparkler diminished so can the contents of the heart if we don’t nourish it with the love it requires.’ “He bent down and looked me directly in my eyes. He kissed my forehead and I ran barefoot through the sand back to where My Grandmother was, not knowing his words would someday lead me here.”
Leesa Writes 