The Timber Effect

by Jacklyn Reynolds

  "Oh no!" cried Ashley.

  Right on time, the deli doors burst open and Henry came running over, panic etched on his face.

  "She's Turning," said Kendra quietly. "You need to get her out of here. We'll be over soon."

  "I'm coming too!" announced Xianna. "Gina, take my car. The keys are in my purse."

  Henry picked Timber up carefully and carried her out to his car with Xianna right behind them. He laid her down in the back seat and she immediately let herself become a wolf. Xianna climbed in back beside Timber and buckled her in as Henry started the car and pulled out of the spot.

  "Henry, I think Timber's been drugged," said Xianna. Henry's face lost all color.

  "You said she didn't drink it!"

  "Kendra found some white powdery stuff in her sandwich that she couldn't smell," said Xianna. "What do we do? She can't go to the hospital!"

  "Grace will know what to do," said Henry. "She works in medicine."

  "Really?"

  "Grace is the reason I'm allowed to live outside of Haven," said Henry. "She invented the medicine that keeps me from turning into a full-fledged monster on the full moon."

  "As long as she can help Timber. Timber? TIMBER! HENRY! SHE'S NOT BREATHING!"

  Henry put his foot down on the gas and sped up Oak Street as fast as his old car would go, praying that no one pulled out in front of him. His back tires squealed angrily as he rounded the corner on Livingston Street. He pulled in front of Timber's house and got out with the car still running.

  "GRACE!" yelled Henry as loud as he could as he pulled Timber out of the back seat and lay her down on the grass while Xianna shut off the car. Xianna ran to her best friend and began trying to do CPR. She was breathing air through Timber's nose, hoping that it would work. Henry yelled again and Grace came rushing out to see Timber unconscious in the grass and Xianna attempting to revive her.

  "Get her inside," said Grace urgently, pulling off her cleaning gloves.

  Henry lifted Timber up and he and Xianna followed Grace into the house. Henry set her on the edge of the rug and Grace took over CPR. Timber rolled over and began hacking. After a few seconds, Timber vomited all over the hardwood floor and began breathing semi-normally again. She tried to get to her feet, but even on four legs, she was unsteady. Her head was still spinning and her vision was blurry. She felt like she was standing on the bow of a boat being tossed around in the waves. She laid down on her side, whined softly for a moment and looked up at her aunt. Grace ran one finger from between Timber's eyes to her nose and Timber closed her eyes to sleep.

  "What happened?" demanded Grace.

  Xianna explained what happened and Grace's usually mild face twisted with such rage she looked absolutely murderous. She remained silent as she pulled out a pair of white latex gloves out of her apron pocket, moved the hem of her dress, and began examining Timber's vomit. Xianna cringed and Henry looked away in disgust.

  "Was it a white powder?" asked Grace.

  "Yes," said Xianna.

  "I found some in here in a clump," said Grace. "It's what she hasn't absorbed yet."

  "What is it?" asked Henry.

  "I'm pretty sure it's Methamphetamine," said Grace. "If she drank the drink too, she would not have survived. If she was fully human she could have, but Timber isn't human. Her system works differently than ours. Timber wasn't simply drugged. She was poisoned."

  "What do we do?" asked Henry.

  "Wait for the rest to clear from her system, I'm afraid. She won't be able to regain her human form until it's gone. It should be cleared out in two or three days. She'll be able to regain human form by Thanksgiving on Thursday. In the meantime, she needs to stay hydrated and rested. Would one of you be willin' to stay here on Monday? I can't miss work."

  "I'll stay with her," said Henry.

  "How come Timber couldn't smell the drug in the sandwich?" asked Xianna.

  "If it's a pure form, the drug is practically scentless to humans but it would have a salty scent to her," said Grace. "Dogs can be trained to look for it but we never thought to train Timber even though her sense of smell is far more developed than the average dog."

  "Why would Sean do that to her?" asked Henry. "He never seemed like that kind of kid. I know he always made her uncomfortable but how..."

  "Her instincts about people are never wrong," said Grace, "which is one reason why we trusted you so early. That doesn't explain why, though."

  "He asked her out at school again last week but she turned him away," said Xianna. "She was more aggressive in her rejection than usual. She really laid him out flat. I guess he thought this was a better way of getting her to sleep with him? He is such an ass."

  "Grace, do you mind if I stay tonight?" asked Henry. "I can't leave her like this."

  "I don't mind. I'll get some blankets for the couch. Xianna, I'll find an air mattress for you and the girls. I know they'll be over soon. Timber will be sweatin' a lot to get the toxins out. Y'all arn't goin' to want to sleep in that." With that, Grace disappeared up the stairs.

  "Where did you learn CPR?" asked Henry.

  "I had a summer job as a lifeguard at the recreation center. I had to learn it. I'm glad I did. So she's going to be okay?" asked Xianna as she looked at Timber who was fast asleep on the floor.

  "Yes," said Henry with relief. "I don't know what I would do if I lost her. Actually, now that I think about it, I might end up going insane."

  They sat in silence for a few minutes before Xianna asked, "So what does your medicine do? Like, how does it work?"

  "I don't know how it works, to be honest," said Henry.

  "Henry's medicine prevents his werewolf mind from takin' over," said Grace. She had come down the stairs holding clean sheets and a blanket for the couch. "It's a small orange pill that Henry has to take every night. At the full moon, it tricks his brain into thinkin' he's still human. His instincts that he has as a wolf are all still present but his brain function is completely human. It's all chemical and difficult to explain easily."

  "So what happens if he misses a pill on the full moon?" asked Xianna looking at Henry.

  "I become a full-fledged monster who would sooner use you as food than play fetch," said Henry. "You've seen the damage Timber's jaws are capable of in her real form when she bit your father. I could rip his body in half with one bite."

  "Does Timber know this?" asked Xianna with a raised eyebrow.

  "Yes, and I made it clear that she's never to go anywhere near me on the full moon," said Henry. "On the unlikely chance that the medication fails, I could kill her. I'm not willing to take that chance."

  Timber made a full recovery by Thanksgiving thanks to lots of care from the family and Henry and her aunt's medical knowledge. She was still a little hoarse but her voice was healing quickly too. Thanksgiving was celebrated as it usually was in the Frunden household with Chad's parents and his older brothers and their wives and children who had all come up from San Francisco. Even Henry made an appearance, though the relationship between Henry and Timber remained a secret. Chad's parents were sure to be less understanding about Timber dating her teacher but Chad and Grace insisted that Henry was there.

  "Thanksgiving is a time for friends and family," said Grace. "I don't want you sittin' at home alone. I make more than enough food and you could do with a good fillin'."

  Henry had tried to protest but Grace threatened him.

  "If you're not here for dinner, I'll never feed you again."

  Henry could not argue so he came over early Thanksgiving and helped Chad set up the backyard for the annual football game while the girls got themselves ready for the day.

  "Have you ever played football Henry?" asked Chad.

  "I did in high school for a season," said Henry. "I know the game. I'm not really into sports much but I can play."

  "I should warn you who your marrying, then," laughed Chad. "Timber loves football. She never misses a game when her team plays. The shouting you heard last Saturday was m
e and her arguing over football teams. I root for Stanford. Grace and Emily root for LSU and Timber is a Crimson Tide fan. She's hard to beat on the field too."

  "So why isn't she on the high school team with Ashley?" asked Henry as he unfolded a chair.

  "The hits Timber can take is beyond what a human should be capable of. If she is hurt, she'll Turn. You see the problem."

  "I do."

  At eleven o'clock, the Frunden family arrived with wine and cider in hand. Greetings and introductions were exchanged and then everyone migrated outside.

  Timber watched the traditional football game take place in the back yard between Chad and his father and brothers who were all wearing 49er jerseys. Having all played football through high school and college, they were good. It was a rough game the first time around. After the first touchdown, the rough tackling stopped and the children were allowed to join. Timber always enjoyed playing with Chad's father. Papa, as she so fondly called him, doted on her and let her score deliberately. Chad's brothers all had sons so, being the only girls on that side of the family, Timber and Emily were spoiled by Chad's parents.

  Henry joined the game when Timber did. It was still tackle football but the adults held back. Timber and Emily let the boys have it. Emily, like Grace, was deceptively strong for her size and she and Timber were more than capable of holding their own against their cousins. Emily and Timber took time before to coordinate a game plan. They moved and danced around the boys with ease. Emily was able to run under legs and Timber could flip over heads if someone went low. They even joined forces and took Henry down just before he scored. It was such a rough game it didn't stop when Timber was tackled to close to the fence and ended up with a cut on her cheek. She got her revenge on her cousin by tackling him and pinning him down to the ground until he surrendered.

  After the game, Timber and Emily changed out of their grass-stained Crimson Tide and LSU t-shirts and into their nice clothes in Emily's room while all of the boys changed in the master. Dinner was served in the family room on Grace's special blue China and her polished silver she inherited from her great grandmother. After a full feast of everything from herb butter turkey and green bean casserole to homemade sweet potato pie and pumpkin pie, everyone had to loosen their belts. It was over too quickly and Chad's family left for the hotel in good spirits. The rest of the family, including Henry, relaxed and watched Charlie Brown before turning in for the night.

  It was the week before Christmas break and the entire student body and all the staff were preparing for the annual Winter Workshop at the high school. There was commotion everywhere as everyone was putting up old decorations, mending ones that ripped but could still be salvaged, or making new ones. All over the hallways, there were giant paper cutouts of Santa Claus, fireplaces, and reindeer. Hanging from the ceilings were ice blue and silver streamers with paper snowflakes dangling from them.

  At last, the end of the week arrived and Timber could not hold in her excitement. She and Henry arrived on campus early that Friday to help turn the main quad into a petting zoo. Henry unloaded bales of hay off the back of a truck and tossed them to the ground. Timber loved watching him use his strength. Henry put the other men to shame as it took two men to lift one hay bale but Henry was able to lift one on his own without effort due to his wolf. Timber was caught several times by the girl next to her staring at Henry as his strong, tattooed arms threw hay bale after hay bale off the tailgate.

  "Timber, stop staring," said her school friend Whitney. "I know he's hot, but we have work to do."

  Timber smiled and she and Whitney rolled the hay into place against the wall. They were having a great time talking about their family Christmas traditions, the annual lighted truck parade that had happened the week before, and the Christmas train ride that would happen the following night. Timber's happiness was cut short, however, when an unwelcome presence walked over.

  "Well, you're definitely strong," said a flirty voice.

  Timber spun to see Diana approaching the truck. She was eyeing Henry with pure lust and it made Timber's blood boil.

  "Diana, Dear, we're busy," said Timber as kindly as she could. Her accent twisted her words into polite sarcasm. "So if you could go drown yourself, it would certainly be helpful."

  "I don't believe I was talking to you, Tootsie Roll," sneered Diana. She turned her attention back to Henry. "When you're done, you could meet me under the bleachers in the stadium."

  "Don't you have any shame?" asked Whitney.

  "Have you seen me? I'm gorgeous. Why do I need shame?"

  "Diana, I will hurt you if you don't leave right now," warned Timber.

  "You know, you're the reason they invented double doors," snapped Diana. "You don't even deserve to walk on the same ground as me."

  Timber felt her temper rise.

  "Looks aren't everything," said Whitney with irritation in her voice. "In your case, they aren't anything. And about your legs, I've seen better legs on chickens."

  Timber burst out laughing and Diana narrowed her eyes.

  "At least I can afford clothes and I don't have to dress like a hobo," said Diana. Whitney fought back angry tears and she pulled her patched, too big jeans up higher.

  "Diana, you're the world's greatest proof of reincarnation. No one could get that dumb in one lifetime," said Timber. "You're barely dressed. You look like a street corner prostitute and honestly, that's not attractive."

  "I'm more attractive than you, Tootsie Roll."

  "I wonder how attractive you would be with a broken nose."

  Diana stared at Timber with clear disgust for a moment, then huffed and stalked away.

  "It's not very often I see the trash take itself out," said Whitney, wiping away tears. Timber hugged her and continued working.

  As each bale hit the ground, Timber, Whitney, and several others cut the ties and spread the hay on the ground, making sure that it was spread evenly under the tables and benches. At the same time, three teachers were putting canopies over where the animals would be. After that, they would be roping the area off so the animals didn't try to escape. When they were finished, Timber and Whitney dusted themselves off and went to the girl's room to wash their hands and fix their makeup.

  Timber looked at her reflection and felt a sense of discomfort about her appearance. Whitney noticed her expression.

  "What is it?"

  "I'm not used to wearing all black," said Timber. "I look so pale."

  "You do look different," said Whitney. "It's a good different, though. It's just for the candy cane costume. By the way, I'm not supposed to tell you, but you've been nominated for 'Best Dressed'."

  "Really?" asked Timber. This cheered her up significantly.

  "Well, you are the belle of Fort Bragg High School," smiled Whitney. "If you win, Leanne is going to be taking your photo for the yearbook in the spring. I can't see you losing."

  "I hope you won't think I'm being rude, but do you think we're about the same size?"

  "I think so, why?" asked Whitney.

  "I'm actually losing weight," said Timber as she touched up her red lipstick. "If you'd like, I can invite you over and you can shop in my closet when I can't fit in what I have anymore."

  "I can't afford -"

  "I'm offering you a gift," said Timber lightly. She put Christmas stickers on her cheeks. "I am not asking for money. I want to do this for you."

  "Timber, you are the sweetest person in the world. I'm glad we're friends. Oh no! We have to go! We're late."

  The girls grabbed their belongings and rushed out and split up. Timber ran toward the front of the school. Henry was waiting for Timber when she came up to him.

  "Sorry," she said.

  "It's alright," said Henry. "You're only two minutes late. Come on. I'll help you get this thing on."

  Henry held open the candy cane costume and Timber stepped into it. She wiggled it up and zipped up the back. She noticed her boot had come untied but she couldn't bend over easily. Henry tied
it for her and she tried her best not to blush. She looked around. The other girls were also getting help getting into their costumes by teachers or other girls but Henry was the only man lending a hand. She wondered if Henry's thoughtfulness would give them away but no one was paying them any attention.

  "There," said Henry.

  "How do I look?" asked Timber after making sure her red hair bow was secure.

  "Like a giant candy cane," said Henry and Timber laughed.

  They walked toward Dana Street and Timber took her place in line. Timber and Henry had both volunteered to go and bring the second graders to the school so they got together with the students in the marching band and a few other teachers and headed off down the street to Redwood Elementary. Timber was far too excited to walk normally. She kept bouncing, twirling, and skipping and Henry burst out laughing.

  "You're reminding me of Emily," he said. Timber beamed.

  "Thank you!"

  When they reached the school, Timber could hear the sound of a hundred excited seven and eight year old children. Before they came out, a gleaming red fire engine came around the corner with a man dressed as Santa in the passenger seat. Timber put on her candy cane costume and took the large bucket of candy canes that the fire marshal gave her.

  "This is for the adults who stop to watch the parade," he explained. Timber smiled and nodded happily.

  Henry would be close to her as they walked with the little kids. Everyone lined up in front of the school. The marching band got in line behind the fire truck. Timber, and Lilly were dressed in candy cane costumes with buckets of candy. Right on time, small children came into view. Some were bouncing, some were running, and others were walking calmly. Mixed in with the students were their teachers and several parents.

  They all got in the back and the fire truck blew its horn. The band began to play joyous Christmas music and they were off. Timber had a great time marching and passing out candy to the people who had come out of their houses to see the parade. The kids all looked so cute, bundled up in their coats, sweaters, hats and gloves. After ten minutes of walking, they got to the high school.