Bev was in the hall. “What happened with Caroline?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged.
“Oh, I just wondered what happened. I heard her say she was tired to her mom before she left.”
Charles made his way to the dessert table and looked for the cake she made. “Oh man!” he said to himself. The cake was gone! He sat down at the table. He felt a headache coming on.
Sophie came by and sat down beside him. “What is wrong, Charlie?” she asked rubbing his back. He told her he wanted to try the cake Caroline made for the picnic. She got up and ran into the kitchen letting the screen door slam shut behind her. Then she ran back out with a slice of cake on a plate.
“Sophie, is that Caroline’s cake?” She nodded. “I love you Sophia,” he said giving her a big hug. Sophie hugged him back. He offered some to her, but she declined.
“Shhhh,” she whispered in his ear, “I’m going to spy on Cynthia and Peter.” She giggled and crept off in their direction.
Charles finished eating the slice of cake and then went to find Paw Paw.
Cynthia was sitting on the front porch steps with Peter. “This was a great picnic,” Peter said to Cynthia.
“Yes, it was fun with the exception of Charles showing off. Nice clothes by the way…” she said.
“I didn’t think he was showing off. I think he was kind of embarrassed he had to jump in the pond to get the boat.”
“Is that why you jumped in too?”
“No, I was hot and sweaty.” She rolled her eyes. Then he said sheepishly, “Well, I couldn’t let my buddy show me up now could I?”
She laughed. “I guess not. I am glad you came today.”
“I was glad Charles called and invited us,” he said looking down at an ant crawling on the step. “I wanted to see you.”
“I wanted to see you too. I never see you anymore now that Charles is staying here for the summer.”
“Well, what if I came by to see you?”
She perked up. “Okay. I’d like that.” He reached for her hand. She leaned over and put her head on his shoulder. They sat talking holding hands until Peter’s mom came outside with his wet clothes in a bag.
“There you two are. The picnic was wonderful, Cynthia.”
“Thank you Mrs. Abbott. I hope you had a good time.”
“Oh, we did.”
Vicki looked at Peter. “We need to go now. Your father is waiting for us in the car.”
“Okay,” he said getting up.
“Cynthia, I’ll come over and see you tomorrow if you’re going to be home.”
Cynthia sat up straight and smiled. “I’ll be home.”
Mrs. Abbott said, “Goodnight, Cynthia. You are welcome to come to our house anytime you want.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Abbott.”
Mrs. Abbott gave Cynthia a hug.
Peter said, “Tell Charles I’ll see him later.”
“Okay.”
“See you tomorrow,” he said as he jogged to the car.
Cynthia went to the kitchen where Bev was sitting. She sat down at the table. “It was a very nice picnic.”
“Yes, it was, wasn’t it? I think everyone had a good time, don’t you?”
“Yes. I know I did,” Cynthia said smiling.
“You and Sophie did a great job. You received many compliments on the dishes you prepared. I was very proud.”
“Thank you.” Cynthia got up and looked out the window.
“Did you have fun with Peter?”
Cynthia turned and smiled. “We did. He’s going to come over and see me tomorrow.”
“Oh, I see. That will be nice.”
“Have you seen Sophie?”
“Sophie is still asleep on my bed. She was tired after running around all day.” Molly, Margaret and Chelsea came in the kitchen and sat down with Bev at the table.
“It sure was nice ladies,” Carson’s sister Chelsea said.
Margaret said, “I think we had a lot of people show up.”
Molly added, “It kind of kept growing didn’t it.”
“Yes, but the more the merrier,” Bev said.
Margaret said, “Better than no one showing up.” They all agreed.
“I doubt that would ever happen. Everyone wants to come to a picnic here,” Chelsea said.
“Thank you.”
“Where is Carson?” Chelsea asked.
“He’s probably outside with the men talking.”
Margaret said, “I think we had better be going. Thanks Bev. We had a great time.” Bev stood up and said she’d walk her out.
Molly and Chelsea talked about the Farmer’s Market Grand Opening. Molly told her it should be ready to open ahead of schedule. Chelsea said she couldn’t wait to shop there. They talked about the town growing and all the new houses that were being built around Anchorage Pointe Lake.
Molly looked at her watch and decided it was time to be going. She found Jack and Cynthia. They said goodbye to everyone. Chelsea carried Sophie to the car. Once they left, Chelsea and Carson sat on the front porch and talked. Then, Chelsea decided it was time for her to be going too. She departed with leftovers from the picnic that Bev packed for her.
Carson went into the house and sat in his chair in the library. He read through the daily newspaper. Charles came in and sat down. He was so tired that every time he closed his eyes, he drifted off to sleep. He kept dreaming about Sojourning. He would have preferred to remain asleep, but he awoke with a falling feeling that made him jump. He looked around the room and found Carson in his chair asleep. The house was unusually still. He stood up and walked through the house. Bev was sleeping on the living room couch. He was the only one awake. He was sure they wouldn’t nap for long.
He sat back down on the couch in the library and thought about what had happened since his birthday. It was a lot to think about. His whole concept of the world had drastically changed. Very soon time, as he had understood it, would forever be altered. He wondered if he had just been dreaming this whole time, maybe Paw Paw would wake up and everything would be back to the way it was. He got up off the couch and looked at the newspaper. No, the date was the same as it was when he woke up this morning. That settled that, it wasn’t a dream. He wondered: When will I take my first step through the Passageway? He’d read the journals and even dreamt about it. Now he was ready to have his very own adventures. He thought about his future. Charles yawned. Even though he’d taken a nap, he was still tired from his busy day.
Bev appeared in the doorway. “I think we all had a nice catnap.”
Charles agreed. He stood up and stretched. “I’m still tired.”
“I can see why.”
“I think I will go upstairs and climb into bed.”
“Okay. I think that’s a good idea. I probably will do the same very soon.”
Charles kissed her on the cheek, made his way upstairs and got ready for bed. Finally he fell asleep.
Carson woke up when he heard Bev in the kitchen. He went in and talked to her about the picnic. She told him Charles was tired and went on to bed.
He smiled. “I think it wore all of us out.”
“I couldn’t keep my eyes open. The catnap did wonders for me.”
He kissed her on the cheek. “I wouldn’t blame you if you headed off to bed too.” She said she might just do that after she finished cleaning.
“Oh, by the way, before I forget, we received mail from the Prime Minister today.”
“What did it say?”
“I didn’t get a chance to read it over very carefully, but I think it must be very important. Dimitrios delivered it.”
“Dimitrios delivered it?” Carson nodded.
Bev started to say, “I thought he was…”
“I know. I thought the same thing; that he was away in Europe. Guess not.”
“Should we look at the letter tonight?”
“No, I think it can wait. We’ll look it over tomorrow.” He stood up and walked over to where she was s
itting and kissed her on the cheek. “I have something I was working on in the office. I think I’m going to try to work on it and hopefully finish tonight. Would you like to join me?”
“Thank you, but I have things around here I need to finish up before I can go to bed.”
“Okay. Would you like me to help?”
“No thank you.”
“I won’t be long. Tomorrow we can read the letter together and discuss it.”
She smiled at him.
He turned and walked out the back door into the warm evening air. As he entered the office Carson noticed Airabelle was restless, ready to be freed from her cage. He let her out and she flew several circles around the office before landing on the back of his chair. “Are you feeling caged up tonight, Airabelle?” Carson asked.
“Yes.”
“It is a beautiful evening tonight, how about I let both you and Esmond frolic in the moonlight? What do you say?”
“Oh, that sounds lovely. Yes, I would like that. Esmond, would you like that?” She turned to get a response from him. “Yes, he would too.”
Carson took Esmond out of his aquarium and set him on the ground. “Good because I need to clean the aquarium anyway.
“How will you know when I need you to return?”
“We will listen for you to ring the wind chimes on the back porch. Then, we will know you want us to return.”
“Okay, I will go and take them down. Then I’ll put them back up when I need to call you. That is a very clever idea,” he said as he opened the door.
Both Airabelle and Esmond were excited to be free in the moonlight. Airabelle was a sight to watch because she illuminated a florescent blue from under her feathers. She lit up in the night sky. Esmond on the other hand was so happy to be freed, he croaked and croaked as he hopped on the path to the pond. Carson went to the back porch and took the chimes down. He set them on the table in between the chairs. Then, he went back to the office to work. If Charles was going to begin Sojourning tomorrow, his job wasn’t finished. He went back to the office, closed the door and began working.
**********
Airabelle flew so gracefully in the air. Esmond watched her from the ground. She was so far in the sky above him; he wondered what that would be like to be so free. She was more beautiful than the stars. She seemed to pulse every time her wings would lift, her blue light would shine brighter. She truly was a sight against the stars. He wondered if she could hear him from the distance that was between them.
He croaked to her, “Airabelle. Airabelle, can you hear me?”
“Of course I can hear you,” she chortled as she came swooping down from the sky. She landed on the path next to him. “I can hear you just fine. My hearing is very good if I say so myself.”
“Whether you are in the sky, or on the ground you are so pretty at night.”
“Thank you. I love to fly at night. It is so peaceful up there; like you are the only one on earth.”
“I wish I knew what it was like way up there,” he croaked.
She looked sideways at him. “You do?”
“Oh sure. When birds are in flight they are so pretty. It looks like so much fun to be able to see far away and have the wind whip around you,” he croaked.
“Would you like for me to take you on a flight?”
“Are you kidding me?”
“No. I am asking. Would you like to fly?”
“Yes! How would we do that?”
“Well, I think you would have to hop on my back. It would be dangerous.” “Danger is my middle name,” he said.
“Oh really?” Airabelle said laughing. “Well, if danger is really your middle name then you are going to be in for a treat.”
“What do I do? Tell me! Tell me!” Esmond couldn’t contain his excitement.
“Well, hop on my back.”
“Is that going to hurt you?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Okay, well here goes nothing,” Esmond said as he took a soaring leap into the air and landed right on Airabelle’s back.
“Well, this is something you don’t see every day,” she said laughing. “Okay, I am going to take off so hold on the best you can. I will take it slow first. Then I will gradually go a little faster and a little higher. Are you ready?” He croaked. “Hold on.” She took off.
Esmond couldn’t believe the rush he received as they came off the ground. He was excited and scared all at the same time. It was a beautiful evening. It was amazing soaring in the night sky. It was better than anything he could have imagined. Higher and higher she went. “This is amazing!” he croaked. “I don’t ever want to go back down on the ground again.”
“Are you nervous?”
“No,” he croaked. “Fly around the farm and over the old pond, please Airabelle.” She did. They had a bird’s eye view of the crops in the field. They continued flying, over the chicken coop and the bee shack. Airabelle changed directions and headed back to Esmond’s pond home. In the moonlight it had a mirror-like quality to it. Esmond could see Airabelle’s reflection in the water. Esmond leaned over, but not too far, he was afraid he would lose his balance. Airabelle’s back was so smooth; it would be easy to slip off. It was fun to be in flight and fly by all the bugs. He thought it would be even more fun to be in flight in the daylight.
Finally, she landed. Esmond jumped down on the ground. He thought it felt weird to be back on land. “Thank you Airabelle. That was amazing. It is so beautiful flying under the stars at night,” he croaked.
“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. It was fun for me to be able to take you on a flight, and let you see the farm from my perspective when I fly.”
“Everything is so still now. I think I will take a swim in the pond and eat before we have to go back,” Esmond said.
“Enjoy. I will be back for you shortly. I’m sure it won’t be long before we have to be back.”
“All right. See you soon.” He hopped toward the waters’ edge.
Airabelle took flight and enjoyed her freedom. She flew high and she flew low. She made a fast flight around the farm before returning to hear the chime. She thought: Esmond, where are you? She flew as fast as she could and called out for him. She was happy to see he had already started hopping in the moonlight back toward the office. “Would you like a ride?” she asked.
“Sure,” he said. She swooped down and landed in front of him. He hopped onto her back and they took flight.
Carson was waiting. “Now that is something you don’t see every day.” He and Airabelle laughed.
She winked at Esmond. “A frog that loves to fly, or a bird with a frog on her back?”
“Both!” Carson said laughing. They went into the office. “I wanted to have you look over a few things with me, before Charles begins as a Sojourner tomorrow.” They all sat at the desk. Airabelle was on her perch, Esmond was placed on the corner and Carson sat in his chair. They all looked over the notes together. It took some time before they were finished going through all the paperwork.
When Carson gathered the information, Airabelle commented, “I am glad that Charles is going to be traveling with you tomorrow to the Hub. He’s worked very hard and I think he’s ready.” Carson nodded.
Everything was put neatly back in its place before Esmond was put in his aquarium and Airabelle returned to her cage. “Goodnight. See you both in the morning,” Carson said to them.
“Goodnight,” Airabelle said and Esmond croaked. Carson made his way back to the old farmhouse.
CHAPTER 20
It was early, the sun had just come up, and a cool breeze blew in through Charles’ open window. He quietly groaned and pulled the quilt up under his chin. He shifted positions in bed onto his right side and tightly closed his eyes. Just a little more sleep, just a little more. He had strange dreams last night. So although he had slept, it wasn’t exactly peaceful rest. He was still tired. He heard Nana and Paw Paw having a discussion in the kitchen. He could smell the morning coffee being brewed
and the cinnamon rolls baking in the oven. Charles was looking forward to working with Paw Paw today in the office. He was ready to get back to reading and researching. He was looking forward to visiting with Airabelle and Esmond. He rolled onto his back. He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. It was his turn to collect the crickets for Esmond this morning. He wondered if Nana needed help collecting eggs. She would be leaving soon to collect them.
He stuck his foot out from under the quilt. The morning air was cold. He brought his foot back under the quilt. He stretched. His thoughts were not going to be silenced, so he might as well get up and start the day. On the count of three: one, two, three. He didn’t budge. Charles laughed. One more time: one, two, three. This time he got up out of bed, but immediately wished he hadn’t. He shivered, grabbed his things and took them to the bathroom. He went through his morning routine. This morning he drenched himself in the shower with unusually warm water. When he got out of the shower the bathroom was foggy. He hurried to finish and ran downstairs. He was just in time to see Bev put on her straw hat and pick up her basket for the eggs.
“Would you like company?”
“Yes I would. Are you ready, or would you like to have breakfast first?”
“No, I’m ready.” They headed out the door.
Walter’s sons were standing by the hen house already. The hens were not happy being disturbed, and robbed of their eggs this morning. Everyone separated and went to their designated areas in order to finish collecting the eggs. Bev walked around, talking to the hens as she collected the eggs in her basket. They calmed down with her presence and acted as if they understood what her soothing voice was saying. When they finished collecting the eggs they headed back to the farmhouse.
“This was a good batch of eggs,” Bev said. Charles nodded. “I have enough to give Molly and Margaret a dozen each.”
They entered the house. She put the eggs in a container and set them in the refrigerator. She placed an iced cinnamon roll on Charles’ plate along with a fresh fruit salad. Charles fixed himself a glass of unsweetened tea. He returned the pitcher to the refrigerator. “Where is Paw Paw this morning?” Charles asked.
The Xidoran Prophecy Page 20
