The Childe

by C. A. Kunz

  Cat looked around expecting Kirsten to be in the near vicinity, having sounded like she had whispered in Cat’s ear. Cat was shocked to see her in the same seat as before.

  “Amanda, did you just hear what Kirsten said?”

  “What? How could I? She’s all the way up there,” she replied with her eyes glued to the field.

  “This is so boring, I hate football. If Taylor wasn’t out there, I’d definitely be somewhere else. I wish Tonya would stop smacking her gum. She sounds so common.” Cat watched as Kirsten’s mouth never moved, yet she heard her voice loud and clear. A roar from the crowd brought her back to the game just in time to see Ryan being pulled down after running twenty yards.

  Ryan ran to the sidelines and took off his helmet. He grinned when he looked up and met Cat’s eyes. She quickly shifted her attention to Taylor who was setting up to get hiked the ball. She leaned down as if she had dropped something and then scooted over to Matt’s seat. Quickly sitting up, Cat glanced back at Ryan who was still standing there foolishly grinning at her. She could feel her face turning red, as she knew now she was the object of his attention.

  “Hey, Cat? Cat? Could you grab some of this stuff?” She looked up and saw Matt struggling. He held a flimsy cardboard tray with a huge assortment of food on it, while trying to balance two large drinks under his chin. She grabbed the cups and moved back to her seat. Matt sank down into his, relieved he hadn’t dropped anything.

  “Who are you feeding?” she asked.

  “What do you mean? It’s just a few snacks. I’m a growing man.”

  Amanda reached over and grabbed her candy. “Thanks dud, I mean dude,” she laughed to herself as she opened the box and popped a chocolate in her mouth.

  “Here are your drinks, Matt,” Cat said while holding them up so he could take them.

  “Can you put them at my feet? I left my extra pair of hands at home,” he replied.

  “Oh what a geek-” Amanda began, but was drowned out by the roar of the crowd.

  “What did I miss?” Matt asked while jumping up and knocking one cup over with his foot, and then thanked Cat as she saved the other one. “I knew I needed two drinks! Can’t be too prepared,” Matt said as Cat laughed at him.

  Taylor cocked his arm back, and scrambled to the left. Cat saw Ryan running down the sidelines, keeping his eyes on Taylor. He’s going to miss it. Damn, she thought. The crowd groaned in agony as the ball flew past Ryan’s head. What in the world? Where’d that come from? Cat sat back, stunned in disbelief.

  She’s such a witch. I wish Samantha would fall flat on her face. I heard her talking about me today and she doesn’t know that I did. Just wait! I’ll get her back. Cat stared intently at the cheerleader in front of them. Candy had a distinct accent since she had moved from South Carolina and everyone thought her southern drawl was cute. Candy raised her pom-poms and started another cheer.

  Who does she think she is? The captain of the squad? Cindy should rip her a new one, Southern cow. Candy, Candy, Candy. It’s all about her. Well, like I told Jenny today, I’m going to get even. Cat sat in awe watching Samantha force a smile at Candy.

  Why didn’t her lips move? What’s wrong with me? Am I hallucinating? Cat wondered. Looking at the clock she realized it was almost halftime. She stood and pushed past a startled Matt. I have to get out of here. This is too crazy. What the hell’s going on!

  “Cat, where are you going?” Matt shouted around a mouthful of food. “You’ll miss the halftime show!” She didn’t acknowledge him as he watched her run down the bleachers.

  Amanda leaned over and yelled at Matt, “Where’s Cat going?” He shrugged his shoulders.

  “She must’ve needed to pee or something,” he replied, stuffing the last bit of hot dog in his mouth.

  The horn sounded announcing halftime and people rushed from their seats. Gosh, I’ve got to pee, Cat heard. Boy, I’m thirsty! Wish I could have a beer right now. She whirled around trying to figure out where the voices were coming from. I wish he would notice me, I’m such a spaz. She covered her ears as the voices, all talking at once, hurt her head. The pounding in her head blurred it so that she couldn’t make out words anymore. Running out the gate toward the parking lot, she made her way to an isolated group of trees, giving her the privacy she craved.

  After sitting down in the grass, Cat tried to catch her breath, fearing that her heart was going to leap out of her chest. “Maybe I’m going crazy,” she said to the tree in front of her. She forced herself to stay calm. She knew she had heard those people’s thoughts. I’ve never experienced that before. How’d I know what was going to happen in the game? I need to just relax and not panic. Don’t panic. There’s got to be a rational explanation for this, she thought, as she remembered one of the TV shows she had seen. A man had been in an accident, then in a coma, and when he woke up he was psychic. Maybe when I hit my head at the carnival? She wondered. Cat knew she couldn’t simply sit in the privacy of the trees for the rest of the game. Not with her friends and family in the stands. Her mom, for sure, would come looking for her and that’s the last thing she needed. She was in no shape to try and hide this, so she made her way back to her seat.

  “Where have you been? You missed Elle!” Amanda asked.

  “I had to go to the bathroom, is that all right?” she snapped back. Amanda’s eyes grew big. Cat’s never yelled at me. Not even when I cut chunks out of her hair when we were six, and she had to walk around for a year until it grew out, Amanda thought.

  “Sorry, Amanda, my stomach is upset,” Cat murmured.

  “Must be your time of the month coming up, Cat,” Matt interjected.

  Amanda leaned across Cat and slapped him on the chest. “Matthew Ian Thomas that is not a subject to bring up in civilized conversation,” she reprimanded. The four girls sitting in front of their group snickered.

  “I just can’t win! Girls are so sensitive and us guys are never right,” he mumbled, throwing up his arms. Cat stared straight ahead, oblivious to what her friends were saying and doing.

  As Cat looked around, her eyes landed on Isaac and his group. Okay, Mr. Isaac, you’re going to be my experiment, she thought. Staring intently at Isaac and concentrating, she repeated in her mind: I want to read Isaac’s thoughts. I want to read Isaac’s thoughts.

  Several intense seconds later, Cat realized nothing was going to happen. Suddenly, Isaac turned his head to her, followed by Amelia and the Stone twins. Their penetrating stares made her shiver. Cat turned away quickly, and focused her attention back on the field just in time to see Ryan catch the ball and run into the end zone. As the horn sounded at the end of the game, the crowd jumped to their feet and roared. She realized Ryan had just scored the winning touchdown. When Cat looked back at Isaac’s group, their cold stares slammed into her. The pain in her chest made her release the breath she didn’t realize she was holding. Matt and Amanda grabbed her in a hug, jumping up, and blocking her view of Isaac’s group. When the excitement settled, Cat scanned the crowd, trying to find Isaac again, but he was gone.

  “Okay you two, I’m going upstairs and having a long, hot bath. I’m so cold! It’s really too bad they don’t have seat warmers for those bleachers at the games!” Rachel complained, walking up the stairs. Sam looked at Cat and mouthed seat warmers, which made her giggle.

  As her mom disappeared up the stairs, Cat turned to her dad and said, “Can I talk to you for a sec?”

  “Sure, honey. You look so serious. Am I in trouble?” Cat laughed as her dad cocked an eyebrow at her. He never assumed that she or Taylor were in trouble. Sam led Cat into his study and shut the door. Sitting comfortably on the couch, he looked at her, waiting for her to speak.

  “Dad, do you know anything about intuition or being able to hear people’s thoughts?”

  “Like ESP?” Sam asked while reclining back on the couch with a look of relief on his face. “Well, I think I can handle this one. When I first went to college I majored in psychology, but it was depressin
g so I ended up choosing Ancient and World History instead. Not as depressing, but yet some of the things mankind has done to one another can be so…Sorry, honey, I know, I’m rambling. During my studies, I just happened to come across a man who declared himself a true psychic and mind reader. Of course, I was skeptical, but then I thought, there’s so much in this world we don’t know about and so how can we not go into things with an open mind? This guy was amazing. Yes, truly amazing. And I walked away with a new insight to the paranormal. There are people who are blessed or cursed, depending on how they perceive it, who can do all these things. Why do you ask?” Sam queried as he studied his daughter. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

  “Lately, I’ve been having these little episodes where I think about something that’s about to happen, and then it does.”

  Sam smiled brightly, “It’s called female intuition. You’re almost an adult, and believe me, the older you get, the more things the people around you can’t get away with. Your mother’s intuition is phenomenal. I can’t get away with anything. But I still love her.”

  Cat grinned and rose from her chair. “Thanks for listening, Dad.”

  “Anytime, sweetheart. And here I thought we were going to have ‘the talk,’” he said laughing.

  “The talk? Dad please, Mom and I had ‘the talk’ years ago,” Cat said with a giggle.

  “Oh…Well, never mind then. Now, you go on and get some rest, you’ve got a big day ahead of you tomorrow,” he said, giving her a big hug and kiss on the cheek before shooing her out of the study.

  Tomorrow I’ll have to sit down with Aldon. Something is starting to happen with Cat and we need to find out what it is, Sam thought as he watched Cat head up the stairs. He hit the light switch on the wall, plunging the room into darkness. After checking the front door, he slowly made his way up the stairs. I’ll not tell Rachel just yet. I’ll wait until Aldon and I have a chance to talk first.

  Cat laid awake tossing and turning. Finally, she decided to go down to the study to pick out a book to read. Maybe one of Dad’s boring books could help put me to sleep. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she heard muffled voices and saw light coming from under the door of the study. After opening the door she was greeted by Taylor and his friends sprawled around the room.

  “Hey Cat,” Jonathen said as the others looked on.

  “Hey guys, what’s up? Can’t sleep either, huh? That was a great game tonight by the way. Kept us on the edge of our seats, that’s for sure,” Cat quipped, causing the group to laugh. “So, where are the females? Or is this a boy’s night in?”

  “We’re just unwinding. Letting off some steam. Did we wake you?” Devin asked.

  “No, I couldn’t sleep. I thought I’d find a boring book and see if that would do the trick.”

  “I find hot cocoa puts me under,” Devin stated. He blushed as everyone stared at him. “Hot cocoa is a manly drink! My dad drinks it,” he said defensively.

  “Don’t worry, Dev, Taylor likes cocoa too,” Cat said with a mischievous grin. Taylor gave her an exasperated look.

  “What? Anyway, I guess I’ll just pick out my book and leave you boys alone to have your secret meeting.”

  “This is a team meeting,” Taylor corrected her.

  “So, where’s the rest of the team then? At least where’s Ryan, your star running back?” she asked as everyone looked at Taylor for the answer. She felt confused, why is everyone looking at him. Did I say something wrong?

  “Here,” Taylor said, grabbing a book off the shelf, “Read this. If it doesn’t put you to sleep, nothing will.” He pushed the book into Cat’s hands and then firmly steered her to the door, closing it behind her.

  “How rude, I didn’t even get to say goodnight,” Cat muttered as she climbed the stairs.

  .6

  The Purple Door

  Peering through her living room curtains, Maude watched as a little purple Volkswagen sputtered into her neighbor’s driveway. “Albert you should see who just pulled into the Colvins’. She looks like a hippie. Remember them?” When he failed to answer, she left her post and smacked him with a rolled up newspaper.

  “Ow, what was that for?” Albert whined, rubbing his head.

  “For not listening! I swear, drug-dealing hippies are in our neighborhood and you could care less!” she snapped and then resumed her post at the window.

  “Get away from there. It’s none of your business who comes and goes in the neighborhood. Remember last year?” he blurted out.

  “I don’t like your tone, Albert Roberts. Besides, I only did it for the common good of the neighborhood. How was I supposed to know that those garbagemen weren’t running a money laundering scheme out of their garbage truck? Now come over here and see her when she comes out. Oh look, she and Catherine are coming out of the house now! Hurry!” Albert turned the page of his newspaper, acting as if he hadn’t heard her.

  “Oh, well that’s just great! Come on Fredricka, I guess the fate of the neighborhood rests in our hands. Be a good girl and stand still for mommy so I can put on your leash. No, you can’t stay with daddy. Come on, before they get away!” she demanded as Fredricka laid down, refusing to budge. Ignoring Fredricka’s wine of protest, Maude dragged her across the room. Opening the front door, she pulled her outside. “Yoo-hoo, Catherine! Where are you off to so early on a Saturday?” she called out, her voice sounded like nails on a chalkboard.

  “Oh, hi, Mrs. Roberts. I’m just going out. How is Mr. Roberts?” Cat asked, trying to divert the conversation.

  “Oh, he’s fine. I’m just taking little Fredricka out for a wee wee,” she replied. Cat held in her laugh as Fredricka lay down and exposed her belly. “Fredricka, you don’t do that in public! Have you no shame?” she chastised. The poodle ignored her.

  “Where are my manners? Mrs. Roberts, this is my teacher, Miss Amaya.”

  “Namaste,” Miss Amaya said, smiling at Maude.

  “Glad to meet you. Cat, how does she teach if she doesn’t speak English?” Maude asked.

  “I speak English. In fact I’m a native of Covington County,” she answered before Cat could respond.

  “Then what was that foreign word you said just now?” Maude asked rudely.

  Miss Amaya’s smile grew bigger. “Oh, Namaste? It means the soul in me greets the soul in you,” she replied serenely.

  “Oh…well…I think Fredricka is done. You two have a lovely day now, okay?” The two watched as Maude dragged the poodle back into the house and slammed the door. “Albert I was right! That lady takes and deals drugs. I really need to inform Rachel, poor child. She’s probably oblivious.” Albert said nothing and turned the page of his newspaper.

  Holding on for dear life to the little handrail attached to the Volkswagen’s dashboard, Cat watched the scenery fly by. “Nifty little item, huh? I had it installed so that when I go around corners my passenger would have something to hold on to. Apparently some people think I drive a little too defensively. But I say you can never be too careful!” Miss Amaya stated as Cat giggled nervously.

  Next to Miss Amaya, Cat felt she was underdressed with her jeans and dark maroon hoodie. I wish I would have asked what to wear, she thought while looking down and scanning her outfit. “You look fine, Cat. This is how I normally dress outside of school.”

  How does she do that, it’s like she reads my mind. Maybe I should tell her about my experiences last night. No, she’d probably think I’m crazy.

  The car turned sharply as it rounded a bend. Cat tightly clutched the small bar, her knuckles turning ghostly white. The little car veered to the right and bounced onto a small road that didn’t seem large enough to accommodate two vehicles. Cat held her breath as a large truck barreled toward them. She closed her eyes and felt the car swerve and the ground become extremely bumpy. The truck passed by, blaring its horn. Cat cracked one eye open and watched as the little bug jumped back onto the road. Looking at Miss Amaya, she realized the incident hadn’t phased her one bit. In fa
ct, Miss Amaya started to speed up, causing the little car to groan.

  A forest of tall, dark, and bare trees loomed ahead. After driving through the arched entryway, they were plunged into darkness. The road was suddenly illuminated by the car’s headlights, sending small animals scurrying out of their path. “Don’t worry Cat. They’re quick. The animals are used to this,” Miss Amaya said, smiling reassuringly.

  Looking to the right, Cat noticed a patch of sunlight shining through the tree canopy on a group of elk gathered by a small stream. As the purple bug sped by the majestic animals, Cat swore she saw them look up and then bow their heads as if welcoming them into the forest.

  “Miss Amaya, did you just see that?” Cat asked confused.

  “What, what did you see?”

  “Oh, nothing…never mind,” Cat replied.

  The forest seemed to be endless. Cat could no longer see anything through the thick darkness. The path ahead was now only barely illuminated. Miss Amaya grabbed ahold of her pentagram necklace and began mumbling something.

  “Miss Amaya what are-?”

  Before Cat could finish her sentence they were suddenly bathed in sunlight as they emerged from the woods. Cat’s eyes widened as she took in the scenery around her. Fields of brightly colored flowers carpeted either side of the tiny road. Ahead she saw small, colorful cottages gracing the top of the hill. Each one was surrounded by a small picket fence with beautiful gardens nestled inside. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Miss Amaya smiling. “Breathtaking, isn’t it? I never get tired of the feeling I get when I come here. It’s so peaceful, so tranquil. A place a person can just breathe.” Cat nodded, too stunned to say anything, her senses were on overload.

  Why wasn’t this place on the tourist maps? Cat asked herself. She had looked up Wedgewick Village on the Internet, but couldn’t find it anywhere. Cat had even gone into her father’s study to look at his map of Covington County. She used the huge magnifying glass sitting on his desk, and still couldn’t find it.