Stranger in the Woods

by Geof Johnson

  Several long seconds later, something broke the surface of the field and flew in a downward arc, landing on the concrete floor with a metallic jangle.

  The keys.

  Shouts of joy exploded throughout the room, and Zach felt his face stretch into the broadest possible smile.

  Then the room went dark.

  “Uh-oh,” Jason said. “Looks like the power’s out.”

  “But not too soon,” Grandpa said. “Thankfully.”

  There was a long moment of silence while everyone seemed to be processing what had happened, and then Shelby said, “He made it, Mr. Ogletree, didn’t he?”

  “I’d say he definitely did. Bo is home.”

  Zach thought he detected the slightest catch in Grandpa’s voice, and Zach wiped his eyes again and exhaled sharply. “I can’t believe it. We did it. We actually did it.”

  “Yes, we did,” Grandpa said.

  “Can somebody please explain to me what is goin’ on?” Tina said from across the pitch-black room, and then a bluish glow appeared in her hands when she turned her cell phone on.

  “Explain it to me, too,” Zach’s mother said.

  “All right,” Grandpa said. “Why don’t we follow Tina upstairs and get a fire going in the fireplace? Then we’ll tell you all about it.”

  Chapter 46

  Zach set the last empty cardboard box on the bed and pulled open the flaps. “Looks like we can get the rest of it in here, Shelby.”

  “Sure is a lot of stuff,” she said. She was helping him pack up his father’s awards in the trophy room. The walls were already bare and the shelves were empty. More boxes lay on the floor, full.

  She was the only one with him. Her brothers were at lacrosse practice. They had finally found a sport where they could hit each other with sticks and not get in trouble, and they were good at it.

  Shelby glanced around. “Looks funny in here, now.”

  “It’ll look better once we paint. We didn’t do this room before because I already had everything set out and tacked on the walls and stuff, and I was too lazy to move it.”

  She laid a handful of ribbons inside the empty box. “Is your cousin going to sleep in here?”

  “Not sure. I thought Emily could have this room and her two little brothers could have the one next to it.”

  “That’s the one with the turret, isn’t it? That’s the one I stayed in when I was sick. It’s a pretty cool room. I’m surprised you haven’t moved in there.”

  “I hated it when we first got here. I thought it was creepy, like…medieval or something. I guess it is kinda cool, but I’m used my bedroom, now.

  “Where are Emily’s parents going to sleep when they get here?”

  “Downstairs, in the master bedroom. We just need to clean it up a little and get the junk out of it.”

  “But you have three weeks, right? They’re not coming until spring break.”

  “Yeah, but I want it to look nice.”

  “Is your grandfather excited?”

  “I think so, but he wouldn’t admit it.”

  “Are we going to take Emily to Bo’s cabin while she’s here?”

  “I’d like to. My mom wants to see it, too, now that the weather’s warming up. Guess we can take everybody.”

  Zach’s mother poked her head through the open doorway and said, “How’s it going in here?”

  “Almost done,” Zach said.

  “Do you need some help?”

  “No, we got it.”

  “Okay, just checking. I’ll be downstairs if you need me.” She started to turn away but paused for a moment. “By the way, I talked to the real estate agent about the house next door. It looks like someone is going to buy it, a family with two young kids.”

  “Maybe they’ll need a babysitter,” Shelby said.

  “That’s what I was thinking. It would be perfect, wouldn’t it?” She stood there a short while longer, watching Zach and Shelby work, then left.

  Zach dropped two big handfuls of gold medals on top of the ribbons in the box. “Did your mom turn in the form for the archery club yet?”

  “Unh hunh. I’m riding with you and your mom this Saturday. Are you nervous about it?”

  “Maybe a little. But we’ve been practicing enough, I think. And we had a real good teacher.”

  Shelby nodded and her chin fell, but only for a moment. “I miss him. All the time.”

  “Me, too.”

  He didn’t have to say who. He knew they were both thinking about the stranger in the woods, the white-haired giant with the big heart and the seemingly inexhaustible capacity to change the lives of those around him.

  “Archery,” she said with a sigh. “I’d say we have an advantage over the other kids in our age group, wouldn’t you?”

  “I like to think so. I guess we’ll find out on Saturday.” He set the last of the medals in the box and looked around the room one more time. “I think that’s it. We’re done. Thanks for helping.”

  “Sure. Um…you want to come to my house for a little while?”

  “When does your mom get home?”

  “She’s going to be a little late today. She’s got to stop by the lawyer’s office and sign some papers. I think Daddy’s getting released next weekend.”

  “That’s really great. When does your Uncle Marty get sentenced?”

  “Didn’t I tell you? He already has. He got fifteen years. He’ll be going to the state prison right when Daddy’s getting out. They’re practically trading places.”

  “I’m glad your uncle finally got caught.”

  “And he doesn’t have Daddy around to get him out of it. Not that he could. I heard the police found a lot of drugs on Uncle Marty when they got him, and it’s his second offense.”

  “I’m looking forward to meeting your dad. My grandpa said he can work with him until he gets back on his feet.”

  “I know. Mama told me. She said pretty soon they’re going to get me contact lenses! I’m so excited. How do you think I’ll look?” She slipped off her glasses, raised her chin and turned it slightly to one side, offering a Mona Lisa smile.

  Fully exposed, Shelby’s delicate features seemed to settle into a perfection of form, ruled by the clear blueness of her eyes. Her long, slender neck made her appear elegant and regal, like a swan, and he told her so.

  “A swan? You really think so?” She put her glasses back on.

  “I know so.”

  She put the fingertips of one hand to her lower lip and tugged on it. “So…do you want to come over or not?”

  “I thought you couldn’t have people over when your mom’s not home.”

  “We could hang out on the porch. That’s allowed.”

  “And do what?”

  “I dunno.” She tugged at her lip again and shrugged one shoulder. “We could sit on the porch swing and eat popcorn. And talk and stuff.”

  It suddenly seemed like a good idea. A really good idea. “Sure. Why not?”

  Liz was in the kitchen when she heard Zach and Shelby come down the stairs. They stepped into the doorway and Zach said, “We’re going over to her house for a little while.”

  “Oh.” Liz stared at them for a moment. “You’re finished putting away the trophies already?”

  “Yes ma’am. We don’t have any homework so we thought we’d hang out on her porch.”

  “That’s fine. Do you need a ride?”

  “We don’t mind walking. It’s a nice day.”

  “Okay. Just be home in time for dinner.”

  He waved goodbye, and they disappeared into the short hallway that led to the foyer. She waited until she heard the front door slam, then hurried to the library and eased back the curtain on one of the front windows so she could watch them leave.

  They strolled side by side across the grass toward the sidewalk, close, but not quite touching. Liz wished that Zach would take Shelby’s hand, but he didn’t, and Liz knew that was too much to hope for.

  They turned and smiled fondly
at each other, and Liz knew that Zach was happy, and knowing that, she realized, made her happy, too. Happier than she’d been in a long time.

  And that was enough.

  About the Author

  Geof Johnson lives in Georgia with his family, and a cat. He enjoys running, watercolor painting, and playing guitar a little too loud and a little too much.

  You can contact him at: geof.johnson@comcast.net