Willow Wood Road: Lavender and Sage

by Micah Sherwood

  “I bet others in your house see them, they just don’t say anything. That’s the way it is in my family. Your secret is safe; I’ll not tell anyone; people can be assholes.” He smiled, and she kissed him on the cheek.”

  “Maybe some evening you can come to supper. You’ll like my older brother. He’s into guns and stuff too.” Then Lindy kissed his forehead and walked away.

  And Micah watched her leave; not wanting her to go; needing her to stay near him; holding him; loving him forever.

  Micah, come in for a moment,” his mother called. “Your friend is very cute,” she said as he stepped into the entry hall.

  “Cute, my God she is gorgeous,” Isabella spouted. She was standing next to his mother, and both of them had been spying on him and his conversation with Lindy. “And I can tell she really likes you.”

  “Jesus Christ you both are disturbed,” Micah grimaced. “She’s a lot older than me. We’re not even friends. She is just being nice.”

  Millie looked at her son, “Um huh. I know that look, and you both had it. Focus more on your horse and less on the girls. I saw her kiss you—TWICE,” she said with emphasis.

  Micah turned toward Isabella. “I suppose you have some words of wisdom for me too?”

  “Words wouldn’t do any good. You’re like Greg, hardheaded, stubborn and you’ll do whatever you want regardless of the consequences.” Isabella looked at him, and Micah saw loneliness in her eyes and a deep misery. She was mourning Greg’s departure.

  He took her hand and stood staring into her eyes, talking to her in a silent and secret voice, soothing her soul, letting her know that he cared and adored her. A tear fell from her eye, and then she held him tightly cheek-to-cheek as she began to bawl uncontrollably. And Micah stood frozen not knowing what to do. They remained that way for several minutes. Millie saw what was happening, and she retreated upstairs to the kitchen. There was nothing she could do but cry as well. Greg’s departure remained an open wound for everyone.

  “Thank you, I needed to feel Greg.” She paused before speaking again. “You look like him. You even smell like him. He told me to trust you, but my troubles shouldn’t be yours.”

  Micah already carried her agony. “Greg asked me to watch out for you. He didn’t need to ask. I don’t know how to help you, just be near when you need someone who loves you? That’s all I can do.”

  She gave him another kiss on the cheek and went to her room. Micah returned to his barn, his animals and his solitude.

  Chapter 6: Tellus

  The boys were all hyped for the first day of boxing, which was not taught in schools; it was considered too rough and vulgar, but Coach Ramsey was doing the training on his own time and paying the school for use of the facilities. The boys were required to bring a doctor’s release, proof of medical insurance, and a form signed by a parent holding the school district and instructor harmless in case of an injury. The lessons would be every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and last through May 28th.

  It took some effort getting a release from Dr. Reeves. Micah had to show him the syllabus for the children’s program, which would focus on cardiorespiratory training with no live sparring, only mitt training.

  At 5:30, Isabella drove up and the four boys crowded into the car. Cory was in the front seat before the car had barely stopped and sat next to the young woman. She smiled at him knowing that he had a crush on her. Micah took a seat next to Cory and punched his friend. “You realize that she’s married? She’s my sister-in-law and I’m obligated to beat the crap out of you for just thinking about her you know. It’s nothing personal, just the natural order of things.”

  “Oh Bucky, so much hot air and so little brawn.” Cory shot back.

  “Both of you get out,” Isabella ordered. “Tandy, get in the front seat and you two ride in the back.” The boys did as they were told, and she drove them to the school, parking in front of the large building. “I’ll be right here at 8:15. You guys better not be late.” They all got out of the car and Isabella showed them the location of the gym. “Remember 8:15. Be here!”

  They were early and only the trainer was present and shooting baskets. Coach was young, medium height and build. He had been Greg’s wrestling coach. “Go change into your shorts, and then take a seat on those bleachers. There are four more boys coming.”

  About this time, Guy Derocher came in and joined them. Guy was Micah’s oldest friend. They were ski-buddies; and for the last two summers, Micah and Greg had gone water skiing in New Mexico with the three Derocher brothers whose dad worked with Poppi. Micah introduced Guy and by the time he finished, the three other boys showed up.

  “I’m your coach and this is Introductory Boxing for ages 9 through 12. If you’re not in that age bracket, you’re in the wrong place,” he paused for a few moments. “Today we will have overviews, go over what we’ll be doing for the next two months and I’ll show you how to do a proper warm up. I’ve got your money, but you need to turn in your permissions. I will go down the row, and you’ll introduce yourself, tell us why you’re taking boxing and give me your paperwork.” When it was Micah’s turn, he announced his name, handed in his papers and returned to his seat. “Mr. Sherwood, you’re Greg Sherwood’s brother?”

  “Yes sir,” he responded.

  “Why are you taking this class?”

  “I attended classes that my cousin taught in Missouri. I want to continue.” Micah sat down.

  “Greg mentioned that you’ve taken beginning boxing. Shouldn’t you be in the next level?”

  “Maybe, but a repeat won’t hurt will it?” Micah queried.

  “It won’t hurt, but I’m not sure it will help either. Next,” the coach shouted out, and then it was Dane’s turn.

  Dane stood and announced. “I am Dane Petit, and I saw Micah get pushed at school once, and it took him less than five seconds to have the kid on the floor bleeding with the breath knocked out of him. I want to be able to do that. It was great. That’s why I’m taking boxing.”

  The coach looked over at Micah and smiled. “I’m sure you’re in the wrong class,” and then he finished with the introductions.

  “Class starts at 6:00, and that means you’re dressed in gym shorts and have already completed your warm up. The gym will be open for you at 5:00 to do all the preliminary stuff. Class will let out at 7:45 which gives you enough time for a shower and to dress. And you will shower so bring towels. Your rides should be here no later than 8:15. Do not hang around the school after class.” He paused for a moment.

  “You are going to sweat. Your muscles are going to ache. And you might even hate me. I promise, though, you will be in better shape and stronger when the lessons are complete. The primary goal of this class is strength development and learning the basic techniques of boxing. Any questions?”

  “None, okay, you supply your own gloves, shorts, safety gear and proper shoes. I will provide everything else. There are three steps in warm up: 15 minutes of stretching, 15 minutes of shadow boxing and 15 minutes jumping rope.” The boys then weighed and a few measurements were taken. The coach discussed nutrition; and then gave instructions on proper warm up technique.

  After showering, the boys waited at the parking area for their ride. “I thought we’d be smacking each other. This ain’t what I expected,” Dane commented.

  “It’s incremental, everything in steps.” Micah thought for a moment. “You can’t ride roughstock in a rodeo until you learn to mount a horse. Boxing’s no different. Anything that has value takes work.”

  Micah walked over to Dane and whacked him on the shoulder. “There, feel better? I do. Want me to smack you again?”

  “I’m gonna whip your ass,” and Dane charged at Micah, who took off running. They ran across the front lawn of the school, Micah outpacing Dane by only a few feet, but Dane was aggressive and agile, and he leaped at Micah, tackling and bringing him down hard.

  Micah was crawling to get away, but by this time, Tandy and Cory were into the ruckus and they
turned him onto his back and held his arms and legs flat to the ground while Dane raised his shirt and gave him a red belly.

  “Say please stop,” Dane yelled at Micah. “Say it!” And Dane continued to slap Micah’s belly with his open hand.

  “Please stop, you fucking idiot,” Micah hollered, and Dane ended the torture and the other boys released him. And they all lay on the ground happy.

  They heard and then saw Isabella’s car, and they jumped up except Micah who waited long enough to permit Dane to stand before grabbing the waist of his pants to yank them along with his underwear to his ankles before taking off. Dane had his jeans back up within half a second then joined his friends as they piled into the car.

  “Everyone in,” Isabella asked and pulled away. “Feel like Manley’s tonight?” And there was a unanimous yes. She turned onto the road while listening to the 10 year old boys chatter, and it made her feel both alive and lonely at the same time.

  “Dane,” Isabella looked at the boy in the rearview mirror. His blue green eyes shone brightly from the glaring street lights.

  “Yeah,” he responded.

  “You have a beautiful ass.”

  There was total silence in the car as the boys absorbed the off colored compliment. Dane stopped slouching and sat upright. “Well, if you ever want a closer look, just let me know.”

  Isabella about choked, and then the whole car erupted in a chorus of laughter.

  The four of them had their dinner, and now, as it approached 10:00, they lay near the creek peering into the black sky which was absent a moon. Budding tree branches and a thin layer of fog hid the stars. They did not talk, yet their senses were heightened and their mood commensurating; they measured the world and life in a common but occult fashion. Common to themselves that is, perhaps a little bizarre to others. But they didn’t need to prove anything to anyone. The foursome was the world, and everyone else was just so much noise and distraction.

  Perhaps ten yards away the coyote family watched the clutch of boys.

  “Let’s run to the lake bed,” Cory broke the silence. “Let’s take our sleeping bags and go into the desert. We’d be really alone there. I’m not sleepy. I want to do something.”

  “I’m game,” Tandy started rolling his bag up and was followed by the rest of the boys.

  “Gotta leave a note for Tom, and we need to take some water and food.” The boys followed Micah back into the barn, and as Micah put the note on the kitchen table, the boys filled canteens then grabbed some nuts and raisins for breakfast.

  After the sprint to the lake bottom, Micah and Cory went to search for kindling and wood for a fire, and as they went into the prairie, the coyote family greeted both of them. It took two trips to carry the firewood back to the encampment. Dane had found a folding shovel in the barn and packed it in his roll. He retrieved it and dug a pit for the fire, which was a mighty hard task in the semidarkness of the gibbous moon. Micah pulled some dry grass from his pocket along with a magnesium and flint fire starter. He scraped some of the magnesium onto the fistful of grass with his knife and then used the flint to make sparks. Within half a minute he had flames and in a couple of minutes a decent fire.

  The boys sat staring into the bonfire hypnotized. Their camp was adjacent to the playa. An owl rested in the limbs of a mesquite watching. The coyotes stood far enough away that the darkness covered them in obscurity, but their luminous eyes pierced the night reflecting the blaze; Cory and Micah observed them while Tandy and Dane never noticed. On the flat surface of the lake bed, the black formless things also scrutinized the band of campers; Micah and Cory were aware of their existence. But Micah sensed something else, and he was not sure what it was other than it was vile, violent and threatening. He looked across at Cory who also felt the presence behind him. The coyotes stirred and took off running, crossing within 10 feet of the fire and darting into the night toward the unknown predator. The appearance of the canines surprised Tandy and Dane, who sprung up and took off into the playa, but returned when they saw that their two buddies remained seated.

  “Uh, got a little nervous did you?” Micah asked as the boys retook their seats.

  “What was that about,” Tandy asked.

  “Coyotes chasing something,” Cory answered. “They’ve been following us since we left the barn. You need to be more aware. If you’d only look, you’d have seen their eyes watching.”

  “If you say so, but what were they chasing?”

  “Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.” Micah stood up for a moment. “We need to check it out,” and he and Cory left the camp.

  The two went into the blackness following the coyotes. “It’s gone, the coyotes scared it.” Cory stood silently for a second. “There they are; they’re coming back.”

  “I think it was a man. Do you smell it?” Micah whispered.

  “Aftershave,” Cory responded. He wanted to say more, but Micah did not give him the chance as he trotted back to the fire and his friends.

  “It’s safe, the coyotes chased it away; they’ll protect us,” Micah lay on top of his sleeping bag. “I’ll stay awake and feed the fire.”

  It took a while, but Dane and Tandy were asleep, and Cory pretended to be. Micah hung around the fire for another half-hour, and then disappeared into the night toward the center of the playa. He inspected the area for trespassers, for danger. There was nothing except for Cory who had creeped behind him, following him but not to spy on his buddy, to protect him.

  “There’s nothing here Cory. You can come out.” Micah didn’t have to wait for his comrade to show himself. “There’s nobody here to hurt me. You didn’t need to follow.”

  “You’re naïve.” Cory appeared taller and bolder. “You’re a target. You’re being hunted. Couldn’t you feel it while ago? He was after you. You need to be careful.”

  “Why do you think that. Who’s after me? And maybe it’s you he’s after?” Micah was being hesitant. “Anyway, I can protect myself. It’s Tandy and Dane that are vulnerable. They have no defenses like we have.” His eyes twinkled ruby-red as he turned away from Cory.

  “No, don’t you understand. He followed us from the barn. He wasn’t here by accident. People don’t go roaming around the prairie after midnight. Only stupid kids goofing around do that. That guy has intentions and they’re deadly. I’m going to talk to Dorsey. You won’t but I will.” Cory was frustrated and horrified at what he was feeling.

  “Fine and that will just make it more difficult for us. Dorsey will lock me up to protect me. Forget boxing. Forget riding and hiking and camping this summer.” Micah thought for a moment. “We’ll be more watchful, and when we have some evidence, we’ll tell Tom. Until then, we have nothing.”

  “You’re going down the same path you did when you were sick. Keep everything private until it’s too late and you’re dead. I can’t do that. I won’t do that. You’re selfish. He’s after you, but we may all be at risk, even Tom. You don’t think about the people who love you. You can be such a fucking prick!” Cory was shaking with anger, and as his rage peaked, he threw a left jab knocking Micah flat.

  Cory gasped and bent over to help his friend off the ground. As he reached down, Micah started laughing; and then Cory joined him as he went to his knees, each boy clutching the other, and for a moment their world filled with futility.

  Micah pushed Cory away as he stood and faced into the blackness. “No!” Micah yelled as his arms reached toward the night sky. “This is my life.” As he said these words, silence became pervasive. The breeze stopped. The air seemed to freeze.

  Cory stood and raised his hands toward the heavens copying his buddy’s actions. And as Micah spoke, Cory reiterated his words:

  “Iuva me Tellus.”

  “Sepi me cum amore et vire tuo.”

  “Pavores habeo. Detriumpha eos.”

  “Dubitationes habeo. Da fidem tuam mihi.”

  “Vitam habeo. Eam custodi.

  “Concipe me![2]”

  Neither was
conscious of the Latin flowing from their mouths. The words came naturally and easily; their meaning clear, honest and expressing the impoverishment their souls felt at that moment.

  As they finished their plea, glimmering spheres floated from beneath the ground. Thousands of marble sized globes of light surrounded them, floating over them and through them: golden orbs and orangey-red ones; small pink globes and white ones; and innumerable shining blue balls circled them and danced above them. The sudden breeze was flooded with the scent of jasmine and roses. In the distance, the Shadow Choir sung a beautiful and drawn-out melody. The bobbing lights settled upon and enclosed them. And when they blinked, they lay warm within their sleeping bags, spectators to the approaching sunrise. The two boys stood to behold the morning encroach upon the playa. Cory faced Micah. “It wasn’t a dream. It happened.”

  “Sure, I have the busted lip to prove it. Thanks for that,” Micah teased. “It is what it is. That’s her message. She listened for us, and she heard us.”

  The sun barely poked above the horizon in the east. The boys were full: no hunger, no fear, some regrets. Cory’s terror and anger were absent. Now he understood Micah, who was not in control at all, not like he thought. He was an explorer, and he followed whatever path lay before him without question. And the nurse at the hospital, the Black Mother, is not their protector. She answered their appeal by reminding them of their own strengths and of fate unforgiving. Cory aligned with Micah and he was at peace, and the boys walked the same path.

  They sat at the fire watching and waiting for Tandy and Dane to come around. They did not talk; there was no need for words. They were comfortable where they were in time and space. Death would come maybe tomorrow or in a hundred years, but at this moment they were satisfied and nothing else was important. Dane sat up and then Tandy. Micah covered the fire with dirt and stirred it, then packed it with more soil. They ate their sparse breakfast, and then started their jaunt back to the ranch house. Cory and Tandy separated at the pipeline, but Dane continued on to the barn to help with the chores.