Both boys were lost in reveries as they rode along the creek when a distinctive rattle sounded across the muted scene. The boys snapped out of their dreams. Micah saw the large diamondback lying on the path just before Styx kicked, bucked and sent him flying and landing on his feet before tumbling to the ground.
“You okay?” Cory yelled, and Micah shook his head yes. Cory went chasing after the black horse, and Micah started walking back to the bridge, where he waited for the return of his friends, human and equine.
Thirty minutes later, Cory galloped toward Micah leading Styx. Bucky sat under the overpass, clothes dusty and his head scratched. Cory hooted and cackled at the image of his friend flying through space, hitting the ground and rolling.
“You can be an asshole sometimes, know that.” Micah had a faint smile on his face.
“And you’re a clown all of the time, know that.” Cory shot back still laughing.
The sun was well past mid-day, and the two young cowpokes swallowed their lunch and raced back to the Dorsey barn. It was heavy twilight when they started wiping down the horses. It had been a good day, even with the bucking incident, and it was the first time since last Fall that the temperature went over 80°. The warmth had been penetrating. Summer was around the corner, and Micah could hardly wait for the heat and the thunderstorms.
Mr. Dorsey came out. “You were pretty late tonight. I was a little worried.”
“Sorry,” Micah spoke. “We rode to the 287 Bridge and time got away from us. It’s more rugged on the west side of the highway and prettier.”
“It is. When I was a kid, I would camp along the creek where it circles around. I spent a week out there once when I was your age all alone. That was before the highway, and just a small two lane road ran through there.” His eyes faded as he relived a memory.
“That’s where we were. I know exactly where that circle is. The creek sure is windy out there.”
“You boys hurry up and get some clean clothes on. I want to go to Texas Steak Company tonight.” Mr. Dorsey left.
They rushed into the shower and then dressed. Micah tossed a clean pair of jeans to Cory, who had brought no change of clothes. Then he pitched a shirt to his friend. “You’re here more often than not. You should keep some clothes in my closet so you don’t have to wear mine all of the time. You may have cooties.”
Cory punched him then ran to the truck where Tom was waiting.
Inside the restaurant, after they had finished eating, Micah looked at Tom. “Mr. Dorsey, after Cory and I get back from Norway, can we work with Henry on the ranch part time?” Cory, surprised, stared at his friend. “Maybe two days a week?” Micah continued his request. “I want to learn the business. We won’t take any money for him teaching us.”
“Screw that,” Cory puffed out. “If I work, I want some cash to show for it.”
Tom chuckled. “I think we might work something out. Let me talk to Henry.” He looked at Micah. “How much money have you saved? I bet you have quite a bit.”
“Around $650 dollars. Good huh?”
“Very good, “Tom smiled. “Still saving it for college?”
“Don’t need it for anything else. You can stop paying me for the chores if you want. I live with you. It doesn’t seem right that you pay me.”
“You can consider it an allowance, but you earn that money. College is expensive, and you’ll need it if you’re getting a PhD.” Tom waited for the boy’s response.
“PhD, you gotta be kidding. I don’t need a PhD to punch cows, just a good horse and some muscles.” Micah barely got the words out when Cory jumped in.
“Yeah really? You got no muscles, and you can barely stay on a horse.” Cory grinned. “Your career as a cowpoke will be short and regrettable.”
“I got enough muscles to whip your ass on a regular basis.”
Tom interrupted, “Okay, let’s get out of here before I have to belt both of you.”
Chapter 8: Lindy
“Sherwood,” Mr. Terry interrupted the class as they were doing their weekly reading assignment. “Go to the nurse’s office and take your books with you.”
Micah knew what was coming down because Dane already had his turn talking with the school psychologist. It was the end of Geography, which meant he would miss recess because of this interview with Mr. Rathbone. There was no waiting area for the nurse, so he knocked on the closed door and went in. He was greeted by both the psychologist and the principal.
“Take a seat,” Mr. Malvern ordered. “I’ll be here for only a moment. I have an activity set up for you today at the Junior High. So when you’re finished here, come by my office and I’ll take you over. You’ll be meeting the science teacher and then have lunch. You’ll be back here for your PE class.”
“You know why you’re here?” Mr. Rathbone spoke as soon as Mr. Malvern closed the door. “Mr. Dorsey is worried that you are holding in a lot of negativity, and that it’s affecting you—bad dreams and such. That is your nature, isn’t it, to hold things in?”
Micah studied the man and saw that the psychologist was truly concerned about him and not just doing his job, that he really wanted to help. Most of the time, people are ambivalent, neither caring nor uncaring. They build fortresses around themselves, and this resulted in apathy. But not Mr. Rathbone, he cared for people. Micah trusted him.
“We all hold things back.” Micah answered the psychologist’s question. “Some things are personal and are no one’s business. I worry about Mr. Dorsey, the burdens I put on him. What happened on Saturday was sad. It bothered me at the time, but it’s not something I would make mine forever.”
“That troubles you a lot?”
Micah nodded yes. “It’s always in the back of my mind, that someday Tom will abandon me.”
“Have you spoken with him about your concerns?”
“A little, but I don’t want to put him in a situation where he feels forced to keep me around. Really, I don’t think he would ever push me aside, but it is a worry anyway. I can’t get it out of my mind. He’s never done anything that would make me think he would throw me away.” Micah began feeling the energy drain and depression overtake him.
“Why are you so fearful? You have loving parents?”
“Poppi loves me, but none understand me like Tom Dorsey.”
Mr. Rathbone thought for a few moments. “Your mother loves you.”
“Yeah, but she doesn’t like me. She said that she sometimes hates me. I think I confuse her.” Micah lowered the collar on his shirt exposing the scars on his neck. “She did this to me last August.” He removed his shirt and showed the psychologist his back. “All of this, she did with a broken flyswatter. She was sorry, and I forgave her because I love her. But I think she could do it again, and I think I could hurt her if she tried.”
Mr. Rathbone was shocked at the scars that covered the boy; most would fade away, but the deep wounds on his neck surrounded a major artery, and that could have been fatal.
“You really think that your mother could hurt you again? And you think you could harm her?
“She hurt me once, didn’t she? And if I feel threatened, I would protect myself. I would never be the aggressor, but I will never let her hit me again.”
You live at home, don’t you?”
Micah shook his head no. “I visit a couple times a week. I don’t sleep there.” I stay with Mr. Dorsey. He’s smart. He teaches me things. He is interested in me and what I’m doing. I think that’s the most important thing. He really loves me.”
“So if he loves you, why would he abandon you?”
The boy was quiet for a few moments. “I know it’s a stupid fear, but it’s still a fear, something I can’t get rid of no matter how much I try.”
“You know everything we talk about doesn’t go beyond you and me? I am here to help you manage your fears.”
“I know that. It’s appreciated. I was not looking forward to this talk, but it actually helps.” Micah smiled at the man. “Thanks!”
“One more thing,” Mr. Rathbone looked at the boy. “Mr. Dorsey told me about your dreams. You’ve had some where you’re dying. Do you think those dreams are due to your illness?”
“No, they’re not related.” Micah was to the point. This was something he was not ready to talk about.
“Are you certain of that? Sometimes we repress things that scare us, and they come out in weird ways, like nightmares, or sleep walking, or aggression.”
“I am not afraid of death.” Micah looked into the man’s eyes to help reinforce what he was saying. “I am more afraid of a life that is not well lived. I don’t know how to talk about this, and I prefer not to.”
“I see. Okay, not today but we can talk more soon, maybe next Monday?”
“I don’t think so.” Micah saw the surprised look on Mr. Rathbone’s face. It was clear that no one had ever said no to him before.”
“We can do it on your visits to the Junior High. That way no one will know we’re having these little talks?” The psychologist thought that Micah’s resistance was due to the possibility of rumors spreading among the kids.
“Sure, that would be fine,” Micah again smiled knowing that the man had picked up on his misgivings. It also caused him to wonder whether empathy was actually the norm in people but they chose to ignore it.
Micah walked down the hall to the principal’s office, and then they drove to Camino del Rio Junior High. Mr. Malvern took him to a science lab.
“Micah, this is Mr. Robeson. He is the science instructor. Have a little talk, and I’ll come and pick you up for lunch.” Mr. Malvern said a few more words to the teacher and then left.
Mr. Robeson was a short man, not thin but neither was he stocky. “I’ve heard a lot about you Mr. Sherwood. I teach 8th and 9th grade science. You like science?”
“Better than geography or English, but not as much as math.”
“Math, well that’s good. Math and science go together. What is your favorite science?”
“I like geology, but I think physics would be more challenging, theoretical physics I mean.”
Mr. Robeson smiled. “You’ll get a little geology in 9th grade science, but you’ll have to go to high school to get a taste of physics. Math and theoretical physics are complementary, you know. If you like, I can arrange some time to work through some basics with you. But I will admit that physics is not my specialty. In high school, you’ll get the practical application of physics but theoretical is college material. I think the best thing for you is to get into higher math as soon as possible. That will prepare you better for college. Unfortunately, high school science classes are basically survey courses and have no depth.”
“Tell me, have you read much about theoretical physics, the current issues, that type of stuff?”
“I have read some but not a lot. I know that there was quite a fight between the Steady State Theorists and the proponents of the Big Bang. Sometimes even great scientists get lost in their own dogmas and forget the role of science. I suppose that is the nature of being human.”
“Have you read anything recently?” Mr. Robeson asked.
Micah looked at the floor and then responded, “I read that the universe is flat like a pancake.”
“What do you think about that?” The teacher continued to probe.
“I think it’s wacky.” That caused Mr. Robeson to laugh.
Micah was quiet, and he became lost in thought. Then the words started flowing. “Let’s assume that the Big Bang occurred, and data indicates that it did. If I throw a firecracker up in the air and watch it explode, it sends bits of itself in all directions. I do not think a firecracker that’s exploded in a vacuum would throw material in a flat trajectory like a pancake. That suggests the universe is round like a ball with the universe expanding, flying away from its origin. But the predominant theory says that it will slow down and eventually fall back into itself due to gravitational forces. But that also seems like nonsense. The universe is expanding in all directions, and will continue to disperse forever. Of course, if there are multiple universes, there may ultimately be a collision of materials and gravitational forces would form a new singularity and a new Big Bang.”
“For a ten year old, you seem to have quite a grasp of the subject,” Mr. Robeson speculated.
“No, I have quite an imagination,” he responded. “I really don’t know enough to talk about it. I’m probably throwing out a bunch of nonsense.”
“But you’re thinking, and that’s the most important step, taking what you know and tossing it out for criticism. That is how science works and that is how we learn.”
Mr. Robeson opened his desk drawer and started pulling things out. “Ah, here it is,” he said as he grabbed what looked like a ruler and handed it to Micah. “This is a slide rule. You better learn to use it. I’ve had this one since I was in college many years ago. Take it as my gift to a future scientist. Here is a little book to help you with it. It’s pretty simple. You won’t have any problems.”
“I know about slide rules. Thanks.”
“We live in the Bible belt. Do you have trouble aligning your science with your faith?” The teacher was playing a game with Micah.
“Now you’re being tricky and assuming I have faith. It’s not one or the other. There is nothing in science that precludes God; just that God cannot be measured thus excluding him as a variable in formulating hypotheses. Like I said while ago, scientists can get lost in their own biases, their own dogmas. And when that happens, they’re only creating a godless religion. And religion turns God into an idol, and that makes God superstitious drivel.”
“We as a culture look at God as a noun. But maybe God is a verb. Don’t you think that makes more sense? If you look at it that way, science studies the mechanics of God.”
Mr. Malvern returned and interrupted the discussion. “Are you ready for lunch now?”
Mr. Robeson smiled at Micah, “This was a very satisfying conversation. I look forward to more of them.”
Micah followed the principal into the hallway where Lindy Saari waited for him. Micah smiled. Lindy smiled. And Mr. Malvern smiled at them.
“I thought you’d like Lindy to finish giving you a tour of the facilities. Meet me at my car at 12:45 so we can get back to Tierra Verde.” He walked to the principal’s office and disappeared.
Lindy looked at the boy, who seemed to have grown and was now her height, and she was taller than most boys in 9th Grade. “I was surprised when Mr. Symington asked me to have lunch with you. Let’s go across the street. There’s a little store which sells hamburgers and sandwiches. It’s where most of the 9th graders go.”
Micah couldn’t stop smiling. He now understood how Cory felt when he was around Isabella. He wondered if he had Cory’s same goofy look.
They crossed the road. The store was an old stucco house that had been converted to serve the school kids. An elderly couple ran the business. They were brusque and unfriendly. The store was jammed with customers all ordering at the same time. Micah got his food and paid for both his and Lindy’s meals. They walked back across the street and sat on a retaining wall in the front of the old Junior High. They were shaded by ancient juniper trees, and you had to look very closely to detect the boy and girl sitting beneath them.
“Thank you for the meal,” Lindy smiled at the boy. They must really want you here next semester. You seem to be around all of the time.” She smiled. “I jumped grades. You need to think about it carefully. You might not fit in, and that is not just uncomfortable, it’s a disability. I didn’t adjust until I moved out of my old school and came here. They aren’t doing it just for you. They want to put you in the place where you’ll cause the least disruption.”
“But you adjusted here and fit in.” Micah stated. “That says something good about the school and teachers, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, I guess it does.” They sat under the trees for a while without talking. Lindy gently took Micah’s hand and held it. “You know this
is the place kids make-out don’t you?” She whispered in his ear.
Micah sort of choked before responding, and he swore that the outside temperature jumped 20° all of a sudden. “Really, I can understand why, very private.”
Lindy laughed. “I’m sorry; you got the funniest look on your face.” She reached over and pulled his head in front of hers. Then she gave him a kiss, and it wasn’t on his forehead or cheek like before. She let him go and then smiled. “I’m not a forward girl. I don’t even have a boyfriend. But you are so cute, so sweet. You look frightened and I want to cuddle you.”
Micah smiled when she said that. “So I’m like a sad little puppy dog.” He thought for a moment. “This puppy dog is lost and needs a lot more cuddling.” Then he kissed her back.”
They sat together quietly for a couple of minutes holding hands before Lindy spoke again,” Can we ride your horse this afternoon?”
“I can’t. I have boxing practice on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. But any other night I can, you just name the day and time.”
“Really, can I watch you at practice tonight?”
“Sure, it’s at Palo Duro. Warm up is at 5:00 and practice starts at 6:00. You can ride with us. I’ll tell Isabella. You can meet us in front of my house at 4:30. Are you really going to come, you’re not teasing?”
“No, I like boxing. Matthew is a boxer. He’s my brother. We better go to meet your principal. We’re a little late.” Lindy looked happy as Micah jumped into the car and headed back to Tierra Verde.
He went to the baseball field after he stowed away his stuff in the locker and changed into gym clothes. Mr. Terry was actually supervising today, and he yelled at Micah, who ran over to the coach.
“Sherwood, you feel like running?”
“Always!” Micah looked questioningly at the teacher.
“Come with me,” the coach ordered, and Micah followed. “Beau, Cory, Dane, Jan, Tandy, David, get over here.” And the boys ran to where the coach stood.
Willow Wood Road: Lavender and Sage Page 11
