Willow Wood Road: Lavender and Sage

by Micah Sherwood

  “Stand in their shoes for a moment.” Tom had pulled into the pharmacy as he spoke; he would never carry on a conversation and drive; that was one of his quirks. “We went to see the doctor because I had questions and concerns. He took blood to help answer my inquiries. Those tests are important because he takes his job seriously, and he wanted to both alleviate my concerns and determine if there is problem that needs addressing.”

  “And Coach Britt, his success or failure is established by the quality of the athletes he trains; which is measured in the races won, and you are a tool for his accomplishment. When you are successful, he is successful.”

  “You need to be careful in judging what is important to people based upon your own experiences and beliefs. That is an unfair measure. How do you feel when Mr. Malvern talks about jumping you some grades? “You get pissed because you believe that he’s not considering things that are important to you. What you are saying is no different than that.”

  “Okay. I didn’t mean to sound uppity. I’m sorry,” Micah thought he needed to return to his old way and keep his opinions to himself. Somehow this was related to the ‘shrooms. “Better be careful,” he reasoned, because his whole mood had shifted to one of blissful non-caring after playing with the magic mushrooms. And then he thought, “But isn’t this better than worrying all of the time? Tis a conundrum,” and he smiled.

  Inside the drug store, Micah saw some St. Christopher medals hanging from a display. He found one that had a cobalt blue medallion mounted in silver for $2.50. “Sure is a lot of money,” he spoke to himself as he picked it up and walked to the cashier.

  “What d’you got there,” Tom asked as he stepped in line behind the boy.

  Micah showed him the St. Christopher medal.

  “Since when are you religious?” Tom asked a little incredulously.

  “I’m not. You give your girl this to show that she’s taken,” Micah smiled.

  “I see. Excuse me for being old and ignorant.” Tom took the medal from the boy. “I got this.”

  Micah protested, but the old man just smiled as he paid for the prescriptions and the necklace. “You better save your money for dates,” and Tom winked.

  In the truck, Micah plopped the medal on his neck then under his shirt and looked at Mr. Dorsey. “I would never think you’re ignorant.”

  “Old maybe,” the boy grinned and Tom reached over and pulled on his ear and tapped him on the head. And then the two headed home.

  It was 1:00 Easter morning, and Micah was tossing around in his bunk. He didn’t want to run, but he didn’t want to stay in bed either. He dressed and went to Willow Wood, lonely Willow Wood, silent Willow Wood; abandoned by the family for the holiday weekend. As he walked toward the three story house, it sat is absolute darkness, a monster ready to pounce. He had no fear as he crossed over the house’s threshold into the kitchen. There were no bad smells, no lamps turning on and off—just a dark and lonely building.

  He looked through the picture window at the mimosa tree and a large street lamp mounted in the front yard. His dad installed it several months before. It came from Ellwood Park; the city replaced the old 1930 lamps with more modern ones, and Poppi got it for $25. The neighbor across the street also had one installed. But they both stood in darkness now.

  Tandy sat in the shadows across the road on his front porch.

  Micah continued into his parent’s bedroom. He strolled over to his dad’s side of the bed and lay in his spot. The radio was quiet. “Poppi had been gone a month,” he thought as he sniffed his dad’s tobacco smell, his aftershave, his maleness. Micah missed him more than words could describe. He wanted to feel his dad’s touch; hear his voice; see him sitting in his chair.

  He slept a little, and when he awoke, be went to Greg and Isabella’s room. It was filled with girlish stuff and didn’t look like Greg’s room at all. Micah peeked under the bed, and his brother’s trove of girly magazines lay in their box.

  Everyone he loved was gone.

  He walked back into the den and stood in front of his bedroom’s closed door. He debated but finally opened it. The boxes were still stacked on the north wall, but his bed was back in its place. In the closet, the door to the ‘hole’ was remounted, shut and locked. Micah switched on the closet light and opened the utility room door. In the darkness, he could hear the faint song of the Shadow Choir—distant and nonthreatening. He retreated, running up the steps to the front landing and departing the house through the main entrance. He sat in a lawn chair and remembered sitting in the same chair many months before watching a large cat cross into Tandy’s yard, and then seeing his friend on the front porch in the dark. He looked toward the Doolen house, and once again there sat Tandy on his front porch. And once more, Tandy waved and trotted over to Micah.

  Tandy was dressed in jeans and appeared ready for adventure. The boys did not talk for several minutes other than acknowledge the other’s presence with a head shake. Micah studied the boy’s flicker. It was yellow with green fingers undulating through it which signaled an energetic and tender nature.

  “I waited on you,” Tandy said matter-of-factly. “I thought you would head over this way. I saw you in the window an hour ago, so I figured you’d be down sooner or later.”

  “You must be alone,” Micah surmised, “or you wouldn’t be out. So I’ll guess your parents are in Wheeler and they let you stay home because “you’re old enough.” Micah smiled. We can go to Cory’s place, I’m pretty sure he’s awake. Or we can go running.”

  “Running,” Tandy said. “I’ll change into some shorts and gym shoes. I’ll meet you at the pipeline.”

  The boys separated, and Micah went home to change into something more appropriate. The thermometer outside the barn showed 46°, but without a wind it felt much warmer. Micah jogged back to the pipe where Tandy waited. The coyotes approached the boys. Tandy was not frightened of the animals, but they pretty much ignored him. It was clear that Micah belonged to this pack of canines. It was a little eerie to Tandy, but then Micah was a little eerie too.

  “Playa?” Micah asked about their destination.

  “Sure, but don’t get too far ahead of me. Remember I don’t have ‘the eyes’.”

  Micah smiled and took off. Boxing and running track had made all the boys stronger, faster and improved their endurance. It was a clear night, windless, and perfect in most every way. Within three-quarters of an hour, they were resting in the center of the lakebed. At the periphery of the clay, the red-eyed blobs were watching. Micah did not mention them to his running mate.

  Tandy looked at Micah, who was lighted only by starlight. “You think that I can’t see them, don’t you. You and Cory believe that you’re alone. But Dane and I are not as blind as you think. I’ve seen those things since I was small, always watching but never coming too close. They move like snails.”

  Micah picked up some hurt from Tandy. “I’m sorry. I never mentioned them because I was sort of protecting you. I know you both have abilities; I don’t know how much because you don’t focus them. These talents can be crippling. At least they are to me. Cory handles them well. I don’t.” He looked at Tandy. “You are important to me. I would never do anything that would hurt you. I will do everything I can to protect you. I know it sounds corny, but it’s true.”

  “You don’t need to apologize. I feel the same.” There was a pause in the conversation. “I’ve got to do something, and I hope it won’t bother you too much.” Micah concentrated on his friend, and he only picked up Tandy’s need for exploration. “One night, right after you guys moved to Willow Wood, I saw one of those blobs roaming the neighborhood. It paused in your front yard. I saw you watch it from the window. It blinked out and you left.”

  “You know that you didn’t have animal eyes then.” There was more silence. “After school started last year, remember me coming over to talk with you at night. Your eyes had nightglow, so sometime between the time you moved to Willow Wood and the start of school, you got the ey
es. It’s the same with Cory. He didn’t always have those red eyes.”

  “Okay, you’re observant, but why would that bother me?” Micah asked.

  “I didn’t expect that to bother you, but this might,” and Tandy jumped up and ran at one of the blobs.

  Micah chased after Tandy trying to stop him but couldn’t catch him. Tandy stopped within a few feet of the jelly-like darkness, which started to glow and shiver and twist.

  “Come away Tandy,” Micah yelled, but the other boy did not hear him; he was absorbed in the thing’s metamorphosis. It started spinning and grew in stature and velocity. The dust rose from the playa but not a sound was made. Within the whirlwind, the red eyes stood unmoving watching Tandy then engulfing him.

  Micah was flung backwards, and as he tumbled to the ground, he remembered the red-eyed darkness last August at Ute Lake and the vortex at the creek before that. What had been vague then was now clear, and he switched off his consciousness in order to snuff-out his frightful recollection.

  Micah woke up as he ran under the pipeline; Tandy sprinted next to him. They did not speak. The sun was peeking above the eastern horizon as they entered the bedroom through the door facing the creek. They stripped and went to shower, still not talking. They stood motionless enjoying the burning sensation from the water.

  Micah jumped out and grabbed a towel and threw another one to Tandy. The two friends looked at one another knowingly.

  “I knew they were some kind of parasites.” Micah whispered.

  “Yeah, but it took me months to figure it out,” Tandy responded. “I had to test it.”

  “Well, did you get a positive on your hypothesis?” Micah looked at the boy, who only smiled and blinked his maroon tinted eyes.

  Chapter 12: Intruder

  Micah lay in bed Easter night thinking about Tandy’s choice. The same choice he had made less than a year before. He was not very concerned for his friend. It had made little difference in his or Cory’s life and was not likely to make a significant change in Tandy. “Let it lie. Let it take its course.” Micah was not obligated to tell anyone, and he wouldn’t.

  The next morning was cool and sunny. Micah trotted to the fence at the school and climbed through the barbed wire. Tandy was waiting for him.

  “I snuck out of the house last night and walked through the prairie. You’re right; it’s a whole new world.”

  “Not as great as it will be. In a couple of months, your night vision will be even better. Let me know how it goes.” He looked at Tandy. “Are you going to tell anyone?”

  “No point in hiding it from Dane or Cory, you think?”

  “Naw, but tell me if anyone else notices. Do you realize that only we’ve noticed them, no one else, only us, Mr. Dorsey and a boy I meet at the Detention Center? Doctors have looked into my eyes a dozen times and they have never mentioned a thing. Don’t you think that is strange?” Micah wondered.

  “That’s probably a good thing,” responded Tandy.

  Micah shook his head in agreement as the two boys entered Tierra Verde.

  At lunchtime, Micah ate the nuts and raisins that he had brought and then changed into his gym clothes. He and Cory went to the track for warm up following the same routine as they did for boxing, even bringing their jump ropes. Micah was an artist with the rope and skipped through the routine unaware of the crowd surrounding him. The class and coaches watched mesmerized by his rhythm, his coordination and beauty of movement. Micah came out of his meditation and saw the spectators and decided to do a show by jumping a crisscross pattern. This required concentration, but he had been practicing for weeks and had become very adept. At least when he was alone in the barn he was good, and now he was going to see how well he did with a bunch of kids watching. He didn’t miss a beat. He smiled and stopped after a couple of minutes. His calves were aching, his shoulders hurt, and he felt like he had run a 5K. The bell rang for the start of PE class.

  Coach Britt called the track boys together. “This Saturday we will run against Hamlin Primary. The meet is at 9:00 there. I have a bus, so you guys need to meet me here at 7:30 prompt, and I’ll drive you over. Rolling Ridge will be on the same bus, so no friction between you guys, understood.”

  “There is a change to the roster. Cory will run the 5K in place of Micah. Micah will be running for Camino del Rio on Friday against Booker, and Mr. Malvern says you boys can go to the meet but you must have parental permission, so I’ve got the forms for you to get signed.”

  “Micah, you and Cory stay, and you others, 20 laps.”

  Coach Britt looked at the two friends. “I made the decision not to run you in the Saturday meets,” he spoke to Micah. “Cory has a lot of potential, and it’s only fair to give him an opportunity. Besides, I don’t want to wear you down. Work with Cory and get him ready. You’ve got the technique down, show him how to pace himself. At the end of class, you’ll meet with Mr. Malvern about going to train with the 9th Graders.”

  “Go!” Coach yelled and the two boys went to the track for practice.

  After PE, Micah sat alone in Mr. Malvern’s office. This was to be a meeting between only the two of them. The boy was relaxed, his decision was pretty much made, and now they would talk about the details.

  The principal stepped into the room and closed the door.

  Micah was grinning. “You think you’re real smart, don’t you?”

  “Absolutely,” Mr. Malvern smiled. “I only needed to show you the advantages of junior high. You did the rest.” The principal paused. “Micah, if it had been just the IQ thing, I would not have pushed you so hard. But you’re ready socially for 9th Grade. You’re bored here, and bored kids get into trouble. The teachers you met at Camino del Rio all like you, and you fit in. And I’ll not even mention Lindy.”

  “I spoke with your afternoon teachers, and they agreed to a few schedule changes. We will switch you to Language Arts right after lunch starting tomorrow, and then Science at Camino del Rio with Mr. Robeson. After Science, you have Track and Field with Coach Britt.”

  “Sometime this summer, you’ll let me know if you want to jump to junior high. Just enjoy the last six weeks of school. It should be exciting.”

  Micah was enthusiastic. He liked competition, which sort of surprised him because he was not always that way. In fact, it wasn’t until Willow Wood that it surfaced. He always liked to better himself, but he discovered that it was even more fun to better others. But he was also bothered. People were making arrangements without his knowledge or agreement, and it seemed like some kind of assault. He said nothing. Poppi said he had to learn to keep his mouth shut, so he did.

  “Today you’ll meet with Mr. Rathbone rather than go to science class,” Mr. Malvern continued. “You will see him periodically, even next year if you decide to go to Camino del Rio. You better get moving; Coach Britt is waiting for you.”

  Micah went to his locker and collected his damp running clothes and returned to the front of the school to meet the Coach.

  Coach Britt was in his mid-twenties, his head shaved, very muscular and just under 6’ tall. He was always smiling and animated. Micah liked him.

  “JJ will come to Mr. Rathbone’s office to collect you for Track. You will be in Science with him. If ever you have any questions, just ask JJ and he will help you. You keep the same locker I gave you last week in the Athletics building, and that’s yours until the end of school. Practice ends at 4:30. I have some paperwork that needs your parent’s signature. It’s in your locker. Return it to me tomorrow.”

  “I bought ropes for everyone, and I want you to show the boys how to properly jump rope as part of their warm up. You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”

  “Not if you’re there to introduce it,” Micah was not happy about doing this. The Coach shook his head yes.

  “I need to call home. I have boxing at 5:00, so I need to get my ride squared away.” Micah looked and sounded uncomfortable.

  “Mr. Dorsey has it lined out for you, it’s
taken care of. I’m sorry about you missing boxing on Fridays.” Coach Britt glanced over at Micah.

  “Me too, I enjoy practice.”

  “I spoke to Coach Ramsey, and he understands. He feels that most of his class is duplication for you anyway.”

  “People need to let me make my own decisions. Everything seems to get planned for me, and I don’t like it. It sucks.” Micah burst out. “Thanks for everything, but let me in on things. I hate being the last to know. I hate others making assumptions for me.”

  “Calm down. Things came together very quickly. You need to learn to accept help sometimes.” The Coach rubbed the boy’s head. “You have quite a temper, Sherwood. Keep it under control. That’s part of growing up.”

  They pulled up to the Camino del Rio parking lot, and Micah jumped out of the car and headed to Mr. Rathbone’s office. He walked in to greet the psychologist, closing the door before taking a seat.

  “Micah, well done on the blue ribbon,” the older man paused. “You’ve really transformed since I first met you last November. You’ve grown in stature and maturity. You seem to be continuously stepping out of your comfort zone. How do you feel about that?”

  “It seems natural. I don’t like it; it’s not easy, but I think it would be more uncomfortable not to, if that makes sense.”

  Mr. Rathbone shook his head with understanding.

  “I still hate the idea of leaving my friends behind.” Micah blurted out. “It just feels wrong, but Cory told me not to worry about it, and I’m trying not to.

  “So you’re inclined to come to junior high next year?”

  “Yes, but I haven’t decided yet.”

  “I heard about the fight last week after the meet. It was Beau’s fight, but you stepped in. Why did you do that?” Mr. Rathbone studied the boy.