Fireflies

by P. S. Bartlett

  Just as she straightened her skirt, the organ began to play and everyone stood to sing the first of many hymns. Pastor Lincoln of the Plymouth First Baptist Church, strolled to the pulpit, slipped on his spectacles and opened his Bible.

  “Good Morning!” his voice boomed.

  His sermon began as always with all of the news in the community. He welcomed a new family to the flock and asked them to stand so everyone could greet them or as Fagan whispered, “to get a good look at them.”

  Teagan glanced down and realized Ennis had taken her hand and squeezed it tightly. She smiled down at him but when he looked up at her, he appeared troubled. She gently squeezed his hand in turn for reassurance and gave her attention back to Pastor Lincoln's sermon.

  The church was warm and fragrant. All of the ladies had brought baskets of Spring from their gardens to sit at the altar and a light breeze blew in through the open windows, sending an aromatic mixture of roses, petunias and violets throughout the room. Teagan glanced around and noted how much their little town had grown and counted close to fifty people. She was surprised how many of them she hadn’t met, even though her father, mother and Connell appeared acquainted with most of them.

  As she turned back in her seat, her mind turned to God and to her silent prayers He had blessed her with a miracle and she was so thankful. In her heart, she thanked Him over and over. She thanked Him so much she barely heard any of Pastor Lincoln's passionate sermon.

  With a final hymn, everyone rose to their feet and began to gather up their families and chatted amongst each other. Almost no one ever went straight home after church. Every Sunday the ladies would set up a light lunch on the wagons and huddle together to share recipes, arrange social gatherings or simply enjoy spending time in the company of other women. Teagan spied Liffey interjecting herself into these conversations and was pleased for her sister at how well she fit in.

  “Hello Ennis,” said Teagan when she felt his hand once again in hers.

  “Teagan, did you ask God to forgive us?” he whispered.

  “Forgive us for what?”

  A puzzled expression grew on Teagan’s face.

  “For not telling,” he said with his small hand aside his mouth.

  “Come along Ennis, let's take a walk.”

  Teagan lead Ennis’ away and they casually strolled across the field in front of the church.

  “Ennis, what happened to us was a miracle but we’ll call it something else so you can understand. First, let me say I didn't mean to blame you. Do you know what a coincidence is?”

  “No.”

  “A coincidence is when something strange happens and from the outside, it looks like something amazing but it's really like a strange accident. Well, at least I think that's what it is.”

  “So because I was there when the bird flew away and I was there when you cut yourself, that's a concidence?”

  “Co-in-ci-dence.” Teagan corrected him, speaking more slowly. “Yes. I believe now this was a miracle from God and you oddly happened to be there at the exact time. People are afraid of miracles so it's better not to say anything Ennis because we don't want them to be afraid.”

  “I understand, Teagan.”

  Ennis showed her his smile and she leaned down and squeezed him tight.

  “Now come along and let's get you something to eat and I'm sure there will be lemonade too!”

  Teagan was so relieved, she gave him another squeeze and led him back toward the wagons. She was surprised at how differently she was seeing him but also grateful not to fear his strangeness or be irritated by him so much.

  Off to her left, she noticed Eli speaking to Liffey. Teagan surmised (without hearing a word) exactly what the conversation entailed and she kept her distance. Ennis had run ahead and pulled at Sarah's skirt asking for lemonade. Behind Sarah, Fagan was standing with his hat in his hand, speaking to Mary Olsen's father. She wondered about how young men and women met and what they felt inside which would eventually lead them to love and marriage. She had seen such a change in Fagan since only the day before and now she understood much better what brought about that change. She spotted Thomas Kennedy too, standing behind Fagan and unconsciously scratched her arm.

  Teagan glimpsed a smile growing over Fagan's face as he bowed slightly not once but twice and shook Mister Olsen's hand hard.

  Fagan is in love.

  Chapter Five

  Teagan felt a pair of hands covering her eyes from behind her.

  “Guess who?” said Eli laughing.

  Teagan reached up and grabbed his hands and pulled them from her face.

  “You're not very good at that, you know,” she giggled, spinning around and laughing along with him.

  “Have you eaten, Teagan? I thought we might take a walk, maybe?”

  Eli looked down at the ground and then peeked up at her. However, he hadn't taken off his hat like Fagan.

  “No, but I'm not at all hungry. I would, however, love a glass of lemonade.”

  Eli bolted to the wagon and poured her a cup and rushed back, placing it in her hand.

  “Now can we walk?”

  Teagan took a long drink which nearly emptied the cup and answered, “Yes. Now we can take a walk.”

  Eli snatched the cup and raced back to the table to return it and ran back to Teagan's side again.

  Before Teagan and Eli had taken a step, Ennis came running up and again grabbed hold of Teagan's hand.

  “It looks like we'll have company Eli,” Teagan smiled.

  Eli offered her his elbow this time and she bowed to him, slipping her hand around his forearm. They walked in silence for few minutes until they found the path behind the church which lead to a large clearing where the picnics and socials were held.

  “Isn't life just grand?” Teagan said as she let go of his arm and Ennis' hand and spun around in her new dress. Her arms outstretched and her head back, she turned around again and again as her dress fanned out and her ponytail drifted up into the air. Ennis began spinning too, making a whooshing noise like the wind.

  “I wanted to talk to you about yesterday. I’m worried about you.” Eli said, standing with his hat now in his hands in front of him.

  “Shhhh...I want to forget about that. I talked to God this morning and thanked Him for the miracle and I'm sure that's all it was,” Teagan said, no longer spinning and making sure Ennis wasn't listening.

  “Well miracles aren't to be taken lightly. Oh look, you've lost your bow.”

  Eli’s shoulders slumped forward and he appeared somewhat defeated but more so, he was concerned.

  “Oh no! Liffey let me wear her ribbon and I've gone and lost it!”

  “There it is!” shouted Eli, as he pointed out the ribbon rolling in the breeze on the side of the road.

  “I'll get it for you, Teag,” said Ennis, chasing it down, all the way to the little foot bridge over the stream. He grabbed it just before it was able to go down the ravine and into the water.

  Ennis picked up the ribbon and tucked it into his pocket, forgetting his mission when he spied the creek bed.

  At the bottom of the hill, there were rocks of all different shapes and colors; he and his brothers loved to toss the rocks across the stream.

  As Teagan and Eli walked onto the little stone bridge, their conversation began to turn back to the story Liffey told her that morning. Teagan again started to feel that tug in her stomach and she still couldn't tell if it was anger or not. She was afraid to even consider the possibility of jealousy.

  “We've known each other for all of our lives. I should have told you what I did,” Eli said, apologizing yet again.

  “Eli, I already forgave you, but I still can't figure out why it made me so angry and why I have this funny feeling in my stomach,” Teagan said, leaning over the side looking down at the water.

  “Where's Ennis?” she asked, suddenly realizing she hadn't heard the rocks hitting the creek for several minutes.

  “Ennis!?” she shouted over
the side as Eli ran back to the path and around and down the hill to the water's edge.

  “Down here quick!” he called out as he found Ennis lying face down next to the creek bed. He appeared very pale and still and moaned as if in pain.

  Teagan screamed and ran down the ravine to her brother, turning him over in her arms, touching his face and putting her cheek to his mouth.

  “He's breathing. Here, take him. We need to get him to my da fast!”

  “We don't even know what happened. What will we tell him?! How will he know what to do if he doesn't know...?”

  Just then they both heard the rattle.

  “Teagan, stay still, that's a timber rattlesnake.”

  Teagan turned to see the snake coiled just a few feet behind her.

  “What should I do?” she whispered, staying as motionless as possible.

  Slowly, Eli leaned down and lifted Ennis' limp body from her arms and reached out his hand to her.

  Teagan cautiously lifted her trembling hand to Eli and he grabbed it, pulling her to her feet with a hard yank. The snake launched itself at her, catching its teeth in the hem of her skirt. Teagan screamed and tried to shake the serpent free of her dress but it was latched on tight. Finally, with a good hard pull, the snake let go and Eli drug her up the hill back to the road, with Ennis slumped over his shoulder.

  Having heard Teagan's scream, several of the older boys and a few of the men came running down the trail toward them; including Fagan and Connell.

  “What is it?!” shouted Fagan. “What's happened to Ennis?”

  Connell took Ennis from Eli's arms and laid him flat on the ground.

  “Teagan what happened? Everyone please stay back!” he stood up and shouted, waving his arms in the air over his little brother's motionless body.

  Teagan fell to her knees next to them and cradled Ennis' head in her lap.

  “It was a timber rattler. He must have been bitten,” said Eli, still shaking.

  “Someone go get my da! Now! Tell him to bring his bag!” Connell shouted.

  “Oh no, Ennis, please don't die!” Teagan pleaded, still cradling his thick curls in her hand and stroking his face with the other.

  Connell searched Ennis' hand and ankles for a bite. He pushed up his pant legs and reached for his wrists, yanking up first his left sleeve then his right. There it was, just above the wrist, two puncture marks with tiny droplets of blood now escaping them.

  “Oh God, please,” he sighed, pushing his hands through his hair as he knelt on the ground next to Ennis.

  Fagan had run to find his father but he didn't have to look far. Owen was already running down the trail. Eli's father, having seen Ennis as Connell took him from Eli's arms, immediately turned and rushed back toward the church to find Owen. He knew if it were his own son, he'd expect the same.

  Owen had already run to the wagon and grabbed his doctor kit. He understood a lot of folks had survived rattlesnake bites but it always depended on how long the snake was latched onto them and the victim's size, age, and weight. He reluctantly admitted to himself Ennis' chances were slim. Children were much worse off from these bites than adults but as Sarah ran behind him, he didn’t dare share that information.

  “Teag, is that you?” Ennis spoke. His eyes were barely open but he definitely spoke.

  “Yes, Ennis! It's me! How are you feeling?” Teagan asked as she swept the hair back from his face.

  “I think that stupid ole snake bit me Teag. I didn't even hear him. I was trying to find some rocks under the bridge and I guess I spooked him.”

  Ennis’ speech was slow and slurred but he was still with them.

  “It's alright Ennis. Da is on his way and he's gonna’ fix you right up,” said Teagan, wiping away tears.

  “Ennis did the snake latch on to you or did he just nip ya'?” asked Connell.

  “Just a nip I think but it hurt. It hurt bad,” Ennis groaned.

  “Alright, alright, yer da is here,” said Owen as the crowd separated, allowing he and Sarah to pass through. “Let me see this now,” he said while pushing up Ennis' sleeve.

  “Connell, help me get his shirt and jacket off him.”

  Teagan lifted Ennis up as Connell pulled the jacket and shirt off as quickly as he could while Sarah sat on the ground next to Teagan and held Ennis’ other hand, praying.

  “Here Teagan, put this under his head. We have to get it elevated above his heart,” Owen said, pulling a strip of bandage from his doctor bag to tie above the wound. He reached in and took out his scalpel, poured a splash of alcohol on it and shook the excess off.

  “Da, look,” said Connell, with deep concern.

  “Well where in the devil's name is it Connell?”

  Owen tilted Ennis’ arm from left to right but couldn’t find the bite. He turned his eyes to Sarah’s with a glance of complete confusion.

  Teagan was still holding Ennis' head in her hands and she peered over at his forearm, which only seconds before clearly showed those two distinct punctures. There was nothing there except for two small streaks from where the droplets of blood had been swiped away. Ennis reached into his front pocket and pulled out the blue hair ribbon.

  “Here, Teag,” he said softly.

  “What is this?” asked Owen, still examining Ennis’ arm and finding nothing.

  “Da, I swear the bite was there. I swear it, just ask Teagan and Eli. Ennis himself told me so too.”

  Connell spoke low and soft, close to his father's ear.

  “It's a concidence Da.”

  Ennis muttered only those words before he closed his eyes and his head fell to the side.

  “Okay everyone. Thank you for your concern but apparently it was just a scratch. We're gonna’ take Ennis home now and put him to bed. He's a little shaken up,” shouted Connell, as he stood up and again waved his arms around at everyone. He shook the hands of several of the young men and stepped over to Eli, speaking to him nose to nose.

  “I think you should come home with us Eli, to talk.”

  Eli nodded and then looked over at Teagan, still sitting on the ground in her new light blue dress, now covered in dirt, holding Ennis' head in her hands crying.

  Connell lifted Ennis from Teagan's lap and carried him to the wagon. Sarah rushed to his side, removing her shawl and draping it over him like a blanket.

  “He'll be fine, Sarah,” said Owen, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Stay with Ennis. I'll round up the children and we'll get him home,” he added, placing a kiss on her cheek.

  Owen walked off calling to the other children as Connell laid Ennis in his mother's lap in the front of the wagon. Sarah cradled him in her arms.

  “Ma?” Ennis said, opening his eyes to see his mother's concerned expression. “I'm fine, Ma. Don't worry. The angel came and told me I’d be all right.”

  Sarah attributed Ennis' comment to a dream or his imagination and told him to rest, they'd soon be home. She promised him a treat and asked him what he'd like to have. Ennis blinked those glorious green eyes at her and all he said was “chocolate cake.”

  Once everyone including Eli climbed onto the wagon, Owen flicked the reins and they were off to home. An eerie silence hovered over them for the quarter hour or so it took to reach the house and only curious glances and an occasional cough cut the thick air. Eli rubbed his brow as Connell seemed to be saving the most curious glances of all for him.

  Liffey sat the entire way with her arm around Teagan's shoulder, as she clutched the blue ribbon in her hands folded in her lap.

  Fagan seemed agitated, most likely because his visit with Mary was cut short and he wondered if he would still be able to call on her after supper. He sat leaning back with his arms folded tightly at his chest for the whole journey. Patrick and Brogan were silent, which was an oddity on even the strangest of days.

  As the horses pulled them to the front of the house, Owen told Fagan to take care of the wagon and called to Connell to come and carry Ennis in and put him up in bed. S
arah hurried down from the wagon with Brogan's help and rushed off behind Connell. Eli helped Liffey down and reached for Teagan's hand to help her next.

  “Eli, what will we do?” Teagan whispered in his ear as her feet touched the ground.

  “We have to tell the truth. It's the only thing we can do.”

  “But what about Ennis? What will happen to him? What will happen once everyone knows what he is and what he’s done?” Teagan whispered again.

  “You two, inside please,” called Owen from the front door.

  “If we tell the truth, we'll have nothing to fear,” Eli said turning and heading to the porch, attempting to convince himself of his own words. “Are you coming?”

  Teagan walked behind him up the steps and into the parlor. Seated all around the room were her brothers and Liffey. Standing opposite she and Eli was Connell, too anxious and upset to sit.

  “Da will be down once he gets Ennis settled. Ma is making him some broth and butter bread but we can get started now getting to the bottom of this,” said Connell.

  “Connell, I think you should wait for Ma and Da,” said Fagan firmly, entering the room.

  “I think you should let me handle this since I was the one made to look a fool!” Connell hissed at his brother.

  “What do you mean made to look a fool? You look a fool because you mistook a scratch for a snake bite?” Fagan shouted back.

  “It was a snake bite and I'll put my life on it!”

  Connell rushed over to where Fagan sat, pointing his finger at his brother's chest.

  “Wait!” shouted Teagan. “Please don't argue. Let me speak,” she said, lowering her voice in hopes of calming the discussion, which was now heating far too quickly.

  “Fine. Why don't you start at the part where you weren't minding our baby brother?” snapped Fagan.

  “Please, everyone. Let Teagan speak,” said Brogan calmly.

  “Patrick, go and sit with your brother. He's awake and he's askin' for ya’,” said Sarah, now standing in the doorway.