Castle Juliet

by Brandon Berntson

  Riding Sue felt peculiar to Alice now; she wasn’t sure why until she thought about how high up she was. In the land surrounding Storyville, she’d gotten used to it, but not here in town. A small girl by nature, except when riding Sue, she had a view others did not. She could see over the heads of every automobile and passerby.

  Alice steered Sue along Main Street, hooves clip-clopping slowly along the tarmac. Sue seemed slightly edgy now with all the activity around her. The cars made her restless. Sue flicked her ears, threw back her head several times, and snorted, in what seemed, irritability. Alice thought it best to stop and tie Sue up to a parking meter off the street.

  Once Phillip’s store came into view, Alice stopped and slid off the saddle. She directed Sue onto the sidewalk and tied the reigns around a lamppost.

  “I’ll just be inside for a second, Sue, okay?” Alice said. “You’re off the street now, so the cars shouldn’t bother you. I’m gonna go inside for a second and say hello to Jack. Back in a flash. Don’t bite anyone unless they deserve it, okay?”

  Sue flicked her ears and seemed more at ease now.

  Phillip’s shop was simple. It had no fancy name at all, though he’d once told Alice he thought of calling it Peanut Butter because PB were his initials. A quaint window took up the left side of the store, and on it read simply, Bristol’s. Under this, was written: Watches, Clocks, Shoes, and More. Open six days a week. 9-6.

  Alice turned the latch and stepped inside. The interior was just as small and quaint as the outside, and the first thing she noticed, despite the smell, was the constant ticking of a thousand clocks, a haven of clocks. A clock lover’s paradise. Clocks, shoes, watches, and more, just as the sign promised. An entire wall to Alice’s left held every size of every kind of shoe imaginable, from baby’s shoes to adult. So many shoes in such a cramped space, she wondered how Phillip managed to keep them all in order. Shoes hung suspended along a great mesh of string, rope, and wire that crisscrossed just under the ceiling. Some shoes were all by themselves, not paired at all, and Alice wondered why or where their counterparts were. Shoes, tap-shoes, sneakers, booties, boots, high heels, deck shoes, hiking boots, snow shoes, shoes for creatures probably from another world, even ice skates, hockey skates, shoes of all sizes, all walks of life, for all sorts of feet imaginable. It was a shoe lover’s paradise as well as a clock lover’s paradise, a regular emporium of shoes and clocks. Alice thought it funny, too, how the shop did not smell in the least bit of stinky shoes, but of rich, thick leather, along with oil and varnish for the clocks. She wondered if he had inherited it from his father, and if Phillip would give it to Jack someday, thus the simple, unchanging name: Bristol’s.

  Besides the shoes, of course, the rest of the shop was taken over by—what seemed—just as many clocks. Clocks and watches, clocks and more clocks of all sizes, shapes, dimensions, and color. All of them ticking away, telling the same time, which was just before noon. All of them with a deep high intonation of their own, from the heavy bass of the grandfather clock in the corner that almost touched the ceiling, to the small silver and gold pocket watches in the glass case dividing the store’s patrons from Phillip himself, who was behind the counter now.

  “Well, hello, Alice,” Phillip greeted her with rather unusually, boyish charm. He wore a single eyeglass, a glossy, brown apron over a white shirt and suspenders. Inside the store, he looked smaller than he actually was, though he was a stolid, stocky man. His hair looked longer and curlier than she remembered. Maybe because it had been a while since she’d seen him. Phillip Bristol was a comical sort of fellow, if not exceedingly good-natured, and every inch like his child Jack.

  “Hi, Mr. Bristol,” Alice said. “Is Jack around?”

  “Jack?” Phillip said, frowning. “Well, no. Jacky wouldn’t be here today.”

  “But he said he’s been spending time with you here at the shop,” Alice said.

  “Oh, he has!” Phillip said. “But not lately. Not today anyway.”

  “Do you have any idea where he is?”

  Phillip raised his eyebrows, frowned, thought for a minute, then shook his head. “I really can’t say, Alice. I’m sorry. Does Jacky know you’re looking for him?”

  “Well, I’ve talked to him at school, but he says he’s been busy. He hasn’t said anything? I wonder where he could be.”

  Phillip shrugged again. Alice puzzled over this, frowned herself, and wondered where on earth Jack could be. She’d been sure he’d be here today, and the fact that he wasn’t concerned, even upset her.

  “Huh,” Alice said, as if to herself. “I went to your house earlier, but he wasn’t there either. I though for sure he would be here. He’s been gone so much lately, I hardly seen him.”

  “I’ll tell him, Alice, if I see him, okay?” Phillip assured her. “He’s probably lost on one of his adventures. You know how he can be. If he stars in a fantasy of his own making, he loses track, I think, even of himself.” Phillip gave Alice an encouraging smile. “Don’t worry, Alice.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Bristol,” Alice said.

  “‘Phillip’ to you, Alice.”

  “Sorry…Phillip,” Alice said, smiling. “Habit.”

  She walked outside and closed the door behind her. The clouds had parted revealing more sunshine and blue. She bit her lip, puzzled over where Jack could be, and felt discouraged. What was Jack hiding?

  Alice took a deep breath and turned back to Sue. Immediately, she collided into a woman wearing a long blue dress, carrying a parasol. Alice stumbled back, fell to the ground, her hat falling off.

  “Goodness,” the woman said, instantly kneeling to help Alice to her feet. “Are you all right? I’m so sorry. My big dumb feet! They never watch where they’re going. I mean, they’re big enough, they should have eyes of their own, right? I was distracted by that pretty horse.”

  Alice regained her senses. She wasn’t hurt so much as startled, and she got to her feet with the help of the woman, who she saw now was extraordinarily beautiful. She had raven black hair, thick and curly, and large, mesmeric brown eyes. Her skin was powdery white, but in an enchanting way. She had an elegant nose and full, roseaceous lips. Alice had never seen a woman, who—to her—was so mesmerizing to look upon.

  “Sorry, ma’am,” Alice said, brushing the dirt off her jeans. “The sun musta got in my eyes.”

  Alice didn’t know why, but she was lapsing into a southern drawl for reasons she couldn’t explain. She was about to put the hat back on, when she realized this might be extremely impolite in the presence of such a fashionable lady. Alice stood awkwardly shuffling her feet, and turned the hat in her hand.

  The woman stood now as well, twirled her parasol, and studied Alice in her cowboy boots, jeans, long, curly red hair, the black hat in her hands. She opened her mouth to speak, looked over at Sue, then back at Alice. “You…” She pointed at Sue. Alice nodded and said, “Yep,” never prouder of the fact.

  “Well, I don’t believe it,” the woman said, and her eyes shone. “That reminds me of when I was a little girl. We were all in the rodeo. Me, Mom, all my brothers and sisters. I was about your age then.”

  “You were in the rodeo?” Alice said.

  “You’d never know it, would you?” the woman said, curtseying slightly. “We traveled all over. I take it that horse is yours?”

  “That’s Sue,” Alice said, looking over at Sue proudly. “She was a gift from Uncle Fred.”

  “Uncle Fred?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “What a nice Uncle Fred you must have,” the woman told Alice, “to give you a horse. My name’s Emily. Emily Lila Patrick. Yes, sir. In all her glory.”

  Emily Lila Patrick did something that made Alice like her very much. She struck a pose, as though someone were about to take her picture. She did it in a mocking fashion, making fun of herself, because of the fancy hat she wore, the dress, and the parasol. Then, Emily burst out laughing. “Don’t let the appearance fool you, dear. I used to think it was fancy
, even the name, in some aspects, but not anymore. Doesn’t quite fit the part, does it?”

  “You’re a lady!” Alice said.

  “Not really, snooks. Deep down, I’m just a cowgirl at heart, like you. What’s your name?”

  “Alice Skylar,” Alice said.

  “Alice,” Emily told her. “A pleasure, I must say. What brings you out this fine spring day?”

  “I was looking for my friend, Jack. He’s disappeared lately. He’s very creative and likes to pretend a lot. Sometimes, we take these adventures and make them up as we go.”

  “He sounds like quite a unique individual, but a bugger for disappearing.”

  “Oh, Jack’s great! But he can be a bugger, too!”

  Emily laughed. “I’ll bet. Maybe someday I’ll get to meet him.”

  The woman put a finger to her lips, looked at Sue, then looked at Alice. “Say, Alice?” Emily said. “Aside from looking for your friend Jack, how busy are you?”

  “Well,” Alice said. “That’s his dad’s shop, but he’s not there. I’ve already checked. So, I’ve run out of options. I don’t know where Jack is, so I don’t know where to look anymore, you know?”

  “Well, little Alice,” Emily said, smiling brightly. “I have to admit, I’m quite taken. Would you like to go have a cup of tea with me somewhere, maybe something sweet? You look like you could use a chocolate ice cream, or something, maybe a sweet pastry. I’m new to Storyville and need someone to show me around. I would love to have you as a tour guide, Alice, if you’d be so kind. You seem familiar with the place.”

  “Can we bring Sue?”

  “I wouldn’t dream of leaving Sue behind.”

  Alice was dumbfounded. She stepped over to the lamppost, unhooked the reigns and led Sue down the road. She walked beside Emily Lila Patrick, who twirled her parasol and smiled at Alice.

  Yes, Alice thought. The world is a dang funny place, but a pretty one, too.

  CHAPTER XV

  TIME IS MALLEABLE

  Alice continued to look for Jack, but the only time she saw him was when they were in school. The lessons had tapered off, and Jack said he wanted to try the last month of school on his own. He was feeling confident. Still, however, his absences bothered her, and in school, she confronted him about it again:

  “So, I went to your dad’s shop the other day, Jack,” Alice said. “Not only were you not there, but your dad said you only help out around the shop a little bit. He didn’t know where you were spending your time, either.”

  Alice couldn’t help the accusation, and she wasn’t proud of it.

  “Uh,” Jack said, unsure how to go on. “I’m sorry Alice. I didn’t realize…I just got busy lately with things, and I figured you were riding Sue all the time now that it was warmer. Dad and I were actually thinking of adding some things to the house, so he’d had me running errands for him and stuff. I think…maybe Dad might be…seeing a lady or something…”

  Alice’s ears perked up at this. Immediately, she thought of Emily. “Excuse me?”

  “Well, I don’t know for certain, but he comes home all chipper and stuff, more so than usual. Then, I started writing this play…”

  “What?”

  “Oh, I didn’t tell you…” Jack said, blushing. “I’m writing a play. It’s full of adventures and magic and lost kingdoms and stuff.”

  “Jack,” Alice said. “That’s fabulous. Is it about our adventures?”

  “Something like that. It’s about two friends, and they are a boy and a girl. There might even be pink lasers in it, Alice.”

  “Oh, Jack! That sounds so cool!”

  “Thanks, Alice. I thought you might like it.”

  Alice was stunned by this news, she completely forgot about Jack’s time away, Phillip and whatever girl he might be seeing, and even Emily, who she was going to tell Jack about, but had completely forgotten.

  *

  Colors and flowers lined every sidewalk, street, planter, window, and porch step. The grass on the lawns was thick, lush, and vibrantly green. The smell of growth permeated the air. Bees buzzed, chipmunks bolted, and rabbits hopped in and out of sight. Eagles and hawks circled overhead. The occasional deer came into town, stared at the denizens for a while, then disappeared. Kids grew increasingly restless in their seats, knowing the last day of school was just around the corner.

  Alice took advantage of these moments, and rode Sue whenever she could. Something about being with Sue as the weather changed, the land around Storyville as spring arrived, promised an equally beautiful summer. With Sue, she’d savor these moments, always having something to look forward to. Every ride with Sue had its own personality, its own story to tell.

  Though spring had arrived, Alice hadn’t thought about it until she’d woken up one morning and the entire world had changed. She was aware of the change, of course, the warmer weather, but now it finally felt like spring, too.

  Still, it was quiet without Jack. Maybe he just needed time alone, she thought. He was like that sometimes. In the meantime, Alice would build adventures of her own…

  *

  Alice awoke on one particular weekend afternoon to find the entire house was empty. A dream she’d just had eluded her; something about castles, but in the time she’d rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed, the memory had faded.

  Her mother had mentioned the night before to Gerald about going to Phillip’s house and helping in the yard. Since Jack’s mother had died, the house hadn’t necessarily gone to ruin, but it could still use some work. Jane, after talking to Phillip, wanted to restore the feminine touch that had faded since Jezebel’s death. Mainly, the yard, Phillip told Jane. The house simply needed some brightening up. Nothing wrong with that, Gerald had told Jane the night before. What were neighbors for?

  Alice had gone to sleep, thinking little of it. When she awoke, she realized her father was busy in town at the Gazette, leaving her alone in the house. Not completely alone, Alice thought. Boxer nestled his head on her pillow, whined when she opened her eyes, and excitedly licked her face. Sue, of course, was outside, roaming through the pasture inside the corral.

  Alice got up with Boxer following, made some breakfast, and saw a note on refrigerator.

  Alice,

  Went to Phillip and Jack’s to help in the yard.

  Come along after breakfast and bring Sue and Boxer if you want.

  Love Mom

  Excited to spend the day with Jack and Phillip, she got dressed, went outside, and led Sue to the stable. An ingenious contraption of ropes and pulleys had been designed by Phillip and Fred, so Alice could now lower the saddle onto Sue as long as Sue stayed in position, then buckle the saddle into place. What a perfect home she and Sue had together, she thought.

  With her boots and cowboy hat and Boxer in tow, she set out for Jack’s. It was a beautiful day in late May. Already, the morning was warming up, the sun rising higher and higher, and not a single cloud in the sky. Boxer ran wildly, darting here and there in front of Sue, wagging his tail, jumping up and down, as if trying to get Alice and Sue’s attention. Sue shuffled along ignoring Boxer, doing everything but rolling her eyes, it seemed. Alice told Boxer to calm down.

  When she made it to Jack’s, her mother and Phillip were in the front yard. Jack was there, too, wearing shorts and a loose tank-top, revealing his skinny, pale arms. All of them wore gardening gloves, Jack holding the handle of a shovel while his dad pointed, indicating several spots. They were, when she approached, putting in a new walkway made of gray flagstones. Flowers had been arranged near the porch where the walkway had started.

  Alice steered Sue by the gate, and Boxer jumped, eager, through the opening in the fence, corralling Jack.

  “Boxer, stay off the flowers!” Jane barked. Boxer turned and looked guiltily at Jane. He stood off to the side, barked once, and sat on his haunches. He wagged his tail, tongue lolling from his mouth.

  “Crazy dog,” Jane muttered, and Alice smiled.

  “Hey, Boxer!” Jack s
aid, bending down to pet the dog. Boxer nipped him once on the finger. “No biting!”

  “Boxer!” Jane rebuked, and Boxer sat back, cocked his head, and whined again. He was only playing after all.

  “Well, if little Alice hasn’t come to pay visit,” Phillip said, smiling brightly in Alice’s direction.

  “Whatcha guys, doing?” Alice said.

  Jane wore a red bandana on her head, a denim shirt, jeans rolled up at the ankles, and sandals. “We’re trying to resurrect Phillip’s yard. I think he misses all the color. You’re father’s coming by later, too. We’re gonna have a barbecue. You wanna help?”

  Alice nodded eagerly. Phillip’s truck was backed up toward the fence, much like Fred’s had been in their backyard when they’d put up the stable. Instead of boards, though, Phillip’s truck brimmed with flowers of all kinds. Petunias, geraniums, snapdragons, moonflowers, and other plants, along with more flagstones and landscaping supplies.

  “We’re making a new start this year,” Phillip said. “Everything’s coming together in a way we haven’t had before. We’re calling it a tribute, aye Jack?”

  “I think Mom would love it, Dad. And I think she’d be glad you had a woman’s touch to help, because you couldn’t do it on your own. You’ve been kinda going to pot lately, Pop.”

  “That’s why you’re doing all the manual labor, son,” Phillip said, smiling.

  “Ah, Dad,” Jack said, waving a hand in the air. “I’m already digging. But it’s kinda cool. I keep thinking I’ll uncover some lost treasure. Maybe Frosty left his gold watch out here somewhere.”

  “Man,” Alice said, sliding off Sue and looking at the work they’d already done. “You guys have really done a lot. Did you do all this today?”

  “Well,” Jane said, wiping her brow with her forearm. She had dirt on her cheeks. She was kneeling by the fence with a small spade, digging holes for more flowers. “Phillip got everything last night, and we’ve been busy since early this morning.”