The Middle Realm

by Alessia Mattei

  “No, I’m pretty sure you said ‘soldier’,” William said.

  “Shut up, William,” I swear if I start slapping him I won’t stop.

  “Excuse me? You can’t tell me to shut up,” he said.

  “I already did,” I said. He stared at me, stunned.

  “Whitney, do something,” William said.

  “Too late. Edgar is coming over,” she said.

  Edgar and Camille had stopped walking and turned around to walk back toward us. Edgar was not going to be happy. If he found out I was interested in the soldier, I wouldn’t hear the end of it. I was now hoping my soldier would not be there.

  “What’s the problem? I heard you three bickering,” Edgar said, referring to William, Whitney and myself.

  “Savannah has the hotts for the soldier we saw earlier on the back of the pickup” William said. What a tattletale. Last time I checked we weren’t six years old.

  “William?!” Whitney said, flabbergasted. “Is it necessary to tattle?”

  “What’s this about a soldier?” Edgar asked.

  “Savannah’s has fallen for him,” William responded.

  “Thanks, William,” I said.

  “What? He asked, I told,” he said.

  “It’s not for you to say,” I told him.”

  “Drop it, you two,” Edgar said. “Savannah, is any of this true?”

  They were making a big deal out of nothing. I’ve fallen in love, is that such a crime? I didn’t think I would fall in love again and here it happened and they weren’t being happy for me? I didn’t care what they said about the soldiers having extra baggage. I hadn’t met him yet, but I believed in love at first sight. If they would just let me talk to him and get to know him, I could find out if we were compatible. If they would just let me get to know the guy, then they could tell me why he wasn’t right for me. Couldn’t they just put aside the soldier stereotyping for a minute?

  “Okay, maybe it’s true,” I said.

  “It’s true, all right,” William said. I swear if he weren’t already dead I’d kill him.

  “William, come with me and Whitney ” Camille said, grabbing him and dragging him away. I made a face at him. Then I realized I had sunk to his level.

  “Savannah, walk with me, talk with me,” Edgar said. He held out his arm for me and I took it. “Is it true that you have fallen in love with a soldier you saw earlier?”

  “Yeah, I’m sorry,” I said.

  “You shouldn’t apologize for falling in love. You can’t help who you’re attracted to,” Edgar said. “It’s just that it worries me a bit.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  “It’s just that, you really shouldn’t be getting involved with this spirit,” he said.

  “He’s a soldier, I know. Whitney explained everything to me,” I said.

  “Yet you still want to get to know him?” he asked.

  “Yes. Why is it so horrible that I’m in love with him?” I asked.

  “It’s hard for spirits in his situation to have relationships with other spirits, let alone a spirit as young as you. I’m just worried that you wouldn’t know how to act around him, that you might do or say something wrong to offend him. I don’t know if you could handle him. There are spirits older than I am who refuse to be in a relationship with a ghost like your soldier,” Edgar said.

  So Edgar was worried this ghost might hurt me? Aw, that was sweet of him. But it didn’t change anything

  “I’m still going to try to get to know him and nobody is going to stop me. I have a chance at finding love again,” I told him.

  “Okay, if that’s what you want to do, we’ll support you one hundred percent. By “we,” I mean Camille, Whitney, William and I. I still think you’re crazy for what you want to do, but you’ve been through so much and have so much determination that I wouldn’t be surprised if you were able to allure him. Besides, everyone deserves another chance at finding love. I still think you should wait because you might be reunited with the boyfriend you left behind, but it’s not my call,” he said.

  I was so happy that Edgar had given me his blessing. It meant so much to me. I hoped everything would just seamlessly fall into place.

  “Thanks, Edgar,” I said as I gave him a hug, “Do you know if he goes to the barn?” I was hoping to get the answer I wanted.

  “I hear he’s been known to occasionally visit. There’s a chance he may be there,” Edgar said.

  “Well, let’s go,” I said, starting to go toward the barn. “William, Camille, Whitney, Come on.” They caught up with us in no time.

  The closer we got, the more nervous I became. I don’t know why. I didn’t usually get nervous about talking to a guy. I was usually very confident. Right now, not so much. If I had a heartbeat, I’m sure it would have been beating out of my chest. I needed to calm down. This guy was not different from any other guy I’ve talked to. Okay, maybe not. For starters, he’s a ghost. I take back the whole, ‘he no different from any other guy I’ve talked to’.

  As we walked into the barn, I saw ghosts everywhere. They were leaning up against the walls and sitting on bales of hay and old crates. There were also couples dancing. In a corner was a ghost playing a trumpet. The other ghosts were standing around him listening intently. All these ghosts were from different time periods. The time periods of the ghosts I saw ranged all the way from Medieval Europe to 1940’s Paris. From Edwardian England to the New York punk movement of the 1980’s. I think I even saw a Viking and a couple from Ancient Rome. Edgar and Camille went up to some spirits they knew. I followed them. As Edgar and Camille talked to their friends I scanned the place looking for my soldier. I finally found him sitting on a crate in the corner by himself.

  I turned to Camille. “Camille, there he is,” I said excitedly. “Edgar, there he is. Come introduce me, please.

  Edward held out his arm to me. Arm-in-arm we walked up to the soldier. I was beyond nervous. I hope this goes well.

  “Hello. I’m Edgar. I don’t believe we’ve met before,” Edgar said reaching his hand out to the soldier who shook it reluctantly, “I’ve seen you here in the past”

  The soldier didn’t respond. How rude is that. At least he managed to look at Edgar when Edgar spoke.

  “I would like to introduce you to my dear friend Savannah Montgomery. She would love to get to know you better. I’ll just leave you to alone to get acquainted. I must go find my dear Camille”

  Once Edgar left, the soldier and I were alone. When I looked at him, the look on his face said, ‘Maybe if I ignore her, she’ll go away’. He had been just minding his own business and enjoying the music until I came along. He probably just wanted to be left alone to just chill by him self. Sorry, buddy, that’s not happening tonight. As I got closer, I could tell he was someone who had clearly seen a lot during his short life. His uniform was from World War II. He had a helmet in his lap and a rifle and knapsack next to him. For some reason the gun made me uneasy. I’m not sure why? It’s not like it could hurt me. At least I don’t think it could. Edgar’s cane, Camille’s purse and parasol and Whitney’s long strands of pearls and purse were fine. Some choose to remain in the place they enjoyed being most while they were alive. Some like to go around to different places.

  My mission tonight was to at least talk to him. I didn’t really know what I’d say. Our lives couldn’t be more different. He grew up in the 1930s and 40s. I grew up in the 1990s and early 2000s. I’m sure we didn’t have much in common. We didn’t grow up watching the same cartoons or listening to the same music. Instead, I just said the first thing that came to mind.

  “Cool gun,” I said. Immediately I regretted it. I couldn’t believe I said that. Why, why, why on earth did I have to open with “Cool gun"?

  I looked over to Camille, who was shaking her head in disbelief. Even she couldn’t believe I said, “Cool gun.” This was definitely not going how I expected.

  “It’s all right, I guess. It would be a lot cooler if I didn’t have to use
it to kill people,” he said.

  Oh, my God, he actually talked to me. Excuse me I need to take a few deep breaths here,

  “True. I’m Savannah Montgomery, by the way,” I said, holding my hand out. He was not about to take it.

  “Nice to meet you,” he said.

  I introduced myself, now he better introduce himself. I waited. I figured he was just shy.

  “Well?”

  “Well what?” he asked me.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce yourself?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. Should I?” he said.

  I really didn’t appreciate him playing with me like this. Then it occurred to me that he is just playing hard to get. If that’s the case, then I’m up for a challenge.

  “I was kind of hoping you would. I’d like to get to know you,” I said, sweetly.

  “Well, I have no interest in getting to know you. No offense,“ he said.

  Did I really just get turned down? I looked over to Camille. She was just as shocked. I was turned down! I couldn’t believe it. Here I turned on the charm full blast and he shot me down like a German fighter plane. I was hurt. He then had the nerve to say ‘No offense’? I’m sorry, but I have taken great offense. That worm.

  “Well, excuse me, that was rude. I’m trying to be nice here,” I said.

  “Well, I’m sorry I’m not interested in your advances. There are plenty of others guys here tonight. Why did you have to zero in on me? I’m not really someone you would want to get to know. All right. Just trust me on this one. Okay? ” He said.

  Why would I not want to get to know him? He needs to give me a better response. A few more details would be nice.

  “What reason do I have not to get to know you? You aren’t exactly being clear. Give me something?” I asked.

  “I saw a lot of men die. I saw things that I wish I could erase from my memory,” He said, his eyes dropping to the floor.

  Oh, boy. Maybe I am getting in over my head here. But, then again maybe I can help him? You know what, he probably does need someone. I’m still going to pursue him.

  “You look lonely. I’ll keep you company,” I said, sitting down next to him on another crate.

  “Well, I was perfectly content just sitting all by myself,” he said.

  “If that’s how it’s going to be, I’ll just leave then,” I said.

  “Fine. Have a nice afterlife,” the soldier said, smiling.

  He must have thought he was so funny. The others were right. Maybe he wasn’t worth it. I didn’t feel like being around anyone, so I went outside to sit by myself. I found a rock to sit on. I was just sitting there, wallowing in my sadness when I heard a noise. I looked around but saw nothing. I went back to my wallowing. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw a mouse scurry out of a bush. It stopped right in front of me. It was sitting on its hind legs watching me. I did what any normal woman would do. I screamed and stood up on the rock. As I stood there screaming, I saw a spirit running towards me. It was soldier I had just been shot down by. He had his gun drawn, ready to shoot. I didn’t understand the point of the gun. I don’t think it worked. It was probably for show. When he got to me, he stopped and lowered his gun.

  “It's you,” I said, angrily.

  “Yes, it’s me,” he said.

  Of all the spirits in that barn, he had to come out here? There had to have been well over fifty other spirits in there tonight. We hadn’t had such an awkward first meeting; I would have been thrilled to have the soldier come rescue me from the horrible mouse.

  “Why would you come out here?” I asked.

  “When I hear someone in trouble, I want to help,” he said simply.

  “So, if a woman sounds like she is in trouble, you try to help her no matter what? It doesn’t matter who she is, you’ll still be there to save the day?” I asked.

  “Yes, if she’s in distress, I’m there,” he said, “that includes self-important brats who just don’t know when to back off.”

  I am in no way a self-important brat. I did not like the assumptions he was making about me. The ghost did not know me, so he had no right to judge me. He didn’t come out and say it was me he was referring to, but that’s what he implied. I hoped he had come out to apologize, but no, he was trying to play the hero. His ego needed more boosting.

  “Excuse me? Who are you calling a self-important? You don’t know me, so I don’t appreciate the assumptions you’ve made about me after only knowing me a short time,” I said. I was getting mad. The claws were coming out. He’d better watch his back.

  “What I do know about you is that you’re resolute,” he said.

  Well, resolute isn’t that bad. Being resolute is good. Maybe he was starting to come around.

  “Thank you. That means a lot to me,” I said. He gave me this puzzled look. Did I miss something here?

  “You don’t get it, do you? You’re overly resolute,” he said.

  He’s not coming around. I think the only reason he came out here was to insult me and tell me what he really thought of me. I’m cornered, so he’s going to take advantage of that. I wonder if he taught the mouse to sit and stare at me. He seems like the kind of guy who might.

  “And that’s bad how? The last time I checked, being resolute was a good thing,” I said.

  “Not when it comes to trying to form a relationship with someone who’s not interested. Maybe had you not pestered me past the point of no return, I might have eventually come around,” he said.

  I’m sorry. When I want something, I go after it, full throttle. The more he rejected my advances, the more I wanted him. All he had to do was talk to me. Then he could make up his mind. I don’t appreciate being shot down. I kind of wish Emma was here. She has more experience in being turned down by guys than I do.

  “I wanted to get to know you,” I said.

  “Well you certainly went about it all wrong,” he said.

  He did not just go there.

  “How should I have gone about it then,” I was curious now.

  “After I said I wasn’t interested, you should have just stopped and left me alone. But no, you just kept going. You’re like one of those annoying yippy dogs that just don’t know when to shut up,” he said.

  How dare he! An annoying yippy dog? I am insulted. Again.

  “Fine. Forget you. There are plenty of other guys who are interested in me. See this?” I said, sweeping my hands up and down my sides, “it could have been yours. Too bad you’re such an ass”

  “I wish you well. It looks like you’ve got things under control,” he said.

  He then turned around and started walking back to the barn. What’s he doing? He can’t leave me here with the mouse. Oh my god, I’m going to die. Oh, wait, I’m already dead. I’m going to die again if he doesn’t come back. I hate mice. They’re gross, especially with those nasty tails. It keeps inching closer to where I’m standing. Its creepy little black eyes are locked on me.

  “Wait, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any of it. Please forgive me,” I called after him. I was on the verge of tears.

  He stopped and stood still for a few minutes. He seemed to be deliberating whether or not he should help. After a few minutes, he turned around and walked back toward me. When he got to the rock he grabbed me and threw me over his shoulder, like a bag of potatoes or something. The mouse scurried away just as quickly as it came. He then took me a short distance away to another rock and put me down.

  “Wow, you survived the Great Mouse Raid of 2010. You are lucky to be alive,” he said in mock sincerity.

  “Real funny. I hate mice. They’re gross,” I said.

  “I don’t understand why you couldn’t just stand up and walk to a different rock. It’s not like the thing could hurt you,” he said.

  Yeah, easy for him to say. I’ve always been deathly afraid of mice. I’m sorry I got frozen with fear. I’m not usually the Damsel-in-Distress type.

  “Well that doesn’t matter. What matter’s is that you saved me
,” I said, flashing him my sweetest smile.

  “You weren’t exactly in any danger,” he said.

  “You’re still my hero,”

  “A few minutes ago, you said I was an ass. So I’ve been upgraded to a hero?” he asked.

  “Yes”

  “Thanks, but I don’t feel like it,” he said, as he started walking away. I wondered what he meant by that? I started walking after him. In no time I was at his side. We were getting farther from the barn. I hope Edgar and Camille don’t start to worry. I really hope they don’t come looking for me. How embarrassing would that be?

  “I’m Savannah. I don’t think you ever told me your name,” I said.

  “Wow, even after I pretty much called you pushy little bitch, you still insist on getting to know me,” he said, shocked.

  “Yeah. I don’t back down, remember?”

  “How could I ever forget,” he said, with a smile.

  He was starting to come around, finally. He seemed to have a good sense of humor. I just need to take this slowly. I think I’ve finally penetrated that stone cold heart of his, metaphorically speaking of course.

  “How about we just put all the drama behind us and start over? Let’s wipe the slate clean, let’s turn over a new leaf-“

  “Let’s quit the cheesy new beginnings sayings before I vomit,” he said. That’s so funny because he can’t vomit.

  Oh my god, he is perfect. We laughed together. It felt good. All the tension that had built up between us began to dissipate. We began to feel more comfortable with each other.

  “Let me just start over. I’m Patrick,” he said.

  “I’m pleased to meet you,” I said.

  “I’m Savannah, still ”I said.

  After that, we were silent as we walked. We happened upon a group of deer grazing in a clearing, we stopped to watch them. They were beautiful. Patrick finally spoke.

  “Your name is really beautiful,” he said, “Were you named after the city in Georgia?”

  “No, my mom just really liked the name,” I said.

  “Thank you for fighting for our freedom,” I said. “You made the ultimate sacrifice.”