by R L Wagner
Everything became vibrant and then vanished. The opening door was gone. The thundering clapping noise started us traveling again. A million stars raced in, replacing our view of the faded apartment. The tiny, green glowing dot of light appeared. It looked really far away and grew brighter and brighter, larger and larger. Green light enveloped us and we traveled silently, floating just like before, but now with Benny frozen in my frantic, halfheadlock. I exhaled into the green glow amidst a million white stars. With a sudden flash of white, the green light winked out. A dark, warm moment passed and that exploding sound slammed again against our ears. We were ‘THERE’.
We were aghast to discover where.
11 Strands of Gold Lights
“That’s perfect.” “What, Benny?” I said after hearing a voice.
We landed, stumbling. I fell off balance onto Benny while rushing to take the picture and nearly knocked both of us over. Benny was still in my headlock, hanging on tight to me, and struggling to keep us both on our feet. We caught our balance and I closed my eyes.
“That was just too quick and creepy. Please tell me he didn’t follow us,” I said. I took a long deep breath and lowered the camera.
“You’ll be very happy!”
“What?” I froze. My eyes sprang wide open. I recognized the voice.
“Sis, let go!” Benny squirmed out of my grip and pulled away from me.
“That will be no problem at all,” the voice said from a distance.
“No problem at all? Hey, is that who I think it is?” I said, pointing.
Benny shuffled behind me.
“Yes it really is.”
“Where are we?” I said, startled. It was night and dark. I could hear Sasha’s voice. I felt completely disoriented. It didn’t make any sense. “This is all wrong.” I shook my head in
disbelief, fighting to find my bearings. There they were, those familiar strands of gold lights, right there in front of me.
“Benny isn’t that…?” I said slowly. It was registering. I dropped my jaw open wide.
“Sis, we’re standing in front of a window. We’re not in Clayton; we’re not even in the right bedroom. We’re in your bedroom in our city apartment… That’s the Golden Gate Bridge.”
I spun around. Benny was behind me wiggling and rubbing his hands together nervously.
“I’ll have Jean call you in the morning Lou! Ten is perfect.”
“What?” That voice confirmed the entire impossibility.
“I agree Lou, we both made the right choice. Yes, absolutely . . . here’s to another show! Thanks Lou, of course, please give my best to Nancy. Wooow!”
It was Sasha. She was apartment sitting for us while we’re in Clayton. Her voice was so excited when she slammed down our old house phone.
“Oh… oh no, this is not good. This is not good at all.” I ran to my half-open bedroom door. I crouched low and peeked down the hall. I shut the door slowly, leaving it open just a crack. “Sasha’s in the living room!” I sat on the floor with my ear pressed against the open door.
“We’re home, in the city,” Benny repeated. “That is the Golden Gate Bridge, and…”
“Yeah, I heard you, Benny. I got it. Shhhh! You’re too loud,” I said.
“Yeeesss! We got it!” Sasha sounded nearly out of control.
“Sally, what are we going to do?” I suppose Benny was trying to be calm but it wasn’t working so well.
“Oh Rida, Rida we got it! Jean will be so happy!” Sasha exclaimed.
I could hear the two of them jumping up and down.
“Did she know this was going to happen?” Rida asked.
“Who’s that?” Benny asked standing over me, “Who’s Rida?” Benny was fidgeting.
“That’s Corrida voice,” I whispered. “She’s Sasha’s cousin. Mom hired her to work with her and Sasha as the new seamstress down at the shop.”
“What are we going to do? They can’t find us here!” Benny sat down next to me with his knee bouncing up and down a mile a minute.
“Benny, we’re going to lower our voices so they won’t find us here. We just need to make a travel correction.”
I put my hand on his knee attempting to calm the situation. Benny got real close and put his head on my shoulder. This evening was like a roller coaster: up and down, filled with anticipation, and hanging on tight. Actually, I never knew my brother was this cool. Earlier tonight, he seemed bright, brave, and older than his age. But, right now, he just seemed like an exhausted and scared nine year-old.
“Here,” I opened the satchel, “take the camera journal and look up how to use artifacts. I need to hear what they’re saying.”
“Okay, why?”
“Why? Because Sasha’s going to call Mom, and Mom will want to want to wake us up, ‘cause she’ll be excited, and all that may just happen right now,” I explained.
“Sasha’s gonna call Mom right now!?” Benny finally understood. “Okay, artifacts. I’m on it!”
“Artifacts are tricky,” I said, thinking aloud. “My pack was last in Clayton, but now we’re here.” It’s like a game with rules that didn’t make any sense. I was baffled. “I mean, why did the tooth get us outside of the museum, and not inside at the display case? We can’t get this wrong again.” I looked at Benny and he looked right back at me, pretty panicked.
“I can’t read this. The room’s too dark.” Benny sounded apologetic. We both got quiet, and if possible, a bit more scared.
I’d lived in this bedroom for about three years. We moved in just after we lost Dad. These walls had seen me scared many times. It’s a good, old room. It looked pretty much the same though. I had taken some of my things to Clayton, but not that much. I loved the city and I really want this to be where we end up living. My architecture books still lined my desk. On top of my bureau sat my red and green table runner cluttered with nick knack baskets and stuffed bears. My white, wrought iron bed shot off the east corner at an angle into the room facing the bridge’s gold lights. Those lights were my personal night-light. I stared at them, looking for the answer. That golden glow had always reassured me.
“Don’t we have anything from Clayton with us?” Benny sounded really worried.
“We can figure this out, Benny. The stuff in the backpack came from here, so that’s no good. I don’t want to use the satchel itself, because who knows where it came from.” Though that might be interesting for another time I thought.
“What about this journal?” Benny asked.
“For all we know, Uncle Scott wrote it in the pub apartment,” I answered.
“I’ve got to go to my room,” Benny said.
“Why?” I a sked, surprised.
“I’m only wearing one shoe.” Benny sounded like he might be in trouble. “We traveled so fast that I couldn’t get the other one on. The other shoe is back at Uncle Scott’s.”
“An artifact from the future left in the past.” That thought frightened me. But if the man in black used the shoe, where would it take him? Benny’s shoe had been to many places.
“I’m sorry, Sally. Should we go back and get it?” Benny asked.
“No. Later. We need an artifact now. We didn’t bring Uncle Scott’s keys or the revolver. Check your pockets, Benny.” I realized now that the keys were probably Uncle Scott’s traveling artifacts, maybe to a lot of places.
“Nothing. Just a candy wrapper, and…” Benny’s face lit up, “Hey, you want some beef jerky?” Benny said, doing a familiar little dance.
“No, just use the bathroom and go through there. Don’t go through the hall.”
I stood up and looked in my backpack just in case I forgot something, but I found nothing. We could probably go back to the pub apartment with something in the satchel, but the man in black might still be there. I checked my pockets. Nothing again. Wait! My coin pocket! I was filled with relief. “Oh yeah, this should work.” I went back to the door and listened.
“Ice cream, Rida! We’re celebrating with mint and chocola
te chip before we call Jean.”
Sasha’s words meant we had about five minutes, maybe a few more. We might just make it to Clayton yet.
Benny entered the room grinning. “Hey, should I bring this back? It’s my Christmas Carol costume. It even has a leather backpack and shoes. You have one too, don’t you?” Benny was wearing a new smile and his old red sneakers.
“Yeah, that’s perfect. Mine’s across the hall in Mom’s sewing room,” I said, standing up and sharing my find. “I found this, the spare Clayton house key that Mrs. Krebs gave Mom. I used it to open the front door.” I handed the key to Benny, and he studied it.
“It’s a pretty old key. That should do it I guess, I mean your backpack went to Clayton but it brought us here. It might work that way with the key,” he said.
“Cheers!”
Sasha and Rida were giggling and toasting with ice cream.
“We have to move fast. I think I can cross the hall and get my Dickens Holiday Fair costume without them seeing me. You stay here, Benny. Get ready to travel.”
“I’m coming with you!” Benny said adamantly.
“I can move faster alone. You pull the packs together, hold up the key, and get ready to hand me the camera,” I said quickly. Before Benny could protest, the phone rang.
“She’s talking to Mom, I bet. She is talking to Mom and we’re not there.” Benny scampered to gather everything. “Forget your costume, Sis, let’s just try the key,” Benny said.
I ran to the door and looked through the
small open crack.
“Hi Lou. No, I was just about to call Jean. Okay, let me get the list and something to write with. I’ll be right back. ”
Sasha walked briskly down the hall toward us.
“Quick, Benny. Get behind the bed and duck,” I said, shaking and hoping Sasha
wouldn’t come through the door. I peeked again and pulled back fast. I didn’t think she saw me. Sasha was just a few feet away and closing in. I ducked behind the door thinking I would be hidden it if it opened. I pushed my back against the wall where I stood. My heart pounded so hard that I thought Sasha might hear it. Benny raised his head. I waved frantically to him to duck down. I pressed closer to the wall and closed my eyes. Don’t come in Sasha! I mouthed the words. Don’t come in!
Sasha turned and went into Mom’s sewing room across from my door. The sewing room light went on and lit up my room with a long line of light spilling through the crack of my open door. Maybe 15 seconds passed. It felt like a lifetime. The light turned off and Sasha ran back to the phone.
“I’ll call Jean right away! But what concerns you on the list, Lou?” Sasha asked, sounding professional.
I let out a deep breath. My heart felt like it would pop out of my throat. Our eyes locked on each other. “One minute Benny.” I started a count down, “59, 58, 57… be ready!” I said quickly, not waiting for his response.
He stood up. I peeked out the door. I didn’t see them. I opened the door slowly, stepped into the hall and closed the door slightly behind me.
“47, could you check that number, Lou?” Sasha continued.
I didn’t wait for any answer. I dashed across the hall and ducked into the sewing room. I knew just where the costume was, on the rack next to the green, velvet love seat. I hurried across the dark room. I panicked – everything on the rack looked the same. I finally spotted it hanging on two heavy hangers, including the shoes, bag, and bonnet. I grabbed the costume, turned, and heard a long, low growl. The moonlight through the window was just enough to see Monster, Rida’s Chihuahua. Monster had been sleeping on the love seat. Now Monster was awake, trembling with fright, and baring his small, sharp doggy teeth at me.
“Hi Monster,” I whispered, trying to sound sweet. “Good boy, Monster, good doggy...” Monster was having none of it. He stood up and growled louder through even more teeth.
I grabbed a long dress off the hanger and threw it over Monster. I ran out the door, not looking back, not even looking to see where Rida and Sasha were, and sprinted across the hall through the bathroom door. Monster was barking and scampering fast on my heels, but I was a split second ahead of him. I flew through the bathroom and into my bedroom, shutting the door in a silent flash. Monster barked and barked. Suddenly he stopped. I could tell he was readjusting his plan of attack. I turned around and ran for my bedroom door. I got to the door before him. I shut it just as I saw Rida at the end of the hall walking toward us.
“Monster, here boy! What is it
Monster?” she asked.
I don’t know if she saw the door shutting or me.
“Come on, Sis! Go, go, go!” Benny whispered loudly.
His voice was raspy with anticipation. Monster kept barking outside the door. Benny stood there ready for action with the bags on his shoulders, holding the key in place, and the camera ready for me to grab. I jumped next to Benny as I fumbled to take the camera. I slung my costume over my shoulder, and raised the camera. Benny grabbed my hand and squeezed tight.
“We gotta quit meeting like this! I think I’m gonna have a heart attack!” Benny said.
We were so nervous that we burst out laughing without a care. Monster was barking, Rida was shouting, but the door didn’t open. I snapped the picture hoping we got it right.
We laughed through the loud traveling clap. A thousand stars showered past us replacing my bedroom in our view. The ball of green light sped toward us and blanketed over everything. We were floating again. This travel was quicker than the two before. The chirping songs of crickets filled the warm air. Stars returned to a clear night sky. The air clapped as I expected. We landed softly on the porch in front of the Clayton house front door. Benny and I looked at each other and hugged greatly relieved. Inside, the phone rang.
“Oh. My. Gosh.” Benny put the key into the lock and turned the knob. We rushed inside and froze. The phone rang several more times and stopped.
“Wait for it,” Benny said. “Wait for it...”
“Yeeeessss!” Extreme, over the top, excitement wouldn’t begin to describe the squealing scream that came out of Mom.
“She’s still upstairs in her bedroom,” Benny whispered.
I shut the door and saw a light go on at the top of the stairwell.
“Where do we go? There’s no time to get upstairs!” Benny said, clutching his bags.
“The kitchen! Hurry, put everything into the pantry,” I said, running. We threw the bags and costumes into the back of the pantry. We heard Mom walking around upstairs.
“Sally! Benny! Kids, where are you?” Mom called down from the top of the stairs.
“We’re here in the kitchen, Mom!” Benny yelled back to her, sitting at the kitchen table. Benny pulled out and opened his beef jerky. I opened the refrigerator door and stared in. The cool air fanned my beads of sweat.
“Kids, we got it!” Mom hurried in with the phone still in her hand.
It was hard not to laugh.
“Got what, Mom?” I said into the refrigerator.
“Thanks, Sasha. I’ll tell them now. I’ll call you back in a few minutes. Yes, and tell Rida to go slow on the ice cream, she’s seeing things.” Mom hung up the phone. Her grin was as big as Molly’s.
Benny and I shot a look across the room at each other. I closed the refrigerator door, crossed the room, and sat with Benny at the butcherblock table.
“Lou’s theater company is going to extend their season and we’re doing the costumes for two more shows this year!” Mom looked so happy when she said it.
“Oh, that’s great Mom!” I walked over to give her a big hug. I gave Benny a funny face over Mom’s shoulder. Beef jerky flew through the air nearly hitting me as he laughed.
“Are we moving back to the city, I mean we just got here?” Benny sounded concerned.
“There’s a lot to talk about, Benny. This is really big for our shop and our new theater costume business.” Mom laughed with big, happy eyes. Suddenly, her expression changed. “Hey, what are yo
u two doing up and dressed?”
“Ah… well, we never really got to sleep, and we were hungry,” I said.
Mom gave us a big smile and looked at the kitchen clock. “Well it’s not even ten and the Nugget is still open. Let’s celebrate! Pies on me! Gladys at the Nugget makes the best homemade pies ever. Apple a la mode is my favorite!”
“Oh yeah, best apple pie ever, that sounds good,” I said turning and looking cross-eyed at Benny.
“Homemade apple pie! I don’t think I’ve had that in a hundred years!” Benny sat up tall and smiling as he said it.
Actually, it was one hundred and twenty nine years, Benny.
12 Fifty-Two Clues
“Do it!” Benny said between bites , and reaching for the maple syrup.
“It’s really no trouble at all, Jean! Sally and Benjamin have more than enough on that list of yours to keep them out of trouble, and I’m delighted to be here if they need me.” Mrs. Krebs’s motherly, reassuring smile seemed to seal the deal. “It’s so nice to see lights and hear music coming from Scotty’s place again. Oh, excuse me Jean, I mean the Marshall family country retreat.”
Despite the situation, breathing in the clean scent of the morning dew made our outdoor breakfast feel very peaceful, something I needed considering our last, intense hours. Sitting there in the garden, I think I began to understand why Uncle Scott chose to live here.
Everywhere, fresh summer blooms sugared the warm morning air. The grand magnolia tree stood as the garden’s regal centerpiece. Its enormous canopy of white flowers looked like giant snowballs catching lazy rides aboard a thousand, slow-swaying, dark green, canoe-shaped leaves. Old peach and apple trees, heavy with colorful young fruit, lined the long curve of the gurgling, river-rock creek. Tall redwood and spruce trees stood like silent sentinels over a shady grove on the creek’s far bank, a perfect destination to bring a good book. Under the heavy trellis beams built in the shape of an open-air, whitewashed green house, we feasted on chocolate chip pancakes, crisp pan-fried potatoes, juice, and coffee. Above our heads, the wisteria’s new growth, the long, purple and white flowers, hung low from leafy, twisted, old, clinging vines. There, dancing honeybees hopped intently from blossom to blossom.
