The Awakener

by Amanda Strong

  “It’ll take a little less than two hours to get there,” Micah announced as they filed back into the Excursion. The same seating arrangement applied. Trent’s worried glances in Micah’s direction added to her apprehension. Today’s the day. Whatever Micah saw, it happens today.

  After an hour of zigzagging through the countryside, Eden was caught up with staring out her window. According to the rearview mirror compass, they were heading southwest. She’d never seen so much farmland in her life. Both sides of the road were lined with fields, most of them corn, as they drove mile after mile. There were farms interspersed throughout, and then they began to see more houses and buildings as they entered a city.

  “This is Sycamore, probably the closest city to Clare,” Micah said.

  “Clare?” Willow asked.

  “Yeah, it’s a small farming town with nothing but a post office. That’s where our land is,” he called back.

  Passing grocery stores, a few city buildings, and parks, Eden thought it was a nice-looking city. She loved the huge trees everywhere. Wonder if there are sycamores and that’s why it’s called Sycamore. Within minutes, they left civilization and were once again submerged in cornfields. It was hypnotizing to watch the stalks go flying by as Eden checked the minutes between farmhouses. Micah decelerated as he came to an intersection, heading right on Clare Road. A short way up the road, they came to another intersection and Eden saw the small, dilapidated post office on the corner. She wondered if it was even still operational. At this, Micah turned right again. Again, she stared at the corn, but this time Micah drove slower and it didn’t make her dizzy.

  He made a right and then an immediate left. Another mile down the road, he pulled off onto an almost invisible driveway. Eden felt her pulse quicken as the Excursion bounced down the long, dirt driveway. She could see a farmhouse ahead, painted a dusty red, with a large wraparound porch and a steep, shingled roof.

  Micah parked and then twisted around to face them. “If you want to sit tight, I’ll be right back.”

  Eden gaped back at him. Isn’t this why we came here?

  “I have to make sure there’s no problem with the land, irrigation, and make sure they’ve got my dad and uncle’s info since my grandpa passed. They should, my dad’s been here before.” He smiled broadly. “After we leave here, I want to stop by Vern’s farm. I think you’ll really like it.”

  With that, he jumped out and slammed the door. There was some confused chatter as Eden stared at Trent, who remained planted in his seat. Ten minutes later, Micah came jogging back toward them. He opened the door. “Ok, we’re all set.”

  They were all gawking at Micah now. They’d been under the impression they were going to walk around the Hawkins’ land, not some other farmer’s. Micah glanced at Trent and Eden barely caught the words, “Are you ready for this?”

  She frowned as Trent shifted in his seat. Micah flipped the Excursion around and soon they were bumping back out the driveway.

  “So, who’s Vern?” Willow asked once they were on the main road again.

  Micah’s eyes were in the rearview mirror, peering back at them. “He was my Grandpa Hawkins best friend growing up. His farm neighbors ours. My dad wanted us to stop by and see him, since my grandpa passed away this year.”

  Andrew asked, “Have you met him before?”

  “My dad brought me with him when I was about five, I think. I just remember Vern saying, ‘You call me Grandpa Vern and you can eat as much ice cream as you want.’” Micah paused. “My dad told me later that Vern never got married or had his own family, so every year when he’d go back, Vern asked how his favorite grandson was doing.”

  “How sweet,” Willow murmured.

  Eden smiled. “No wonder you want to go back and visit. He’ll be happy to see you.”

  Micah nodded. “I know. He’s a neat man. My grandpa has told me lots of stories about their time together as kids. They were adventurous, like we were.” Micah gave her a wink in the mirror.

  After a few minutes, Micah again made a right down a gravel driveway. This time, Eden could see the large, white farmhouse from the road. It was set back, maybe an acre, with grass in the front yard, and huge, tall trees everywhere. As they continued down the drive, Eden discovered a long zip line strung between two trees. Didn’t he say Vern never had children?

  Getting closer, Eden saw the house was two stories with a small front porch, and black shutters. As they pulled to the side of the home, she spotted three large barns and two silos behind the farmhouse. This time, they all got out. She gazed at the large garden on the other side of the driveway. She realized it was probably Vern’s own personal garden. She could see rows of corn, beans, tomatoes, and melons.

  Micah was the first up the four steps, giving the dark red door a firm knock. As they waited, Damon and Willow brought up the rear of the group. Willow’s eyes darted around, squinting, her lips pursed. Damon’s back was to them, and when he moved, Eden noticed he was mumbling under his breath. The front door opened.

  “Grandpa Vern!” Micah’s voice boomed. Eden wasn’t sure if he was just excited, or saying it loud enough for Vern to hear. She saw a hearing aid in one of Vern’s ears.

  Vern stood much shorter than Micah, wearing a thin-looking, white, button-up shirt, gray, well-worn slacks, and blue suspenders. His white hair barely covered his head as it was combed neatly to the side. His eyes appeared blue-gray from where Eden stood. He had the grandpa ears that were slightly large and hairy. His face was worn but clean-shaven. She noted the glasses case and glasses in his front pocket, and realized there was a calculator behind that, making the pocket bulge out.

  His wrinkled face broke into a smile as he squinted up at Micah. “Is that Jared Hawkins’s boy?”

  Micah stooped down and hugged Vern, saying, “Sure is!” Micah straightened. “These are some of my friends. We came to visit you.”

  Vern’s smile widened. “Wonderful, come on in.”

  They followed Micah through the door, single file. As Eden crossed into the home, she saw they stood in a family room with wood floors. There were curtains hanging on the windows, and fading flower wallpaper on the walls. There were two small couches and one rocking chair in the corner. Micah walked around, examining the room.

  Vern gestured to the couches and everyone sat down. “Ok, Micah, now who do we have here?”

  Micah smiled and introduced them all. Eden didn’t think he’d remember all their names but he went down the line asking each of them where they were from, and what their parents did. Vern smiled at them and said, “Lots of catching up, but how about some lunch first?”

  Once Vern had shown them where the kitchen was, Willow smiled at him. “Why don’t you let us girls make you lunch for a change. Go sit down and relax. We’ve got this.”

  Vern tried to object but Micah called from the dining room, “Is that Grandpa Hawkins in this picture with you?” Vern shuffled away.

  Willow finished washing her hands. “I absolutely love him.”

  Caitlyn joined Willow at the sink to wash her hands. Eden handed them the towel to dry and began pulling bread out of the bag, saying, “I feel sort of bad about eating all his food. We could’ve stopped at the grocery store in Sycamore if Micah had given us a heads up first.”

  Willow dried her hands. “Yeah, but to tell you the truth, I have a feeling it makes Vern happy to feed us. I don’t think he has a lot of visitors.”

  Eden peered around the large kitchen, most of the dishes looked like they hadn’t been touched in a long time. There was a hand towel laid out on the counter next to the sink with one bowl, plate, cup, fork, and spoon.

  “Doesn’t this house feel a little big for one farmer?” Caitlyn asked.

  Willow and Eden agreed as they made turkey sandwiches for everyone. After chopping up a few cucumbers and strawberries, probably from Vern’s garden, they carried the food into the dining room.

  Vern waited until everyone was seated at the antique, wooden t
able and then lowered himself into the chair at the head of the table. Holding his hands out to Micah and Trent, who were on his left and right, he said, “Dear kind Lord, thank you for this day, and thank you for these friends who’ve come to see me.”

  Everyone quickly took hands and bowed their heads. After his prayer ended, Andrew said, “Micah said you grew up with his grandpa.”

  “That I did, Joseph was a good friend.”

  “Your family’s been here a long time then?” Willow asked, glancing around the room. Eden sort of wondered what she was looking at. She seemed to be staring at the walls.

  Vern’s blue-gray eyes took on a faraway gaze. “Yes, starting with my eighth great grandpa, Charles, in England. The story goes he started having dreams of this land with fields flowing like honey. He was poor, single, with nothing but his hands to labor. He heard of the great migration to America, where land was plentiful, and knew it was for him. He arrived in Massachusetts and worked as a laborer, trying to save up money. He kept having a dream of this land; it called to him. But he married, had kids, and their kids had kids. He never left Massachusetts. But he passed the story along to his grandkids, so when my fifth great grandfather, Dr. John Brown, came along, he wanted to find this land. With his family, they journeyed into the wild frontier. And it was wild back then. Many Indian tribes were not friendly with settlers, and vice versa. But by some miracle, they made it here.”

  “Here? You mean here, here?” Andrew asked.

  “Yep, the original homestead’s back behind the barns. I can show it to you if you’d like. Lucky for them, the Dakota Sioux tribe was friendly enough. When they realized he was a doctor, they were suspicious but, eventually, Dr. Brown’s medicines helped heal one of the chief’s sons. It was a big deal because they didn’t trust white men or their medicine. The Dakota’s helped the Brown’s become successful corn farmers, and they entrusted my ancestors with this land.”

  Vern paused and Micah said, “My grandpa told me the land’s special.”

  Pain flashed across Vern’s blue-gray eyes. “Yes, it is. My family has stayed here since. My third great grandfather, Albert, built this farmhouse. These walls have seen many families, children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren, run through these halls, but now it’s just me left.”

  So that explains it. She could almost feel the ghosts in these very rooms. Thinking of Gabriel near, she knew she probably wasn’t far off with her feeling.

  Willow’s eyes swept the room. “Your family’s still here with you. You can feel the love in this home.”

  Vern sighed. “I suppose you may be right.”

  “She is,” Micah confirmed. “Grandpa Vern, my grandpa told me a story when I was a kid. He told me about the well.”

  Vern’s head snapped up.

  Micah’s eyes were locked on Vern’s face. “We’ve come to fix it.”

  Vern cleared his throat several times and then asked, “You know how?”

  “Yes.” Micah eyes never left the old man’s face.

  There was a strange tension in the room. No one interrupted to ask questions.

  “With your permission, I’d like to go see it now.”

  Vern’s eyebrows dug into his forehead and then he nodded.

  Micah grinned and stood. “Perfect. We’ll be back soon.”

  When they all began to rise from their seats, Vern’s eyes widened. “They’re all going with you?”

  “I need their help to fix it.” Vern started to protest, but stopped as Micah placed his hand on Vern’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Grandpa Vern, it’s going to be fine. Just stay here and rest.”

  This was the first time she’d heard Micah even mention a well. But I have a hunch it has to do with that temple.

  Vern followed behind them as they walked out the front door, Micah taking the lead.

  Being the last one out, Eden stopped when she felt Vern’s hand on her arm. “You kids be careful. Not many people go to see the well. It’s changed a lot over the years.” He paused. “I can’t say for sure what it’ll be like for you today.”

  She tried to smile but her insides were panicking. She waved good-bye and caught up with the rest of her group. They’d crossed the green lawn to the left, and had begun trudging through the lush cornstalks towering over their heads. She marveled Micah knew where to go. Once inside the corn, it was impossible to keep a sense of direction. It all looked the same to her.

  I guess Micah’s visions are pretty detail oriented, she thought, trying to ignore Trent’s self-sacrificing words bouncing around in her mind.