Shelby: Translucent Savior
Page 3
Peering in through his window, I didn’t see anybody else. I crept to his back door and tried the handle. I swallowed as it turned in my hand, relieved the man was a trusting type, I slowly eased it opened and slinked inside. No lights on, a sure sign no one was home. I spotted his fridge and quickly opened the door and peered inside.
I grinned. Bingo! I snatched out the two cheese blocks, not bothering to read the label, and a couple bottles of water. I closed the door and looked through a few of his cupboards until I found something of interest. Crackers and a box of ensure breakfast bars. Good enough...they would at least keep me from starving. I stuffed the booty into my bag and crept back outside, looked both ways, and seeing nothing, took off at a dead run back into the woods beyond.
Once I was back in the deep of the forest, I slowed my pace. Well, that was half of the day wasted, I thought dismally. What to do now? The way I saw it; I had two options. One, either wait and keep trying until he leaves or two, go on ahead and try and find another town and get on a bus from there. I opted for number two, not being able to be a hundred percent sure if Jack left to just get a bite to eat, only to return fifteen minutes later to find me in a chair, ticket in hand.
I reached the tree that I had slept in the night before and sat down with my back against it. I opened the bag and pulled out the cheese and crackers. As I ate, my mind drifted comfortably, my stomach thanking me all the while as it graciously accepted the gift.
I spent my whole life in Byron Wyoming; just another small town like so many others where everyone knew each other by first and last name. On one side of the street there was a gas station, a cafe, a bus station, one grocery store, and a five and dime. On the other side, a small library, barber shop and an ice cream parlor. A person could walk up one side of the street and down the other side in ten minutes without breaking a sweat, even in the heat of a Wyoming summer.
My mom kept to herself most days. Sunday was the only day we went anywhere, unless it was for shopping. We got up early and went to church.
None of the other kids were allowed to play with me. I didn’t care. I wasn’t allowed to interact with them, either. One Sunday, I had overheard one of the parents say, “She might rub off on them.” It took me a while to figure out what they meant. Me rub what on them? A loving momma who did her best to make me happy? For the longest time, I didn't understand they meant everything else but that.
The crackers and cheese felt heavy in my stomach, settling in like clay as I grabbed a water and took a swig. This town wasn’t for me, I decided. It was time I blew this Popsicle Stand; went on to greener pastures... made my own way. I had already made my decision, anyway. I didn’t want to think about what came next, but the thoughts came unbidden like summer rain; unexpected and just as impossible to stop.
It wasn’t fair! I thought angrily. I had never belonged. She hadn’t even been my real mom. Mamie, not my real mom but Mamie the kidnapper. I had a real mom out there somewhere. That thought at least cheered me up a bit.
Excitement bursts through my thoughts. What was she like? Did she ever think about me? Did she love me? Does she have other children? I might have a brother or a sister?
This was followed by the face of my Mamie... her sad eyes, filled with love for the little girl she stole; the way she hugged and tucked me in, the way she made every birthday special by making each cake from scratch. I was suddenly overwhelmed with feelings of black guilt and prayed to God to please take care of me now, and I was so sorry for thinking bad things about her. In my heart, I knew she loved me, but on the back-end of this, realized that Mamie had no idea just when my real birthday was.
After carefully repacking the food, I unloaded my magical box and packed my favorite things inside the backpack. Pausing a moment, I left the box inside the hole for the sprites as a gift for letting me stay and protecting me. I swung the backpack over my shoulder and started to walk away from the town and deeper into the Black Forest.
He watched with glowing eyes as she walked away, quickly and silently skipping to keep up. Chuckling to himself, he shook his head. She wore no shoes on those tiny feet. The girl could have easily blended in like a fairy in these woods.
Within just a few hours, he noticed her begin to tire. It wasn’t much further to the small town of Lovell; maybe another hour or two. It was going on noon, and he bet she was about to stop. A few minutes later he wasn’t disappointed. He leaned his hip against a nearby tree and watched her.
With precision, she picked out a good spot to sit. He was amazed at her endurance and strength for one so small. The girl was thin as a reed, with long, mousy-brown hair that was now tangled with twigs and leaves. She was covered in grime; her clothes stained beyond repair. Yet for all that, she didn’t seem to care. If one were to look underneath all the dirt, they would see the real beauty underneath. She was going to be a real looker one day. Her face will bring even the angels to their knees.
It was going to take someone with great courage to travel on this long journey of hers. He had better stay close. Ironically, she reminded him of himself at her age.
My feet were burning something fierce, so after sitting down, I rubbed them for a few minutes before taking the rest of the crackers and cheese out of the pack along with the bottle of water, finishing them off. With just a few drops left of water, I rubbed it into the bottom of my feet, sighing out loud at the cool feeling. I wiped my arm across my mouth and wadded up the remains of my lunch then slipped them back into the pack. I was afraid to make the sprites angry if I left my trash in their home.
Time here in the forest was deceiving. With the trees foliage as thick as it was, it successfully blocked out ninety-nine percent of the sun. It was hard to tell where one day began, and the other had ended. With a heavy heart, I stood, swinging the backpack onto my shoulders again; I began to walk, completely unaware that someone or something was watching.
And followed.
Chapter F our
Oreo
I was deep in thought when I heard voices in the distance. It was a man and woman in a heated argument over peanut butter, and I almost laughed out loud before covering my hand over my mouth to stop myself. I tiptoed closer, and my eyes lit up with excitement, as the sun was shining through the curtain of trees in front of me. I listened and waited for the voices to fade before I poked my head out and around a tree.
The small town was nestled in a valley with majestic mountains in the backdrop, covered with white snow peaks like covered ice-cream cones. The town didn’t boast much, but it was small like Byron only prettier and cleaner. The air had a nip to it coming from the occasional gusts that came down from the mountains, making me shiver. The pair of jeans I had brought would be great about now, so I would need to change before venturing out of the protective forest.
I pulled back and set my backpack down, digging around until I found my jeans. My feet were black with dirt and cold, but I figured no one would notice, as they were so dirty they looked more or less like shoes. (As long as no one inspected them too close, that is.) I crammed my shorts back into the bag and took a deep breath.
There wasn’t much to the small town. My first priority was locating the bus station, which wasn’t too hard considering the size. I walked past a little cafe with a sign hanging in the window offering today's specials. I stopped and backed up a few feet, reading it and grinned. A real hot meal would get me a long way. I could spare a few dollars for such, so went in, the sound of the bell above the door, jingling to my arrival. I glanced around noticing the restroom and made a mad dash in that direction.
I washed my grubby hands in the tiny porcelain sink and looked at myself in the oval mirror. Oh Cripes! My hair was a total disaster. I pulled out my brush from my backpack, but my hair was way too wild and tangly for such, so combed my hair with my fingers the best I could, pulling out twigs and leaves. I finished by splashing cold water on my face, scrubbing to get some of the grime off and inspected myself.
Not great, I still loo
ked like a homeless waif but at least not one who slept in a tree or something.
The diner was small, boasting only 4 tables and 2 booths for the customers and a long counter up front and to the side of the register. I sat down on a stool at the counter.
A young girl, not much older than my own thirteen years handed me a menu and took my drink order. She had long black hair pulled up into a ponytail.
“What will you have to drink, sweetie?” the girl asked, popping her gum.
“Do you have a Sprite?” I asked, suppressing a grin as I thought of the Sprites in the forest.
“Sure thing, coming right up. Today’s special is a turkey sandwich with a cup of minestrone for $3.99. I’ll be right back with your drink.”
I watched as the girl pulled a red cup out of the stack and filled it to the brim then bringing it over.
“Here you go. Have you decided what you’re going to have?”
“I’ll just have the special,” I answered quietly.
“Sure thing...you want it on white or wheat?”
“Uh...I’ll have it on white, please.” My mouth was already watering.
“Sure, coming right up.” The girl stuck the ticket on a silver wheel and walked back over to me, still popping her gum loudly. “I've never seen you before. Do you live around here or just visiting?”
“I’m just passing through,” I said as nonchalantly as I could.
The girl popped her gum and raised her brows. “I would say it looks that way to me. Where are your parents?”
“Visiting some friends," I answered quickly, hating the fact some hick waitress was putting me on the spot in some hick diner. "They told me to come over here and get something to eat so they could visit a while.” That was the best I could come up with on such short notice. I thought it better to think up something cleverer before being asked again.
The young girl must have taken my word for it, because she smiled and held out her hand. “My names Betty, my Ma and Pop own this place. I work here during the summer.”
I heard a ding behind the young girl. I watched as my sandwich and soup was slid into the window. Betty grabbed up the plate and turned back toward me, placing my sandwich and cup of soup in front of me.
“If you need anything else, just let me know,” she said smiling with a gum-pop.
I scarfed my sandwich down in about three bites then ate my soup at a more leisurely pace. After I had finished. I pulled out an envelope and grabbed out five dollars. I laid the money on the table and stood up to leave.
“Hey girl, are you sure your Mom and Dad are waiting for you?” The waitress asked, eyeing my bag. I shrugged. She was nosey, that’s for sure.
I glanced away and without answering or meeting her eyes, I quickly made my exit. I didn’t want to give the girl a chance to call anybody. After crossing the road, I sprinted back into the forest and then walked, keeping the road in view. I would never catch a bus at this rate. It might not be too far into the next town. If only I had a map! It was probably safer to keep myself to the woods and walk at least for a while longer and now at least my stomach was full.
I was still too close to my hometown to feel safe, and my eyes kept darting to the road, ever searching for the Chrysler I had now come to hate. I did know I was at least heading in the opposite direction, and that was good enough for me, at least until I could find a map. I did have a destination in mind, however.
“Oh Momma, why did you do this to me?” I said angrily to the nearest tree. As I walked on, I couldn't help but wonder what my real mom looked like. Do I look like her? Would she recognize me if I just showed up like, Hi Mom! I know it's been awhile! Did you miss me?
I shook my head and kept walking.
****
It had been a while since I left the small town behind. I had come out of the forest after only three days and into a large valley.
I passed an old abandoned building and decided to stop and rest for a bit, plopping down and leaning my back against a tree as I scanned my surroundings. It was pretty here, like a Van Gogh painting. I nodded to myself. I spotted a field of wild flowers that danced in harmony to the gentle breeze blowing over them, as if they were all in sync to the same music of Mother Nature.
Grabbing my left foot, I laid it on my thigh and rubbed it. I was almost out of the food I had picked up along the way and was hungry enough to eat a whole cow. My eyes landed on something black. A cat, perhaps? I slowly put my foot back and stood up and walked quietly to it as to not scare it away. I walked over to where it lay in the tall grass.
Instead of a cat, it was of all things, a chicken. He was all black except for the few stray white feathers on the top of his head. I was amazed when I bent down to get a closer look. The little fellow didn’t move, and I slowly reached out to pet him. His body was covered in soft feathers. He looked up at me with sad eyes.
“Brock- Brock!”
“Are you hurt? Is that why you’re here?” I asked the sad-looking bird. I picked up the chicken carefully and rubbed my hands all over its tiny body until I found what the problem was. His left leg was bent.
“Your Momma left you, huh? Well then, you're just like me. My Mom left me, too. I guess we’re both broken. You, a leg; me, well... I have a broken heart.” My voice cracked a little as I held him up against my chest. I hadn’t realized how lonely I was until that very moment. I have never been allowed a friend in school or around the neighborhood, much less a pet. It wasn’t allowed, according to Jack. Bad influences and all that. Now I understood that the fewer people I confide in, the more his dirty secrets stayed safe.
“I've never seen a chicken with a top hat on before,” I said, giggling a little. That’s what the white feathers growing out of his head looked like. “Why, you’re the color of an Oreo cookie! I’m going to call you Oreo. Would that be okay?”
When the chicken didn’t argue but just seemed content to be held by me, I added, “That’s settled then, you’re going to come with me. I’ll take good care of you, Oreo... I promise.”
Suddenly, I didn’t feel so alone anymore. I found myself a companion, even if it was just a rather odd-looking chicken out here in the valley for heaven-knew-what reason. Lost, perhaps? Wondered away from his home and couldn't get back and got hurt? I searched in my bag for something to wrap around his tiny leg and finding my old shirt, stripped off a piece. I gathered a couple of sturdy twigs and as gently as I could, wrapped up his leg, wincing with each, Bock! he gave me, eyeing me with some reproach now. I shared half of my breakfast bar with my new friend, him gobbling it down in single gulps.
Apparently, I wasn't the only one who had been without food for too long. Once all our needs were met, I began walking again with Oreo tucked firmly under my arm, him falling asleep to the gentle swaying lull of my side-to-side steps.
Chapter Five
José
The sun was getting lower in the sky, so I searched to find someplace to bed down for the night before it got too dark to see. I was thrilled when I saw a fence line in the distance. A fence meant there had to be people or maybe even a barn to get into unseen. I crawled between two warped boards with Oreo tucked securely under my arm. Once I was safely on the other side, I gazed ahead, nodding to myself as I saw exactly what I was hoping for. It looked like an old barn in the distance.
“Well Oreo, let’s have a look-see. Maybe we can even find some food if these people keep dry goods in there.” I walked as quietly as I could the closer I got, finally ending up almost on my tippy-toes. It was a barn all right; an old weather-beaten barn if I ever saw one and nothing else around it, either. I glanced down at Oreo, who gave me a soft, "bwock", as if he knew to stay hushed, as well.
I whispered, “At least we have somewhere to sleep tonight, huh buddy?” I don't know why I whispered as there wasn’t anyone to hear. I crept closer until I stood just inside.
It smelled musky of old hay and manure. A little bit of orange light that was allowed shined through the cracks in the wall. I
looked for a good spot, and once I found it in the far corner, I looked for items to make myself a nice bed. Sadly, there was no food to be found. What few shelves there were only held some rusted farming supplies and containers of nails, bolts and other miscellaneous items one would expect to find only in the barn.
I set my pet down who wondered off to explore, hobbling a little bit as he did so.
“I don’t know about you, little buddy,” I said to Oreo, “but I don’t like the thought of mice crawling all over me, so I need to find us something to lay on besides the smelly ground and moldy hay.”
Oreo ignored me and continued to peck at the ground. He seemed content to inspect everything he could-at least that was something. I quickly scanned the barn looking for anything that might come in handy.
Nothing left in this barn but rotten hay, I thought as I wrinkled up my nose. Sighing, I gathered up an armful, making a soft pallet. Digging around in my bag, I found one of my shirts and laid it on the top to cover the smell as much as possible. It was almost completely dark now. I finished just in time and settled in, unwrapping the last of my breakfast bar and ate a piece, then gave Oreo the rest.
Using my backpack as a pillow, I lay down and closed my eyes. Oreo would stay close, I knew. He couldn’t get far with a bum leg. That was the last thought I had as my stomach grumbled, and my mind drifted into sleep.
****
The boy prodded her with his foot. The young girl was snoring so loud it was making his ears ring with the awful rumble. The little chicken kept pecking at his bare toes, and he thought about eating the varmint but thought better of it. He had seen the girl carrying the ugly thing under her arm last evening. It must be her pet was all he could figure. Maybe she was saving it for dinner. His face broke out in a grin. She might be willing to share with him if he was nice enough. With this in mind, he prodded her again.