The Chardon Chronicles: Season Two --- The Winter

by Kevin Kimmich

  Chapter One

  Demetria ripped the covers off the bed. “Our people need us! Get up!” She clapped her hands. She threw a golden yellow dress over her head. She tossed Tracy a bundle of wildflowers that were bound with some rubber bands. “Help me with my hair, then I’ll do yours.”

  Morgan got dressed. He carefully fed his cast through the sweatshirt then stepped into his boxers. Demetria tutted. “Morgan, you’re a man of letters and knowledge, and my defender, but you look like you could be living in a barrel!”

  “Like Diogenes?” He smiled.

  “He was an amazing man!” Her eyes grew large. “His name still lives. That’s good.”

  Morgan put his cast hand to his head. “I can’t believe it! Did you actually know him? I’ve been investigating this group with my friend Alfonse--we’re calling them Club Diogenes. I have a gold coin that they made five hundred years ago. There’s a picture of him on it.”

  Demetria sat in a rickety wooden chair in front of a mirror while Tracy threaded flowers into her braids. Demetria looked into the mirror and spoke to Morgan. “I heard stories about him when he was alive. I never met him, unfortunately. It was much harder to travel in those days. I wonder...” She tapped her chin and was deep in thought. The hair on Tracy and Morgan’s necks stood up and they looked at eachother.

  Morgan asked, “What was that?”

  Demetria waved her hand, “Oh sorry! I was searching for him. You two can feel me move through the other world. I couldn’t find him, though. He only lives on in his words and stories.”

  Tracy asked, “When you searched for him, was that like when I moved through you?”

  She nodded, “Yes. It’s quite similar.”

  “Can I do that, too?” Tracy wondered.

  “You already did it, but I helped you.” Demetria said. She groaned and stood up. “There’s so much for us to do and so much for you to understand! Unfortunately, the initiation takes time.”

  Tracy took the seat, then Demetria began weaving purple and white wildflowers into Tracy’s red hair. Demetria smiled nostalgically and said, “In the days when Diogenes was alive, the gods were as close to men and women as I am to you, now. That is how to produce people like Diogenes. Do you see?”

  Tracy looked back at her in the mirror. “I am just starting to understand, that’s why I’m here, now.”

  When she was finished with the flowers, Demetria said, “We have work to do. It’s also a lesson, so pay heed.”

  Work on the farm was already in full swing when they walked down the steps of the converted barn. Amy saw them, trotted over and asked, “How did you do it? Is it a trick? I just noticed it this morning.”

  Demetria smiled sweetly and put an arm around her shoulders. “Show me what you’re talking about.”

  Amy led them back to the field where Demetria had the girls sing. A miniature Ohio prairie of goldenrod, ironweed, and purple coneflower grew from the stubble field and blossomed overnight. She gestured at the field, “How’s that possible? Did you truck it in or something?”

  Demetria replied, “I felt this would happen, and these flowers are lovely, but once we engage in this dance, we have to pay close attention. If we did this daily, the whole field will bloom, but by spring, it would be too tired to be useful for crops. It will take a full season to show you the basics.”

  Demetria got on her knee and patted the ground. Amy took off her work gloves and knelt down next to her and touched the soil with her bare hand. Demetria put her hand on Amy’s back and studied her face. Amy said, “I do notice the different feeling. I can’t even put it into words, though.”

  Demetria said, “I would like to do this ceremony again, on the far side of this field. I want to show Tracy and Morgan how it works. I think as you each gain some understanding, you’ll be able to help each other increase your understanding and will be able to teach others as well.”

  They stumped across the field. Demetria walked barefoot over the clumps of soil, and the girls, Amy, Tracy and Morgan followed her.

  Demetria instructed them all, but directed her words and attention at Amy, Tracy and Morgan. “The field, these trees, they are alive and aware. Their mind is so different from ours, though, that we can only connect in a very basic way. Poetry is like a bridge that reaches part of the way across this connection, but our really deep understanding of it doesn’t need words.” She touched each of them on the chest. “The song completes this connection. You’ll feel it.”

  Demetria had the girls sing. The harmony gave them all gooseflesh and they felt the energy flow. Amy looked at Tracy with disbelief on her face. She said, “Dude! Did you feel that?”

  Tracy nodded. She felt she could touch the flow and put her hand out and moved it slowly through the air aiming her palm at the ground at the trees, the girls, the sky and at Demetria. Her eyes widened. She said, “Demetria, somehow it’s you. I feel it.”

  The song ended and Demetria shrugged. “That’s how it works. I think all of you will be able to do this, too.”

  Morgan laughed and gripped Demetria’s shoulders. “Yoda, you are much better looking these days.”

  Demetria scrunched her nose. “What are you talking about?”

  Morgan said, “For once, we have a thing to teach you!”

  Tracy rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me you mean Star Wars?”

  Morgan said, “Hey, don’t knock it. I’m going to bring my box set down here. We’re going to watch it.”

  They spent the rest of the day talking with the people on the farm. Amy kept observing and noted how Demetria always left them smiling and feeling better. As day turned to dusk, Morgan and Tracy prepared for the long walk back to the Farm.

  Demetria told Morgan, “You must come back next time to stay longer. It’s too hard when you’re away. I need your company. These people need you, too.”

  He agreed. “I will be back to stay. I need to get a few things, but I’ll be back in a day or two.”

  She gave Tracy a kiss. “Tracy, I need you too, but I know your life is at your wonderful farm. Next time you come, bring your friends. I want to show more people how we can live like this.”

  Tracy agreed. “I will!”

  Amy hugged them both and waved bye, “Say hi to Robbie for me, I hope he can visit sometime soon!”

  As darkness fell, they began the trek back home.