SandPeople: An Across Time Mystery

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SandPeople: An Across Time Mystery Page 5

by Cheryl Kerr

Lea watched the waves hit the beach. One after the other, never stopping. After a while, her heart stopped pounding in her ears. Calmer now, she went over seeing the girl again in her mind. There was no sense in starting an argument when she didn't even know if what she saw was real. Could she have gone somewhere and she, Lea, just didn't see her?

  Maybe. Probably. Lea leaned Mr. Bear up against the pillow so he could keep looking out the window.

  The sun was shining and the faint mewing of a gull circling far overhead reached her ears. It was all so usual and peaceful. Ghosts were supposed to be terrifying and they came to eerie places full of mist and darkness and old, empty buildings. Not to a beach on a sunny morning. I'm being silly, Lea decided and swung her legs resolutely over the side of her bed. She hadn't even been here a day and Aunt Meg was already telling her to be quiet and not be a bother.

  She would have to find out on her own who the girl might be. Lea thought back to the ragged blue skirt and long braids. How had the girl gotten there? Why were her clothes so worn out and old fashioned? Somehow she just didn't feel that she had imagined it.

  She shoved her feet back into her shoes and went downstairs. She went and stood behind the easel. All she could see was the top of her aunt's head.

  "I would like to go bike riding if that is okay," she said stiffly. "And I should probably apologize for slamming the door."

  Her aunt moved from behind the easel and looked at her. "Okay, she said and turned back to her work. Lea went down the steps and lifted her bike from where she had dropped it earlier.

  She pedaled back to the point of land slowly. She parked her bike and put the kickstand down, ready for a quick getaway this time. The beach was quiet and empty. Lea moved toward the hollow between the two small hills of sand. The gray was gone from the day and the sun shone on the sand and water, cheerful and peaceful.

  "Hello," said a voice right behind her.

  Lea jumped and turned. In front of her stood a slender girl in jean shorts faded almost white and a torn pink t-shirt. An old bike lay leaning against the dune right behind her. She looked curiously at Lea.

  "Oh, you scared me," Lea said and took a deep breath.

  "You look really funny," the girl said authoritatively. "Sit down." She took Lea's elbow and pulled her toward a hummock of seagrass. "I just took first aid," she went on. "You're supposed to sit down for shock." She cocked her head and remembered some more of what she had been taught. "Oh, yeah, I'm supposed to tell you who I am so you're not nervous. I'm Teri."

  "I'm not in shock," Lea protested. "Could you let go of me, um, Teri, please?"

  The girl did and smiled at Lea. Her teeth were white and strong against her olive skin and her straight black hair was cut in a shining blue-black cap close around her head. The wind caught it in a swirl that left it tousled and sticking up when the breeze died. She dropped to the sand next to Lea and put her arms around her knees.

  Teri watched Lea gather her curls into a rubber band. It was a humid day and Lea’s hair was full and curly, blowing across her eyes constantly. “You have such pretty hair.”

  Lea tucked the loose strands behind her ears and looked at Teri’s dark shiny hair.

  “I’d like to have hair like yours,” Lea said. “Easy to brush, mine gets so tangled in the wind.”

  “I guess we want what we don’t have,” Teri said and they grinned at each other.

  “I’m twelve,” Teri said. “This is the first year my mom has allowed me to bike around by myself. I have a curfew though and a helmet I’m supposed to wear. How about you? Does your mom have a lot of rules?”

  “Yes.” Lea nodded. “Well, my aunt does. I’m here with her for the summer.”

  She thought about Teri’s curfew and realized she needed to check in.

  "I have to go," Lea said. “I need to check in, too. There aren’t many rules unless I don’t follow one, then there are.”

  “I know.” Teri laughed. “Same for me.”

  Lea rose and brushed the sand from her legs. She realized she’d been lonely. Teri was outgoing and friendly, more than Lea was.

  "Okay." The girl smiled at her. “Maybe I’ll see you around town. You can’t get lost; three sides of water and a bridge.”

  She waved as Lea pulled her bike from the sand and pushed it to the road. Lea pedaled away as fast as she could, wanting to get back to the cabin. She liked Teri. It would be nice to have a friend here.

  This time she put her bike away quietly and went straight up to her room. The hum of the potter's wheel never ceased. She wouldn't take a chance on trying to explain this again. She fell asleep and dreamed she was an explorer until it was time for supper.

  After the dishes were washed and drying on the counter she slipped out to sit on the steps. Aunt Meg came and sat next to her on the top porch step. "It's a nice sunset," she said.

  Lea looked at her. Obviously, her aunt was trying to make up with her for this afternoon. Part of Lea didn't want to and part of her was so lonely that talking about home might help, she thought.

  "Yes," Lea agreed. "I like the dark-pink color the best."

  Aunt Meg laughed. "Your mother's favorite color was always that deep-rose shade. I spent all afternoon trying to get it right in that stupid picture I was painting today."

  Lea felt the flush begin at the roots of her hair and slowly turn her whole face red. She hadn't realized her aunt had heard her.

  "I'm sorry," she said unhappily. "I shouldn't have said that."

  Her aunt nodded and kept watching the sky. "I think you'll find out that people listen to you better if you try to be reasonable." Lea nodded.

  Mom had told her that a lot of times.

  "I did some thinking this afternoon after you rode off. I decided we should make a deal. I won't laugh at you for what you think you saw. And you don't call what I do stupid. Okay?"

  Lea nodded. That sounded very much okay to her.

  "Good," Aunt Meg nodded. "Now, that's over. Tell me, did you leave any friends in Virginia?" she asked, stroking the cat's crooked ears.

  "Yes," Lea nodded. She told Aunt Meg about Laura.

  Aunt Meg looked out to sea. "That sounds nice," she said. "I haven't kept in touch with my old friends." Lea thought she looked sad for a moment, then she smiled. "Want to call her?"

  "I don't know," Lea hedged. "I sort of don't think she wants to hear from me."

  "Oh?" Aunt Meg sipped her coffee. Lea told her about getting Laura to go with her to get her hair cut. "I was so mad that everyone knew about my parents separating except me. But now I feel bad about it."

  "I can see how that would bother me." Aunt Meg nodded.

  "You think I was right?" Lea asked, surprised.

  "No, I didn't say that," Aunt Meg said. "It sounds like a really bad evening. Finding out your parents are splitting up probably isn't fun to learn any way. It sounds like a lot of people care about you and were worried for you that night." She smiled at Lea. "Go call her."

  Lea ran inside, picked up the phone and dialed Laura's number.

  "Hello?" Mrs. Evert answered. Her voice was low and warm. Lea thought of warm, golden butter spilling and dripping over even warmer pancakes.

  "Mrs. Evert, it's me, Lea," she said. "How are you?"

  "Lea, how wonderful to have you call. How are you? Let me get Laura."

  "Hi!" Laura sounded excited. "How is Texas, what are you doing?"

  "Doing the usual summer things," Lea answered. Laura sounded glad she called.

  "Have you made any friends?"

  "We just got here, silly," Lea laughed. It was the same old Laura. That made her seem not so far away. "It's hot and flat here."

  They talked for a bit. "I better go," Lea said. "I'll call you again when something has happened."

  "Just don't forget me. Promise?" Laura said.

  "Promise," Lea answered and hung up. She was curious about this place suddenly.

  Chapter 4

  The ocean was still dark when Lea woke up the next mor
ning. She swung her legs out of bed and walked to the window. For a while, she stood at the window with her arms on the sill and watched the clouds. She had dreamed she was at home making fudge with Laura. She sighed. Talking on the phone was fun, but it made her miss having someone nearby to talk to even more.

  She crawled back into bed and pulled her extra pillow across her knees for a desk. She put a book under that and opened her box of stationery. Horses ran across the top of the page, but she wasn't in a pretty-paper mood now. She hauled out her scruffy folder and wrote Laura's name at the top of a piece of notebook paper.

  An hour later she read over the pages she had written and signed her name. Faint sounds from downstairs sent her searching for clothes. She chose white sailcloth shorts and a blue t-shirt. As she went downstairs, she trailed her fingers down the wall, feeling the roughness of the wood railing under her fingers become the smooth, cool surface of whitewash at the turn of the stairs. Aunt Meg was already at work when Lea appeared in the main room.

  "Good morning." Her aunt smiled from her work area. She was dressed in an old t-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts faded to a light brown from repeated washings. The drapes were pulled back so that the rising sunlight came through the French doors as well as the skylight.

  "Good morning," Lea answered and moved to pour herself a bowl of cereal.

  "What are you going to do with your day?" Aunt Meg joined her at the counter. They were falling into a routine, Lea realized with surprise. Each morning she rose, showered and came down for breakfast. Each day Aunt Meg asked her what her plans were. This morning she watched Lea over the rim of her coffee cup.

  "I'm not sure what I'm going to do today,” Lea answered. Aunt Meg cocked her head and looked at Lea. Lea raised her napkin and wiped her mouth.

  "Is something wrong?" she asked.

  "No, not at all." Her aunt smiled. "I'd like for you to do something for me."

  Lea nodded and took a bite of her cereal.

  "I don't feel like doing clay today. I want to do something different; like a person."

  "Me?" asked Lea. Aunt Meg nodded.

  "I draw some, too. I haven't done many kids. I'd like to have you model for me."

  "What do I have to do?" Lea asked. "I haven't ever modeled before."

  Aunt Meg smiled. "It isn't something that is really hard to do. Except for the sitting still part. That can be tough."

  Lea nodded. "Okay. When do you want to do it?"

  "Well, there's no time like the present," her aunt said. "How about now?"

  "Sure," Lea nodded.

  Her aunt reached in a drawer and handed Lea a rubber band. "Pull your hair back with that. Are you in comfortable clothes? You'll be sitting for a long time."

  Lea nodded.

  "Give me a few minutes?" Aunt Meg got up and started getting ready. She glanced up at the skylight and pulled her easel a couple of feet to the right. She put the kitchen stool in the middle of the room, where the light fell strongest onto the floor. She laid out a few art tools and then turned toward Lea.

  "Okay," she said finally and patted the seat of the stool. "Climb up."

  Lea sat on the stool and faced the window.

  Aunt Meg flipped a sketchbook open and drew swiftly for a few minutes. Then she tilted her head and brought a small metal ruler and laid it along Lea's cheekbone from eye to ear.

  "What are you doing?" Lea asked.

  Aunt Meg looked up from where she was writing the measurements in a tiny column on her sketch page.

  "Putting down the proportions," she said. She measured Lea's forehead, her nose, her mouth, her eyes.

  "So, you don't just draw?" Lea asked.

  "Not when I'm sculpting," her aunt answered with a smile. She studied her smaller page, then moved behind the easel and began drawing. Neither of them said anything else for a while. The soft scritch of the pencil on the rough canvas was the only sound in the room.

  "Okay, enough for today," Aunt Meg announced at last and laid down her pencil. "Go have fun for a while."

  "Can I see?"

  Her aunt nodded and Lea walked around behind the easel. In the center was a pencil outline of a figure. There were no colors or details.

  Lea went to put her shoes on.

  "Where are you off to?"

  Lea shrugged her shoulders to relax them. She was stiff from having sat so long.

  "I thought I'd go look around in town," Lea said. I want to buy some stamps in case I decide to mail any letters."

  Aunt Meg looked briefly at her. "You have an address yet for your parents?"

  Lea nodded. Always before, since she could write, she and Mom and T.J. had written weekly letters to her father and addressed them care of the university dig site. Mom's address had always been the same, until now. She didn’t want to write them, here the problems from home seemed far away and small. And the summer stretched out in front of her. Today was so pretty she didn't want the lonesome feel of this morning to creep back.

  "No, but I have Laura's," she said.

  "Good, I'm glad you're going to send her a letter," Aunt Meg said.

  Lea nodded but didn't say anything. She didn't know if she would mail this letter or not. At that very moment, Aunt Meg said from the sink where she was washing the breakfast dishes, "I used to write a lot of letters that I never mailed. They were my way of sorting things out for myself." Lea stared at the back of her head. She did the very same thing. Sometimes she mailed the letters, sometimes it just felt better to have written out her thoughts. She thought it was really eerie that she and Aunt Meg did some things the same.

  "Well, better go," Lea said and slid off the stool. "I want to check the library out."

  Aunt Meg turned from the sink. "Okay," she said finally. "I guess you're old enough to go alone. There's only one road."

  "Yesterday you let me go to the end of the cay," Lea said, puzzled.

  Aunt Meg waved a hand. "I know. I just don't want you to get into any mischief. I haven't ever done this before." She paused and then said honestly, "Your thinking that you saw a ghost is something that concerns me. But go on."

  Lea got on her bike and pedaled up the sandy drive to the two-lane road. She turned right and started riding. She didn't remember how far out they had driven the other night, but she knew she couldn't miss town. This road ended smack in the middle of it.

  She came to a stop sign. A courthouse sat in a green park across the street. She paused for a moment to get her breath then turned left toward the huddle of buildings that marked the middle of town. Cars were parked around the square. On the broad sidewalks facing the courthouse, people were stirring, opening doors and windows. Lea could see ceiling fans turning the air in some of the businesses she passed. She found the library on the east side of the courthouse. The door stood open and the edges of magazine pages fluttered in a breeze already growing hot and heavy as the sun rose.

  "Found it." She was pleased with her logic. She parked her bike and went in the open door, feeling good about finding the library on her own.

  "Good morning, may I help you?" A woman with tousled hair moved to the door and greeted her with a smile. She looked familiar when she smiled.

  "I wanted to find out about checking out books," Lea said.

  "Good! Any subject in particular?" the woman asked. She looked closely at Lea. "You are new here."

  Lea nodded. "I'm here for the summer, staying with my aunt."

  "Hey," said a familiar voice right behind her interrupted them.

  Lea turned. The girl from the beach stood behind the counter grinning at her. Today she was wearing short overalls and a sleeveless red and white striped t-shirt.

  "This is my mother, Mrs. Simon. She's the librarian here," the girl said, waving one arm toward the woman at the desk. "And I'm Teri, in case you don't remember."

  "I remember." Lea grinned back and relaxed. It was hard not to like her. Now she knew why the woman looked familiar. She looked just like Teri, the same wide brown eyes, glossy hai
r, and slender hands.

  "This is Lea-from-the-beach, Mom," Teri finished her introductions.

  "Hi again, Lea-from-the-beach." The woman looked up at Lea and smiled warmly.

  "What are you looking for? Anything special?" Both she and Teri waited for Lea's answer.

  Lea looked at them, thinking, I can't very well say, oh, I'm looking for someone and I don't know who she is.

  "Oh, I was really just curious," Lea said. "It's my first visit here and all." She had wanted her research to look like ordinary browsing.

  "Well, let's see if we can do better than that." The woman smiled at her again. "I have to shelve books, but Teri has practically grown up in here. She can find just about anything so let's have her help you. Just tell her what you are wanting to find out." She grabbed an armload of books and walked off toward the shelves. Teri waited.

  "Are you doing okay today?" Teri asked her and pushed the hair out of her eyes. She seemed to do that a lot.

  "Yes, fine. Thanks for offering to help me yesterday. I was just surprised at someone being out there with me," Lea said, feeling embarrassed at the girl's words.

  "Well, stories are over here." Teri led her toward an alcove. "And nonfiction is at the back."

  "I'll look here for a while," Lea said. A big blue paper sign said "Fiction" in spiky black letters. Lea looked at the shelves for a bit, pretending to read the titles. She wanted to find out about ghost stories. Last night she had decided that maybe if she read them she'd know if she had seen a ghost. She didn't want anyone to know what she was looking for. But Teri stayed next to her, ready to help. Teri's mother came back and looked at them just standing there.

  "Why don't you show Lea around town this afternoon?" she suggested to Teri. "Show her what is here and maybe introduce her to some of your friends."

  Teri turned to her with a smile. "That would be fun if you want to." Lea looked up at the clock hanging over the door. It said 11:00.

  "You know, I'm hungry," Lea rushed to say. "It's almost time for lunch."

  "Well then, Teri can treat you to a hamburger where all the kids hang out." Mrs. Simon said with a smile.

 

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