by Tonya Kappes
“He’s always been this way.” I looked down at Mr. Prince Charming trotting alongside of me.
Webster turned around, still walking, and took a few snapshots of Mr. Prince Charming. I swear the darn cat knew exactly what was going on and he smiled.
My bag bounced up and down with a gentle thud with each step, making me fully aware Madame Torres was inside and keeping watch as well.
“How long have you been taking photos for the Audubon Society?” I wanted to find out more about the society and people in it without him becoming alarmed, just in case I needed to watch him.
“About two years. I was a photographer for a lot of different magazines, and I’d gone on a gig for National Geographic for a bird segment. They were long days of sitting still and making sure you didn’t scare the birds.” He slowed his steps, coming to walk side by side with me. “At first I hated the silence and sitting there. It was no problem for the rest of the crew since they’d been used to it, but I was new. One day turned into three months of watching this same species. It was when the gig was over that I went back to the hurried life and found myself riddled with anxiety.”
There was a sweetness to Webster as he talked. He was calm and sure of himself.
“I paid a very expensive therapist to tell me that I enjoyed the slow bird-watching lifestyle. She was right.” He shook his head. “I quit my big job and started to apply for bird gigs across the United States.”
“So they pay you? The Audubon Society?” I asked.
“Cindy doesn’t. I’m a member of this chapter, but the big society does pay me to go on different expeditions. If I didn’t need money to live off of, I’d do it for free.” He laughed. “But I’ve got something in the fire that might give me a little more financial freedom if it pans out.”
Apparently, his keen eye saw something, because then he started to snap a lot of photos of the woods.
Not too long after that, we reached the camping site Petunia had picked out for the night. There were teepee tents set up around a roaring campfire along with a big cauldron pot of warm stew.
“Do you honestly think I was going to get into a tent?” Petunia asked me. She must’ve seen the look on my face. “I’m a mom. I have a bad back from running around trying to catch Orin or carry the boy. If I’m not in my bed, I brought it here.”
We watched as the society members ooh’d and aww’d over the set-up for a few minutes.
“Everyone has their own teepee.” Petunia’s voice caught their attentions. “I know we are staying up most of the night to try and catch a glimpse of the Spangled Smoky Momoko, so I went to the liberty of making a nice beef stew for everyone’s belly. Along with some hot coffee to keep us awake. Or tea.”
My intuition sent a kick to my gut.
“Tea?” I whispered to Petunia when I saw the mugs were from Gathering Grove and that Gerald was the tea leaf reader as well as her husband.
“Mmmhhhh. And you might want to add some Mr. Sandman Sprinkles to the stew.” She raised a brow.
I smiled at her genius idea.
“Or a little forget-me potion,” I merely suggested in case they did get a glimpse of the bird and needed something to wipe their memory clean.
“That’s why we are here.” She winked and walked over to the group.
Various conversations went on between all of them. My keen ear, along with Petunia and Mr. Prince Charming, heard nothing that sparked any idea of a secret meeting. I was able to put a little Mr. Sandman Sprinkles in the pot of stew without anyone noticing. It was enough to get them to twilight sleep and get us through the midnight hour, just in case a crow did fly by. It was insurance.
I tried to watch to make sure everyone got some stew but looked away when a couple of them gathered to talk. When I saw Tammy had lifted her spoon to her mouth and that Webster and Paris both had bowls, I was satisfied everyone would be taking a nap during the midnight hour.
Mr. Prince Charming and I found a big log to sit on, with a perfect view of the camping area and in view of all the society members.
Paris bounced around from group to group, smiling and laughing. She went back for seconds on the stew.
Adam was talking with his hands as he told some story to Webster. I watched as Webster’s jaw started to tense, and he leaned in to say something to Adam. Whatever his words were, they were enough to make Adam spit next to Webster’s feet before he stormed off.
Webster ran his hand through his hair and glanced around the group, looking under his brows with disgust on his face. Tammy must’ve seen it because she came over and said something to Webster, starting up a conversation with him.
Adam seemed to engage with everyone but Cindy. If he wanted to get in good with the team, you’d figure he’d get in good with her since she was the president. Or maybe the snarl she had on her nose when he passed her detoured him from talking to her.
A couple of the members definitely disliked Adam.
“Did you get enough to eat?” I’d gotten up and walked over to Cindy when I noticed she was finished eating.
“Oh yes.” She was sitting alone in one of the camping chairs with a marshmallow stuck on a stick in the fire. “I love burnt marshmallows. You want one?”
“Sure.” My gut went soaring as I realized how deeply troubled Cindy was inside.
Her short dark hair was cut above her ears in loose curls. She had a hollow look in her eyes. The lines around them deepened when she smiled at me.
“What all do you keep in those vests?” I made small talk while I waited for the Mr. Sandman Sprinkles to kick in.
“We keep all sorts of bird-watching equipment like binoculars,” she said and took things out as she told me what they were. “A field guide for when you want to know specifics of the species you’re watching, a couple of sticky bird feeders…” She pulled out something that looked like those toilet paper rolls with peanut butter and seeds on them we made in kindergarten. “A spotting scope. A camera, of course. A record log to record bird habits you’re watching.” She shrugged. “There’s just a lot.”
“It seems like there’s a lot of alone time out there.” I wanted to really get in touch with her troubled side and maybe see why she wasn’t a fan of Adam, but really, all I felt was loneliness. When I didn’t see a wedding ring, I figured she was married to her birds.
“It’s pretty good for the soul. I think you have to be able to sit with yourself and be comfortable in that silent space before you can have real relationships.” Her words of wisdom felt to me as though she lived or tried to live by them.
From the way she was talking, she had this whole Zen thing down. Something I tried to serve in potions to people. But why was I getting the lonely feeling from her if she was comfortable in the silence of sitting still and waiting for the perfect feathered creature to come her way?
Regardless, she was right about making a good marshmallow. After a couple of them, I saw Webster stop talking to Paris and decided to head over to her. I wanted to see what she was all about. Especially since she’d left the potion I’d specifically made for her at the shop.
She was sitting on a log outside of the teepee she’d claimed. She had her head buried in her journal, lost in her words. I made a quick trip through my bag, making sure Madame Torres was still in there recording different conversations I couldn’t lend an ear to. I got out the Star Anise Powder potion I’d made for Paris and carried it over to her teepee with me.
“Hi, there.” I popped a squat on the ground next to her. “Am I intruding?”
“I’m recording the events of the Spangled. I try to record everything. You know. Factual records of extinct species are the only records the Audubon Society will record in their database.” She quickly scribbled something. “Are you enjoying your time with us?”
“It’s good. I’ve not camped out in a long time. Actually…” I tried to recall. “I’ve never camped unless you count me sneaking out of my bedroom window when I was a kid and hanging out with Oscar all night and
eating Ding Dongs under his big tree.”
The memory made me smile.
“Oscar? Huh?” she asked. “The cop guy at the Full Moon?”
“He’s my husband.” I still blushed when I said that.
“He’s so cute. Lucky you.” She put her notebook away. “I’m single. That’s probably why I agreed to be the society secretary. Hence all the writing.”
“Secretary? That’s cool. I bet your hands get tired from recording every single thing.” I was trying to think of something to slip in the potion, and maybe something to help her tired hands was just what the potion needed. “I recalled you saying something about misfortune earlier.”
“Oh that.” She threw her head back and laughed.
“While you were in the shop, I was busy mixing a few of my best homeopathic cures just for you. And when you have those misfortunes, you can rub this lotion on your hands, and the amazing smell will make it all go away.” I held the bottle out. “I’d love to give it to you.”
Her eyes lit up.
“I can’t. I can’t take that gorgeous bottle from you.” She patted the pockets of her vest. “Let me pay you.”
“Nonsense.” I put the bottle in her hand and placed my hands over hers. Her misfortune came to me as crystal clear as the moon was full. Poor Paris wouldn’t have the fortune to get any photos of the Spangle.
Unfortunate for me since I was hoping to get some insight on why I had this bird charm and why we were here when I’d rather be in my own bed next to my adorable husband.
“I made it for you.” I patted her hand before I removed mine. “It was my pleasure.”
“Thank you so much.” She was sincere, and I liked her. Too bad Petunia and I weren’t going to give them what they’d come for. “But if you could tell me more about the pet lady and why the Spangled was with her.”
“I don’t think you saw a Spangled.” I laughed nervously. “I’ve seen some of the photos, and it didn’t have that fancy feather glistening everyone claims is the species’s fame.”
“It definitely had the glow.” She was adamant, and I knew I needed to change her mind.
“Petunia is really good with all animals.” I wished at the moment she wasn’t because Paris and I both looked over at Petunia.
She had a couple of birds perched on her arms like a scarecrow and Mr. Prince Charming mesmerized at her feet. I even wished he’d act like a cat just for the sheer sake of being a cat to throw them off. The problem was Petunia had never lived as a mortal, and how she thought she fit in when around them was definitely not working.
“Your cat. You must have him trained good.” She shook her head. “But Petunia is very nice, but I really feel like she’s hiding the Spangle. I’ve been keeping my eye on her.”
“I don’t think so. I believe you are mistaking her for being a very happy soul that just goes with the flow. Plus…” I waved my hand in the air like I was waving off any notion Paris might have about the Spangled, though she was completely right. “The lighting in the shop is very low, and I have that chandelier with all the crystals. You know crystals. They flutter prisms all over the place.” I looked deep in her eyes. “I’m sure you saw the prisms hit the bird’s feathers. I mean, Mr. Prince Charming scared the poor thing and it took off.”
For a second, she seemed to ponder what I was saying, but then she began to shake her head.
“No. No.” She shook even harder. “I clearly saw it was a Spangled. I’m not sure why you won’t believe me. It’s as though you don’t want to save the bird.” She stood up and looked down at me.
“You don’t want to save the Spangled?” Tammy gasped, throwing her hand up to her chest.
“Not at all.” I pushed myself up to stand and brushed the dirt away from my backside. “I was trying to tell Paris how I’d never seen a bird that looked like a Spangled, and it could be possible the prisms of my chandelier had made the bird’s feathers glisten.”
“Is it possible?” Tammy looked over at Paris.
“I guess anything is possible, but I know what I saw.” Paris gritted her teeth. She twirled around on her toes and disappeared into the teepee.
“Don’t mind her. Some of these people really are passionate about this thing.” Tammy laughed, making me feel somewhat better about offending Paris.
“You aren’t?” I asked.
“Like I said earlier, I’m new to all this. I was looking for something to keep me company between my jobs,” Tammy said.
“Did you get enough to eat?” Petunia asked us on a quick fly-by. We nodded.
“She’s so funny.” Tammy laughed. “Those animals love her.”
“That is what makes her shop so awesome. She takes pride and care in every little detail.” I watched Petunia walk around to each member of the society to see if they wanted more food.
“Details are very important in any retail. That’s what I used to do and am looking to get out of it altogether.” Tammy was very personable.
“What type of job are you looking for?” I asked.
“Her type.” She pointed to Petunia and laughed.
Petunia was surrounded by the others minus Paris and a couple of birds along with Mr. Prince Charming.
“I better get my cat before he becomes her cat,” I joked. “I hope y’all have luck.”
“Well, I’m not banking on it. Even I’ve noticed over the past couple of weeks at our meeting, Paris is a little too aggressive.” Tammy rolled her eyes and waved over her shoulder at me before she disappeared into her teepee.
That left me, Petunia, Cindy, Webster, and Adam… plus, Mr. Prince Charming.
Webster was fiddling with his camera. He would click on a lens and look up to the moon. He’d take a couple of photos, look at the digital image on the camera screen, and then shake his head and change lens again.
I watched as he did this several times before he seemed to give up and go into his teepee. The Mr. Sandman Sprinkles were kicking in as the midnight hour was just before us.
Cindy’s headed twisted around the camp. She must’ve realized she was alone with Webster, and she immediately went to her teepee.
“It’s eleven forty-five. If we take a couple hours, we can get up at three a.m.,” Petunia told Adam.
“That’s probably a great idea since the Spangled’s awake hours are two thirty until four thirty a.m.” Adam put his hand over his mouth and let out a big yawn. “I’m usually in bed at this time. I hope you guys make sure to give a wakeup call.”
Cindy emerged from the teepee and walked around to the others, dragging all of them out near the campfire.
“What is she doing?” Petunia had a look of horror on her face.
“I don’t know. I’ve never been on one of these bird-watching trips.” I crossed my arms and waited to see what was happening.
“Before we take a little break and let our food digest, I wanted to make sure everyone is prepared,” Cindy addressed the group.
“I’ll get my camera film all ready. Does everyone have their film in their camera and their walking sticks?” Webster asked. “There’s a lot of brush out here where we might have to push out of the way for a real view.”
“I do encourage you to let me know if you see the Spangled before me. I’d like to devise a plan on how we can catch the bird to ensure safety for not only us but for the bird itself.” Adam opened his satchel. “I’ve got a step-by-step plan.” He took out some papers and began to distribute them to the group.
“Why should we help you?” Paris asked and looked at the paper.
“I’m not.” Cindy tossed her paper into the campfire.
“It’s for the safety of the species. We are all here to see the spectacular bird. I’m here to make sure it doesn’t become extinct.” He made a very appealing case as he rambled on about the statistics of survival in the exotic zoo and how the birds would thrive in a controlled environment that would bring them back into their natural habitat. As he spoke, he got some lotion out of one of the vest pockets a
nd began to apply it. “Not to mention, if we can bring it to the zoo, it’ll give us time to get a law passed on stricter regulations and hefty prison sentences if anyone decides to poach them for the feathers.” He continued to lather up the lotion. “Also, I’m deathly allergic to bees. Please let me know if you see any.”
“Right down that trail is where our local bees live.” Petunia pointed to the trail. “I suggest you not go down that way because you will get stung. They are very protective of their hives.”
“Thank you. I’ll be sure not to go there.” He nodded at her.
Petunia sat up a little straighter, making me wonder if she were falling for this guy’s pitch.
“Ahem,” I cleared my throat and got her attention. When she looked over, I gave a slight nod toward her teepee.
I got up, and Mr. Prince Charming stayed around the fire to keep an ear out. I also took my bag off and put it on the ground so Madame Torres could record the continued conversation.
“Don’t fall for his speech,” I warned Petunia when we met away from them. “If anything, you can make sure they are breeding, and then after you’ve successfully done that, you can contact them then.”
“I know, but he does make the zoo sound so nice.” She rubbed her hair. “The feathers. Poor baby. My heart aches for anything to happen to him.”
“That’s why we have to make sure they don’t see the Spangled bird tonight.” I glanced around her shoulder when I heard some shuffling.
They were all going into their teepees.
“Hopefully, the Mr. Sandman Sprinkles will kick in, and they will get up at three like they planned and not see a thing.” I sucked in a deep breath. “Now, go get some sleep. I’ll have Madame Torres wake us up.”
She nodded, and when she did, the beak of the bird shot out.
“I told the teenagers to keep a look out.” She turned her head where the edge of the woods were all lit up with twinkling lights. The teens had surrounded us.
“Hide him.” My eyes grew big.
She tapped on her hair, and he jerked back into the depth of her updo.
The camp grew very quiet in the few minutes that followed. There were sounds of hooves, owls, crickets and alike from all the creatures in our woods. I knew they’d been following me and Petunia around and had surrounded the camp to keep us safe.