Charlie the Great White Horse and the Journey to Egypt

by Kenneth Mullinix

Hattie May was busy with fixing lunch for Louis and Jeremy, when they both entered the kitchen through the back door.

  Their faces said it all.

  "Louis, Jeremy what's wrong with you? Did Arty the Pig get out of his pen again? Did Mitch the Bulldog chase our Pepper the Cat up a tree? Well what is it boys" asked Hattie May as she gave Louis a very soft, and gentle hug as he finally reached her, at the front of the stove.

  "There's trouble boiling up again, according to Mr. Beamer mom. I don't know what it is. He was talking about some weird book, and he had a real, worried, and very gloomy look about him. It can't be good," said Louis as he in turn, gave his mom a warm reassuring hug back.

  Jeremy shook his head side-to-side as he sat down at the kitchen table. Then with a slight tremble in his voice, he asked Louis "Is this how it was before Louis?"

  "What do you mean dad?"

  "When I was gone for all those years, is this how it was? You know, when trouble came to town in the form of Black Jack Tilly, is this how it started? Was there a feeling that you were to be in the middle of something that you could not escape from?"

  "Yes, I guess so dad..."

  "Oh...Louis..."

  "I hate to tell you but it was something like this after I first saw Black Jack by the watering tough, and then later when I saw Squint-Eye Pete at that Saloon in Plainsville. It seems like I am joined at the hip with these good for nothing fellows, and having to do brave things all the time.

  Why is it always me, and trouble? We seem to belong together. Now that I think about it a little more, I can just tell, that I will be in the middle of something big again. I don't know how to explain it, but when that strange wind hit me in the front yard, I just knew that, it was something, inescapable.

  My work is not done yet; I feel that, something terrible has happened, and that I am the one to solve the problem again. Have you ever had that feeling dad?"

  "Why yes Louis. Why do you think I went off to fight a war for our country? It was a calling that I just had to answer."

  "That is exactly what I feel dad. It is something that is a calling."

  Hattie May gave Louis another long hug, and then gave Jeremy a soft kiss on the cheek. She spoke in a soft caring, and gentle voice as only a loving mother, and loving wife can do.

  "I don't know what has happened, or what will happen, but if it includes my Lewy, then I know that were all in trouble again. Louis I don't know what it is about you, but trouble and you are like chocolate icing on a flat-cake. One just goes together with the other."

  "I know mom, I'm so sorry."

  "If it's not one thing then it's another. It's been two years now of this, so I guess I will just have to get used to it. My brave little son The Hero, my son The Famous World Traveler, my son The Savior of All Things Good. I guess it is just your birthright, I don't know, but if you feel something is stirring again then I will support you...all I can."

  Louis looked up into his mom's soft, adoring eyes.

  He gave her another big hug then reached out and grasped his dad's hand.

  "I could not have done any of this, without your support mom. I love you both... more...than you will ever know."

  Louis knew that he would have to find Molly, and Chug, to let them know that something was up again, and tell them what Mr. Beamer had told him in his barn, only a short while ago.

  Louis turned to go.

  "We'll talk later son," said a concerned Jeremy "I know you want to be with your friends right now".

  Louis had a look of worry upon his face as he looked back, one last time at his mom and dad. He slowly vanished from sight, passing through the front door. Grabbing his bike, he was off, not to be seen again for the rest of that day.

  Mr. Beamer left his barn, disappearing up into his attic; he (just like Louis) was not to be seen for the rest of the day.

  Hattie May with Jeremy sat at the kitchen table, talking over tea for a few hours. She went over the adventures (in detail), that Louis had gone though, the last two years. Jeremy could not believe what he was hearing.

  Louis had told him some of the stories of Louis the Red and of Louis the White but Jeremy had no real idea the scope, and depth of Louis's great adventures.

  The adventures of him being kidnapped by Black Jack Tilly, saving Jupiter the Show Horse, and then the next year, heading towards the North Pole with Squint-Eye Pete after him. There was the Cimarron Cutter and Captain Legrande, Raff the Red Wolf, Nebuka the Orange Yeti, the Great Wrapping-Machine, and a great snow panther named Panthera, then saving Christmas last year.

  It was all so much that Jeremy just sat there, with a blank look on his face, trying to take it all in. At long last after about two hours passed Jeremy took Hattie May by the hand. Both exited the kitchen for the warmth of their bedroom, and a long afternoon nap, wrapped in each other's arms.

 

  Louis rode his bike in a slow deliberate pace towards Molly's house. The cold, eerie winds from earlier in the day had subsided, and died down, there was now (once again) a warm, gentle wind blowing in upon Centerville. The sun was low in the western sky as Louis rode along the earthen pathway.

  All he could think about was his best friend Charlie the Horse, his son Junior, and Santa Claus who were back safe and well, living at the North Pole.

  Louis mumbled under his breath.

  "I wish they were all here now, they would know what to do. I know Mr. Beamer. He would not have said those things earlier, if he were not sure that trouble was here in town again. You know, I always knew there was more to that Mr. Beamer than meets the eye.

  It's time he came clean and told me who he really is. I guess the time of reckoning and truth is at hand. I will find out soon enough about this whole situation with evil, and vileness, somehow after me, or following me and me, somehow involved with all of these shady rats, and bad fellows. It's bad enough going through life, having bright red hair and freckles, and these strange blue eyes?just my luck. You know, I tried to stay low-key, and out of trouble, but man it just follows me."

  "Trouble!"

  "Trouble!"

  "Why is it's always me...why? I, guess my time to prove myself again...is at hand, once more; but this time, I am going end this... once and for all; no more adventures after this; no more evil; no more messing around with this. I am going to find a way to beat this for good."

  Worrying is all Louis could do as he slowly rode along, with his mind constantly chattering. As he appeared into Molly's front yard, he called out at the top his lungs.

  "Tom you home? Tomboy is you there, it is your boyfriend, the little red-haired, troublemaker...reluctant-hero...and...renowned daydreamer...Louis Parks."

  "What are you yelling about down there Louis, and why are you calling me Tom? Just give me a minute and I'll be down" called back Molly as she stuck her head out of her second story bedroom window, which overlooked the front yard.

  "Well hurry down. I got troubles again Molly."

  Molly scurried down the stairs, grabbed her coat off the coat-rack; she flew out the front door. She ran up to Louis as quick as her legs would carry her, throwing herself into his arms, knocking him off his bike.

  "What's wrong with you Molly? You about knocked the wind out of me" said Louis, as Molly and Louis tumbled about the grass.

  "Glad to see you to Louis; let's go down to the watering hole and you can tell me what's on your mind, and I'll bet whatever it is, I'll have an answer for you, and will be able to cure your problems. Do you want to bet? And what's this about me, being called Tom?"

  "Oh my mom says you're a Tomboy..."

  "Wha-t's that..."

  "Awe...she says that you don't like any cloud-watching and romantic stuff, you know like a boy."

  "Oh I understand now. Well I am a Tomboy. If you want to call me Tom that is fine with me. Hot Tamal
e Tom, has a nice ring to it...don't it?"

  "Oh Molly stop kidding already, I've got some real problems here. I will take you up on your bet. OK, if you can solve this problem...whatever it may be, and however big it is...then I will?I?will?ah?ah?marry you?one day, I promise" said Louis who was kind of taken aback, and a little worried about his vague proposal to Molly."

  "You're on!" said Molly as she grabbed her bike, lying in the grass nearby.

  Both slowly rode for the Centerville watering hole, found a few miles away.

  The late afternoon sun hung low, just above the tree line, and was just as big and serene as ever. It had a beautiful and vastly strange orange glow to it as it began to set. The last of the sun's long soothing rays were a welcome-comfort to both, as they both leisurely rode along. It was just a beautiful late afternoon, if only Louis could enjoy it.

  After about an hour passed they reached the far bank of the watering hole, ditching their bikes underneath the large willow tree, found at the northern most banks. Both Louis and Molly clasped hands, as only two twelve year's olds in love, could do.

  A few fireflies started to buzz around them, as the sun finally started to disappear, heading towards its restful slumber, for the evening. The smell of burning firewood started to fill the cooling air: birch wood, and cedar wood, perfumed the spaces around them.

  Louis paused by the grassy bank, picked up a flat rock, skipping it across the quiet, still illuminated red and orange waters, then another, then another. Molly sat down on a dry patch of grass, took off her shoes, and began to rub her bare feet. Neither really had the will, or the need to talk about what was on Louis's mind, after viewing the evening's rising stars above them. A soft pale moon rose out of the east, lazily it hung above them.

  Louis gave Molly a long, heartfelt hug; she returned the warm embrace in kind.

  "I love you Molly. Always have...always will."

  "I love you too Louis. Always have...always will."

  Both gazed warmly into each other's eyes.

  The tall meadow grasses never felt so reassuring and pleasant, as they both fell down into its grip; they took a long, restful, sleep together.