Living Forest

by Lyle, Travis

  It almost feels like she’s selfless, as shown with me here now. I don’t know much about her or her father, but I still need help if I’m to make it home alive. I speak cautiously,

  “Thank you so much, are you sure your dad will be okay with this?”

  Daddy’s can be much bigger and more experienced than me at bare knuckle scrapping. I don’t want him getting the wrong impression. Amanda gingerly takes my hand. Shivers travel up and down my spine, while goose bumps appear on my arm like prairie dogs rising from the ground at dawn. My heart begins to beat hard and fast like I’ve just ran a marathon to raise funds for some cause. It’s like Amanda has this proud feeling that comes when you do a Good Samaritan deed. If you’ve done one, you know the warm cozy feeling. Amanda speaks proudly,

  “Let’s get you to your moving van Hollister. Then you can tell me where you need to go so I can let dad know.”

  Walking towards the exit, with Amanda beside me, I look to my right and notice that the remaining workers jaws are nearly touching the floor. I never noticed before, but all eyes were on me and Amanda. I was the only customer during my time spent there. I think they’re in more shock not knowing what’s going on between me and Amanda, and now watching her walk out the door while holding my hand.

  Reaching the passenger side door of the moving van Amanda says,

  “Where is it that you live at Hollister?”

  Now I speak with pride.

  “You can take me anywhere on Lake Eucha and I’ll be home.”

  I know what good my family has done for the community. You know the saying everyone has a price. Well… it’s true. My family purchased Eucha Lake and the surrounding territory owned by the City of Tulsa. My family has continued to protect the forests along with our original thousand acres attached to it. We built a giant filtration system that restored and purified the lake. The system reversed the pollution damage in the lake by a hundred years during its first year of use. We use clean solar energy to power everything. There’s storage tanks built which holds water during flood season and releases it during droughts. We also allow Tulsa to use the water during certain times to help with their water needs, but not nearly draining the lake dry which use to happen every summer, causing all the wildlife in the area to suffer.

  My family turned the land around the lake into a reservation. They were big about preserving as much land as they could from fear of it becoming skyscrapers or chopped down for apartments. I never understood why they’d look so far into the future, because people would consider where I live now to be in the middle of nowhere. Honestly, I’d prepare more for a nuclear holocaust, than the day Earth has no trees.

  Amanda speaks with a smart-ass tone in her voice.

  “You got to be more specific than that Hollister. There are many homes near Lake Eucha.”

  I smoothly reply,

  “No Amanda, I own the lake.”

  Those words struck her speechless, but only for a moment. The sound of being caught off guard is lingering in her voice. I can tell she has no idea that I own it. She replies with relief,

  “I know where you live. My parents are the care takers of your home. I had no idea that was your place. I’ve never seen anyone there before. All father said is that you lived by the ocean.”

  After I sit down she raced to her father’s truck to tell him who I am. I guess we’ll follow him to my home. I would’ve talked to Amanda along the way, but before the engine even fired up on the moving van, I’m out cold snoring like I’m dreaming of lumberjacking.

  Chapter Two

  Waking up, Hollister’s laying on the couch in the front room of his grandfather’s home. The moving van has already been unloaded. All of Hollister’s boxes are in the front room with him. He’s covered in a heavy quilt, and the fire place still has a small fire that looks to have been dying down for a while now. Underneath the covers Hollister is quite bare. No clothes cover him.

  Waking up, an overwhelming thought plasters my brain,

  “What… oh shit did we? Never mind, I know what happened.”

  Even though I would’ve liked Amanda to have done this, I kick off clothes in my sleep. They’re all by my feet. My mom has said that I’d even do this as a baby, and she could never figure out how I’d get my diaper off some times. Needless to say, she used it as warfare against me when my room wasn’t clean. She’d say in a nagging tone which even now I miss.

  “I use to clean up many of your messes including poop all over you and your crib. Now you’re old enough to take care of your own mess, get to work.”

  Yeah, she was like a hawk when it came to filth. I always thought she was OCD or something of the like. Still she made me who I am today, and because of her I can not stand anything out of place. It flusters me to no end.

  A sound echoes as if three gongs are mildly tapped.

  “Ding, Dang, Dong.”

  While quickly tossing on my clothes I say,

  “Who’s there?”

  I’m still a little shocked at this moment from what all has happened to me recently, but it does feel very different waking up in Granddad’s old home. This is the first time I’ve awoken in a while that I didn’t feel my parent’s memory haunting me. Though now I do wish I had something to eat. My stomach is growling and tearing at me as if it’s eating me from the inside out.

  A woman speaks in a cheerful manner, like a house keeper in a hotel.

  “It’s Elizabeth.”

  Confusingly I reply,

  “Who?”

  I only say this because well… she could be anyone really, even an assassin with a gun. That’s an unlikely scenario though.

  She says it louder, nearly screaming as if she thought I didn’t hear her.

  “Elizabeth, Amanda’s mother…”

  Still half asleep I say,

  “One second, I’ll be right there.”

  She speaks like she’s welcoming a new neighbor to the neighborhood.

  “I brought you some dinner. I thought you may be hungry hun.”

  Hearing the sound of food, my clothes fly on me as if I’ve recently acquired super powers. I’m at the door opening it before she can get another breath in to tell me what she’s prepared.

  Elizabeth jumps as I open the door. While clutching her chest, anxiously she speaks,

  “Ooh, you startled me. I made some beef stew and cornbread. We… well I thought you’d like some dinner since you’ve been asleep all day long. Jim unloaded the van for you. He and Amanda went to town to drop it off at the rental station.”

  I can tell she’s not expecting me to open it this fast. I’m more shocked than her though. She’s a big woman. She stands at the very least six foot seven, and weighs around three hundred pounds. If it’s not for my hunger, I may have run away screaming.

  Gratitude may paint my face, but hunger drives my movement.

  “Thank you so much. I don’t know how I can repay you.”

  Sounding motherly she replies,

  “No, no, no young man. It’s us whose been waiting a long time to thank you.”

  They already know what all has happened because of the attorney. There were many legal matters preformed for me before my arrival here. With saliva heavily drooling from the corners of my mouth I say,

  “Thank you Elizabeth, I’m starving. Your cooking smells so good.”

  Elizabeth smiles real big, she seems like she wants to hug me knowing what all I’m going through. She’d be the one to know as this happened to her parents long ago as well. Though they were not as lucky as my parents were financially, her family and Jim’s family were all ranch hands and farmers. In a way, I’m very thankful she didn’t hug me. I’ve a feeling I’d have suffered some massive trauma from her giant hands. Caringly she speaks to me,

  “You enjoy your meal, and if there’s anything you need, we’re in the house at the end of the driveway.”

  Appreciative I respond,

  “Thank you ma’am once again, and have a good evening.”

/>   Maybe I’m still shaken up by her size, but she replies in a manic way that I think she’s loosing her mind.

  “Your welcome and you do the same. Oh, Amanda said she wants to come over when she gets back and show you around your place. Your grandfather always said you were just a little boy the last time he seen you. I told her she should give you some time to rest, but she’s always impatient.”

  Trying to hide the fact that Elizabeth is scaring the shit out of me I say,

  “Oh, no ma’am it’s fine. I wouldn’t mind a tour around. This all seems new to me.”

  She left and within seconds I’m in the kitchen grabbing a spoon. As hungry as I am, this entire container is devoured within a minute, leaving only one bite for actual savoring. I went ahead and took a shower. I have to clean up from this exhausting journey. It’s a journey that turned to unusual events very quickly. I need this moment in the shower. It’s a moment when the only sound comes from flowing water pulsating repetitiously on my body.

  Walking down the stairs that overlook the front door, I notice the silhouette of someone at the door. I hadn’t heard the door bell ring before now. Opening the door, Amanda’s pressing the door bell. Amanda’s eyes open up like a kid walking in the Willy Wonka factory. The sound of gongs echo in the back,

  "Ding, dang, dong."

  She takes a deep breath with a long pause, as if she can’t breathe at all. Her left hand quickly clinches her chest. While exhaling her breath, quivering shakes her tone as she says,

  “Oh crap! You scared the shit out of me.”

  Trying not to laugh and show concern I say,

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  Amanda seems inspired by nature, also where she lives. Calming down she says,

  “I thought I’d stop by and take you on a ride around your land. Your grandfather’s land has some of the most beautiful sights this world has ever seen preserved for the life of Oklahoma.”

  This is the kind of pride that many people find themselves lacking in the world today. Many people fail to see the true beauty of Earth because material needs become their driven desires.

  “Why have trees when we need houses?”

  This type of attitude is why many rainforests tumbled to the ground. I guess when smog creates a new atmosphere you need material things to bring you to the next day. I’m just now remembering exactly how beautiful the country is.

  Walking fully outside with Amanda, I take me a moment to enjoy the invigorating clean air. This is the type of air you wish you’d bottle up and sell to larger cities to show people what they’re destroying. Slowly strutting beside Amanda, she walks with me out to a large barn. Speaking as if pulling a cherished memory from her mind,

  “When your grandfather passed away, I think it was your dad who had all the livestock sold. There are quads in the barn, though if your grandfather was still around, we’d all be riding horses right now.”

  Confusingly I ask,

  “Quads, what are those?”

  I’ve never heard that term used before so I’m curious to what it is. Amanda replies sarcastically,

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Being a city boy now, you must not know what a four-wheeler is.”

  I don’t know what four-wheeler’s are. All I can gather at this moment is that it has four wheels. Not wanting to let her know that I reply,

  “I know what four-wheelers are.”

  She said giggling under her breath,

  “Have you ever ridden on one?”

  As if everyone has ridden a four-wheeler at least once in their life. Something just hit me, when I look at her eyes. They are entrancing, and make me want to tell her the truth. Not just some of it either, all of it. I spoke near sighing, basically admitting my defeat.

  “No, and to be honest I have no idea what a four-wheeler is. All I can gather is it’s something with four wheels.”

  She laughs for a moment, and then excitement strikes her voice.

  “Don’t worry, I had a feeling about this, and if I’m correct you’re going to have so much fun with me this evening.”

  Approaching the barn, the inside is huge, and is equipped with everything you’d need to operate a farm. The four-wheelers are right beside the left barn door. They look to be the most used vehicle here. Without saying anything, Amanda jumps on one of the quads and starts it up. Racing out of the door, she parks it over by the gas pump. Running back to me, saying without skipping a beat,

  “Don’t just stand there, start it up or go pump gas.”

  I have a feeling she can out run me in a race. Raspy I reply,

  “I’ll go pump the gas. That I know how to do.”

  Running towards the gas pump, yeah… I’m out of breath. She’d definitely kick my ass in a race. I quickly find the gas cap, remove it, and squeeze the trigger to pump the fuel. Thinking,

  “Hmm… no gas is coming out of the other end.”

  I question myself,

  “Did I do it right?”

  Not long after, Amanda parks the other quad beside the one I’m attempting to fill up. Without saying anything, Amanda nearly falls to the ground laughing. Slowly she changes her tone from cackling, to wanting to teach me.

  “Okay, I should’ve told you that you have to pump up the handle in back to get the gas to flow out of the nozzle. The nozzle must also be opened up so that air and fuel can flow to the end. Here let me show you.”

  Amanda carefully takes my hand. Showing me the locking latch on the handle to keep it open, she continues to pull me around by my hand. She teaches me about the back of the pump where you literally pump the fuel out of the tanks that are buried in the ground. After the quads are filled, Amanda instructs me on how to drive these things.

  It’s really easy to learn, and way fun. One of the hardest parts to for me learn right now is my turning. Amanda acts like she has done this a time or twenty. She’s ramping hills like a pro. Okay, this girl is wicked cool right now. I’m not too sure, but I think she can even take me down in a fight. I have to say, this country girl is hard core fun.

  Racing from trail to trail, laughter and smiles become a common appearance as the evening passes along. Amanda stops her quad by a tree house that’s massive. It looks like a luxurious home all by itself. Amanda speaks collectively,

  “Your grandfather use to tell me that he built this for you and me. He’d always tell my parents about how sorry he was for his actions. My dad said that after that night, your grandfather never drank a drop of alcohol again once he realized what he’d done. He hated never being able to see his family again.”

  I didn’t know what to say, all I ever remember is the bad things. I guess my parents never cared to know anything about him after that night. It’s hard to forgive somebody for actions like that. From the tone of her voice, all she wants to do is let loose, have fun, and play.

  “What are you waiting for Hollister, you going to climb this thing with me or what?”

  Looking up, I speak with my voice slightly quivering, like I have a small piece of food stuck in the back of my throat.

  “I’d race you there, but I know that you’ll beat me at climbing too. I’m afraid of heights.”

  Amanda bursts out laughing. Falling to the ground, she grabs her side saying,

  “I can’t take any more. You’re killing me Hollister.”

  After she calms down a little she asks me in a serious manner,

  “Have you been sheltered all of your life?”

  As if gaining knowledge all your life is a bad thing. Replying, you can hear the tone of dullness that has transformed my life.

  “You could say that. I’ve gone to some form of school or another all my life. I barely remember the days that I lived here when I was younger. Those are the times which I try to remember the most because I actually knew what it felt like to be a child and have fun.”

  The tone in her voice quickly changes to guilt.

  “Oh no, I’m sorry for laughing at you. I had no idea.”
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br />   I try to reassure her that I’m not mad or upset.

  “How could you know? I was taken away from here when I was just five years old.”

  She’s giving me some excitement, also more of a reason to release my fear of heights. Enticingly she speaks,

  “Well, I did teach you how to drive a quad. So why don’t you let me teach you how to climb this tree to that door. There may be a surprise waiting at the top for you.”

  You know the stories of knights in shining armor that saves the princess from a terrible beast, well this girl reminds me of Joan of Ark. Joan was a true heroine that took France from the bowels of defeat, and through her many victories she transformed France into a top contending country until she was betrayed in the end by the King she physically crowned for doing nothing of her capture. She may have been burned at the stake, but she gave hope to her country men that still suffered from the bubonic plague.

  I’m not saying Amanda is Joan, I’m merely stating that I see that type of strength in her. The strength women show too little of even in the world today. Amanda’s minute victories are transforming me. With each step I take, and each grasp that pulls me closer to her, she cheers me on more. She repeatedly says,

  “Go Hollister go. Go Hollister go.”

  I know she’s saying this to try and keep me from looking down. Well, I’m not sure if that’s her reasoning, but it sounds good to me. Grasping the last board, I feel Amanda grab my hand. She helps pull me up the rest of the way.

  While panting and nearly out of breath I say,

  “Phew, you’ve done this a time or two haven’t you?”

  Amanda starts to sound like my mother saying,

  “Wow, are you okay. For as fit as you look, you should really run some.”

  She’s right though, I’m badly out of shape. Sarcastically I say,

  “How about that surprise now Amanda?”

  I expect to hear her say,

  “Surprise… you climbed a tree.”

  That’s not what she says. Smirkishly Amanda replies,

  “We’re not at the top yet. You still have a little ways to go before we get there Hollister.”