by JR Wirth
When the train passed again, I moved close and inspected the tracks. “These aren’t regular railroad tracks. There are some by my house and they don’t look anything like these.” I smiled. “But when I help Grandpa put the tree and the train together, those tracks look just like these.” I got down on my knees and, again, cupped my chin, trying desperately to think of an answer. Then it came to me. “If I’m right, there should be a switch that we can turn off, or at least slow the train down.”
“Stay here,” Isaiah demanded. “I know what to do.” He looked to see where the train was, and then walked over the tracks. He pointed at a box-like contraption. Isaiah followed its cords to where they fit into the track then smiled and, looking back at Bubba, Arhi and me, shouted, “Come help.”
We all waited while the train passed, and then rushed to help Isaiah. When we got there, he had already pulled the wires from the train track. He then turned to locate the stalled train on the other side of the town. “Hmm…what to do…It’s too far away.” Isaiah seemed to think about it for a moment, then snapped his fingers. “I got it!” He bent and plugged the wires back into the track.
The train began to roll again.
We watched it come closer. When it was near, rounding the bend, Isaiah pulled the plug and watched the train come to a stop right in front of where we stood. He climbed up the side of the train and retrieved Hayden from the conductor’s compartment.
When they reached the ground, I ran to meet them. I gave Hayden a big hug, the biggest I’d ever given him. He hugged me back, but with much less enthusiasm. I could tell he was angry.
“I was having fun!” Hayden shouted, in an unfamiliar voice that was much older and bolder than his actual age. He paused and, looking at the ground, shook his head. “But,” he continued in a calmer voice. “I guess I do need to eat something.”
“What the…?” With large, startled eyes, Isaiah looked at me—or through me. Hayden’s behavior was so different that I didn’t know what to think and neither, it appeared, did Isaiah. He shook his head. “The shots just keep on coming.”
“Yeah they do,” I replied. “Absolutely.” I shrugged.
Isaiah returned the shrug.
I cleared my throat and said, “Come on. We have one more to find.”
As we made our way toward the town, we came upon a bridge. It looked as though it covered a stream. At least I thought it was a stream; I really couldn’t tell. Maybe the snow has covered the stream, I thought. Or, maybe…My mind began to wander. What if there is no stream at all? And what if it’s a mystical bridge to nowhere? A bridge where people cross and never return, and where dancing elves snatch up unsuspecting children and cook them in a large black pot that sits over a campfire. Or perhaps, it’s a magical bridge and the only way to enter the town. I wonder…Will we need a magic word or phrase to get to the other side? And will we be able to get back?
Before I could answer my own questions, Hayden, Arhi and Bubba ran to the bridge. They stopped at the entrance and looked back. Then they huddled and whispered.
Turning slightly, they stole another glace at Isaiah and me. Then they exchanged sly smiles with each other before running to the top of the bridge. At the top, as I predicted, they all disappeared.
“Oh my God!” I yelled and ran toward the bridge.
“Wait up,” Isaiah shouted.
Faster and more athletic than me, Isaiah ran past me and straight under the bridge.
I stopped to watch. “Should I go on top?” I yelled.
In the middle of the passage, under the bridge, Isaiah stopped. All I could see was his darkened, shadowy outline, highlighted by the light from the back entrance of the bridge. He looked back at me, and then shook his head, apparently telling me to stay put. Then he lifted his right hand to give me a peace sign, and immediately turned to continue his journey.
But, he too disappeared. It was as though he was sucked out of the other side of the passage under the bridge.
“No!” I yelled, again paralyzed in my tracks. “Mother of Jesus, what do I do now?”
Feeling sick and, as Grandpa puts it, paranoid, I decided to walk under the bridge. “I need Isaiah’s help,” I whispered, trying to give myself the courage to continue. Though I was extremely scared of the possible ramifications, I continued. I was particularly concerned about the young ones on top of the bridge, and us below. Would we be transported to different locations? I wondered.
I expected to be teleported to an evil land, and tiptoed under the bridge. I looked back several times, as I crept through the tunnel. When I reached the middle, I stopped where Isaiah had stopped. I closed my eyes, sighed and blew out a worried breath.
“Okay angel,” I prayed. “It’s time to guardian me.”
When I opened my eyes, I was past the bridge and in the presence of the others. With smiles on their faces, they welcomed me happily. I too was happy—to see they’d waited patiently for me.
I breathed a great sigh of relief.
No sooner had I done so, I heard Hayden yell, “Look!”
Hayden pointed to the town.
It was alive and energetic. We could see people moving about the village. Some were on relaxed walks, while others scurried to make it to their destinations. I watched with wonder.
Then Isaiah cleared his throat and whispered, “They wear weird clothes.”
“Yeah, they do.” I blinked twice to clear my vision then took two deep breaths to complete my emotional recovery from the bridge incident. “It’s like they’re from a long, long time ago. Their clothes are kind of like the clothes in that movie Grandpa made us watch. Do you remember? It was the one with that old Scrooge guy.”
“You’re right. That’s scary.”
I snickered. “Abso-freaking-lutely…” I paused, and quickly looked around. “You don’t think there are ghosts leading our path, do you?” The words conjured thoughts of old zombie-like ghosts carrying chains and growling at us. I shivered, and then had another thought. But a cute, sparkling, well-dressed princess would be kind of cool. Nonetheless, I turned toward Isaiah, hoping for some reassurance.
Not even close. The odd gaze returned to Isaiah’s face. He glanced at his phone, three times, appearing to look for an answer. “I don’t know,” he whispered, with a distant, fear-fueled stare. “But I sure hope there’s no ghost.”
Despite Isaiah’s fears and, I suppose, mine as well, we made our way toward the town.
At the entrance of the town, a man and woman walked past us. The woman nodded and smiled. Shy in her manner, she curtseyed slightly, whispering, “Merry Christmas.”
The man then took off his tall hat, smiled and nodded at us. “Top of the evening, folks,” he said. “May ye have a Christmas filled with the spirit of love and joy.”
Isaiah giggled nervously at the couple as they passed from sight. He lowered his head and, out of the side of his mouth, whispered, “They look evil. It’s like in one of those Grimm fairytales, where strange yet friendly people eat kids.”
“What?” I blurted. Then I covered my mouth, and whispered, “Don’t say that, Isaiah. Are you trying to scare me even more?” I looked around to see if anyone was paying attention. Feeling safe, I continued. “And do you want these people to hear you? We don’t know what they’re capable of.”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying...Evil. And maybe they’re zombie apocalypse killers too. Yeah, and maybe we’re stuck in a zombie video game about Christmas.”
“Shush, Isaiah!” I cleared my shaky voice. “Stop talking like that. We need to find Harper, and I’m already too scared to move. And you need to stay away from the video games too. Get outside more, will you?”
He was right, though, they did seem strange and even a little bit evil. But, against my natural instinct, I let it be. We’d still seen no sign of my baby sister, Ha
rper. She was the youngest, not yet two years old. She couldn’t take care of herself, or even talk a lot for that matter. Her vocabulary was of few words, most of which weren’t understandable. She could walk, but it was more of a wobble, and she crawled when she wanted to get around faster.
I sighed. This night just keeps getting weirder and weirder, I thought. Then, feeling a rush of cold wind move through me, I shivered.
I whispered, to Isaiah “I’m afraid something bad happened to Harper.”
“Like what?” Isaiah asked.
“I don’t know. It’s just; I don’t feel very hopeful right now.”
Isaiah and I gathered up Hayden, Bubba and Arhi. Fortunately, they hadn’t wandered too far. Ordinarily, on a walk like this, they’d run ahead and explore all over, doing whatever they could get away with.
“I guess they’re a bit scared as well,” I whispered, and nodded toward the little ones.
Isaiah nodded in return.
Back in line, we continued our hurried stroll, now down a cobblestone sidewalk. All the people in the town seemed so incredibly nice. Maybe too nice. Even though we looked severely out of place—a couple centuries, I’d say—they all waved and wished us a Merry Christmas.
We soon came upon a teenage boy with only one leg. Using a stick as a cane, he leaned against a restaurant wall.
“Good evening,” the teen said.
Curious, we slowed to view the teenager.
He smiled at each of us, raised his cane then let it slip back through his fingers. The cane’s tip came to rest on the smooth, polished rock sidewalk. “It’s a good day to count your blessings there friends, and to hug your kin-folk, for the day of the Lord is upon us.”
Though I was very scared, I smiled politely.
Arhi smiled too. She stopped and felt the bamboo cane. “Merry Christmas to you,” she said. “I hope Santa brings you a new leg. Look…” Arhi smiled and pointed at her mouth. “He brought me all my teeth.”
“I see that, m’lady,” the teen said with a fond smile. “You are one fortunate young lady.”
“Yeah,” Bubba agreed. “She is.” He held out his hand for a high-five.
Hayden moved his Skylanders toy from his left to right hand, and completed the high-five with Bubba, then looked at the teen. “It’ll be a Merry Christmas leg,” he said, enthusiastically. Bright-eyed, Hayden looked down. “Can I have the cane when you’re through with it?”
The teen smiled again. “You may have anything I have, young fellow. ‘Tis the season of giving.” He again raised his cane. “My traveling friends,” he continued. “Ye have brought the merriment back to Christmas.”
In shock and unable to speak, Isaiah and I watched the interaction.
Then, remembering my sister and feeling panicked, I interrupted. “We need to go,” I said, and pushed the younger ones along. “Merry Christmas.”
“And the merriest of merriment to you and your kin, wherever they may roam.” The teen boy paused, ever so briefly. “Until and after you reunite, that is.” The teen then gave a cheerful, yet diabolical smile and waved. At least, it felt diabolical to me.
When we were far enough past the teen, I looked back. It felt like he was staring at us as though we were long-anticipated lambs for the slaughter. He continued smiling and waving at us. I looked at Isaiah and raised my brows. “Yikes,” I said, in a whispered voice. “That’s really weird.”
Isaiah chuckled. “Evil it is.” He nodded his head. “I told you so.”
No matter what the people were really like on the inside, they were very pleasant on the outside. And the town’s scenery was very stunning. It was at least as welcoming, if not more, as the people who inhabited it. All the buildings, including the church, were made of beautiful brick and stone. They were very well-preserved, warm and inviting, and each had its own fireplace that bellowed stacks of smoke through its chimney. Each structure was intricately decorated with grand Christmas trimming, including green, gold and blue garlands, and lights of many colors.
We stopped and looked inside one of the shops. There, we saw three women in big chef’s hats, making and selling cakes and cookies. The kids wanted to stop and eat; I could tell by the way they gawked at the inviting treats, but we couldn’t stay.
“We have to keep going, guys,” I pleaded, despite my own desire to consume the tasty treats. “We need to find Harper as soon as possible. I’m worried about her.”
Ignoring my plea, they continued to stare into the window, eyes filled with anticipation.
How can I win this one? I thought. My empathy, however, turned to anger when I thought of Harper all alone in some corner of the town. “We can’t stop now!” I shouted. “We need to keep moving.” And then, with absolute authority, I waved for the others to join me. “Now!”
Against their will, they followed. We continued along the front of the buildings until we came to an area with no sidewalk. Nor was there a street for that matter. Hmm, that’s weird, I thought. Perhaps they’re still building it?
Then we came upon some people applauding and swaying side to side while a group of four sang ‘Silent Night.’ Excited, Arhi ran to the strangers and started singing with them. But, sensing things were not right with the four singers, Isaiah grabbed Arhi and brought her back.
We pushed on, soon reaching the end of the row of buildings, where we stopped and searched the darkened horizon. With no hint of where Harper might be, I looked down and blew out a sigh. “What should we do now?” I asked, trying to hide my building desperation.
Isaiah looked back at the town. “We’ll need to go inside each building, I suppose, and look for her. We should probably ask the townies if they’ve seen her, too.”
“I got you,” I replied. I looked around again, and then toward the sky and the towering tree that shaded the beautiful town. By now it has to be getting dark, I thought. But with the constant stream of red, blue, and green-colored lights, streaming down on the town, there was no way to tell. What I did know for sure was that Harper had been away from her family for far too long and needed her mother—or at least her older sister.
We need to get to her.
Isaiah waited patiently. He kept the others in check while I temporarily spaced out. When I returned from my distant thoughts, he asked, “Are you ready then?”
“Okay,” I replied, and started to turn back, when suddenly out of the distant darkness, I heard loud bells and hooves coming our way. I looked and saw a lone candle providing light for a darkened transport. “What the heck is that?” I asked.
“The Headless Horseman?” Isaiah chuckled.
“Oh, Isaiah, give it a rest,” I retorted.
“I can’t,” he yelled in a high-pitched voice, seeming to sound desperate, but failing badly.
I ignored Isaiah and focused on the light, and the container that held it. It came from a darkened corner, beyond the railroad tracks. The closer it came, the more I could make it out. It was a sled, pulled by a lone reindeer, covered with lots of jingle bells.
“Look at that!” Hayden yelled, smiling and pointing with his Skylanders toy. It was as if he’d seen Disneyland for the very first time.
“Wow!” Bubba looked at the sled with awe. I’m sure he hoped for a Santa Claus sighting.
Inside the sled was a man, and what looked to be his wife and their small child.
“There she is!” Arhi yelled, pointing to the baby in the sled. She then waved, shouting, “Harper, we’re here! We finally made it.”
The young child lifted its tiny head, smiled, and waved. Then, to my utter surprise, the child sat up and shouted, “Stop the sled!”
That can’t be Harper, can it? I thought. Babies can’t talk like that, can they? Harper’s never said more than one word at a time that made any sense.
The sled stopped and the bab
y, dressed in a red Christmas jumper, hopped out. It was the same jumper I chose for Harper. Hmm, that can’t be.
“Come here, Hailey,” the baby commanded. She held out her hands like we were dear old friends, reuniting after years apart.
Hardly believing the dreamlike scene before me, fear filled my veins. Though it was only a baby that I was approaching, I made a slow, cautious advance toward the child and sled. As I got closer, I could see the child clearly. With much confusion, I whispered, “Harper?”
“Yeah, what’s up, sis?” Harper smiled. She rushed me and put her arms around me. She hugged like no baby ever hugged another person before, I’m sure of it.
Harper let go and looked at the others. With a mile-wide smile, she summoned them with a wave. “Arhi, Hayden, come over here. I want you guys to meet Hans and Hannah. Salt of the Earth, they are. They’ve been so nice to me—they fed me and everything. They even changed my diaper, twice! I kind of have a queasy stomach. Perhaps it was from the trip to this beautiful place that got me all tangled-up.” Harper paused and chuckled. “Or maybe it was the crash-landing that upset my stomach? Either way, I’m feeling much better now.” Harper paused and took a breath. “Hey, that reminds me, did any of you hit your heads when you landed?”
The young ones smiled and nodded. “Yeah,” they said in concert.
In disbelief, I turned and looked at Isaiah. He was still near the buildings, frozen to the spot. Staring at us, his Latin skin turned to white. With his eyes open wide and pupils dilated, I thought he was going to mummify, or crystalize, or something weird like that.
Time stood still while I determined how to approach him. I finally decided just to yell out, “Are you okay?”
Isaiah shook his head, but then nodded. “I think so.”
“What the heck’s going on in this spooky-sass-town?” I shouted, not thinking that everyone else could hear my disrespectful words. But they did.