by Andrea Engel
In a barely audible groan, Marj mumbled, “Fank, I fink therf’s fumfing wron wif the roof.” She turned her back to Finn.
Finn poured the rest of the glass on Marj’s unsuspecting head. Her usual springy curls were now flattened against her pillow. “Come on, Marj. We don’t have all night. I’m on a tight shed-u-al.”
Marj’s head whipped toward him. Recognition turned to terror, filling her tearing eyes. “How—?”
Before she could finish her sentence, Finn slapped a piece of duct tape across her mouth—something he had been dreaming of since he’d left this awful place several years ago. He wrapped it around her head to ensure its staying power. “Marj, I have no desire to hear that screechy voice of yours. Believe me, your caw has been stuck inside my head since the first time I heard it.”
She scrambled across the bed, away from him, but she was no match for Finn’s speed. He grabbed her ankles and pulled her back toward him. All her jerky movements and kicks were useless. He let her fall to the floor. She crouched and tried to crawl under the bed.
“Oh, no, no, no, Marj. You can’t get away from me that easily.” He pulled her up from her middle and spun her around toward him as if it were part of their ballet. With one hand, he dragged her over to the chair across from Frank, and with the other, he grabbed the roll of tape off the dresser. Her muffled screams went unacknowledged, and her kicking was pointless. Her light frame made it easy for him to hold her down in the chair while he duct-taped her to it.
All the while, Finn kept an eye on Frank, whose sweat visibly ran down his face and through his pajamas. His gray eyes were shifting back and forth, looking from Marj to Finn and back again.
“Don’t worry, Frank. It’ll be quick. Well, maybe. It all depends on how long you and Marj can hold your breath.” He watched in delight as the tears flowed freely down the faces of Marj and Frank. Their heads were hung low, shaking in disbelief.
Finn grabbed the two clear plastic bags from his jacket pocket and exaggerated the opening of each of them for full effect. They crinkled and crackled as he waved them through the air.
“Okay, we have to pick up the pace. I can’t say this hasn’t been fun, because it’s been exceptionally entertaining. Thank you for playing. I’ll leave your parting gifts at the door. Oh, wait, those are mine. Sorry about the mix-up, you two. Okay, places, everyone. Good. Are you ready with your lines?” He paused. “That’s right. Thankfully you don’t have any. I’ve written you out of the rest of the scenes. A wise choice on my part. I could do this all night, but I really have to be going. Plus, we have that bonfire we all need to get to.”
Finn put a plastic bag over Frank’s head and then Marj’s, then sealed them with duct tape. Eyes wide and nostrils sucking in plastic, the two kept their eyes on each other, no longer turning toward Finn. “You know, you really do make a cute couple. Take care of each other. I have to leave. I hope you don’t mind. Please feel free to die. Thank you and farewell.” Finn pulled up the collar of his long suit coat, puffing the tails out behind him, as he made his grand exit.
A sound came from down the hall. He heard it clearly. It sounded like something rolling over the wooden floor. What’s that? he wondered.
Finn sneaked quietly in the direction of the sound. There it is again. It came from the other bedroom, the one where he used to sleep. Did Frank and Marj try to replace me? How dare they!
Finn continued toward the bedroom. The floor creaked, but he didn’t try to avoid the squeaky spots now that Frank and Marj were out of the way. Forever. He knew they were gone as surely as his whole body shuddered, soaking in their energy as they departed.
He listened outside the door then slowly opened it and turned on the light. The room was decorated in a western theme, with cowboys and horses wallpapered on one wall, while the others were painted a dark blue. A cactus-shaped night-light cast a soft, yellow glow on the rustic, rough-hewn furniture.
“Wow, you must really rate to be given such atmosphere.” Finn let out a whistle. “When I lived here, I had nothing but white walls. It’s kind of a pity to have to destroy this room.”
Finn heard an intake of air, and a marble rolled from the right-hand corner bookcase toward the bed.
“Okay, you can come out now.” Finn saw the source of the noise. A young boy cowered in the corner. He wore pajamas with lassos and stallions on them, fitting with the room’s motif. His small hands gripped an overfilled blue plastic bowl of marbles. “Looks like you had a bit of trouble keeping your marbles together. Come on out. It’ll be better for you in the long run.”
The boy stayed behind the bookcase. He shook, and a puddle collected around his footie pajamas; the acrid smell of urine filled the air.
“If you come out quickly, I won’t hurt you. If not, you’ll know the meaning of true pain. Heed my warning. Come out now!”
The boy crawled out from behind the bookcase, shaking too hard to stand.
“Come, come. It’s okay. You’ll be fine. You’ll see.” Finn helped the boy up. He was used to the fear he saw in his pets.
The boy couldn’t be more than seven or eight, with closely cropped brown hair. He looked thin and pale. Finn patted his head. “It’s okay. You’ll be fine.” Finn showed unusual restraint for a first meeting. It was a different feeling for him to actually employ his patience so quickly. It bothered and intrigued him at the same time.
“What do they call you?”
“Deh…Deh…Derrick,” whispered the young boy.
“Well, not anymore. From now on your name will be… Hmm, let’s see… Your name will be Basset. From now on, I’m the only one you need to know. What’s your name?”
“Derrick.”
Finn stiffened, squinted his eyes, and looked hard at him.
Derrick’s tears ran freely once again. He whimpered, “Sorry, sir. I…I meant Basset.”
“Very good, Basset.” He patted the boy’s head. “You’ll like this name much better.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
One Wave at a Time
Dear Rufus,
So many surprising things are happening. I hardly know where to begin. First off, there’s you-know-where, and I know you do! Second, I might be going to a dance! I’m so excited! Actually, I AM going to a dance. I’ll have to tell you more. You remember, of course, that kid I met? Sam? Well, I saw him again today…purely by chance (wink, wink). He took me to meet his mom. She’s a little shorter than me and has red hair and green eyes. She’s friendly and kind. She sells houses for a living and loves it. She told me she’s so glad that Sam’s made a friend already, especially someone as wonderful as me.
Can you imagine? I’d love it if MY mom talked to me half as nicely. How hard would it be? She used to do it.
Anyway, she and Sam and I were in their kitchen, drinking lemonade at the table, and she told me she talked with some of the other neighborhood moms, and they were all excited about getting their daughters dresses for the autumn dance.
She said to them, “Oh, there’s a dance? My son’s school doesn’t have dances.”
She told me they said, “Well, if he finds someone from our daughters’ school to go with him, then he can go. Then she turned to me and said, “You and Sam should go together. What do you think?”
I must have turned five shades of red—and maybe even purple—because I can’t remember ever being that embarrassed…and you know that’s saying a lot.
I wanted to crawl under the table and disappear, but then Sam said, “That’s a great idea, Mom. Annie, would you like to go to the dance with me at your school?” He totally rescued me, and how awesome is that? And how incredible is it that he thinks of someone besides himself first, and this is the first time this school year that someone’s treated me that well…well, besides you, Rufus, and guess what I answered: “Yes. Yes, of course I’ll go to the dance with you.” There I go again with run-on sentences, Rufus. Ms. Argello would have my head right about now.
Anyway, he asked me, so we’re going. Whe
n it was time to head home, I let him walk me to the end of the street. He told me how pretty I am and gave me the best hug. Isn’t that sweet, Rufus? I haven’t been called pretty since you-know-who. And did I mention he smells good too? Like butterscotch and vanilla with a fresh laundry twist. Mmm!
As soon as I got home, I told Mom. I didn’t want her to ruin anything, so instead of telling her I was going with Sam, I told her a bunch of kids from my English class were meeting there. (Ha-ha, what a joke, right?) She’s taking me to get a dress on Saturday. She’s excited. She said it’s about time I went to one of the dances at school instead of staying home and hiding with my books every time. Nice, right? It’s like she doesn’t even hear what she’s saying to me.
I haven’t really thought about what’ll happen once we get there, but I don’t want to. Dave and his goons could cause trouble—a lot of trouble—but at least it’s a masquerade and mustache party. They decided to do this instead of the usual Halloween dance. Maybe I’ll get my wish and just go and have a nice time and pretend everything is normal. Just for one night.
Okay…over and out.
Until next time, Rufus.
Sadie closed Rufus and put him back in the closet, her smile practically glowing.
❄❄❄❄❄❄❄
More than a week had passed since Sadie had spent time with the golden tree. She longed to see Banyan—and Barnaby, for that matter—but she’d made up her mind to avoid Mr. Felix at all costs, and she didn’t want to risk the chance that he might be there. Any other time she would have been lonely, but Sam was fast becoming a good friend.
She couldn’t understand why or how it happened, but every other time she walked, rode, or drove by his side of neighborhood, there was Sam. Sam waving. Sam saying, “Hello!” Sam asking whether he might join her for a walk to the park.
On the rare occasions when Christopher did come into her mind, the image of him was quickly replaced by Sam’s face. As the week went on, she barely thought of her old love at all.
Sadie just finished giving Sam the tour of the wooded area that led to the creek when she heard it. At first she ignored the sounds, thinking they could be products of her imagination, but finally their persistence won out.
Sadie, it is time to come back. You have had a few days off, but it is time.
Sadie listened, trying to think of a way to answer Thelo without talking out loud to a bodiless voice only she could hear…with Sam a foot away from her.
The only solution was to leave.
Oh, and bring your music box with you, Sadie.
Sadie thought hard inside her mind: Yes, I’ll bring it, and the conversation ended. Big sigh.
“Sam, I have to go,” fretted Sadie.
“What, Annie? Now? We just got here, and it’s terrific!”
“Yeah, sorry. I’ll show you more next time…Soon, I mean.”
“There you go, being all mysterious again.” Sam flashed her one of his “melt me now” grins, his perfect teeth a glimmering white.
As hard as it was, she shook it off. “I forgot that I have to do something back at home. I’m sorry.”
Sam sighed. “It’s okay, Annie. Let’s see each other soon.”
“Yeah, of course.” He’s so understanding. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you later, I promise.”
After a quick stop at home to retrieve the music box, Sadie raced to the Fletcher house. She was careful to avoid any streets Sam might have used to travel home from the woods. Success!
She imagined there might come a day when she could tell Sam about the music box and Banyan, but for now he would just have to think she was mysterious, if not a bit odd.
She hid her bike in the Fletchers’ backyard and secured the music box under her arm. As she approached, the dense vegetation parted, leaving a makeshift path to the other side. With her first step on the trail, she already heard Banyan talking inside her head.
Good day to you, Sadie. How are you?
“I’m fine. Thanks for asking. How are you?”
As well as ever. Welcome back. It’s good to see you again.
Sadie smiled as she took a moment to take in her statuesque friend. “It’s good to see you too. I’ve missed you.”
Come…have a seat.
Sadie faced Banyan and sat down in front of where she’d seen his face during her first visit to Mystashan. Though the hidden hollow behind the Fletcher house was a special place, she couldn’t see his face here in the traditional sense. But in her mind she could see him, golden leaves and all.
Sadie heard crackling from above. She shielded her eyes from the glare between the leaves. Noticing a pair of large green eyes peering at her, she called up. “Hi, Barnaby. How’re you doing?” He rubbed the side of his cheek along Banyan’s trunk and scaled his way down headfirst, landing beside her.
Barnaby placed a paw on her leg and tilted his head, requesting permission to come aboard.
Sadie petted him as he curled up on her lap.
You settled in, Barnaby? May we proceed? Banyan asked.
Barnaby blinked once and laid his head back down.
Today, my dear, you will be entering Mystashan on your own. Well, not entirely. I am glad you brought your key.
“My key, Banyan?”
The music box, of course. I’m the gatekeeper, and the box is your own personal key.
She beamed. “Ooh. I feel official.” In her mind she saw Banyan’s kind, etched face stretch into a smile. “What do I do first?”
With your back against me, try to relax. Hold your key out in front of you or on your lap. Open it up, and you will be on your way!
“All right. Here goes nothing.”
Sadie had opened her music box hundreds of times without giving it a second thought. This time, however, she felt every moment; from holding it in her hands to opening the lid, every action played in slow motion. She heard the soft creak of the lid, and then the sweet song began to play. She felt Barnaby jump off her lap. The blue and green flashes swirled, surrounding her. The lulling melody eased her into a restful state. The landscape around her faded; even she was fading, becoming translucent. She was between here and there. Euphoria swept through her. Above her, Banyan’s green leaves turn golden, and then she was simply there, in Mystashan.
Jumping to her feet, Sadie couldn’t hold back her yawn and stretch, as if she’d woken from a full night’s sleep.
Thelo stood waiting for her, his long tapered tail waving hello. “Welcome, Sadie. How was your ride?”
“Hi, Thelo. It was fantastic! I’m glad to be back…and relieved I didn’t run into Mr. Felix.”
“You shouldn’t worry about Mr. Felix. He means well.”
“That may be, but even though I can’t quite put my finger on it, I don’t like him. He’s not like you and Banyan.”
Thelo laughed. “I suppose that is true, but I believe you will come to like him in time. He is always busy, and you will not likely see him often, but I assure you, he is a good man. But we can talk more about him later. Now it is time for your next lesson. I am going to bring you through Saponi Straime.”
“What’s that?” Sadie asked.
“In your world it would translate to ‘Sea-pony Stream.’ It is the tunnel to our island.”
She looked around. “Island? What island? There’s no island around here.”
“Maybe not in your world, but here there most certainly is. I could tell you all about it, but it is better if you see for yourself.” Thelo looked like an orchestra leader, waving his large scaly arms in front of the water.
Sadie turned to the stream and watched as the water drew up from the banks until it towered over them, then arched across the span and rolled back under itself. It reminded her of one of the giant surfer waves she had seen on TV, but these weren’t crashing to the shore. Instead they were creating a continuous wave tunnel.
“Go on,” prompted Thelo, gesturing for her to step inside. “Do not worry. You will not get wet.”
<
br /> Sadie turned to Banyan, whose kind face gave a slight nod. This was Mystashan after all.
“It is okay, Sadie. It is safe,” Thelo reassured her.
Sadie took a deep breath then stepped hesitantly into the water tunnel. She felt a tiny spray from the water, but it was dry inside. The water shimmered with a bright turquoise light but remained perfectly clear. The tunnel teemed with hundreds and hundreds of what she instantly knew were sea-ponies. They resembled the seahorses she’d seen at the aquarium last summer. The difference here was that each had a cobalt-blue head and body with a long teal mane that flowed all the way down to its curled tail.
They smiled at her and giggled a recurring, “Hello, Sadie!” all the way through the tunnel.
“Hello, friends,” she said with a smile.
Sadie still didn’t know why she had been brought to this realm, but she knew how lucky she was as she made her way through the tunnel to dry land. Disappointed, she realized right away that it was the dull-tan carpet of her bedroom.
One step at a time, Sadie.
Why would Thelo take me all the way through only to lead me right back home? “I’m not happy about this, Thelo!”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Grueling Downhill, Doggone It
“This same slop again! Have I not told you and told you and told you again?”
“But Mr. Finn, it’s not the same slop. I hoped you’d like the subtle combination of flavors in this new recipe I’m trying out.”
“Don’t you ever say ‘subtle’ to me again, Basset!”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Finn. I only meant—”
“I don’t care what you meant. If you understand that, you’ll do much better with life in our world.”
“Yes, Mr. Finn.”
Although Finn noticed the dejected look on Basset’s face, it didn’t stop him from continuing the rest of their lunch in silence. He didn’t care. Who is he, always thinking he can take my Beagle’s place?
Basset took their bowls to the sink.
“Basset, clean up the rest of this mess you made and get to the store. We need supplies. There’s a storm coming; I can feel it.”