by R Corona
“The pleasure would be mine; I would love to meet him. Does he live here too?”
“Oh June,” Ms. Baynes lowered her head. “I am so sorry, but Dez isn’t with us anymore.” It was a disappointing discovery and, just then, the image of the House created by Ms. Baynes, collapsed. My next thought was that this House was like any other house. She had exaggerated its creation to feed my curiosity. The Housekeeper was nothing but a storyteller and wanted others to believe that there was something more to life. Something which could not be explained by words, actions or thoughts. Having been in touch with unimaginable sources of knowledge and guidance, Ms. Baynes was qualified to know what that something was. Sadly for her, not many approached the House. As a result, it was her priority to keep those brave enough, as interested as possible. “Don’t look so sad, he would be thrilled to be in your company. We haven’t had visitors like you in a long time. Times have been hard for the members—but you shouldn’t be concerned with our troubles.” A silent minute passed us by.
The quietness reminded me of Leev and her spying; she was a worrier but I had never seen her so concerned before. Maybe there was a way for me to help.
“June, there are some other people who would love to meet you. They aren’t as great as Dez but they are a part of the House and I know how much you like the House. The day after tomorrow, we will be hosting a dinner party for the neighborhood. It would be lovely if you came.” A dinner party? I was going to have dinner at the House! Not even those weird dreams could compare to the real thing! I…Wow.
“That would be no less than wonderful, thank you.”
“We’ll be expecting you, then.”
I ran home. My thoughts struggled to get organized, and at the moment it seemed that none were believable. They had become one with my dreams. In the past, the notion of reality was crude and firm. Now, reality seemed like a strange concept, one that could be manipulated, almost bent in the form of one’s imagination. The same could be said about my concept of imagination.
During the walk home, I convinced myself that Ms. Baynes’ invitation had come in a timely manner. Leev and Aunt Marcelle could benefit from the party; they needed quality time together. I hadn’t seen Aunt Marcelle happy in a long time and the party was the perfect excuse to get her mind off whatever was troubling her.
That afternoon, my aunt watered her plants as I watched behind the screen door. Different ways of inviting her to the dinner party crossed my mind, but when she came inside I blurted, “Big news!” My smile stretched, “You know the neighbors that live next to Ranches Park? They live in a big white house?”
“Near Ranches Park? Maybe.” Aunt Marcelle fixed her eyes on me as she tried to figure out the reason behind my questioning.
“Well, they’ve invited us to a dinner.” I made an effort to maintain the smile, seeing that a dreadful expression was falling upon her face.
“That’s odd,” She closed the door.
“It isn’t odd, why would it be odd?”
“June, we don't interact with them often, they are, practically, strangers. Maybe they want something from us, it'd be best to stay away from them for the moment.” Aunt Marcelle bit the side of her mouth, “Now is not the best time. Besides, I don’t trust their intentions. Why didn’t they come to me first, and what reasons could they have to offer us an invitation? We don’t know them.” She paced back and forth unable to understand why our neighbors wanted to get to know us better. “They’re not supposed to—not yet. No, no why would they do this now?” Aunt Marcelle mumbled to herself.
“Because they are friendly and nice? —alright, alright, I became friends with the lady that lives in the House and she invited me and my family.” I explained. “There’s going to be more people, the whole neighborhood is invited. It was sweet of her to invite us …come on…please?”
“June,” She sighed. “This is not a good idea. I don’t know. Somehow, you always get your way. –Fine, let’s talk to Leev about the party.” After dinner the three of us stayed up gossiping about Ms. Baynes’ dinner party. It was a beautiful sight, the three of us at ease. The dinner party would mark a new beginning for us, one that would allow us to move forward. Change came knocking, it prepped the air for its fleeting, yet, riveting existence.
***
The next morning, Aunt Marcelle dropped me off at work. Kostas waited by the entrance and waved at my aunt as she drove away. Together we walked inside in a rush. He startled me by informing me that the Park would close early in the afternoon and would remain closed until further notice. The Park had never been closed before. My concerns amounted when he said that there was an occasion in need of him. An occasion? Something more important than the Park? The time would never come when something was of more importance to him than the Park. The time had come, seeing that it comes for everything and for us all. When I tried to inquire about the occasion, he appeared evasive and called it a 'private meeting.'
My new friend, little Ette, came by a few hours after I arrived and accompanied me through my, otherwise, dull and lonesome shift. She talked about having to go to a party on Friday as well. It seemed that everyone was going to be busy by the end of the week, even I. Ms. Baynes’ dinner party was this Friday too and I could not be more excited. “Wait…this Friday? Ette, are you going to the party in the big, white House, by your grandma’s home?”
“Yeah, how did you know?”
“Eh, I’m also going.” The words of my aunt revisited my mind. There was a feeling of doom which made me rethink whether I, or even Ette, should attend.
“Is your aunt making you go? Because I’m spending the weekend at my grandmother’s and she says that I have to go because she wants all her friends to meet me.”
“And all of her friends are going?”
“The whole town is invited. My grandma said that once in a while there is a huge party at the Magician’s House; I’m only allowed to visit the neighbors when there is a party.”
“Ette, hold on, your neighbor’s house, the white House, that’s The Magician’s House?” The same house that lady at the store had talked about?
“Yeah, that’s what my grandma said. Everyone stays away unless there is a party, party means food. Grandma says they make the best food in town.” Ette explained.
“Why is it called that?” It was a stupid question, seeing the clarity of the House's name. It was the house of a magician, but Ms. Baynes was not a magician and the owner of the House...still there was not much I knew about him. Everything Ms. Baynes had said of him was questionable. The man was more than an architect, more than a man, so he was the Magician. Still the question remained as to why the house was avoided by the rest of the town. The Housekeeper was a nice enough lady, maybe the rest of the members were not as nice.
***
Aunt Marcelle sat on the sofa facing the door, contemplating the air around. Her look…I had done something wrong, terribly wrong. But I hadn’t.
“Glad you’re home.” She stared up at me while I closed the door.
“Not so sure if I should feel the same way.” The words slowly made their way out of my mouth.
Direct and to the point, she spoke, “Where did you get this?” In her hands, she held a small paper. I, sluggishly, walked closer to her, it was a picture.
“The photo? That isn’t mine–”
She interrupted my train of thought, “–I know it isn’t and, first of all, it is not a picture. It is a special drawing.” It was a photograph; that is what it looked like. If aunt Marcelle wanted to call it a drawing, then that was fine as well. After glaring at the picture one more time, she asked; “who gave it to you?”
“Ms. Bay—” Where had I left that picture? I couldn’t even remember taking it out of my purse. My aunt had gone through my things!
“Ms. Bay who? Baynes, Ms. Baynes? Was it her? Oh god, I knew it.” She placed a hand on her forehead.
“What did you know? Aunt Marcelle, I thought you trusted me. How could you have gone throu
gh my things?”
“Of course I didn’t look through your things! I picked it up this morning; it fell from your purse as you walked inside the Park with Kostas. —June, who did she say these two girls were?”
“She didn’t tell me. Ms. Baynes didn’t say a word. The picture is hers she gave it to me by mistake.”
A sigh of relief escaped her. “Oh Jesus,” Aunt Marcelle hugged me. “Are you sure?”
“Eh.”
“Eh? Eh what?” Aunt Marcelle's stare was agonizing, it pierced through my eyes and held my glance, injecting its panic.
“Ms. Baynes insisted that it was mine. She made me take it.” Why was that picture so important, who were those girls? Aunt Marcelle sat back down, she shook her head and remained silent. I sat next to her, “Are you gonna tell me what the picture means, or not?”
“It’s not a picture. That’s why it caught my eyes as it fell from your purse. It is a drawing. I recognized the fine texture of paper.” She moved her fingers across the drawing. “If I tell you what it means, your image of this family will be destroyed. You are not ready to hear it and I’m not ready to tell it.”
“What does this drawing, or picture, or whatever have to do with us? This is Ms. Baynes’ picture.” How could a simple piece of paper destroy my family? Her words sounded like an invitation. Aunt Marcelle’s words had opened a door and she knew I would not be the one to close it.
“June, the time has come and I have been dreading this. Life will change for you, it will change for us all. Give me time to meditate and find the words to explain it to you and Leev”. Her mysterious tone was irritating. What was so hard to understand? I could not comprehend why this had become such a big deal.
“Aunt Marcelle, I will give you all the time you want but you must realize that I will not remain waiting, cross-armed. Ms. Baynes must know the history of the drawing and I will ask her. Nothing will stop me from finding out whatever it is you won’t tell me. Then, I will give you the same look you gave me when I walked through the door this afternoon.”
“I expect you to do so.” Aunt Marcelle moved towards me and kissed my forehead. “Everyone receives a calling in life; one that is louder and deeper than any sound. It twists the heart into a dreamless world if left unanswered. Mine was to conceal all this information and history, which I am sure you will soon uncover. The time has come for everything to be revealed and I don’t know how to start.” She closed her eyes slowly. Aunt Marcelle struggled to speak again. “I’m not sure if it is my place to tell. June, your world will break apart. Take what you have left of this life and cherish it, because it will never be the same. You won’t look at it the same…you won’t look at me the same. At times you will be very angry and I expect you to be. Only when a lack of hope overcomes you, it is then when you must worry and question your existence.” As if remembering the past, she laughed; it sounded cynical, sad, and hinted towards the stinging affliction battling to stay inside her. “Your mother would be so scandalized if she found out. She always thought we could fight them. Edda thought we would one day be able to hide; to keep you from them. If she only knew you frequent that House and those people whom had the nerve to give you this.” The paper shook in her hand. “Edda would have ran, I pity her because she had hope. No one has hope against the Patrol, but she did—she has.” My aunt walked to the backyard and sat on the ground next to her flower bed. I watched as Aunt Marcelle buried her face in her hands.
Leev had been right all along, something was wrong with my aunt…with my whole family. Sure, everyone thinks their family is the weirdest one, but now I had material to work with; a secret, a really big one, a life changing one. Aunt Marcelle was playing along with my imagination. Maybe she was trying to keep my mind off my parents’ disappearance or giving me something to occupy my summer with. Whatever her motives were didn’t matter; I was on board, determined to find what couldn’t be found. My wish was to be known as the one who revealed the disgraceful secret that lay waiting, festering at the core of our family. Future generations would use my name to describe the one who seeks. It was a game consisting of mysteries and adventures. Also, there was a fitting title for the winner. Perhaps, I shouldn’t have treated it as a game. Seeing that in the end there wasn’t a single winner but a fat group of pitiful losers.
The detachment of my surroundings became extreme and I developed a blindness, immune to the clues thrown at full force against me. Instantly, I should have wondered why my aunt had broken-down over a piece of paper that Ms. Baynes— a woman my aunt had no association with— had given me. A picture coming from a house my aunt had never visited. Somehow my mother was dangerously involved in all this matter because she knew about the House and, strangely, about its people. Yet my mother hadn’t set foot on this town in years. Why didn’t I question the relationship between the House, the picture, and my family, immediately after my aunt asked about the picture? It was the first question I should have asked myself, however, all I could think about was Ms. Baynes’ dinner party, which conveniently took place the next day.
Chapter Four
The morning of the dinner party brought with it refreshing, and clarifying thoughts: Ms. Baynes held the answer and I was going to uncover it. Tonight.
My bedroom door opened abruptly and Leev jumped towards me carrying a distressed look. “June, I was right.”
“I know.”
“You know? How?” Uncertainty washed upon her face. To me, Leev was never right.
Most times she was wrong because she perceived situations in the wrong way. On her best days, Leev was almost right but, never, simply right; as was the case now.
“Grandma called a few seconds ago to ask how things were going,” Leev proceeded to explain. “She asked to put my mom on the phone. I stayed behind and listened while my mother spoke.”
“What did she say?”
“That she couldn’t hold it any longer; she was going to blurt it out. –What is she hiding?” Leev shrieked with frustration. “Maybe, if you ask her–” She began to propose her plan but I dismissed it, considering our previous conversation.
–“Don’t bother, she won’t tell me.” I told Leev about the picture and about the supposed secret. Her eyes almost popped out of her skull. I couldn’t tell if she was scared, nervous or excited. “Ms. Baynes must know about the picture and I’m going to ask her today, at the party.”
“You think that’s the best place to ask her? My mother is going to be there. She will have her eyes on you and Ms. Baynes like a hawk.” Leev was right again...for the second time in a row. Well, if I couldn’t talk to Ms. Baynes at the party, I would do it after. One way or another I was going to find the meaning of the picture—drawing…somehow. We stayed in my room the entire morning and afternoon, planning out the rest of the day. Leev had to find a way of distracting Aunt Marcelle so that I could be alone with Ms. Baynes. My aunt wasn’t easily sidetracked. Leev had to pretend to break her foot, or maybe choke on something; anything that didn’t involve severe injuries or death wouldn’t work.
At 4:30 p.m., Aunt Marcelle drove us to the House. We made our way through the front garden’s blue-tiled path. Leev moved next to me and whispered in my ear, “You do know that this is the Magician’s House, right? Hopefully no one from SR Corporation sees me here.”
“Did you say something, Leev?” Aunt Marcelle glanced back at us. She and Leev looked beautiful; one could tell they were related. Leev wore a black dress and my aunt wore a white skirt with a red blouse. For a slight second I wondered why my appearance differed so much from theirs but obviously my looks resembled my mother’s not my aunt’s. Mom had fine features and bright, auburn hair; like mine. Aunt Marcelle had shiny black hair, like all of our other relatives. That day, I wished to have silky, dark hair; as dark as the night. Leev and Aunt Marcelle were my family and I wanted to look like them.
A small group of people were gathered to the left side of the opened, front doors. Ms. Baynes divided the crowd as she walked out to gr
eet us.
“June, you’ve come. How wonderful!–Oh and you ladies must be June’s aunt and cousin.”
“Yes, Ms. Baynes, this is my aunt, Marcelle, and my cousin, Leev.” I introduced them.
“Very nice to meet you Ms. Baynes, June speaks wonders of you.” Aunt Marcelle held Ms. Baynes hand and stared right into her face, not letting the glance wander.
“Well she, certainly, speaks of you too. June is a very…interesting person, and she’s full of energy.”
“That she is.” Aunt Marcelle smiled at me but quickly turned to Ms. Baynes, “It would be my wish if she would treasure that energy, and not waste it on senseless activities or people. But my wishes, unfortunately, are only wishes.” My aunt’s tone seemed casual and she didn’t seem taken aback by Ms. Baynes’ colorful garments which mirrored her lively personality. Leev, on the other hand, was so captivated that not much was heard from her for the rest of the conversation.
“Not only wishes.” Ms. Baynes interjected. “Wishes are powerful, especially if they come from someone like you, Marcelle. Do not make the same mistake of others who devalue their thoughts and feelings. But do recall that we must all make sacrifices. Such might be vital for the survival of our species. They call it the greater good.”
“Very easy to say for those whom are not being sacrificed, right?”
“Oh but you must realize, in our world, we have all been sacrificed.” Ms. Baynes returned the staring look, it was daring, almost cold. At this point Leev and I had lost track of their conversation and its meaning had surpassed our understanding.
“Ms. Baynes, I would love to have a chat with you later, alone, if possible. I fear we have much to talk about.”
“But of course, gladly. First though, you guys must dine and meet some guests. How about it?”
“Perfect.”
Ms. Baynes walked us inside. Long, golden drapes covered the once naked windows. On each corner of the room, there were long, narrow tables filled with meals of all kinds, some which looked unrecognizable. Who knew flowers were edible? The clean-white walls had been concealed by fancy, rich fabrics. Five large chandeliers adorned the ceiling.