it really needs editions, and i'm open for suggestions..
Chapter Two
“They will never know”
When the first faint hue of sunlight crept inside their room, Katie was already up. She put on a comfortable sweatshirt and a pair of jeans, and quietly opened the bedroom door, fearing that Mandy would wake up. As the door creaked open, Katie held her breath. Mandy twitched slowly, and then tumbled beneath her blanket. Katie sighed, and then peered outside the bedroom hallway. Her parents’ bedroom door was closed. So was Lyon’s.
Tiptoeing quickly, she made her way down the old wooden stairs. She did not mind having breakfast, but still she went to the kitchen and grabbed an apple from the fruit tray. Stuffing it in her large sweater pocket, she went to the living room and opened the front door. It was still locked. She tried the kitchen door.
“Wait!” a voice called from the stairs.
Katie stopped in her tracks as Mandy rushed down, her shoes loudly treading the wooden stairs. “What are you doing here?” she whispered, then listened to see if her parents were awake. Nothing. The small cottage house remained quiet.
“Why are you up so early?” Mandy asked.
Katie held Mandy’s arm, and half-dragged her across the back garden. They passed the old oak tree, and started walking down the path leading to the forest. “I wanted to go back,” Katie said. They went down the steep path covered with stones and thick grass. Mandy wrapped her arms around her as she followed Katie.
“I’m scared,” she said. “Aren’t we supposed to go back?”
“No,” Katie said, as she continued walking. She quickened her steps, and then circled around a tree. From a distance, she saw the lake, pale against the soft hue of the sun. “Come on.” She took Mandy’s hand, and they hurried down the river.
Mandy reluctantly followed, but she protested. “Aunt Ellen says it’s dangerous out there,” she said. “Please, let’s go back. I’m afraid of wolves.”
Katie ignored Mandy’s plea, and they passed the lake, going deeper into the forest. A fog formed, concealing the sturdy barks of the tall trees. Against the thick fog and the pale light of the morning sun, Katie and Mandy found their way, walking above soft earth and sprouting grass. Katie shivered against the cold morning air and she pulled her sweater tightly around her. Mandy followed along, looking at this way and that, eager for any disturbance. She clutched onto Katie’s arm, as they both went uphill, following a path covered with thick, dark green grass and smooth stones.
The path led them upward, and Katie thought that the forest was like a small hill, but she was puzzled because when the wolf chased her, she knew that this forest was an even path. Still they walked together, holding each other’s hand. The fog began to ease, so they can clearly see the course ahead. It twisted, and then hid behind tall pine trees on one ledge far from them.
Mandy took a deep breath. “Are we lost, Katie?” she asked.
“No,” Katie quickly answered, as she craned her neck, peering over the other side of the ledge. “We are not lost, but this place looks so familiar to me.” She ran down her fingers through the rough bark of a pine tree. “This was not the same forest as I’ve seen it before. Mandy, I am scared. I think something is going on here.”
“I’m scared of wolves rather than this,” Mandy said. “What if one happen to attack us?”
“Wolves never attack during the day,” Katie said, matter-of-factly. Nevertheless, she took a step forward, looking cautiously around her. “I guess,” she said aloud, “this was one side of the forest that I did not encounter. The trees here are more beautiful, and the grass is greener. I’m sure dad will love this place.”
Katie’s dad is a nature lover, and sometimes he take the kids with him to nature-theme shows, and sometime in the country zoos. He loved animals, trees, flowers…almost anything associated with nature. Katie has the same interest as her dad, while her younger brother Lyon developed the same attitude as their mother. She has been her father’s favorite, while Lyon and Mandy were her mother’s favorite.
“You know,” Mandy said, “you’re wasting your time, Katie. Let us go back, okay? I’m pretty sure they’re looking for us now.” She turned and walked back, ignoring Katie.
“They won’t notice us,” Katie said.
“Of course, they won’t,” Mandy said, scoffing. “They will notice our empty beds first thing in the morning. And look.” She pointed at the rising sun. “It is already morning.”
Nearby a robin landed on the branch of a tree. The forest became alive in color with the sun’s light; the dark green grass was accentuated with clumps of colorful summer flowers. Birds began to sing, and the cool morning air swept over them. The lake, far behind the woods, glittered in the sunlight.
Mandy and Katie started walking back to their cottage. However, Katie kept looking back, hoping that she might see Bryan. She feels something strange towards him, and she does not know why.
Bryan stayed in his room that morning. He sat on a chair near his bedroom window, the blue curtains pulled back. Cold air entered his room through the open window. The pale sky was still littered with stars. As sunshine slowly began to fill his room, he closed the window and went back to bed.
Downstairs, he could hear his mother preparing breakfast. The loud swish of butter melting on the pan was merged with the strident beating of eggs. His father’s voice was loud and clear, reading an article from the newspaper to his mother. Travis, his elder brother, was still in his room.
Sometimes Bryan wished he could live a normal life, a typical one with a typical family. He sat up on the bed and thought of Katie, of how she lived happily with a mother, a father, a brother, and a cousin. Of course, he too, had a family, but this is different. Katie enjoys her life; she spends time with her family and she seemed happy. On the other hand, Bryan hates it. Sure, his parents love him, but would they live life this way? Why has his life revolved around escaping and hiding? He sighed and hung his head. And one thing that confused him is Katie herself.
His thoughts drifted away as Travis pounded on his door. “Breakfast is ready,” he called.
“Sure, I’ll be there in a minute.”
He heard his brother run down the stairs into the kitchen. Bryan sighed and sat up, still confused. Finally, he stood up and opened the window.
“That’s nice dear,” he heard his mother say as he went downstairs. “Oh, hi there Bryan. Come, join us for breakfast.” She wiped her hands on the floral apron she was wearing, and set down a plate of scrambled eggs on the table.
A lovely young woman, Mrs. Catherine Argoth seemed to be an elder sister to Bryan. She always smiles silently, and whenever she does, her gray eyes twinkle. She sat down next to her husband, Theoner Argoth.
Just like Catherine, Theoner is also young in appearance, with tufts of silver in his gray hair accentuated by blue eyes, like Bryan’s.
“You slept early last night,” his father said. “Is something bothering you?”
“None, father,” he replied.
His father opened the newspaper again and started to read. “A young lady was rescued last night from a fierce wolf that chased her.”
“Fierce?” Travis said and scoffed. “Are wolves really that fierce?”
“To humans, they are,” their mother replied and sat down. “Bryan, are you not joining us dear?”
Bryan sat down on the chair opposite his mother. He quietly ate his breakfast, while his parents loudly discussed. Travis took the newspaper from their father and read the article. He kept on laughing as he read the article to Bryan. “…the girl was reported as the daughter of Daryl and Ellen Ashmore, both running a clothing business in Manhattan, New York. After being chased by a fierce gray wolf last night, the police talked to the local animal center to ensure the safety of the family as well as the animals.” He folded the newspaper. “Nonsense,” he murmured.
“You were at the forest last night, weren’t you, Bryan?” his mother asked.
“No,” he quickly answered. “I went home early.” He lowered his gaze and continued his breakfast. His mother looked at him, sighed and turned to his father.
“Would you like some coffee, dear?” she asked.
“Sure.”
While his mother prepared coffee, he took a glance of the article written on the newspaper. He breathed a sigh of relief. Katie did not report him to the police. Is she protecting him?
He was about to stand and go back to his room when he noticed the last sentence of the article. “According to the victim, ‘The police will not be able to find me without the help of a mysterious young man I met in the forest: Bryan.’ ”
Bryan quickly grabbed the newspaper from the table and crumpled it. “I’m going upstairs,” he said and went back to his room.
Travis searched the table. “Hey, did you notice the newspaper I placed here?” he asked.
“No,” Bryan said and closed the door. He sat on his bed and tore off the article. He was surprised when he saw his name. If his parents found out he was meeting other people, particularly with humans, he will be dead. His parents never let him out of their house during the day. It raised suspicion among the people, but his parents shrugged their worries away.
“Let them doubt,” his mother had said. “They’ll never know the truth.”
He put the crumpled newspaper in a trashcan just as his mother opened his bedroom door. “Bryan, we wanted to tell you something.”
“About what, mother?” he asked.
“Your father will explain.”
They both went downstairs to the kitchen, where his father was sitting, arms crossed, with a peculiar expression on his face. “I’ve talked to a fellow friend, Ruthford Astragon, yesterday. He said he could help us find a new home somewhere in Massachusetts. Now, isn’t that nice?”
Bryan recognized the name Rutherford Astragon. He was one of their family’s closest friends, and he is now residing in Boston. “But father, why would we have to move?” he asked. “I mean, we are peacefully living here for so many years. What made you decide?”
“This is for our own good, son,” his father replied. He took a sip of the coffee that his wife prepared. “Catherine! You forgot to put sugar again!”
“Oh dear, I’m sorry,” their mother said. She hurriedly went to the cupboard and took out the jar of sugar. “Here.” She handed him a sugar cube.
Bryan and Travis smiled silently.
“But father,” Travis said, “if we have to move, then we have to adapt, right?”
“Exactly,” their father said, nodding. “And I’ve decided to send the both of you to school.”
“What?” the two boys both exclaimed.
Their mother looked at them. “Is there something wrong with that?”
“Nothing, mother,” Travis quickly said. “It’s just that, it might be hard for us to get used to socialize with other people again. I mean, it’s been a while since the last time I’ve talked to someone else…except for you.”
“Father,” Bryan said, “we already finished our studies. Sir Eugene de Moor taught us almost everything we need to know. Isn’t that enough?”
Their father nodded. “I know,” he said, “but I think it’s time that you get real education. Not only that–you get to meet different people, and make new friends. Yes, you finished your studies, but this is different. It is about joining and socializing with other people, not sitting for hours with nothing to do but listen to someone as he talks for hours and hours. ”
Their mother smiled quietly and sipped her coffee. She remembered their home back in Sighişoara, where her two sons spend the afternoon in the library, listening as Sir Eugene patiently delivers his lessons. After four hours, they walk out of the room, their heads hung. From the expression on their faces, it is another tedious day.
“School will be fine, I assure you,” she said.
Bryan wanted to protest, but he remained silent. He did not want to leave; there are many things and memories he will be missing if they move. Most of all, he still wanted to talk to Katie. He wanted to inform her about this unexpected news.
His father looked at him. “You seem to be in deep thought, son,” he said. “Are you in favor of this thing?”
“Yes, father,” Bryan answered.
Their mother stood and began to clear the dishes from the table. “I’ve come up with a bright idea, Theoner,” she said as she carried the plates towards the sink. “Why don’t you take the boys with you to town? You know, it isn’t often that they get out of the house.”
“What do you think?” their father briskly said.
“Sure father,” Travis said, and then poked Bryan on the elbow. “Come on, you don’t want to miss the fun. It has been a while since we last went to another place.” He stood up and went back to his room.
“Time to get some sunshine dear,” their mother said as she raised the black curtains of the kitchen. Sunshine flooded, and Bryan went back to his room. He was not really feeling well today, after what happened last night. Then there was the news that they need to move as early as possible. He was confused. He wanted to befriend Katie, but his parents are taking her away from him, just like what they did to her.
As soon as their mother pushed them towards the car, Travis and Bryan stepped inside. Their father brushed a quick kiss on their mother’s lips, and then entered the car. “We’ll just buy food at the grocery,” he said.
“I’ll be fine here, dear,” their mother said and smiled.
The car pulled off from the driveway and started into the street.
Travis looked at Bryan. “Hey,” he said, “what’s with the long face? You alright?”
“Yeah,” Bryan replied. “It was just that stupid news in the paper this morning.” He looked at his brother. “Can you keep a secret, Travis?”
“Sure,” Travis said.
There was some loud jazz music playing, and their father was busy driving, so they were sure he would not mind. Bryan took a deep breath then turned to his brother. “The girl in the news–Katie, remember–I was with her last night.”
“What?” Travis asked, a little surprised. “You mean to say, you were also there when the wolf attacked her? Still, why did you help her? I mean, of course she needed help. But why?”
Bryan looked out the car window. “She reminds me of her,” he said.
Travis laughed. “You never forget her, did you?” he said. “After all these years, she was still the only one in your heart. How about Katie? Will she replace her?”
“I don’t know,” Bryan said,” but it’s been a long time since I’ve last loved someone.”
“I won’t go until you promise to buy marshmallows,” Lyon said, his hands folded on his chest. Katie and Mandy sat on the bottom of the stairs. They were both laughing silently as Lyon pouted.
Mrs. Ashmore sighed and knelt before Lyon. “You know we can’t have candies now, dear,” she said. “You’ll have a toothache, and you know how painful it is.”
“But marshmallows aren’t candies,” Lyon protested.
“Alright,” Mrs. Ashmore said. She stood up and took Lyon’s hand. Then she motioned the girls to get inside the car. As usual, Katie’s father was already gone, attending some business stuff with fellow clients.
As the car pulled out into the road, Katie kept looking back at the forest. She gave out a loud sigh that made her mother looked perfunctorily at her, and then she focused on the road. “Is something bothering you, Katie?” she asked.
Katie turned to her mother. “Mom,” she said, “can I invite a friend over dinner tonight?”
“Friend? Who?”
“Last night, when I got lost in the forest, someone helped me,” Katie said. “His name’s Bryan. I’m not sure where he lives, but the local police said that they know of a teenage boy named Bryan living near the forest.”
“And you want him for dinner?”
Katie nodded. “I just want to thank him, and I also want to meet his family. You know, I really like to meet someone this summer. Please, can they come?”
Mrs. Ashmore sighed, and then smiled. “Alright,” she said. “I’ll thank them for last night.”
Lyon was reading a book about animals, his gift from his aunt last Christmas. He looked at Mandy, who was seated beside him in the backseat. “What’s your favorite candy?” he asked.
“Jellybeans,” Mandy answered.
“How about marshmallows? Don’t you like marshmallows?”
Mandy smiled at him. “I do, but not as much as I like jellybeans.”
The car passed small houses on either side of the road. Tall pines, oaks, and maple trees separate the small gray houses with white shutters. The lawns are neatly mowed, and several houses managed gardens that grew daisies, roses, and tulips. Katie thought that life was plain simple here, which people don’t get to worry about other things. She saw a group of small children playing hopscotch by the side of the road. Their mothers are seated nearby, chatting with each other while watching the children play.
Back in their home in Gardner, Massachusetts, Mrs. Ashmore never let her children play outdoors. She reasons it is dangerous, with vehicles here and there, strange people on the streets; and so after school the three children go straight home. They understand that Mrs. Ashmore wanted to protect them, but still they envy those children they see playing in the streets.
Not until Katie reached seventh grade did their mother allow them to play outdoors. Katie could still remember how happy Lyon and Mandy was when they played their first game of hopscotch. They had drawn lines on the sidewalk with a piece of chalk, and several neighbors joined them.
The car pulled up along the parking lot of the town supermarket, and the four of them stepped out. Then they went inside the supermarket, Lyon rushing towards the candy section. Mrs. Ashmore hurried after him, but Katie and Mandy walked gradually.
Mrs. Ashmore was pushing a shopping cart, taking cans of mushroom, peas, and tomatoes off the shelves and putting them in the cart. Lyon came and dropped a bag of marshmallows in the cart. Then he disappeared behind a shelf and appeared again with a pack of jellybeans.
“Lyon, I thought we’ve discussed this matter already,” Mrs. Ashmore said. “Only mallows, right? Now return the jellybeans.”
Lyon looked hopefully at Katie and Mandy, waiting to be rescued from his mother. “These are not for me,” he said, as he looked at his mother. “They’re for Mandy.”
“Oh well,” Mrs. Ashmore said.
They walked along the aisles of the fresh fruit section, where Katie picked out a ripe mango and handed it to her mother. They bought two kilos. As they walked towards the counter, she saw Bryan and two young men enter the store. After taking a shopping cart, they went to the meat section. Katie leaned closer to Mandy and whispered something.
“You saw him again?” Mandy asked. “Here?”
Katie nodded.
“Why don’t you try talking to him now?” Mandy said. “It’s your chance to thank him, and to introduce him to your parents.” She smiled. “Maybe you can invite him to dinner.”
“Mom, I’ll just go over there,” Katie said and took Mandy’s hand. “With Mandy.”
“Can I come?” Lyon asked, and Katie shook her head.
“What are we doing here?” Mandy asked as Katie led her along the aisles with shelves filled with bottles of ketchup, mayonnaise, and sour cream. Then she saw Bryan walk along, pushing the cart as another person placed cans of milk and bottles of mayonnaise in the cart.
“Hi,” Katie said and smiled brightly.
“Hello,” Bryan said, surprise surfacing in his voice. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” Katie replied. “Thank you for what happened last night. I really appreciated what you did.” She looked at Travis. “I believe we’ve never met before. You must be his brother.”
Travis nodded and went back to placing goods inside the cart.
“This is my cousin, Mandy,” Katie said, and Mandy took a small step forward. She was still frightened like the first time she saw Bryan.
“Over there,” Travis whispered, without even looking at Bryan. Bryan turned towards the counter and saw Mrs. Ashmore with Lyon.
“Is that your mother?” Bryan asked.
“How did you know?”
Bryan shrugged his shoulders and smiled. “Let’s just say it’s a wild guess.” He pushed the cart past her and continued on the next aisle.
“I was just wondering if you could come over our cottage tonight,” Katie said and turned to him. “My mother will prepare dinner, and she said she’s eager to meet and thank you for what you did. Please, come if you can. You can also bring your parents with you, because I really wanted to meet them too.”
Bryan looked at Travis, then at Katie. “I’ll try,” he said and they went to the vegetable section.
Katie smiled. “Great,” she said. “Wild Acres Inn, white house near the lake. I will be expecting you at around seven. Okay?”
“Okay,” Bryan said and smiled.
Katie and Mandy walked towards the counter where Mrs. Ashmore was paying. “Where were you, girls?” she asked as she handed the cashier her credit card.
“I saw him,” Katie said. “He’ll come at around seven. With his family.”
“Okay, dear,” Mrs. Ashmore said as she carried a large brown paper bag. Katie carried a small brown bag filled with apples and oranges. Mandy held Lyon’s hand and they all went to their car in the parking lot.
Tonight will be a wonderful night, Katie said to herself.
