The long Night Walk

 It was a dark October night. A cold wind swept through the town, leaves blew through the air and the tree branches shook as if the trees themselves had been brought to life.

    Robert walked quickly down an old, uneven sidewalk. His long coat blew in the wind as he hurried along. Roberts route, destination and habits that day were all very typical but there was something strange carried on the wind that night, something unsettling.

    Robert’s shoes clicked against the stone as he walked, the streets were empty and no other noise could be heard. The flames in the street lamps flickered and swayed as the wind crept through the gaps in the glass. The light from the street lamps held back the encroaching darkness of night and provided Robert of gentle comfort and gentle comfort would be the only boon he received that night.

 As the night went on Robert grew increasingly uneasy and in his nervous stride he tripped over something protruding from the ground. He clambered along the stone walkway for a moment then stood up right. He turned to look at what had tripped him and discovered it was a fallen tree branch. This would have been the end of the investigation but Robert then spotted a shining metal object attached to the fallen branch. He reached down and plucked it free.

    The metal object was a large door key which had been stuck around the branch. Robert stared at the key in bewilderment as he held it up to inspect it. He glanced around to see if anyone was around, perhaps out looking for a lost key, but the street was empty.

    Robert pocketed the key and continued to move along his path. As he walked a cold gust of wind picked up and knocked his hat off the top of his head. The hat bounced off the road and rolled along as if the wind was carrying it away. It was at that moment that Robert looked up and saw his path split. One path would keep him going towards his destination and closer into the heart of the town, the other path was where his hat went, carried off by the wind. Robert decided to go after his hat, then would double back and return to his correct path.

    The hat continued to roll away as Robert walked briskly after it. He walked down the road and was almost able to catch his hat several times. The hat would stop and settle, then just as Robert was close the wind would pick up and carry the hat further down the road. This was all so frustrating that Robert didn’t realize that the street lamps had become dimmer and the houses and building were more sparse.

    Robert walked himself to one of the outskirts of the town, a section he was completely unfamiliar with. The last house in town was behind him and before him lay an open field dotted with bare, leafless trees with branches that swayed in the wind. The trees moved forward then back as if they were reaching for Robert. A field of trees all trying to uproot themselves just to snatch him up.

    Robert glanced over the area and spotted his hat stuck to a jagged tree branch. The wind blew and the trees moved, each breeze was like a breath and each sway of the trees was a reach closer. Robert moved closer to the trees, slowly he walked as he kept a nervous eye on his surroundings.

    Finally he was close enough to take his hat, he reached out.

    “Don’t take your eyes off that tree”

Robert heard a voice and was so startled that he snapped his hand back and stumbled backwards. He looked for the source of the voice but no one could be seen. It was an empty field in the dark of night and his hat still blewin the breeze as it was stuck to the jagged tree branch.

    Robert was about to reach for his hat again but thought better of it. It had dawned on him that he chased his hat to the outside of town and was now alone in the dark. He wasn’t one to entertain idle fantasy but the fear of wild animals and dangerous criminals coming out at night was a real concern of his.

    Robert gave one last look at his hat and as he did the branch moved forward as if the tree was offering the hat, daring Robert to take it. Robert knew it was just a trick of the light and the strong winds of night and nothing more.

    Robert began walking back into town. He hurried along in an attempt to make up for lost time. As he walked he noticed that his hand had been fiddling with the large door key that was in his pocket. The key was maybe two inches long and made of brass. It was a simple design and other than its size was ordinary but still Robert couldn’t leave it alone.

    Once Robert entered town he used the light from the nearest lampost to look at the key for further detail. The key had an engraving that read “H.R. Rumsfred”. Robert knew right away who this was. Mr. Rumsfred had been missing for over a year and his picture had been posted on the town hall message board. Robert felt more unsettled as he realized he was holding the key of someone presumed dead.

    “Don’t follow that path. Just go home”

    The voice was faint like a whisper on the wind. Robert wasn’t sure if he was hearing things and seeing things or if something unnatural was happening all around him. He looked up the road. The road was lined with leafless trees that swayed and creaked in the wind. On most days, the neighborhood and the trees were a welcome sight, but that night all Robert felt was danger and dread.

    Robert turned around and began to head back to his home. The uneven sidewalk almost tripped him several times as his steps began to hasten. The wind blew and the trees swayed. Each tree branch appeared to reach forward. “Join us. Join us” whispered a chorus of strained voices. These voices were new, numerous and threatening.

    “Just hurry home”

The voice of warning was warm and concerned. Robert heard these different voices every time the wind blew. If Robert had ever met Mr. Rumsfred then he would recognize the voice on the wind telling him to go home.

    Robert rushed down his street, his hastened walking turned into a sprint as the wind blew and the trees cried out. The wind grew louder and louder. Light flashed and blinded Robert for a moment. “Get out of the road, jerk!” shouted the motorist. Robert’s panic dissipated as he realized he had been running along the middle of the road. The car drove around Robert and continued down the road.

    The voices stopped, Robert’s pace slowed. He arrived back at his house some time later. He went inside, closed the door and took a breath. He felt anxious from his experience but kept telling himself that it was all his imagination. He made a phone call telling his friends he would not be able to attend the festivities that night. He made some decaffeinated coffee, drank it black with sugar and started to get ready for bed.

    The whole experience was troubling but Robert’s mind was clear and calm when the morning came. He shook off the events of the previous night and told himself that it was all in his head. He gave Mr. Rumsfred’s key to the police and told them where he found it. Then he continued on with his day.

    Rober slowly convinced himself that there was no danger and the stress of the day had gotten to him. Yet he would never again return to that field where he lost his hat.

    In the field, on the outskirts of town was a tree. On the large, old tree was Roberts hat, it was hooked onto a branch as if being grasped tightly. At the base of that same old tree, under the roots and several inches underground laid the body of H.R.Rumsfred.

The Beauty in Autumn

The sun shone brightly over the clear autumn day and the air had a crisp, chilly feel. I walked across the paved parking lot of a small church when I saw a woman backdropped by brightly colored fall leaves.

Trees surrounded the church and dotted the neighborhood, the colors were reminiscent of golden honey and pumpkin pie. The smell of woodsmoke floated on the cool Autumn breeze. The woman had raven black hair, skin pale as the moon and bright blue eyes. She turned to me and for a moment I swear she conjured up a gust of wind to blow her hair to the side. 

“Oh there you are” She said to me. She was not a stranger but this was the first time I had seen her in this light. She was both familiar and different. She walked up to me with an awkward and cute stride. Her walk reflected her personality; awkward and cute. 

We talked for a few minutes, our conversations were the same but something was different. We stood closer together than we used to and during the conversation she leaned against me several times. I felt a little crazy as I pondered the smallest of details. I wondered if I was being very observant of our changing relationship or if I was making it all up in my head.

I cast my gaze on the clear blue sky as I attempted calm. The two of us stood quietly in peaceful silence until she said “I should go”. I looked back down and saw her staring at me with her big blue eyes. She seemed like she was anticipating something. I grew increasingly nervous as I fumbled for words to say.

My old instincts decided my action for me as I moved forward to give her a goodbye hug. Normally this hug would be casual and friendly but that day I held her close for an extra second, let out a relaxed sigh and noticed she was hugging me just as tightly. She rested her head on my chest as both of her arms wrapped around my torso. 

 I let go and took a step back, we both said our awkward goodbye, then I turned and quickly walked to my car. On the way back to my car I realized how chilly it had gotten. I had lost track of time and temperature just by standing near her. I finally climbed into my car and sat slumped over as my mind raced and attempted to make sense of the events that just transpired.
When I was mentally ready I started my car and drove off down the road. The air was crisp and the trees swayed happily in the autumn breeze. I admired the natural beauty of Autumn as I drove and I felt relaxed.

Like the changing of the season I felt a change in my relationship with her. I could not say what caused the change, I can only say that there is no going back. 

Drifting to spring

The rain pelts the ground around me as the memories flood back from an older age. Green grass and vibrant trees stretched out in all directions, the sky was light gray and rain poured from the heavens. The cold had been banished and the spring finally arrived. The sights and smells of spring triggered memories of ages passed, pictures, sights and smells from experiences rushed through my head like a flood.

I followed the valley of green to a great rushing river, which opened into a waterfall. Water cascaded down the rocks like laundry being pushed down a flight of stairs. People said water was graceful but sometime it looked like stampeding house cats trying to get out of their own way.

I felt invigorated by the clean, crisp air and the sound of rushing water. It was as if every Spring I had experienced was linked together through my memories. Like punching a hole through the corner of a thousand photographs and running a string through the hole. Each picture would be separated but strung together by such a small thread.

The weather had always been tied to my memories, the smell of damp earth and the feel of chilly air on my skin always brought me back to spring. The visual marvel of green trees and colorful flowers stand out in my mind like a picture held in time.

The rain beat down like a steady drum and I keep returning to that place, I return to the Spring. My eyes drift to the window in my bedroom to see snow and cold and my mind takes me to back to the Spring.

Nature's change

Summer in the hills, green grass flowing as far as the eye could see. Sunlight shimmered off the water of Star Pond. The pond was large, located on the top of the tallest hill in the area and at night you could see the reflection of stars in the water.

Small cottages dotted the landscape, warm and cozy at night, a roaring hearth located in each little home, and cool and breezy during the day. The hill land ended abruptly at a valley where the mounds of earth of every size suddenly dropped off and made way for flat emerald green land. The tall grass of the valley swayed in the wind like waves in the ocean.

The warm days of summer and swimming in lakes gave way to the Fall season. The Fall colored the grass and trees with warm yellow, orange and red. The tall grass dried and looked like a golden wheat field. The best food of the year was harvested, stored and feasted on.

The valley had more cottages and houses clustered together. The terrain was forgiving and ripe for farming. At the edge of the valley was a great and mighty forest. Few forests in the world could be described as ‘mighty’, but the Ancient Wildwood not only covered a large section of land but the deeper into the forest the stronger the trees grew. The tall old trees were as big around as a cottage and the bark was as strong as iron. The people of the Valley would harvest the trees on the edge of the forest but no one ever successfully chopped down a tree in depths of the Ancient Wildwood.

The tall and ancient trees still bowed to nature like all trees do and their leaves we awash with bright orange and red. The Wildwood was so vibrant in the fall it could be seen for miles and looked as if it had caught fire.

The leaves of Autumn fell as the days grew cold. Late Autumn rain, cloudy skies and the bare branches of ancient trees made an eerie yet beautiful sight. A man carrying a lantern walked through the deep Wildwood, his small light bounced with each step. Through the forest and onto the edge of the land was a steep cliff side. The sheer cliff would have been impassible if not for a small winding trail that lead from the forest down to the sand beach below.

The path was steep and one false step could lead to a deadly fall to the shore below. Down the path and onto the windy beach, the rain from the season mixed with the cold of the ocean. Waves crashed against the sand, rain fell from the sky and wind blew in from the furthest reaches of the world.

Autumn drifted away like a falling leaf and winter blew. The rain was replaced with snow and the cold air mixed with the warm exhaling breath. Visible steam like breath puffed from the traveler’s nose and mouth as he stepped aboard a large ship. The ship was leaving this land and off to explore the unknown.

The chill brought in from the ocean heightened the cold of winter. Back in the forest the animals hid inside the great trees for shelter. The Ancient Wildwood might have lost its leaves but it would not bend to even the coldest winds of winter. The Wildwood lasted hundreds of years and stood against hundreds of winters. The people of the land did not worship the Ancient Wildwood but they did treat it with respect and hoped to also be as sturdy and enduring as the forest itself.

The snow had settled in the valley, the wind from the ocean was broken by the cliffside and tall standing forest. Trails of smoke lifted up from a dozen chimneys, the smoke curled and twisted on the breeze as it floated away.

From the Valley to the Hills, the snow had settled everywhere. The hills were so covered in snow that it was hard to tell where the snow stopped and the rock began. Star Pond had frozen over, the ice shimmered like glass and the pond took on an even more mystical aura as if it were a giant mirror hidden away in the hills.

Night in the hills was clear and every star was visible. The cold of winter sent chilling wind blowing over the glassy Star Pond. The people in the Valley often told stories of highest hill and Star Pond. They worried that on winter nights, when the air was cold and the sky appeared larger than normal, it would be possible to fall up into the blackness of space.

Just as night faded to day so did winter melt away. Spring crept in, slow and with caution. The snow turned to puddles, the Pond turned from icy glass back to water and the earth turned damp and muddy. The gray skies, rainy weather and muddy ground was far from the bright bloom of spring that most wished for but the damp weather meant water for plants and the plants did grow and eventually they bloomed. The bright blooming flowers and trees sprung up across the Hills and Valley. The Ancient Wildwood turned emerald green and the ocean by the shore calmed to a more reasonable pace.

            The people of the Hills and Valley were happy, they began their planting of crops, the children played in the muddy valley and swam in the cold water of Star Pond. The land and people grew another year older and observed another year of natures changing beauty.

Love in Transition part 1

            John Trect walked down Oak Street in the city of Dark City. Despite being named after a tree, Oak street had no trees anywhere near it. Dark City was actually built over a forest called the Dark Forest. So maybe the people who named the streets were trying to honor the forest that once stood tall in this land, or maybe the name was intended to mock the destroyed forest.

            John was wore dark gray dress pants, a dark gray vest buttoned up, a crisp white button up dress shirt and black dress shoes. His thick black hair was styled back in an attempt to control his unruly locks. John had a new job as a pianist at the Black Cat club. The Black Cat was a favorite club, bar and lounge in the downtown area.

            It was eight o’clock at night when John opened the heavy wooden door to the club. The door was made of dark gray and brown, sturdy wood with black iron overlay and a heavy deadbolt on the inside of the door. John wondered what kind of people would need a door like that but his thoughts quickly changed as the door slammed shut behind him from its own weight and the subtle slant in the floor.

            Inside the Black Cat club was elegant but dark, with a single corridor at the entrance that was only six feet wide and covered with dark purple wallpaper and black lace draped from the ceiling. The corridor went forward ten feet then opened into the large main room.  The main room had a bar area to the left, bathrooms and coat check counter to the right and straight ahead were rows of seats and in front of the seats was a stage.

            John walked over to the bar, the bar was made a polished wood with a deep auburn color. The bartender wasn’t there so John decided to wait. He wasn’t sure who to talk to before he set up for the night and hoped to get a drink as well. He leaned his weight against the bar as he drummed his knuckles across the counter top. The sound of his knuckles hitting against the wooden bar echoed in the empty club.

            A woman approached from the backstage and entered onto stage. Her walk was graceful but purposeful. Her face was beautiful and pale and her eyes were an emerald green and staring at John with an annoyed look. This breathtaking redheaded woman noticed John and her first impression of him was annoyance.

            “I hope your piano playing sounds better than your noisy first impression you were going for out here” Said the woman. John froze and nervously smiled. “how did you know I was the piano player? Maybe I am just a patron waiting to be served” John said, trying to regain his confidence. The redhead gave a sharp look before replying “All the patrons know we don’t open till midnight. So do you have a name?” Asked the woman.

            John stood up straight and gave a warm smile as if to make a second, first impression. “My name is John, a pleasure to meet you. What is your name?” John asked. The woman’s expression softened “Alyssa, nice to meet you”

            “Alyssa” That was the first time John had met her and her name would always ring in his mind, her voice carrying each syllable across his ears like a melody.

Early Morning rain

Water trickled from the old tin roof, the slow steady beat of rain combined with the metallic ping of tin was relaxing and brough Joseph back to his younger days.
When Joseph was a kid there was nothing better than watching a thunderstorm from the window in his room. He would opening his window up about and inch and smell the scent of rain as the wind blew in through the small opening. His parents always told him to keep the windows closed when it rained but Joseph wanted to be apart of the rain and storm. He wanted to experience the awesome power of nature that was happening right outside his window. He lived in the country side as a kid, atop a great big mountain and his closest neighbor was a small spot down at the bottom of the hill. Joseph always felt at awe in the presence of nature. He loved trees and always imagined that anything could exist over that mountain ridge in the distance. If something as loud, awesome, refreshing and scary as a thunderstorm could come from the mountain ridge beyond, then who knows what else laid beyond.
Joseph looked up from his lap and realized he had dozed off listening to the rain and thinking about his childhood. He was an adult now and was waiting for the bus. He sat in an old shelter with a tin roof. The bus shelter was next to a quiet road where cars rarely traveled. The sound of rain kept Joseph company  as he waited by the quiet road. Behind the bus shelter was a wooded area and on a clear day the forest would be filled with the sound of birds singing happily.
Joseph felt a chill as a cold wind blew through the shelter. He had been sitting in the bus shelter for a while as he waited for the bus and though he was cold and didn't want to be late for work, he also felt calm because the rain calmed his so.
Joseph felt another chill and decided to reach for his coffee, a tan paper cup full of piping hot liqued. He took a sip and felt the warmth of the coffee spread through his body. He closed his coat up tighter and drank some more coffee. Joseph stared straight ahead, watching the fog of the morning slowly float through the air. through the fog and on the other side of the road was another patch of forests. Joseph had seen all kinds of animals come out of those woods while he waited for a bus. He saw rabbits, deer, all kinds of birds and even a bear. He figured that if all those different animals lived in one forest, surly there could be anything living in that forest.
the sound of an engine echoed in the distance and bright headlights pierced the fog. a large metalic shape came charging up out of the fog and rain. The bus had arrived. Joseph stood up and walked out of the shelter. a strong gust of cold wind blew against his face and woke him up and made him feel more alert. It was then that he realized how much wind the shelter had protected him from as he sat and daydreamed and contomplated the rain. The bus stopped and let out a sound of an animal who was so tired and collasped, a heavey breath out or some kind of steam being released from the engine. The engine of the bus puttered as it stood idle, the doors opened and soft light came out of the bus. Joseph heard the rain mixed with the sound of rubber on glass as the windshield wipers cleared the front window of the bus.
Joseph was getting rained on as he took his time to collect his things and walk up into the bus. He walked up the two steps and was now at the front of the bus, he stared down the row of seats. The bus was mostly empty and the people that were on the bus were either asleep, reading or staring blankly into the air. This was the first bus into town and would arrive before most people even woke up.
Joseph walked down the isle and found a window seat. He sat down and put his bag next to him. Rain beat against the glass as if it wanted to be close to Joseph. He felt a little sad to be leaving the bus shelter and all of the peace it brought him. The bus began to move, the engine grumbled and all sorts of sounds were heard. so many different sounds all at once, that Joseph couldn't identifiy them. The bus took off down the peaceful road slowly gaining momentum and reaching its desired speed. The sound of rain mixed with windsheild wipers and that mixed with the hum of the bus' engine. The bus rocked back and forth in a gentle sway. The rain pattered on the windows, the bus hummed and swayed the windshield wipers made a soft squeek and Joseph made no noise, because now he was asleep.

Winter Fatigue

Frost melted from the windows of the old house, a man peeked out at the outside world, weary from snow and skeptical of the warm weather. He had been trapped in his small house for months from all of the snow. There was still snow on the ground, but there were also hints of green grass poking through. It was faded green but any color other than white and gray was a wondrous sight.  Birds sang out a happy tune on a near by branch and the man was encouraged further. He opened the door and felt the sun shine on his skin, it was warm and inviting, the smell of melting snow and rain filled his nostrils. He smiled for the first time in months. He was so excited that he ran outside only half dressed.

            Spring had sprung and the man began to dance and run around his yard. The mud and the chilly rain did not bother him, even a cool spring day felt like summer compared to the harsh winters he had experienced. Winter was over and now it was time to celebrate. The man decided to run inside, get dressed and then travel out into the world, somewhere further than the front of his house.

           

            He ran toward his house and right before he reached his door the wind blew hard and pulled it shut. He door slammed right on his face. The wind blew hard again and shook snow off of the tree branches. Slushy, freezing snow plopped down on the old mans head. This soured his mood but he thought “At least winter is behind us”

            That night the whole area had six feet of snow.

Autumn Memories

            I remember an autumn day that was so bright and beautiful that I still visit it in my dreams. It was mid autumn in the small New England town where I lived. The cozy homes were decorated for the fall with pumpkins and autumn colors. Bright red, orange and yellow trees dotted the landscape. That year had the most vibrant colors I had ever seen. That morning was cool and misty. I went for a walk early so I could enjoy morning to myself. It was the weekend and no one was outside yet.. The air was refreshing and the smell of damp earth and rain lingered in the air. The sky was slightly overcast but just the right amount to make a person feel relaxed and sleepy.

            That afternoon I met my friend Wilson for pizza. The weather was still chilly but the sun was out so the occasional breeze didn’t bother me. I remember the bright blue sky as a background for beautiful autumn colors. The town was a little busier at this point. Everyone was wearing their warmer clothes and the smell of coffee was everywhere. I had pizza with Wilson that afternoon. We laughed the whole time we were together. Making jokes, enjoying the pizza and for an hour we forgot all of our troubles. It was perfect. During lunch Wilson was getting sentimental about the season, talking about family and relationships. I carefully listened because he was rarely a serious person. In the middle of his thought the pizza had crept up on him and he let out a loud burp. He stared at me with surprise, his eyes wide and a grin across his face. I squinted my eyes at him and smiled. It was gross and I was trying not to laugh, finally we both starting laughing hysterically. Wilson had not planned that and the burp was just as much of a surprise to him as it was to me. The day moved on and I still chuckled about that even after I left.

            Night came and I headed home. Night settled in, blanketing the town with darkness. As the sun went down street lamps and porch lights went on. Soft lights from lamps, autumn decorations and open windows of houses added a warm touch to the otherwise cold night. The smell of wood smoke drifted through the air, its rustic fragrance made me feel more relaxed and happy than any scent I had smelled before. The small town neighborhood was quiet and peaceful.

            As I was walking home I saw a black cat sitting on the steps of a rustic orange house, with a dark brown door and soft light coming from the windows. The cat wasn’t paying attention and seemed bored with me. I reached down to pet the cat, but right as I did the cat walked off. I couldn’t help but laugh. If cats weren’t so cute they wouldn’t get away with half of the things they do. I recovered from that devastating snubbing and continued to walk home. Pride wounded, but intact.

            I reached my house, it was a brick house with a green door and green window shutters. I walked in and instantly smelled the faint scent of pies and baked goods. My wife Jess and I had been baking and the scent rested through the house like a lazy cat. I turned on lights and removed my coat. My house was decorated with plastic autumn leaves, light up pumpkins and an autumn wreath on the door. I lit an apple cider scented candle and sat back in my chair.

            Jess came home with a big smile. She walked into the house carrying various boxes and decorations. Her strawberry blond hair kept falling down over her face as she carried everything inside. I helped her bring everything in and that’s when she told me about all of the Halloween decorations she bought. Halloween was over and it left a sadness in my heart, but my lovely wife went out to scoop up the remaining decorations for a fraction of their normal price.

            In the box was ghosts made of cloth and plastic, a Jack-o-lantern that screamed when you touched it and a twisted wooden sign that said “Hallows End”. I didn’t know what a Hallows End was, but it sounded spooky.

            The night wound down as I listened to soft music and sat in my comfortable chair with a glass of hot cider. Jess was reading on the couch and wore her adorable reading glasses. The music played on like a distant memory in the back of your mind. I started to fall asleep and my mind wandered off. It went and chased happy memories thoughts of fall and goals for the future.

            I thought of my slowly growing family that I had with Jess, the cool night air and how good the warmth of the house felt, hot tea, cold apple cider, baked goods and brightly colored trees. I was completely content of that night as I thought about misty mornings, bright fall days, cold October nights, autumn memories…and pizza burps.

Where my Dreams take me - part 2 Into the Rain

            It was another beautiful day on the Autumn Mountain. The sun was shining, the air was crisp and the birds chirping. Jack walked out of his cabin and stretched. He was wearing his warm coat over a long sleeve gray shirt. He had his normal black pants and brown work boots. Jack went to a tool shed behind his cabin to get an ax. It was a clear day, but Jack heard the rumbling of thunder in the distance and decided to chop some wood for his fire to stay warm on what might be a stormy night.

            Jack opened the wooden shed door, the old metal hinges creaked as it opened. The shed was big enough for Jack to stand straight and walk one step inside. Tools were hung up on the walls and his axe was on the floor with the handle leaning against the corner of the shed. When Jack leaned down to get the ax he spotted a large hammer resting in the other corner. It was the same size as Jack’s wood chopping axe, but it was shining like silver and the handle was made from the same shining metal as the head. The bottom of the handle had a black grip. Engraved just above the black handle were the initials “J.H”

            Jack stared at the hammer, it looked so familiar but he couldn’t remember where he had seen it. He went to touch it when he heard a clash of lighting sound over heard. The rain was getting closer and Jack had errands to do outside. Jack grabbed the ax and went back to the front yard.

           

            Karu was waiting in the front yard, she was playing with one of the pumpkin stems. When Jack yelled at her she bit down hard on the pumpkin then ran off into the house. Jack sighed. He inspected the pumpkin to find it hadn’t been pierced. Luckily Karu was small and her teeth weren’t that sharp.

            Jack began chopping wood in front of his house. He lined up the piece of wood on an old tree stump that he used as a chopping block then brought his axe down hard. Jack forced his axe downward but heard a man cry out. Jack saw a flash of a rainy day in a dark city, a man’s face cried out in horror as a hammer came down and crushed his head. Jack was horrified by this image and his body jerked. The ax missed the wood and chipped off a piece of stump. Jack dropped his axe and ran back to the tool shed. Dust shook from the walls as he pulled the doors open quickly. Jack grabbed the hammer to examine it closely.

            Jack saw another flash, like a memory. It was a man with long wild hair in a long dark coat standing in the rain. As the rain washed away the bloodfrom the concrete, the man smiled, it was a twisted grin. What little light there was in that Alley was reflected off of a bright shiny silver hammer. Jack remembered this happening. He could see it so clearly. The dead man looked familiar too. Jack felt like he had been close to the guy who was killed. Jack began to wonder if this was why he moved to the mountains to get away. Jack’s mind was fuzzy when he tried to remember that far back. He remembered he had been betrayed and then went on the run. Did he steal the silver hammer for himself?

            Jack left the shed holding the hammer. Light rain began to hit the ground. Jack walked out into the rain, lost in thought. When he looked up he saw a woman walking into the autumn forest. No one ever came up to his cabin, so this woman being here was strange. Jack saw another flash, an image of a woman’s face. She had light red hair and blue eyes, her skin was white like milk and her smile was warm like a roaring fire.

            “Isabelle” Jack muttered. He didn’t know how he knew that name but he knew she was important. He ran toward the forest. The rain began to pour down harder and harder. The sky was dark and stormy, the beautiful autumn trees swayed and creaked in the wind. The clouds formed a shadow over the forest making it hard to see. Jack went into the forest and didn’t look back. He held the metal hammer in both hands as he ran. The hammer was sturdy but surprisingly light.

            “Isabelle!” Jack shouted into the rain as he ran deeper into the forest.

Rain poured down from the treetops and Jack was soaked from running in the rain. After a few minutes of running Jack stopped. He was out of breath and he hadn’t seen Isabelle since she first entered the forest. Bright autumn leaves littered the ground, but seemed dark from the rain and clouds. The trees swayed as if the forest was alive and the rain continued to pour down. Thunder rumbled overhead and a second later lighting struck the forest with a loud crack. Jack saw one of the trees shatter and explode. The sound was so loud it was disorienting. Jack stumbled backward and tripped over an old tree root. He landed on his back and hit his head on the ground. Luckily the ground was soft from the rain. Jack stared up at the sky as rain continued to pour down on him, unrelenting, uncaring. Jack gripped the hammer and stood up. He was soaked and muddy and worst of all he wasn’t sure how to get back to his cabin. He wasn’t watching where he was going as he sprinted into the forest and the whole mountain was covered in trees.

            Tired, sore and feeling foolish Jack tried to make his way home. through the forest and into the rain.

Autumns End

The wind blows and dry fall leaves rustle and rattle as they glide along the pavement. The air has gotten chilly and the trees have lost all of their color. The official end of autumn might not be till December, but by late November everyone is preparing for winter. Autumn is a strange time of the year, it’s the shortest and the most beautiful. The trees turn yellow, orange and red like a great glowing fire and like a flame they only last a short time before being snuffed out. Autumn’s beauty cannot last forever, though some of us wish it could. It is the same reason that autumn is so short as it is lovely. Autumn is just a transition between summer and winter. The leaves absorbed as much sun as they could in summer and for a month or so they release their leaves and let the wind blow them away as they prepare for a winter hibernation.

In the united states there are states that get warm weather all the time, there are some states were it feels like spring all the time, either early spring with its sunshine and mild weather, or late spring with cool weather and rain on a daily basis. There are places were it is cold and snowing constantly, yet there are no places that experience a longer autumn or a perpetual autumn. To keep a balance of chilly weather that’s not too cold and leaves always on the brink of loosing all of their leaves would be impossible. So even though the season is not officially over, we all know that by the end of thanksgiving, it will be Autumn’s end. So wish it good-bye and good luck and prepare for the winter ahead. It is ok to be sad when your favorite season passes, but don’t forget to enjoy the time you have in between as you wait for the Autumn to leaves to come around again.