Mutation

Chapter 6: Phone Call

They all stared in disbelief at the phone. It rang insistently again, vibrating and shaking off dust. Laura started cautiously toward the phone, and picked it up.

"H-Hello?" she prepared herself for the worst.

"Hiii!" said a cheery voice on the other end of the line. A little older, but unmistakably . . .

"Chess." Laura breathed a sigh of relief. "It's just you."

"Just me?! Is that what you say to an old friend? Tsk, tsk." Chess laughed.

"Sorry, it's just . . . well, nobody calls me anymore."

"Really? Well, I'd have called you every day if you told me. Well, I really wanted to call you because . . ." she paused dramatically. "I'm getting married!"

"Wow!" said Laura, startled. "W-When is it?"

"In three days," she said apologetically. "Sorry for the short notice. It was so hard to find your number! It was almost like you disappeared."

Laura winced. "It's really my fault, I should've told you . . ."

"It's fine. Anyways, about my fiancé! His name is Nick and he has creamy blonde hair and the loveliest brown eyes . . . he's handsome and sensitive and always has the most clever things to say." Chess gave a soft, blissful sigh.

"Yeah. Uh . . ." Laura glanced over at Trista and Neo, who were both looking at her impatiently. "Really sorry, but Trista just got hurt, and I have to go."

"Oh! I'm sorry. Go ahead. But please come to the wedding if you can! Love you!" Laura heard a click and Chess hung up.

Laura sighed heavily and looked at Neo. "That was Chess."

He nodded. "Why did she call?"

"A wedding." Laura smiled but then turned her attention to Trista. "Trista, are you okay? What happened?"

Trista bit her lip and looked down. "I . . . I fell out of the tree. I was trying to get a better look at the sunset. I'm sorry I freaked you out."

"Out of the tree?!" Laura shook her head. "I should have known. Here, sit up. How does your back feel?"

Trista wanted to gasp with pain, but held it in and forced a smile. "It's really fine, Mom. It must have just knocked the breath out of me."

She still looked unconvinced, but then Neo broke in. "She does look fine, Laura. The landing must have just jarred her. But I'm still not quite sure why she passed out."

"I'm okay, really." Trista insisted, and tried to get up only to fall back with a little cry of pain when a prick of pain stabbed her spine.

"Oh, no you don't. You're going to stay here the rest of the day until you feel better." said Laura.

"But-"

"No buts." Laura handed Trista one of her books. "Just read and call me if you need anything."

Laura and Neo walked over to the table and sat down. Laura rubbed her temple. "Neo, we have to pick a place to go. We can't keep arguing like this."

"How about Australia?" Neo said. "We could go near the coast, and most of the people speak English there."

Laura nodded. "Okay. That would be fine. I'll look for tickets. I think we should just take a trip there instead of moving; just until this whole thing blows over. Is that alright? But what about the wedding? Do you want to go?"

"You're right. We may have been too hasty about deciding to move." He chuckled. "Of course I want to go. It would be a chance for us to reconnect with our old friends. But should we? You know what Trudy said. Mr. Black is still out there."

"I'd like to also. If Trista heals up quick, I think it would be alright." she looked up at him with loving eyes. "I'm sorry I was so stubborn. I should've acted more agreeable."

Neo smiled also and put his hand on top of hers. "It's okay. It was partly my fault, but don't worry. We're going to get all of this mess together."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Three days passed, and much to the disapproval of Laura, Trista was pronounced healthy by Neo and plans were made to go to the wedding. Laura bought plane tickets to Australia that left late in the night, and they started packing up to leave - not quite sure how long they would be gone.

Trista looked back at her dear, big house and sighed. Did they have to leave so soon? Then Trista remembered, flung her backpack into the car, and started to run toward the forest.

"Honey! Where are you going?" Laura said, looking back at her.

"I'll be right back, mom." Trista said over her shoulder.

"Okay . . ." said Laura, slightly worried. "Don't ruin your wedding clothes! And don't fall out of any more trees!"

Trista laughed, running back towards the forest. The scratchy brown grass clung to her white dress as she ran back to her tree again. She hugged the tree tight, as if hugging a good friend good-bye. Trista traced the bird carvings on the top of the tree, wondering for the millionth time what had befallen the two lovers so long ago. She sat on her little rope swing and pushed herself back, her heels digging into the dust. She swung for a while, thinking of her home and their woods, which had been her faithful friend since she was a child, opening her green arms to her on early, warm spring days when she felt a thrill of hope at the bare branches being filled with tiny, waxy leaves.

Even on dim, starlit nights when she had been yelled at by her mom or dad and felt such a horrible frustration and longing to disappear, the woods had been a welcoming presence that had felt safe, secluded, and calm. She could be alone in a place that made her feel like she was home. Where would she go to now that she knew as well as the woods? That white, smoky sky that showed between the dark crosses of tree branches belonged to her, that chill wind that was laced with frosty hints of a wet winter, her solemn confidants; the glade of oak and elm and mulberry trees that stood before her, their heads a glory of amber and yellow leaves that had already begun to fall.

The tree frogs croaked a sweet chorus from a distant pond, reminding her of the late hour as well as her mother's call from across the glade. The rough bark felt scratchy against Trista's cheek as she hugged her tree once more. "I'll miss you."

She ran back to their car, hopped into it and slammed the door.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hey, guys! I'm sorry for the wait. For some weird reason, I had inspiration to write a different part of the book. 😁 Anyways, thanks for reading, and God bless you!

_pure_imagination_