Journey's Child

37

Time went by faster once I started doing school work. Several teachers, along with Thad, got me on a schedule. Ben came over and helped me after he got out of his classes.

As the days went by, I grew stronger and ventured out more - even walking to the edge of the path. The forested area had changed from mid-summer when I had first discovered it. I thought to myself that as it threw its dried leaves and brown pine needles off, it was going into a cocoon to sleep through the winter and come out the other side a beautiful, enchanted forest where only good things happen. I found myself sitting on top of the aqua blue boat making up stories in my head where magic banished sorrow and little girls were princesses who never got hurt, or sick, or drowned in the ocean.

Thad wanted to keep me close to the house and away from small town gossip, but as I got better he decided it was time for me to venture out. He took me with him on several visits to the gallery and grocery shopping. And on the first Saturday in October, Ben and I walked into town together. On this fall afternoon, the weakening sun had thrown a pale yellow blanket over the coast in an attempt to keep summer alive as long as possible.

Ben told me a story that made me laugh. We'd grown close over the last three weeks. He hadn't kissed me again, but he often sat closer to me than he had to and he held my hand once, when we walked on the beach.

As we approached Drakes Galley, Ben asked if I wanted to go in for a soda.

"Sure," I said.

We ordered Green Rivers, a fizzy lime drink that we both discovered was our favorite.

On our way out, the door swung open almost hitting me. Two women stood in the entrance staring at us or rather me. They looked serious, like they had been caught doing something wrong.

"Excuse us," Ben said as he led me past.

I took a deep breath of the fresh air and looked questioningly at Ben.

"So you want to check out the Emporium?" he asked completely relaxed.

"Let's go," I replied. He made everything seem so comfortable and easy.

"Hello Gilly."

I turned to find Debbie and a girl I didn't know glaring at me.

"Hi Ben, how are you?" Debbie asked, giving him a big smile.

"Good," he replied. "Come on Gilly."

"Wait!" Debbie said urgently. "How are you Gilly? I heard you got hurt. It must have been just awful," she spat at me in an insincere tone.

I didn't reply. I wasn't use to being directly confronted about that night.

"Shut up, Debbie," Ben said as he grabbed my arm and steered me forward. "We have to go."

"Bye Ben. See you at school," both girls sang in unison.

We walked on for a while without speaking.

"She's an idiot, Gilly," Ben said, breaking the silence that had surrounded me. "Don't pay any attention to what she says."

"When we get back to San Jose, no one will know about what happened to us here," I sighed.

"I'll miss you when you leave."

"We can write to each other," I offered.

He smiled at me and took my hand.

*

A week later on a gray misty day, Thad brought my mother to his house. She could barely shuffle along, even with his help. Her face was still heavily bandaged. She had undergone another surgery so her jaw was no longer wired shut, but she still couldn't talk. Her left eye was covered in gauze and she was very unsteady on her feet.

I was taken aback by her weakened state. I couldn't imagine this hurt, broken creature becoming my mother again.

After we got her settled in bed, I went to my room and cried. Thad must have seen how upset I was because he came to talk with me.

"Oh, Gilly," he said as he hugged me. "You have to give it some time. Your mom is getting better every day."

I nodded in agreement, but already the flood gates had opened up and I was crying for all that had been and all that would never be.