The Woods

The Woods Part 3: Jesse Heard a Noise

                                            1985

"What is that?" Jesse looks around, alarmed.

Kevin is busy inspecting the object in his hand. It is rounded with the mud and rotting leaves stuck to it. He can't tell what it is.

"Probably a squirrel."

"I don't think so." Jesse can't stop looking around. He feels off. Something is wrong.

"Kevin," he hesitates.

"What?"

"It doesn't look right."

"What doesn't look right?"

"Everything. It's... off. The color is off."

Kevin looks at him. "You are a goof."

Jesse's wide frightened eyes make him pause. He looks around them. Jesse is right. His heart beats faster and his chest feels tight. Everything looks a little off. The color. The light. But it's more than that. Something he doesn't know how to describe. It's just ... off.

Slowly, he bends down and puts the unknown object back down, wanting to free his hands.

He stands up and looks around again.

"Now he's got my mind playing tricks," he thinks. There is nothing strange at all about anything. Everything looks exactly like it should. Exactly like before.

"It's nothing," Kevin says. "You really are a goof. I don't know what you're talking about. Everything is normal to me."

Jesse looks like he's ready to bolt.

tention back to the strange item at the base of the stump.

Jesse backs away, moving back towards their yard.

Kevin bends over and picks it up. He stands up and looks around. He feels off.

Jesse is moving away and Kevin doesn't want to admit he's afraid to be alone in the woods. He pockets his treasure and chases after Jesse.

They reach the yard and stop. They both look around.

It all looks a bit ... odd.

The color is off just a bit. It all feels a bit odd. Out of sync maybe.

The house is not large, a lower middle-income home, all but the windowsills and doors were repainted last year. The paint of the windowsills is cracking and starting to peel. A job their father has not yet gotten to.

It all seems a bit dulled, muted, a bit off color. Like a television set that someone has buggered with the color settings on.

Jesse breaks first, running for the house.

He falters, not watching and almost tripping on the bike laying discarded on the grass. Recovering, he keeps going.

Is the item part of the discarded shoe?

Opening scene, a few moments ago for the boys, the yard was full of snow. They are wearing winter jackets and boots. It's early spring when the snow is starting to melt.