SOMEWHERE by the Sea

Truth

Before opening the door to the cabin, Baxter dimmed the lantern, and then shifted the curtain in the window beside the door to peer outside. He couldn't see anything because of the reflection, but he heard a dog bark again, which electrified the hair on his arms. Then he got really angry, grabbed the lantern, and stormed out of the house, shouting, "Hey, you! I don't know what you're trying to accomplish by pretending to be a boy whose been dead for two decades, but I'm about to find out!"

"Hi, Bax," said a child's voice not far away. Baxter jumped and jerked in the direction of the voice. On the southern edge of the porch about twelve feet away, in the muted light cast by the lantern, stood Baxter's childhood friend, or at least someone who looked exactly like him, and a big red collie. The child knelt, picked up a Frisbee, and tossed it into the darkness of the yard. The dog yipped and ran after it.

Baxter quelled a strangled cry and demanded, "Who are you?"

The child replied, "I've waited a long time for you to hear me."

Baxter again vocalized his demand. "Who are you and who put you up to this?"

The child lowered himself Indian style onto the porch and placed his elbows on his knees and his chin in his palms. "Remember when we used to pretend to be Indians and camp out in the teepee your dad bought?"

Baxter took a step closer and then glanced across the yard calling out, "If anyone's hiding out there, you better step forward and tell me why you've put this kid up to this."

The only answer was the bark of the dog.

Baxter returned his gaze to the boy and took another step closer. The child was the exact image of Owen. "Explain yourself."

The boy heaved a heartfelt sigh. "What I've been trying to tell you since the accident is that I want my sister to know my death wasn't her fault. Tell Vee she isn't to blame."

Baxter decided to play along with the game. "Why don't you just tell her yourself?"

"Because things don't work like that. It would certainly make everything easier, but there's a purpose to the universe that cannot be changed. I guess you could say God wants to do things a certain way 'cause it's important. That's all I really know. Maybe I'll know the answer to your question when I walk into the light. But I won't go there until you believe me."

Baxter took another step closer and continued the game. "So why haven't I heard from you before now?"

"Because you needed Faith."

"I needed faith to believe or Faith the woman?"

The boy grinned. "Both."

Baxter glanced into the yard looking for an accomplice, but saw no one. "Why would I need Faith the woman to allow me to see you?"

The child shrugged. "Beats me. When she saw Rex on the beach I was shocked. I'm always on the beach hoping someone will see us, like that other lady who stayed at the B & B. She knew we were there, but ignored us. I kept bugging her until she listened. She was nice and not after money like those phony psychics, but you were mean to her. After she left, I figured I'd always be in Somewhere, but then Faith saw me and I got hopeful again. And now here we are talking. It's a miracle."

Changing his tactic, Baxter said, "Why should I tell your sister your death wasn't her fault. No one ever blamed her."

"No, but she blamed herself. Still does. You see, she got mad at me and threw the Frisbee into the ocean. Rex went in after it and I followed him into the waves. She thinks I drowned because of that, but she's wrong. Rex got the Frisbee and we both got out of the water. Later, we followed the path to Stone House and I climbed down the rocks to the beach. My parents always warned me not to go there, but I disobeyed them this one time, and, well, paid the price. I tossed the Frisbee into the water and Rex got caught in an undertow. And when I tried to save him..." The boy locked his gaze with Baxter's. "...we both drowned."

Baxter's heart hammered at the likeness of this child to Owen. He crouched to the boy's level. "You expect me to believe that?"

"Of course. And when you tell my sister what I've told you, you'll both know it's really me."

They were interrupted when Rex bounded onto the porch with the Frisbee in his mouth. A sound from the doorway distracted Baxter and he turned to see Faith staring at them in disbelief. He stood to block her view of the boy because he didn't want her more upset than she already was, but when he turned back around to grab the child by the scruff of his neck and haul him inside the cabin...

He was gone!

From beyond the shadows the child called out, "Tell Vee I'm sorry for reading her diary. And just so you know it's me, thanks for never telling anyone I egged Mr. Swift's car or that you were the one who wrote the love note to Annie for me."