Walter

I SAW THREE BROTHERS

Ben watched as Walter made his way down the tracks and wondered if this young lad would make it to his destination.

"Do ya think he'll be alright?" asked Ben.

"I think he'll be fine," replied Erle. "He's got a strong spirit and he's imaginative. All in all I think he'll make his way."

"I'm sure he will. Hopefully he won't miss the signposts."

"I don't think that will be a problem either, I'm more worried about him to be honest."

"What do ya mean Erle?"

"I mean, I don't think he's quite discovered himself yet. He's curious and has questions, but that might not be enough."

"Yes, I see yer point," reflected Ben. "But I don't think it will take him too long. He's had a little adventure so far and the rest of his journey should open his eyes."

"Of that I'm sure it will," replied Erle.

Ben watched as Walter turned around to wave before disappearing around the next bend.

He waved to Walter an earnest wave of gratitude, of having come into his almost solitary life. Of having brightened his day by letting him regale him with stories of his youth. He put all his happiness into this farewell wave, wishing along with it that this young one would some day return to visit.

"Good-bye, Walter."

Walter continued his way down the tracks, making sure not to miss the signposts that old Ben had told him about. Otherwise he would end up going farther than he wanted and would end up lost again.

The first of said signposts was just coming into his view.

Between the brush and trees of the forest sat three old abandoned vehicles left to rust away. Their doors were open as if waiting for the eventual return of its passengers, but no one was coming to take them away, so they sat there patient and quiet.

He had thought it sad as he stared at them. Grass had grown high above the wheels. Most of the paint was gone, leaving hues of orange and baby blue sparsely scattered among the rust that was engulfing them.

A small tree had started its journey up towards the sky, reaching ever higher. But having set its roots near the rear of the car, it had managed to grow in between the trunk and bumper.

He wondered about this little tree. When it had started to make its way up, did it have to make a decision? To either grow around this stationary object or to take the path of least resistance, knowing that as the years progressed that it would eventually take this car up with it as it stretched its great arms towards the sky.

Even now in its few years of life, it had snared the bumper into itself, lifting the rear end up slightly off the ground. If one hadn't noticed the bumper being on the other side of the tree, you would think the car had backed into this small tree instead.

The other two cars faced the third, silently watching as their forgotten brother would be slowly dragged upwards over the years and eventually out of their sight.

One car had no doors at all and seemed to be a rest stop for various animals, depending on the season. Currently, a small family of raccoons were playing games and running over and under its open self.

Of the three cars, the last one seemed the saddest to Walter.

It was a small car, almost round like a bowl turned over. It had no hood, no trunk, no glass and no wheels. It looked like a hollowed out skull vacantly staring at its surroundings.

Even its interior had been stripped clean of all its fashion and fittings, a carcass left to make its way back to its humble beginnings. It sat on the forest floor, empty and almost devoid of any life except for the nest cradled in its center.

Tiny birds hungrily chirped away as they waited for their parents to return.

Walter looked at this scene and it changed. It wasn't sad, it was fearless. This small bonelike carcass of a car now resembled more of a skeletal guardian protecting its small charges lying within it. Not having doors or glass to protect with, its vacant, hard, skeletal looks was what helped to protect those that sought refuge within its frail carapace.

You're a brave one aren't you, he thought.

"Keep them safe," he said as he continued along his way.

Three brothers, abandoned and waiting. Each experiencing an unseen destiny.

Only time would tell where their adventures would take them.