A fire burns in the distance...surrounded by fire...a blue dragonfly...the Tree of Life. Why? Who knows. Is it referring to my past, present and future? Do I want the answer to that? I'm not sure. Will I get the answer? Only time will tell.
Sitting straight up in bed, I grab my dream journal to record last night's dreams before brushing the remnants stuck in my head away. Over the last few weeks they have been more frequent and vivid. What are these dreams about? Do I want the answer to that question? I'm not sure. Will I get the answer? Only time will tell.
As I get ready for the day, a familiar calmness washes over me. Gazing out my bedroom window at the woods behind my house, two shadows float at its edge. I peer out further, but, once again, I come to no clear conclusion as to what...or who, these shadows are.
My alarm clock buzzes at me, and the date on the clock face reminds me that it's my day to volunteer at the local shelter. Watching someone else climb out of their situation reminds me of how much I have to be thankful for.
Coming downstairs, I'm greeted by a pair of matching hazel eyes that belong to my mother and sister. Sometimes I wish I had their eyes instead of my gray ones or their mahogany hair instead of light brown.
"You're going to be late," my mom says, playfully swatting me as I go by.
"What are you two up to today?" I ask, as my sister gulps down her breakfast of a chocolate and banana smoothie.
"Shopping!" my sister, Kaitlyn, shouts.
"And that's something to be cheery about?" I reply. We have different opinions about shopping, fashion and fun.
"I know. I know. Not your thing," she replies, as I open the refrigerator to get stuff to make lunch.
"Exactly. But seriously, Mom, can you pick me up some more socks. I have a feeling I am going to need some new ones as the summer drags on." Everything in this town is within walking distance of my house, and I don't mind the time anyway as I use it to clear my head and get ready for what lies ahead.
"No problem," Mom says as I head out the door and towards Shaffer House, a shelter for abused women and children. The agency has two houses that provide shelter, counseling, educational training, and advocacy.
Because I had to transfer several residents to our other house next door including all of the paperwork involved, my day goes by quickly. It is filled with transferring the two families over to the new house. It would have been easier if my mom and sister hadn't taken the day off.
Since I'm meeting my friends downtown in thirty minutes and I'm walking, I rush out, pushing past the overgrown hedges at the front entrance. Danny really needs to get on that! Sometimes I feel like he takes advantage of the fact that he's my best friend, and that he lives with my family and I. But he is forgetful—he's always thinking about the next adventure.
Speeding up my pace, I am blanketed by sticky moisture. The bluish gray hills, of the Tennessee valley, loom in the distance, and the smell of fresh cut grass invites me to turn my head to the right. Once I turn my head, I am greeted by Mr. Johnston taking a break from mowing his yard.
He grins at me. "Do you need help with the lawn care at Shaffer House?"
"Why does it not surprise me that you would notice the overgrown hedges I just had to push through." I say as I cross over to where Mr. Johnston is sitting under his large oak tree.
He chuckles. "That boy needs a swift kick in his ass."
I laugh at his bluntness and open my mouth to respond.
YOU ARE READING
The Protectors: New Generation Book 1
FantasyTallulah James wants to know where she belongs and what her life's purpose is. The only problem, she doesn't have all the facts. But who is keeping secrets from her? How does magic play into her life? Will she finally find what she's been longing...
