Evergreen by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 14

Tom’s recovery passed quickly, and he soon found the urge to return amongst the pines. He had worked outdoors for most of his life, but it wasn’t just a job. The outdoors brought balance to his life; the cool mountain air; the open sky; the wind pushing its way through the tall, majestic pines. It didn’t matter what season it was. There was something almost spiritual about being close to the land. The only time he wasn’t felling trees was during bad weather. If a nor’easter or thunderstorm struck, the woods were cleared immediately. Were it not for company policy, Tom would be happy to remain out among nature, regardless of the weather. His boss, however, wanted him to work in the office for a while, at least, until he was ready to return to the field. But after a great deal of convincing, it was decided that Tom would, again, go back to cutting down trees.

Katie was greatly relieved to see her father return to work. She understood that having a job gives people a sense of purpose and it was difficult for her to see her father in any state of disability. Now, she could also get on with the business of being an eighteen-year-old, going to school without the distraction of her father’s previous illness. Spending time with Bobby again, trying to get him to go into the old house on the hill. She had discovered how much she enjoyed taking care of her father, but it was time to get back on track and the next day she walked back into homeroom with a smile on her face and her posture free of tension. Her teachers and fellow students immediately realized that her life was back to normal and Bobby was the first to notice. He momentarily put his lack of confidence side, walked up to her with a smile and threw his arms around her.

“I heard your dad’s back to work,” he said. “Yeah,” Katie replied. “He’s doing a lot better.” Bobby inquired as to how he had been attacked by so many bees. Not that he didn’t already know. The entire town knew. Bobby was just trying to be supportive. “So, how’s he doing?” he asked. “I mean, being attacked by a swarm of bees has to be pretty traumatic.” Katie had been trying not to think about the accidents possible psychological impact on her father and unless he chose to talk about it, Katie would likely try to avoid the subject altogether.

“Yeah, I know,” she replied. “But I don’t think he wants to talk about it.”

The fact of the matter was that Tom felt he had been enough of a burden to his daughter, and he would not subject her to the emotional scars of his near-death experience.

Katie had been approached by many people, both at school and in town. They all meant well, with concerned questions and, ‘I’m glad to hear Tom’s doing better’. She had quickly become overwhelmed by good intentions and had grown tired of what seemed like an endless conversation.

“Can we talk about something else?” she asked. “Oh, sorry,” Bobby began. “I was just...”

“I know,” Katie replied. “It’s just that everyone wants to talk to me about it and it gets a little old after a while.” A long pause passed when Bobby uncomfortably changed the subject.

“Um, I’ve been thinking about that old house,” he began. “You know, just curious.”

Katie was more than a bit surprised.

“Really?” she asked. “I thought you were terrified of that place! The last time we were up there, you said you saw a ghost!”

Remembering the event in detail brought a teasing giggle to her voice.

“I thought you were going to piss your pants!” She continued giggling at Bobby’s expense. “I’m serious!” he insisted. “Did you know that someone was murdered in that place?”

Katie was astonished at not only Bobby’s sudden curiosity but the energy and excitement he expressed. “How’d you know that?” she asked.

Bobby informed her that he had spent some time looking it up online.

“Well, didn’t you go to the town clerk?” Bobby reacted with frustration.

“The town clerk?” he answered. “Yeah, I tried that. That bitch threw me out. As soon as I started asking about the house, she went nuts. Like she was possessed or something.”

Katie’s expression had quickly gone blank. “Really?” she asked. “That doesn’t sound like her. I mean, she’s always been nice to me.”

“Well, she doesn’t seem to like me,” Bobby replied. Katie saw an opportunity for a bit of humor. “Well,” she began. “Did you buy her dinner? Sometimes, that’s all it takes.”

She giggled again at his expense.

“Oh, that’s hysterical!” he began. “Kind of gross, but funny. Just don’t quit your day job, okay?”

She gave him an affectionate slap on the arm. “You so need a sense of humor,” she said. “I got an idea. We’ll go down to the clerk’s office after school and I’ll talk to Emily, because I want to know more about this, too.”

“So,” she continued. “Did you go in?” Bobby rolled his eyes at her question. He knew she would ask, sooner or later and the harassment was still well underway. He had come to the conclusion that the seniors could say whatever they wanted, but there was one word he couldn’t stand to hear - coward. They could call him a pussy. But, he refused to be called a coward. Maybe he was becoming a stronger person. Maybe he was beginning to shed his neurotic cocoon. Or, maybe he was in the process of discovering himself, as the impending reality of the real world arrived as graduation grew nearer.

Later that afternoon, Bobby and Katie met outside the school’s main entrance. They hurried down to Main Street with the intention of talking Emily into giving them access to any records about the old house. They got there ten minutes before closing, but Emily wasn’t there. Instead, an elderly white-haired man stood behind the counter.

“Well,” he began. “How are you young folks today?” He was of the old generation of Mainers. He had a calm personality and an accent thick enough that the average Portlander would be unable to understand a single word he spoke and even though Bobby and Katie had seen him in town on more than several occasions, they still had trouble understanding him. But, out of curiosity, Bobby asked about Emily’s absence. She had always been there. Not a day went by when she wasn’t.

“Oh, Emily,” the man began. “I’m afraid she’s passed on.” Bad things tend to happen suddenly, and the two teens were left stunned.

“What happened?” Katie asked.

“Well, the doc thinks she had a stroke sometime yesterday afternoon,” he answered. “So, when she didn’t come down to open the office, naturally people started fearing the worst. The sheriff went on over to check on her and there she was.”

The teens continue to stand dumbfounded yet in rapt attention.

“Now, I don’t know if this is true or not,” he continued. “But, someone said they found her on the toilet. But, that’s neither here nor there.” Bobby and Katie were left thinking exactly the same thing, too much information. But it was Katie who took the initiative, politely interrupting the conversation with her request for information on the old house. “You mean that old house up in the woods?” he asked. “Yeah,” Katie answered. “Um, we’re doing a history project for school and the house has been there forever. So, we were wondering if there was anything about it that might make it historically significant.” The man scratched his head, wondering where such information might be kept.

“Well,” he replied. “I don’t know where Emily kept everything, but you’re certainly free to look around.” The man glanced at his watch.

“Mmmm...gettin’ near closing time.” Bobby and Katie suddenly became concerned. They had the opportunity to find what they were looking for and now, their efforts would be delayed by a clock. But the man behind the counter was quick to see their expressions and was glad to accommodate them.

“But, I suppose I could just sit and read the paper for...oh, another fifteen minutes, or so.”

A broad smile came to the teen’s faces as they thanked the man and began their search. They weren’t quite sure what you’re looking for, but they started with the nearest file cabinet.

They sorted through two file cabinets and found nothing. By this time, the fifteen minutes the clerk was kind enough to give them had passed. The elderly man folded up his newspaper and informed them he was closing up for the day.

“Can we come back tomorrow?” Bobby asked. “Oh, sure,” the man answered.

“You two kids stop by anytime.”

They walked back out onto Main Street, being no closer to finding anything about the old house. But given the new clerk’s kind disposition, they had a chance of at least finding something and the only lead they had was the names of the couple who had lived there, so many years ago. Now, both Bobby and Katie had become highly curious. Why didn’t anyone ever talk about? And why did Emily suddenly fly into a rage at its mere mention? Unfortunately, she was no longer able to tell them anything. The dead, it seems, are not very big on conversation.