Chapter Two

“There is a road in the hearts of all of us, hidden and seldom traveled, which leads to an unknown, secret place.”

 

                 Luther Standing Bear

 

 

 

 

 

The sun was beginning to set and Yeracenna decided it was time to fetch Daina and Renee. They were still playing when Yeracenna got them from the playground behind the Simm’s house. She told them to wait outside while she pushed the front door open. No one was home but there was a note on the refrigerator.

 

 

Have gone to the hospital with Jim. Don’t know when I’ll be back. Have this mess cleaned up before I get back.

 

Yeracenna sighed in relief. At least they would have one quiet night. Yeracenna let Renee and Daina in, sitting them at the dining table. They were complaining about having nothing to eat. Yeracenna remembered the sack her mother dropped on the floor and went to retrieve it,. dumping the contents onto the counter. The only things in it were a pack of cigarettes, a bottle of dish soap, a pack of gum and a loaf of bread. Yeracenna handed the loaf of bread to Renee. “Looks like bread for dinner tonight.” Renee opened the bread bag, handing a few slices to Daina. Renee watched her older sister. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

 

“I don’t have much of an appetite.”

 

After the bread dinner, Yeracenna put Daina and Renee to bed. Once they were asleep, Yeracenna began the task of cleaning up the living room. By the time she got to bed, it was almost morning.

 

 

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Yeracenna checked her mother’s bedroom to see if Peaches had returned but the bed hadn’t been slept in. Yeracenna checked the bruises on her face in the bathroom mirror and was surprised to see that they had completely disappeared. Her left eye still had a red tinge around it but at least it wasn’t swollen. Yeracenna heard somewhere that if you put hemorrhoid cream on your face, any blemishes you had would fade away. After looking up the word hemorrhoid in her dictionary, Yeracenna decided against it.

 

Since there wasn’t any food in the house, Yeracenna settled on taking her siblings to the lake. Maybe she could catch a fish since the lake was recently stocked with trout. One of Yeracenna’s favorite possessions was an old fishing rod and a small tackle box she got at a yard sale with the money she saved from weeding Mrs. O’Brien’s garden. Yeracenna took a tablespoon from the kitchen and tucked it into the tackle box to use as a shovel for digging up earthworms.

 

Daina and Renee chose to play on the small sandy beach on the eastern side of the lake. The dock cutting across the short end of the lake stood a few feet away. Yeracenna walked to the western end of the dock where the water was the deepest. She sat on the edge of the dock, letting her feet dangle over the water. She didn’t have much luck finding any earthworms around the lake so she opted to use the fish eggs that had been left in the tackle box from last year. Yeracenna removed the metal lid, and sniffed at the contents, the eggs smelled fishy as ever. She baited her hook with one large egg and cast her line towards the center of the lake.

 

Yeracenna gazed at her red and white bobber floating in the water. A gentle breeze swept through the tree tops on the opposite side of the lake, causing the birch leaves to dance to and fro. Yeracenna closed her eyes and basked in the sunlight warming her back. Just sitting here on a nice warm day felt peaceful. The tip of Yeracenna’s rod bounced, causing her to open her eyes to check her bobber. It dipped below the surface once, then twice. Yeracenna jerked the line back to hook her prey firmly. The tip of the rod was bending into a U shape from the weight of her catch. “I must’ve hooked a big one!” Yeracenna reeled in her line steadily, not wanting too much slack.

 

What could it be? A trout? Catfish? Yeracenna stared down at the water’s edge looking for her fish. As the line drew in, she could see a crumpled brown and black object rising to the surface. “Aw, I bet it’s a piece of junk,” muttered Yeracenna. She dragged her catch closer to the edge of the dock and reached down to pull it from the water but when she grasped the top of it, two small hands emerged to grasp Yeracenna’s wrist.

 

“Auuuuuggggghhhh!” yelped Yeracenna. The thing was holding on to her! Yeracenna threw her pole down next to her tackle box, slapping the creature’s hands from her wrist Two brown hands gripped the edge of the dock followed by a thick, shaggy black mane, a torso and two legs. The creature was hauling itself onto the dock, sputtering water out of its mouth.

 

Yeracenna backed herself into the dock’s guardrail, giving plenty of distance between her and the lake thing. The creature rolled itself onto its back, gasping for air. Finally it sat up, reached behind its back and dislodged Yeracenna’s fishing hook. “It” parted its hair with both hands, revealing two bushy eyebrows, a round nose and a full mouth.

 

Yeracenna was shocked. A miniature man was wringing water out of his waist-length hair and homespun clothes before her very eyes. “This can’t be real. I must be dreaming or something.” She pinched herself to make sure.

 

The little man blinked his eyes in the bright sunlight but it didn’t take long to adjust. He scanned the lakeshore before resting his eyes on Yeracenna. “Hey, girl, yeah you! Is she gone?”

 

Yeracenna was stunned. “Huh?”

 

“I said, is she gone?” said the man with a growl.

 

Yeracenna looked around. “Is who gone?”

 

The little man clenched his fists. “My meddling mother, that’s who!”

 

Yeracenna  hesitated. “Uhhh, I haven’t seen anyone in your height, I mean sight, that matches your mother.” The foot high little man stood up and made his way across the dock to the eastern side of the lake, muttering something about his mother as he went.

 

“Wait!” The man paused to turn and glance at the girl walking towards him. . Yeracenna stopped a few feet in front of him and looked him over. “Uh, do you have a name?”

 

The little man eyed Yeracenna up and down. “Qwerk.”

 

Yeracenna raised an eyebrow. “Qwerk?”

 

The man scowled at her and continued on his way. Yeracenna followed, determined to find out all she could. “Um sir, I mean Qwerk, can I ask you a question?” The little man continued to walk. “I don’t know, can you?”

 

Yeracenna stepped in front of Qwerk, making him stop. “Look, I’m sorry I snagged you on my line but what were you doing in the lake anyway?”

 

Qwerk rolled his eyes skyward. “Well young lady, not that it’s any of your beeswax, I was hiding from my mother. That woman has forced me to take drastic measures!”

 

Yeracenna’s eyes grew wide. “Drastic measures?”

 

Qwerk grasped the ends of his hair and stamped his left foot. “I won’t be taken alive! Always trying to set me up with some doe eyed silly female!” Qwerk resumed tromping across the dock to the beach. “BRRRRRPPPPPPPTTTTTT!” Qwerk stopped for a moment, his shoulders hunched. He glanced back at Yeracenna and gave a sheepish grin. “Oops! Heh, heh! Must’ve been the milfoil!”

 

Yeracenna’s mouth curved into a smile. Across the beach, Daina and Renee were too busy chasing each other back and forth to notice a small man walking up the beach and disappearing up the hill into the brush.

 

Yeracenna and her siblings found a surprise on their doorstep. Someone had left a box of groceries for them. Yeracenna opened the door with the key she kept on a loop of string tied around her neck. Daina and Renee lifted the box of groceries into the duplex and carried it to the dining table. Inside the box they found two loaves of bread, a dozen eggs, a pound of butter, a quart of milk, a box of cereal, a can of Spam, a package of bologna, a jar of mayonnaise, a small head of lettuce and a small bag of apples. There was no note of any kind on the box to indicate who had left it but Yeracenna was thankful just the same. They would’ve been hungry since fishing hadn’t turned out too well. Yeracenna assigned Renee to make some sandwiches while she checked on their mother’s bedroom. The bed was still made and nothing had been moved. Yeracenna put her pole and tackle box in the utility room and joined her siblings to a bologna sandwich meal.

 

Sunday morning and Peaches had not returned. Yeracenna checked to see if there was a note on the fridge but found nothing. She opened the front door to see if her mother’s car was outside and another box sat on the doorstep. Yeracenna turned it around and smiled. Someone had left them a new television set! She dragged the box indoors and called Daina and Renee to come out and see their new set. Yeracenna opened the box and pulled the television from it, setting the 19-inch set on the stand where the old one used to live. After plugging it in and turning it on, Daina and Renee sat in front of it as though it were the first time they had ever seen one.

 

Yeracenna took the box to the utility room and folded it to fit in the space between the washing machine and dryer. A small mountain of laundry had piled up in the corner that needed attention. Yeracenna complained to herself over Renee’s lack of responsibility. Somehow, every weekend turned out to be the same. Renee sitting in front of the television while Yeracenna did chores. Daina was only five years old and couldn’t do much except play with his cars. It was time for a change and Yeracenna had a plan. She knew her sister was slightly superstitious thanks to listening to her mother’s tales about living in a haunted house as a child and old tribal tales of evil creatures waiting to snatch children at any moment.

 

After starting a load of laundry, Yeracenna stole her way to the living room. Renee was lying on the floor with her head propped up on her hands, thoroughly engrossed in morning cartoons. Daina had taken his collection of mini cars and parked himself under the kitchen table. Renee hadn’t noticed her sister taking a seat on the sofa behind her or Yeracenna’s devious smile. Yeracenna flexed her fingers with static electricity. The television turned itself off, then on. Renee figured it was some kind of minor glitch and continued watching her program. Only when the channels started changing on their own did Renee sit up. The volume began to fluctuate before it shut off again. Renee sat frozen, waiting. Was something wrong with the new television? Yeracenna bit her lower lip to keep from laughing and wondered how long her sister would sit there staring at the television.

 

Then something completely unexpected happened. The giant potted fern next to the television tipped itself over, spilling soil on the area rug, rolling to a stop inches away from Renee. Small footprints appeared in the soil then disappeared. Renee began to shake uncontrollably and Yeracenna stood up in alarm. Renee got herself up and ran screaming from the room, taking refuge in the bedroom closet. Yeracenna approached the overturned fern with caution. Was this actual ghost activity? “Hello? Is somebody there?” After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, Yeracenna figured it was safe to clean up the mess. Daina sat under the kitchen table, completely unaware of what just transpired. Yeracenna set the potted fern upright and scooped up as much of the soil as she could.

 

Yeracenna guessed that Renee was in her usual hiding place and stood for a moment near the closet door. Yeracenna could hear Renee’s pitiful sobbing. “Renee? Are you all right? Whatever it was, it’s gone now.”

 

Renee gave a feeble reply. “Are you sure?”

 

Yeracenna sighed. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

 

The closet door slid open to reveal a teary eyed Renee with a runny nose. “Eeyew! You’d better go wipe your nose.” Renee nodded, taking her time getting out of the closet. “Tell you what Renee, if it makes you feel any better, we could ask Eddie to come over here and burn some sage.” Renee shot Yeracenna a defensive look. “No! I don’t want anybody to know we got a ghost! I’m…okay.” Yeracenna shrugged. “Suit yourself.”  This was working out better than she had planned.

 

Later that night…..

 

Renee tossed around in her bunk, unable to sleep. Yeracenna did her best to ignore it but it was beginning to annoy her.

 

“Psst! Yeracenna?”

 

Yeracenna groaned. “What are you whispering for? I’m right under you.”

 

Renee leaned over her bunk. “Yeah well, I just wanted to know if you think it’s still here.”

 

“What, the ghost?”

 

“Not so loud! It might be listening.” Renee turned herself over and stared at the ceiling.

 

“So what? If it’s still here, it’s probably watching us right now.”

 

Renee pulled her covers up to her chin. “Watching us?”

 

Yeracenna smiled in the dark. “You know Renee, I’ve been thinking. The ghost only seemed interested in you. I wonder why.”

 

Renee gulped. “Me?”

 

“Yeah, maybe it only bothers lazy kids. I do all the work around here and not once have I seen a ghost.” Yeracenna covered her mouth with her hand to keep from laughing.

 

Renee had pulled her blankets over her head and lay perfectly still.

 

Yeracenna yawned. “I bet if you started doing chores, the ghost will probably just give up and go away.”

 

 

 

Yeracenna didn’t know how long she had slept before sitting up in bed. Her alarm clock read 2:oo am. Yeracenna sat still, listening to the darkness. Renee’s snores weren’t loud enough to wake her so maybe it was something else. Was Daina out of bed?

 

Yeracenna threw her covers off and got out of bed. She peeked into Daina’s room but he was where he was supposed to be. Yeracenna got back into bed and wriggled around until she felt comfortable. Her eyes were just beginning to close when she heard it. Soft footsteps padding down the hall! Yeracenna’s eyes flew open. Renee was still in her bunk and Daina was in bed sooo…..that leaves the ghost!

 

Yeracenna sat up and waited. The footsteps padded away then returned to stop at her bedroom door. Yeracenna’s heart beat faster. Don’t come in here, don’t! She held her breath. The eerie squeaking of the door hinges was almost too much to bear. Yeracenna hit the switch on her lamp but there was no one standing there. “Go away!”

 

The footsteps stopped and no further sounds could be heard. Yeracenna sprinted to her brother’s room and flicked on the light. Daina sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes. “Why did you turn the lights on? What are you yellin’ at?” Yeracenna looked around the room and decided she’d feel better if Daina slept in her room. “Come on boy. You can sleep with us tonight, okay?” Daina gazed at his sister. “Huh?” Yeracenna grabbed Daina’s arm and dragged him out of bed. “Just come on. I’ll feel safer if we’re all together.” Yeracenna walked Daina out of his room and into hers. Daina crawled into Yeracenna’s bed and made himself comfortable. Yeracenna squeezed in next to him and pulled the covers snugly over her. “You gonna turn off the lights?” Daina yawned. Yeracenna kept her sights on the door. “Er..no, not yet.”

 

 

When the alarm clock went off, Yeracenna realized she had fallen asleep. Daylight flooded through the bedroom windows making the bedside lamp obsolete. Yeracenna turned it off and got out of bed. She crept to her mother’s room but it was the same as before.

 

Yeracenna made it to the kitchen just in time to see a blur of red fly past her. Renee was setting the table and determined to fix breakfast. She opted for cereal and toast since she didn’t really know how to cook.

 

Yeracenna returned to her room to rouse her brother out of her bed. “Get up boy, Renee’s making breakfast.” Yeracenna poked Daina’s forehead. “I said, get up!” Daina whined but got out of bed.

 

Yeracenna prodded her brother towards the bathroom and waited outside. When the door finally opened Yeracenna asked “Did you wash your hands?” Daina held up his hands and nodded.

 

Yeracenna took her turn in the bathroom and just before leaving, she noticed a small red car on the back of the toilet. She met her siblings in the kitchen and was about to tell Daina he had left his car in the bathroom but the same red car seemed to be sitting next to Daina’s bowl. Yeracenna returned to the bathroom but oddly, the red car was gone. “It was just here,” she mumbled.

 

Yeracenna took a seat opposite of Daina and watched him eat his cereal. How did he get that car without me seeing him do it? Can he do something I can’t? Yeracenna turned her gaze to Renee standing near the toaster. What about her? What if they’re just like me?

 

“Are you gonna eat that?”

 

Yeracenna looked down at her bowl to catch Daina taking her cereal. She pushed the bowl towards him. “Here, eat it.” Yeracenna’s mind reaced. Does Peaches know about them? What will happen to us if she finds out about them?

 

“Yeracenna? Yeracenna!” Renee put her hands on her hips. ‘You’re not even eating the breakfast I made you!”

 

“Huh? What? Oh, that’s okay Renee. I’m not that hungry. I’ll just have a piece of toast.”

 

“Okay,” grumbled Renee. Renee buttered a slice of toast and handed it to Yeracenna. She munched on it while thinking about their fate. How did she go so long without noticing?

 

Daina had eaten his breakfast and was sliding down his chair to his favorite spot under the table. Yeracenna crawled under the table to talk to him. “Daina, do you have two red cars?”

 

Daina looke surprised to see his sister. “Nope, just this one. Watcha doing down here?”

 

Yeracenna smiled. “Just wanted to talk to you for a minute if that’s okay.

Daina smiled back. “Okay.”

 

Yeracenna studied her brother’s face for a moment. “Uh Daina, I was wondering if you could tell me how you got that red car out of the bathroom without anyone seeing you do it.”

 

“Magic!” beamed Daina.

 

Yeracenna looked confused. “Magic?”

 

Daina’s face lit up. “I can do magic. Wanna see?”

 

“Uh..okay,” said Yeracenna.

 

Daina drew himself to his knees and held his hands out to Yeracenna. “See? Nothing in my hands!” Daina clasped his hands together and closed his eyes. When he opened his hands, the red car sat between his palms. Yeracenna was stunned. “I can make it disappear too!” Daina slowly put his right hand over his left, holding it a few inches above the car. Once again, Daina closed his eyes and concentrated.

 

Yeracenna watched as the little car began to spin clockwise, faster and faster until it was a blur of red, fading into thin air. “Daina, what did you just do?” asked Yeracenna.

 

Daina giggled. “I hid it! Wanna see it again?” Daina clasped his hands together and the car reappeared.

 

Yeracenna tried to keep calm. “Daina, I want you to listen to me. I know you think this is magic but you can’t show this to anybody else, understand? Not even mom.”

 

Daina looked surprised. “Why not?”

 

“Because it would be a bad thing to show everybody what you can do. They won’t like it and they will treat you bad. Promise me that it will be our secret, just you and me, okay?”

 

Daina didn’t look convinced. “I tell you what, if you keep your magic a secret, I’ll…I’ll show you my magic.”

 

Daina got excited. “You can do magic too?”

 

Yeracenna looked into the kitchen to see if Renee was listening. She was busy washing the dishes and humming to herself. “Yeah, I can do magic but I won’t show it to you unless you swear to me that you won’t tell anybody.”

 

Daina thought it over. “Okay, I swear.”

 

Yeracenna held up her pinky finger. “Pinky swear?”

 

Daina locked his little finger with his sister’s. “I pinky swear!”

 

Yeracenna crawled out from the kitchen table and brushed her pants off as she stood up. She leaned down for a moment and whispered, “When Renee goes to bed tonight, I’ll show you what I can do, okay?”

 

Daina whispered back, “Okay!”

 

 

Yeracenna and her siblings spent the rest of the day in front of the television. When it was time for bed and everyone had brushed their teeth, Daina decided to hold Yeracenna to her word. He followed his sister to his bedroom and crawled beneath his blankets. Yeracenna tucked him in and kissed him on the forehead. She was about to leave when Daina sat up. “Hey, you said you would show me your magic!”

 

“Oh yeah, I almost forgot.” Yeracenna looked around the room for something she could use. Her eyes rested on a white origami bird sitting on the windowsill. “Look,” she pointed, “keep your eyes on the bird.”

 

Daina’s eyes followed Yeracenna’s finger to the windowsill. The paper bird stretched its eings and shook its head. To Daina’s delight, the bird flapped its wings and flew to the center of the room, circling around Yeracenna’s head.

 

“Ooooooh!” gasped Daina. The bird flapped its way onto the windowsill, resuming its original position.

 

Daina’s expression pleased Yereacenna. “Okay, that’s enough for now, time to go to sleep.”

 

“Awww,” complained Daina.

 

Yeracenna turned the light off, closing Daina’s door.

 

 

 

The clock on the nightstand read 3:00 am. It only seemed like a couple of minutes ago that Yeracenna had gotten to bed. Realizing how early it was, she lay there in the dark, waiting, wondering if the unseen entity that had taken to walking up and down the hallway would return.

 

Although she felt guilty about using Renee’s fear of the unknown against her, Yeracenna was perplexed by the appearance of the ghost. Come to think of it, Peaches never mentioned anything about their duplex being haunted so where did this ghost come from? Yeracenna wondered if communication was possible. Maybe this one was friendly.

 

Yeracenna failed to notice her bedroom door slowly opening. Something bumped softly against the foot of her bed. Yeracenna stiffened. What was that, the ghost? She could feel the weight of a body sitting down at the edge of the bed. Omigod, omigod, omigod! Don’t panic, think, think!

 

“Hello?” whispered Yeracenna. “Who are you?”

 

Whatever was sitting on the edge of the bed stayed where it was but seemed to be listening.

 

“Can you talk or make a noise?”

 

The weight shifted but continued to sit.

 

“I wish I knew who you were or at least what you want,” said Yeracenna.

 

The invisible guest got up from the bed and walked out the door into the hallway. Yeracenna got out of bed and stood still. “Wait! I just want to help!”

 

After a few moments of nothing, Yeracenna sighed. The digital clock read 3:45 am. Too energized to go to sleep, Yeracenna headed to the kitchen to get a snack. When she flipped the switch on the wall, the rude light revealed a disturbing sight. A glass of milk had spilled all over the countertop and was dripping to the floor. Did ghosts need to drink?

 

 

 

When Yeracenna got out of bed Tuesday morning, she found Peaches sitting at the dining room table folding some clothes and putting them into a suitcase. Peaches looked up at Yeracenna briefly and continued packing what looked like Jim’s suitcase.

 

“I see we have a new television. Where did it come from?” asked Peaches.

 

“I don’t know. Someone left it at the door,” offered Yeracenna.

 

Peaches continued to pack Jim’s suitcase. After several silent moments, she paused.

 

“I have to bring him some clean clothes,” said Peaches without looking up. “He’s conscious now but the doctor said he’s not ready to leave the hospital yet, some kind of neurological shock has left him close to being a vegetable. Hmmph, why should I be stuck nursing him back to health when I’ve got my whole life ahead of me? It will take years for him to recover. I’m taking his stuff and leaving it at the hospital.”

 

Yeracenna looked down at her feet. Peached continued to talk, her speech carefully paced, a warning sign that Yeracenna recognized all too well.

 

“They say he’s lucky to be alive but it’s going to be awhile before he regains his motor skills. He has several broken bones caused by an unusual impact that I had a difficult time explaining.”

 

Yeracenna wanted to yell at the top of her lungs that it wasn’t her fault. She wanted to scream at Peaches that Jim had attacked her and Yeracenna didn’t quite know what happened after that. What did it matter? Peaches never listened anyway. She would take Jim’s side like she always did.

 

Yeracenna clenched her fists, her face hot with anger. She raised her head and glared back at Peaches. This time, Yeracenna wasn’t going to back down. “You never did ask me about my side of the story, not once. You care more about him than you do about us,” said Yeracenna through clenched teeth.

 

Peaches got to her feet but stayed where she was. Yeracenna’s eyes grew dark, her posture menacing. Dread crept along Peaches’ spine.

 

“You never asked how I got these marks on my face or how Jim’s fingerprints are still across my neck,” Yeracenna continued. “Why should you care if he tried to strangle me when you won’t stop him from doing it to you?”

 

Peaches was taken aback, her mouth opening and closing without a word.

 

Yeracenna took a step forward. “Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong with me? I think you know.”

 

Peaches flinched. Yeracenna’s anger was mounting, a stray spark escaped from Yeracenna’s clenched fists. Peaches stared at her daughter, today was the day she feared would come. Today Yeracenna was asking about the family’s dirty little secret. Peaches regained her posture, wringing her hands roughly. “You think you can handle it, do you? You have no idea what’s in your blood and when you do, you’ll wish you were never born. This is your father’s fault! If I had known what he was, I’d have never wasted my time.”

 

Yeracenna came close to spitting. “Maybe it was he who shouldn’t have wasted his time with you.”

 

The vein on Peaches’ forehead pulsed. “You want to know what’s wrong with you? Okay, thank your father’s side of the family for passing on their curse. You think I want the whole world to know that I have a daughter who’s a freak?”

 

“What are you talking about? What curse?” demanded Yeracenna.

 

Peaches shook her head. “I’ve done everything I could to keep it a secret but your father’s blood keeps popping up in you. You’re every bit just like them, unnatural. Even he couldn’t handle it. He abandoned us when you were two years old. The coward didn’t stick around long enough to see your sister come into this world! If it weren’t for you, my life would be different right now!”

 

“I don’t care what you say!” screamed Yeracenna. “No matter how many times you say I’m a freak, I’ll find out who I am and what I’m supposed to be. You’re the coward! I’m not afraid of you or Jim! If you want to waste your time with a loser then go ahead, but if he ever touches me or my sister or brother, I’ll kill him!”

 

All the color drained from Peaches’ face. She shoved the rest of Jim’s clothes into his suitcase and snapped it shut. Glaring back at Yeracenna, Peaches dragged the suitcase to the front door. “Don’t wait up!” spat Peaches, opening the front door and throwing the suitcase out, slamming the door behind her.

 

Yeracenna sank to her knees. Peaches must never find out about Daina. If Renee was special too then she would have to be kept a secret as well. No telling what Peaches would do now.

 

Yeracenna felt like she was being watched. She looked behind her to see Renee and Daina standing together. “How long have you two been standing there?”

 

“Long enough to see Mom leaving with a suitcase,” replied Renee. “Where’s she going?”

 

“She’s taking Jim’s stuff to the hospital. I think she’s finally breaking up with him. It’s over, Renee. He won’t be coming back here,” stated Yeracenna.

 

Daina looke alarmed. “My daddy went away?”

 

Yeracenna stood up and kneeled at Daina’s side. “Uh, he’s in the hospital. He’s sick and has to get better. Don’t cry Daina, don’t cry! Everything will be okay, I promise!”

 

Daina’s sobbing only made Yeracenna feel worse. She stood up and scooped her brother into her arms and carried him to his room. Renee followed and leaned against the doorway. Yeracenna sat with Daina on his bed and let him cry for as long as he needed to, hugging him close to her. Yeracenna waited patiently for over an hour. Daina eventually stopped sobbing. Yeracenna stroked his hair and watched him fall asleep. She shifted her weight and gently laid her brother down to sleep. She eased herself off the bed and crept quietly from the room, letting the door close softly. Yeracenna rested her head against the wood before releasing her grip on the doorknob.

 

Yeracenna found Renee sitting at the dining table, staring out of the window. Yeracenna leaned against the sink and crossed her arms over her chest, looking for the right words to say.

 

“I’m glad he’s gone,” murmured Renee. “Maybe things will be better now.”

 

Yeracenna rubbed her forehead. “Maybe,” she said quietly.

 

Renee cocked her head in Yeracenna’s direction. “Is it true what Mom said?”

 

“Is what true?”

 

“You know, about our father being a freak and stuff.”

 

“Oh, you heard that, huh? Don’t believe it, Renee. I don’t believe anything she says.”

 

Renee resumed looking out the window. “You think she’d be happy if she never had us?” Renee’s voice quivered.

 

Yeracenna looked at the wall in front of her. “I don’t know. Somehow I don’t think she’s happy with anything.”

 

Tears trickled down Renee’s face, dripping into her hands folded across her lap. Yeracenna glanced at her sister and watched Renee do something strange with her hands. When the tears dropped into Renee’s hands, Renee swirled them around in her palm, watching them form into beads. Yeracenna took an anxious step closer, wondering what her sister was doing. The expression on Renee’s face had changed to one Yeracenna had never seen before.

 

“Sometimes I think it would’ve been better if I was never born,” breathed Renee.

 

Yeracenna watched the beads of tears in Renee’s hands crystallize. They rolled like diamonds in Renee’s hands.

 

“Renee,” whispered Yeracenna, “what are you doing?”

 

Renee looked up at Yeracenna as though coming out of a trance. Renee stared back down at her hands and held them up to Yeracenna. “I guess I’m a freak too.”

 

Yeracenna was quiet for a moment “I guess we all are, Renee. How long have you been able to do that?”

 

Renee thought about it. “I don’t know. I don’t do it all the time, sometimes I don’t even know I’m doing it.”

 

Yeracenna pointed at Renee’s hands. “Are those real diamonds?”

 

Renee picked up a teardrop and held it out to Yeracenna. “It’s just ice.”

 

Yeracenna took the drop and examined it closely. “Magic.”

 

Renee gave her sister a quizzical look. “Magic?”

 

“Yeah, that’s what Daina thinks we are.”

 

Renee’s eyes opened wide. “You mean….”

 

“That’s right. Daina’s just like us.”

 

“Whoa,” whistled Renee.

 

Yeracenna handed the teardrop back to Renee. “We have to keep you and Daina a secret from mom.” Yeracenna held a hand up when Renee looked like she was about to protest. “Just listen for a sec. It’s bad enough she knows about me, what do you think life will be like around here if she knew all three of us were, well, different?”

 

Renee nodded absently. “Secret, right.”

 

Yeracenna had an idea. “Hey, why don’t we go outside when Daina gets up? I’m tired of being cooped up in here all day.”

 

Renee smiled. “Yeah, that’s a good idea.” Renee got up from the table and deposited her frozen tears into the sink on her way to the bedroom to change her clothes.

 

 

 

Daina didn’t nap for very long. He was awake and hungry as usual. Yeracenna made a quick meal of grilled cheese sandwiches and shuffled her siblings outside. Yeracenna wanted to cheer them up after what happened this morning.

 

“Well, what do you feel like doing today?”

 

Renee stood in front of the duplex and looked around. “It’s kind of hot out here. What about the lake?”

 

“Yeah, the lake!” piped Daina.

 

“Alright then,” replied Yeracenna.

 

The trio took their usual route down to the lake and found several picknickers scattered about.

 

“Can we get wet?” asked Daina.

 

“Go ahead but don’t go out too far,” warned Yeracenna.

 

Renee and Daina made a beeline down to the swimming area and took off their sandals. The water was warm in the shallows. Renee and Daina splashed their way back and forth on the beach.

 

Yeracenna cautiously looked around her, wondering if the little man she met no so long ago lurked nearby. She found a nice grassy spot in the shade of an old maple tree to sit under. Yeracenna had a clear view of the whole area from here. She watched as Renee and Daina kicked water at each other, then chase each other up to the playground.

 

Yeracenna saw a young family escorting a little boy into the water. He must’ve been about a year old. I wonder what it’s like to be in a normal family. Yeracenna leaned back against the maple trunk and closed her eyes. She listened to the happy sounds of summer, people splashing in the water, kids laughing and shouting at each other. Ducks were quacking at the other end of the lake, probably competing for breadcrumbs.

 

Yeracenna started to doze off but something pelted her on the shoulder. She opened her eyes to see what it was and found a small pinecone in her lap. She picked it up and tossed it away, determined to take a short nap. Another pinecone landed on her head followed by a hissing sound. “Pssssst!”

 

Yeracenna’s eyes flew open. Oh no! Not him! Yeracenna leaned forward and looked up. Sitting in the lowest branch among the foliage sat Qwerk, waving to her. Yeracenna glanced about, hoping no one else was watching.

 

“Hey, I’m talking to you!” yelled Qwerk.

 

“What do you want?”

 

Qwerk clutched his branch when a small breeze whisked past. “I need you to do me a favor. See that old guy walking across the dock?”

 

Yeracenna watched the dock and noticed several old guys on the dock.

 

“The one with the long braids and wearing a short sleeved plaid shirt, you see him?”

 

Yeracenna checked again and sure enough, the man that fit Qwerk’s description was making his way across the dock to Yeracenna’s side of the lake.

 

“What about him?” asked Yeracenna, squinting up at Qwerk.

 

“I need you to give him this message.” Qwerk held out a folded up scrap of leather and let it drop down to Yeracenna. Yeracenna caught it and stood up. “Hurry!” squealed Qwerk.

 

Yeracenna hesitated for a moment then sprinted across the beach. She slowed her pace as the old man stepped off the cement dock and onto the sandy beach. He started to turn left when Yeracenna caught up with him.

 

“Excuse me, sir?” she asked.

 

The old man turned to face Yeracenna. He had a kind face that seemed familiar somehow.

 

“Yes?” he replied.

 

“Uh, I was asked to give you a message.” Yeracenna held out the scrap of leather and waited for the man to take it.

 

The old man raised an eyebrfow agt her outstretched hand but took the scrap and put it in his shirt pocket. He studied Yeracenna for a moment before speaking “Thank you.”

 

“You’re welcome,” answered Yeracenna. There was an awkward silence before Yeracenna turned to leave.

 

The old man watched Yeracenna walk across the beach to her place beneath the maple tree. Yeracenna sat down and looked back at him. The old man turned and continued heading to the leftg of the lake towards an old cabin nestled in the trees. Yeracenna looked up at the branch Qwerk previously hung from but he wasn’t there. “Weird,” she sighed.

 

 

Yeracenna found another box waiting in front of the duplex door. Something inside smelled really good. Renee picked the box up while Yeracenna slid her house key into the doorknob and opened the door. Renee deposited the box on the dining table and opened it.

 

“Hey!” she exclaimed. “There’s barbecue in here!”

 

Daina scrambled into his usual chair and waited to be served. Yeracenna brought plates and forks to the table. Renee pulled warm foil pouches out of the box and set the box on the floor. Yeracenna opened one to find barbecued chicken and Renee opened another that contained fresh baked cornbread. Yeracenna put a drumstick on her brother’s plate and a thigh on hers. She passed the pouch of chicken to Renee and Renee passed the cornbread to Yeracenna. Daina hummed while he ate. Yeracenna thought this was the best tasting food she ever had. “Guess we didn’t need the forks,” she smacked.

 

Renee wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. “I wonder who keeps leaving us boxes of food?”

 

After dinner, Yeracenna made her siblings trek into the bathroom to wash up. Yeracenna wrapped up the remaining food and put it into the refrigerator. She picked up the box and turned it in her hands, looking for a note as to who left it but it was blank just like the last one. Yeracenna didn’t know when Peaches would be coming back but decided it would be a good idea to go to bed early.