A Blessing In Disguise

written for The Writers Nook contest.

       I looked around the room, nothing seemed unusual but then I caught a glimpse of something through my frosted kitchen window.  At first, I thought I was hallucinating from cabin fever, it was the dead of one of the worst winters seen here in Eastern Pennsylvania in years.  I was also unemployed for nearly two months so I spent most of my days indoors searching the web for jobs with no luck.

           I made my way to the window rubbing my eyes thinking it would wipe this delusion away but it remained. A blue jay was sitting in a tree at the edge of the wooded area behind my house.  It was impossible.  I still stood for what seemed like forever looking on in amazement.  “How could this be?”  I thought to myself.

           With the wind chill the temperature was in the minuses but I was compelled to step outside to take an even closer look.  Maybe it was a joke and someone put a stuffed bird in my tree though I could see it moving.  Again I thought it was just my mind playing a trick on me.  Quickly I grabbed my parka and headed out into the blistering cold.

           I walked as softly as I could so I wouldn’t disturb my illusion in the tree but the sound of frozen snow and dead leaves crunched beneath my feet.  Much to my surprise when I got to within twenty yards I could still see the bird through m frozen breath rising through the air.  At that point I could also hear it singing away like it was a clear spring day.

           I could feel the numbness setting in on my nose and the cold air was making it hard to breathe, but I was mesmerized by the phenomenon before me.  All was still and quiet as I just listened to the tune being sung. Then all at once the bird stopped singing and could swear it looked right at me tilting its head before taking off into the woods like a bullet from a gun.

           At that point I started back for my house for some hot cocoa by the fire while watching a good action movie but after ten steps I stopped.  Turning back towards the spot where the bird once sat I again questioned my sanity and wondered if this was all my minds way of dealing with too much isolation.  Whatever the case was something compelled me to head into the woods.  

           I began my descent into the bare trees trying to avoid loose branches and knocking more snow on my already icy face.  Again the only sound was that of the snow crunching and the twigs snapping from the weight of steps.  I ventured in for almost five minutes before stopping and thinking to myself, “what the hell am I doing?”  Everything was still and quiet.  I had to stop this madness within my imagination.  As I turned to go back a sound cut through the heavy air and echoed off the trees shattering the frozen silence like glass.

           Listening intently I again felt more and more of my mind was slipping away for the sound could not be what I thought it was. A woodpecker?  There was no way.  I cover my nose with my gloved hands and thought to myself.  First the blue jay now this.

           Despite my skepticism of my sanity somehow I was compelled to try and follow the sound.  I changed directions many times because the sound seem to come from many directions due to it reflecting off the trees.  My only option was to try and travel in directions that made the knocking sound louder.

           I had to have been wandering around for nearly half an hour when I almost zoned in on the source of the sound when something at the foot of a tree caught my eyes.  At nearly forty feet away it was hard to make out with my vision beginning to be impaired by the weather.  It was bright red and looked something like a backpack.  As I got closer I noticed movement from the object.  I got within yards before I realized it was a child curled into a ball.  The red was the jacket he or she was wearing.

           I slowly got up close and knelt down, “Excuse me are you alright?”

           A rosy-cheeked little boy looked up at me.  He had to be around the age of five and had on a red knit cap the same color as his jacket.  The boy just stared and shivered.

           “What’s your name?”  I said gently so I wouldn’t frighten him.  Still no reply.  “Do you know where your family is?”  He remained silent but did acknowledge me by shaking his head side to side.

           “We need to get you outta here.”  I took off my jacket and wrapped it around the boy and picked him up.  I prayed that my thermals and flannel shirt would be enough to keep my going long enough to find his mom or dad, maybe even both.

           He clung so tight around my neck that the hood of his jacket was pressed against my face nearly suffocating me, but with the current conditions it was a bit of a relief as well.  I began my journey not exactly sure of where I was going.  Again at the time I wasn’t sure why I didn’t just turn back to my home and call the police to take care of it, but something within me kept me going.   I stumbled several times tripping on logs because my vision was impaired by the weather and the young lad in my arms.  My legs began to feel heavy and I wasn’t sure how much strength I had to keep carrying the child.

           Suddenly by the grace of God I heard voices in the distance shouting something.  My adrenaline raced and it felt like I was flying as I picked up speed racing toward the voices.  

           “Toby… Toby!!!”  I could hear being shouted by two different voices, one was male and the other female.  

           A sense of relief washed over me.  I then caught a glimpse of a man in a blue ski jacket and knit cap.  “Over here!!”  I shouted as I collapsed to my knees.

           

           “We can’t thank you enough for finding our boy.”  The gentleman said as he handed me a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

           I sipped it not caring how hot it was.  “You are welcome.  I’m just glad he is alright.”

           “By the way I am Darin and this is my wife Charlotte.”  I exchanged handshakes with both of them.

           “I am Phillip,”  I replied through chattering teeth.

           “Well thank you again, Phillip.  Or do you prefer Phil?”  Darin asked.

           “Either one is fine.”  Still sipping the cocoa.

           “We are so grateful for…” Charlotte began to cry.  “I am sorry this is just…” she darted out of the room.

           “It’s been hard on both of us.  He disappeared this morning while playing outside.  My wife feels she’s to blame cause she was out there doing some chores and lost sight of him.  I tried to tell her it was an honest mistake.”

           “I am sure she will feel better now that he has returned.”  I tried to assure him.

           “Yeah, I am sure she will.  So tell me?  What were you doing out in the middle of the woods on a day like this.”

           “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.  Let’s just say I am sure God was watching over your boy.”

           “I believe you are right.”  He quickly wiped a tear away.  “So what can we do for you?   We owe you big time.”

           “Forget about it.  I am just glad everything worked out.”  I took a big gulp of the cocoa now that it had cooled a bit.  It felt good traveling down my throat.

           “No really.  Please let me do something.  I have to repay you.”

           “Honestly the only thing I need is a job right now.  Been unemployed for a couple of months.”

           “Well what do you do?” he asked.

           “I am normally a mechanic but at this point I will do just bout anything.”

           “Seriously.  You know I own the service station over on Gerard Avenue.  You want a job you got it.”

           “Oh my God.”  I could feel a big smile cross my face.  “You don’t have to.”

           “It would be my pleasure, really.  I could really use another good mechanic.”

           “How do you know I am good?”

           “Well, you certainly got determination, that alone shows great character.  Say why don’t we get both of you to the hospital to get checked out?”

           As we stepped out the front door I looked up to the sky and said a silent prayer that God was looking out for me and that little boy.

Reviews

[Ellen Hammond]

I thought I had written a review to this months ago. Perhaps this is the one that the computer crashed just as I hit the submit button. This is a wonder story and I am glad I came back to read it again. They say everything happens for a reason, and I do believe that.....your story reinforces that belief. Love the content, imagery, and the conversations too. Great job, Dale!

[SM Davis]

I like the doubt given at the end ... it leaves it open for a continuation. Nicely done!!! I enjoy reading your literary works. Your poetry is great, but your strength is definitely in the fiction arena. :0)

[Jenny Nelson]

Well written; easy to follow. Certainly kept my attention and was a very pleasant story. I do indeed believe in miracles, though sometimes they are hard to come by. I liked our use of the birds leading the man to the little boy. It all works withing creation. Beautiful story.

[Helena Parris]

Palewriter told me about this post. What a beautiful story! At first I was interested, then curious, then drawn in, then amazed, then delighted. A great job!

[cest la vie]

Dale,
My kind of story. This has such a wonderful message. When we hear that whisper in the universe (in this case the birds) we need to pause and listen. His determination(by listening) made him a messenger. This is a wonderful story and I thank you so much for sharing this with us. Yes, very well done my friend.

Lynne

[!FireCracker!]

Now that' just sweet, A feel good tale. Letting us know that not only are there still good people out there, but that there's always someone watching out for us.

I was hooked from the bird, very well done indeed to keep my spazstic attention. Ellen's right, everything does happen for a reason!

[Michael X]

I'm not much of a story writer, but this here needs serious work in form and function you should reclassify it as a prose piece, but then again, with a little tweeking, you could turn it into a long poem
i like the idea but i got lost about midway through, keep trying dale you get the hang of it one day.
anyhow it has many great points of character initiation, I'll rate it a 60

[Southern Siren]

I'm a fan of descriptive writing. The way you described the scene, such as "As I turned to go back a sound cut through the heavy air and echoed off the trees shattering the frozen silence like glass," made me actually see the trees and breath of the character. I could almost feel the cold. Great job and great story!

[Georgia Gypsy]

I very much enjoyed this piece. You have done such a great job with the flow and movement of the story.
And i love a happy ending!
kelmail

[Doku]

great write, well thoughout and captivating this is, well done!