Allison felt the moist, fresh grass beneath her bare toes and against her legs; she inhaled the scent of pines and the smell of earth, still wet from a light spring rain. The sun gently warmed her hair and penetrated the back of the thin cotton dress.
“I’m back,” she whispered to herself as she walked through the pine-encircled meadow toward the Thompson cabin.
“Becky! Becky, wait up!” called a familiar voice.
Allison turned and saw Joshua emerging from under the pines. He ran through the tall meadow grass, jumping over fallen trees and branches. He was wearing the same baggy pants and plaid flannel shirt he had worn when she first met him.
“Becky, you’re late.” His gray eyes twinkled with mischief.
Allison stared incredulously at the boy. “You’re all right.”
“Course I’m all right. Why wouldn’t I be? Stop playing, Becky.” Joshua gave her an impish grin, his eyes laughing all the while. He tugged at one of her braids, drawing her toward him. “Come on back before your mama sees.”
Allison lifted a hand to touch his face, to make sure he was really there, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the thicket of pines. She was too stunned from seeing him alive and unharmed to resist.
She let Joshua lead her away from the meadow to the pines. As they were entering the thicket, a woman’s loud voice shattered the peaceful silence. “Rebecca Lee! Come on home, now. Rebecca!”
“Oh, Becky—I told you we wouldn’t have time.” Joshua hung his head.
It’s all happening again, she thought. Exactly as before.
Allison grabbed his shoulders. “What day is this?”
“What does it matter—”
“Just answer my question, Joshua. What’s the date?”
Joshua shrugged. “Fine. It’s April 1, 1906.”
Allison gave him a wry grin and shook her head. “April Fools’ Day.” How appropriate. This whole thing is a practical joke fate is playing on me.
“Stop wasting time, Becky.” Joshua turned Allison toward the cabin. “You’d best git, or she’ll find out about us.”
Allison’s mind raced. She was getting a second chance to change the past. This time she knew what would happen if she failed. “No, Joshua, I’m not—”
“Don’t argue, Becky. Remember what happened last time?”
“Rebecca!” Sadie’s voice grew closer.
“I’d better scat, Becky.” Joshua turned. “Same time, same place, next week—don’t be late!”
“No, Joshua. This time, I’m going with you.”
Joshua stopped and stared in disbelief. “What?”
Allison grabbed his arm and pulled him into the woods. “Hurry, she’ll be here any second.”
“What’s gotten into you, girl?” Joshua said, panting, after they were safely away from Sadie Thompson. “I’ve never seen you acting like this. Running away from your ma...”
“Listen to me, Joshua.” Allison turned him toward her and took his face in her hands. “Look into my eyes.”
Joshua’s clear gray eyes searched hers. His dimples deepened as the impish grin grew.
“Who am I?” Allison held her breath for the answer.
Joshua’s eyes opened wide. “Who are you? What kind of craziness is that? You’re Becky Lee Thompson, same as always.”
Allison heaved a sigh of bitter disappointment. He doesn’t remember me. The fishing hole, playing in the stream, holding hands in the woods—it’s never happened. I’ll have to start over, trying to get him to trust me, to believe me. And he may never feel the same. But if I’m to save his life and Becky’s, I’m going to have to make him believe me!
“Joshua, try again, please ... don’t you see something else ... something different?”
“I see you actin’ crazy.”
“Have I ever acted like this before?”
Joshua’s brow wrinkled. “Well, no ... can’t say’s you have. For the past hour you’ve been pulling and pushing and hiding and running. And asking crazy questions.”
“I guess”—Joshua’s grin deepened—“your eyes are kinda fiery...”
“Yes! Fiery, that’s a start—fiery.”
“Becky—”
At that moment, a gray-and-black ball of fur bolted from under a bush and landed at their feet. Sitting in begging position, the little raccoon covered his masked eyes with tiny black claws.
“Bubba!” Allison squealed with delight. She stooped down and scratched Bubba’s head.
“You know Bubba?” Joshua squatted next to Allison.
“Sure, you introduced us when—I mean...” Allison glanced around. “We must be close to Magda’s.”
“Of course, we’re close to Magda’s—you know that.” Joshua paused, his eyebrows furrowed. “You having another spell, Becky?”
“Enough about the spells, Joshua.” Allison stood up. “I’m sick of hearing about those stupid spells.”
“Sorry, I just meant—You’re acting awfully peculiar. When did you start liking animals?”
“Joshua, I have a lot to tell you. But first, take me to Magda’s. She can help me explain.”
Allison was surprised at how comforting it felt to be back at Magda’s, surrounded by the smells of dried herbs and flowers and candle wax. While Bubba napped in his corner, Magda served her guests a hearty fish soup with coarse brown bread and goat’s cheese.
When they had finished eating, Allison turned to Magda. “I had Joshua bring me here today because I need your help.”
Magda’s serene expression remained unchanged. “How may I help you, Becky?”
Now that the moment had arrived, Allison didn’t know where to start. Last time, the truth almost came out by itself, through a natural chain of events. This time, she’d have to force the truth on them, unless she could get Magda to use her powers. But how? The bruised-arm incident hadn’t happened yet. And if she had her way, it wouldn’t happen at all.
“I ran away from Sadie—I mean Mama.”
“Ah,” Magda said. She continued to watch Allison with an interested but untroubled gaze.
Joshua, on the other hand, was leaning forward on his elbows. His gray eyes were narrowed and serious.
“There’s so much I have to tell you both ... so much I need you to believe. I don’t know how...” Allison looked down at her hands.
Magda leaned forward. “Has the danger begun, Becky?”
Allison’s head snapped up. “Yes! The danger is coming—it’s soon. I don’t have much time.”
“Whoa,” said Joshua, “what danger? What are you two talking about?”
“Ten calma, Joshua,” Magda replied softly. “Let Becky speak.”
“How can I stay calm when Becky’s in danger?”
“Magda,” said Allison, ignoring Joshua’s outburst, “take my hands. Maybe you can see something.”
Magda scooted her chair closer to Allison. She took the girl’s hands in hers and closed her eyes. Soon she was swaying and moaning. Joshua knelt beside them, glancing back and forth from Allison to Magda.
Magda stopped swaying and began to straighten her body. Slowly, she opened her eyes and gazed not so much at Allison as through her, as though she weren’t there. Her beautiful eyes seemed hollow, blind. Allison felt an iciness growing in the pit of her stomach. Magda’s gaze traveled up, above Allison’s head, then around her, following the outline of Becky’s body.
“What do you see, Magda?” whispered Joshua.
Magda’s gaze kept traveling around Becky’s body. “Your spirit has an aura of danger ... of tragedy ... of sorrow and regret. This body has felt a past different from yours, but its future is also filled with danger and tragedy. This is not your body. You are la otra—the other.”
Allison exhaled, relieved Magda had once more been able to see the truth.
Joshua sank back on his heels, his face pale. “What are you saying?”
“I’m sorry, Joshua,” Allison began, “I’m not Becky Lee Thompson. My name is Allison Anne Blair. I’m fourteen years old, just as Becky was—is—but I was born in 1982., not 1892.”
Joshua looked from Allison to Magda, then back to Allison. “Is this some ugly April Fools’ joke? Because if it is, it’s not—”
“I’d never joke about something like this. And have you ever known Magda to be so cruel?”
Joshua glanced at Magda and shook his head. He had that look again of having eaten spoiled meat.
“I don’t understand ... What you are saying is so...” He looked back at Allison; his eyes implored her. “You look just like Becky—same braids, same hands, same calico dress...”
Allison nodded. “This is Becky’s body—”
“What?” Joshua cried, jumping away from her as though she were a monster.
“Please, please don’t look at me like that. ”
“How do you expect me to look at you? You’re telling me you’re some spirit thing from the future, and you’ve possessed my Becky’s body?”
Allison hung her head. This was going badly, very badly. It was painful enough to go through this once, but at least the last time, they’d had a chance to bond before she told him the truth. Now all he felt for her was disgust.
“If you’re not Becky, where is she?” he yelled.
Allison steadied herself. “She’s in the future, in 1996, in a hospital, keeping my body alive while I’m here.”
“Why? How?” Joshua turned to Magda. “Does Becky have your powers?”
“I do not think so,” she answered quietly.
Joshua grabbed Allison’s shoulders and shook her. “Then it’s your fault! What have you done to my Becky, you—you, fiend!”
“No, Joshua, please,” Allison cried. “Try to understand—”
“All I understand is that you’re some kind of demon that’s taken possession of my poor, innocent Becky. What did she ever do to you? Why would you want to hurt her? She’d never harm a fly.”
Allison pulled away, sobbing. “I didn’t do this. It isn’t my fault!”
Joshua grabbed her again. “If you’ve hurt Becky, I’ll—I’ll—”
“Shhhhh, Joshua, cálmate, mijo.” Magda eased Joshua away and offered him a chair. “Siéntate and listen to the girl. Let her explain.”
Joshua obeyed and plunked himself onto the chair, glaring at Allison in stony silence.
“Here—Allison, is it? Sit here and calm down.” Magda handed her a lace handkerchief.
Allison blew her nose. “It was her—she sent me here.”
“Becky went to the future and sent you back here in her place?” Joshua’s tone was cold and sarcastic.
Allison nodded.
“How? It just don’t make sense. Except for her spells, Becky’s always seemed normal. How could she travel ninety years into the future?”
“She’s dead,” Allison whispered so softly Joshua had to lean forward.
“What?”
“Becky’s dead.”
Joshua stared at Allison, shaking his head. “No. She can’t be. She’s right here. I’m looking right at her.” Joshua reached out and took her hand. “See, flesh and blood and warm. You’re just having a spell, Becky, that’s all. And I scared you by yelling and grabbing at you.” Joshua knelt at Allison’s feet. “I didn’t mean to yell, Becky. I’m sorry. You gave me a fright, is all. Please come back, Becky, please come back!”
Joshua wrapped his arms around Allison’s waist and held her tight, his head on her lap, sobbing.
Allison lifted a trembling hand and placed it tentatively on his soft curls. Tears slid down her cheeks. “Pm so sorry, Joshua, so sorry.”
Magda came over and knelt beside them, placing her arms around both. The three remained that way for what seemed like hours. The only sounds in the cottage were of the crackling fire and Joshua’s soft sobs. Finally, Magda rose and took Joshua gently by the shoulders, helping him back onto his chair.
When Joshua’s eyes met Allison’s, they held a mixture of sorrow and resignation. She knew he was ready to listen.
Allison told Magda and Joshua about her accident and how Becky had helped her. She explained about her coma and the trips to the past and how Becky kept insisting it was Allison’s turn to help her but never told her how or why. All the while, Joshua listened as though he were in a trance, staring at the floor and saying nothing. Magda listened without expression.
“On my last trip here, I discovered why she needs my help,” Allison told them.
Joshua shifted uneasily in his chair. “Why?” He asked the question as though he’d rather not hear the answer.
“To save her from...” Allison glanced at Magda. “The danger.”
Joshua finally came out of his trance. “What danger? Do you know? Have you seen it?”
Allison nodded. “I lived it,” she whispered. “I felt her dying.”
Joshua’s face scrunched up. He covered his head with his arms and let out a deep, low moan like that of an injured animal. Allison couldn’t stand to see him in such pain. She flew to his side and tried to wrap her arms around him. He stiffened and moved away. Then he bolted from the cottage and disappeared into the woods.
Allison stared at the open doorway. She felt hollow, as though someone had ripped out her insides.
“He hates me,” she said, sinking to the empty chair he’d left behind. It was still warm.
“Give him time, Allison,” Magda said softly. “He’s not thinking about you right now. He’s grieving for the girl he loves.”
Allison winced. Of course be is. He doesn’t even know me. The memories I have of us have never happened, and probably never will.
“Give him time,” Magda repeated.
“Time is the one thing I can’t give him,” Allison said, still staring at the spot where Joshua had disappeared. “If he doesn’t trust me soon, he, too, will die.”