Is Cedar there?”
“Hi Phillip,” Mrs. Montgomery answered, and dishes clanked in the background. “She’s here, but she’s up in bed. I think she’s sleeping. I don’t know what’s gotten…”
“Could you check?”
“Well, Phillip, I think she needs her rest.”
“It’s just that I wanted to tell her something.”
“She knows, you won’t meet in the woods tonight, not after today.”
Phillip was silent on the line. He didn’t know she knew about the Order.
“Thanks for your call, Phillip.” Click.
The next morning, right off the dirt road and a bit into their tunnel of trees, three men set to work building a small platform to park the yellow, angular machines. Both the men and the machines were getting ready for the big job of clearing the forest.
Unnatural sounds echoed through the Worcester Woods that morning. Birds took flight, frantic, and even the wind seemed to hurry by. The truck doors clanked open and shut. The engines ran, the saw hummed, the reverse single beeped. Men joked, cursed and moved trees and earth.
All of it in only a hour or two. That was all that was needed to cut down seven trees at the beginning of the trail, and to move the earth from its home under the downed leaves and dew into a neat, flat rectangle. The trees were cut up, heaved into a truck, taken away. Three bulldozers and other equipment were lined up neatly on the new parking area, ready for the next step.
The sun glinted off their yellow, hard metal. All was quiet again in the Worcester Woods after they left. But they would never again be the same. The process had begun.
Cedar walked into school the next day looking ragged. Her hair was matted and in knots, and she walked slower than normal. Phillip watched her come in, and his eyes followed her to her seat. She didn’t even look up, look for him.
Finally, in math, Cedar turned around, and looked at him. Her wild eyes were dull and muted, red. He mouthed, “Are you okay?” to her, and she nodded slowly, and turned back around.
Later in the morning, language arts class began. Cedar knew she had to present her newspaper article to the class, summarizing the important parts. She read the article again to herself. I can do this, she thought. Just focus. You’re fine.
Phillip picked up today’s paper. His summary wasn’t due until tomorrow. He scanned the front page, then turned to the Local section. He read the headline twice, and drew in a quick breath. He looked up at Cedar, whose eyes were downcast, reading fervently, and reviewing her notes. “No, no, no,” he said, as he started reading the article.
“Okay class, it’s time for summary presentations. Please put away your choice reading, and give your attention to our presenters.”
Phillip didn’t budge. His eyes were locked to the page.
“Do I have a volunteer to go first?”
“Cedar!” Phillip called in a strained whisper, “Cedar!” He was going to pass her the newspaper—or hold it up so she could see what it said.
“That was nice of you to volunteer your friend, Phillip.” Mrs. Doneaway smirked as she walked up the aisle. “Cedar, please start us off.”
Cedar slowly made her way to the front of the classroom. Her hair was matted to her head, and her face was a shade of pale ivory. Her eyes were lined with red and her cheeks seemed pulled in, hollow. Her T-shirt was wrinkled and worn. Miranda and Sam snickered as she stood there, looking down at her papers.
“Anytime, Cedar, anytime,” Mrs. Doneaway’s voice called, soaked in sarcasm.
Phillip watched, the newspaper clutched tightly in his hand.
“Increased mercury levels in fish can harm our health,” she read, her voice monotone. “A new study says that the increased level of mercury in tuna and salmon can…”
Cedar stared down at the paper, and started swaying slightly. Phillip held his breath as her voice got softer and softer. Miranda shot Sam a look of excitement.
Cedar started rocking back and forth, her voice barely audible. Her eyes were slits, and she read in a quiet murmur.
Phillip held his breath. Hang in there, Cedar. Just finish this and I’ll show you the paper.
“Cedar, we can’t hear you any—”
Mrs. Doneaway stood up suddenly as Cedar’s head rolled forward first, then the rest of her body followed, as if in slow motion. She came down hard, face first on the linoleum floor with a sickening smack. In an instant, Mrs. Doneaway was by her side, holding her head up. Cedar’s eyes were closed.
Phillip was standing, staring.
“Somebody get the nurse! Quick!” Mrs. Doneaway yelled in a high-pitched, piercing call. Her eyes were wide, scanning the class for help.
Phillip threw down the paper and ran to the office. It landed on the floor, its headline unnoticed. It read, “New development planned for the Worcester Woods.”