chapter 70

HENRY

Henry made Jake drop him off at the bottom of the driveway, and Brae bounded toward him before he had gotten all the way up. Brae knocked him to the ground, his long body wiggling over Henry’s.

“Hi, boy,” said Henry. He buried his face in Brae’s thick fur, breathed in the dog and dirt and pine that he had missed so much.

Mom was in the garden. She ran to Henry and gathered him into her arms.

“Oh, Henry—” she said. “I missed you—”

Henry collapsed onto Mom’s shoulder. Brae ran in circles around them. Henry rested his chin on Mom’s shoulder and squinted up at Mount Mansfield.

I’m back, he mouthed at the hulking mountain.

Mom squeezed him hard. “What an adventure you must have had….” She trailed off. She pulled him upright and stared into his eyes. “Are you okay? What’s wrong? Do you want to tell me about what happened?”

He did. He really did. But he couldn’t remember any of it. Standing under the mountain, its long peaks golden with fall leaves, blindingly bright against the clear blue sky, its base brown and solid and never-ending, its rocks and dirt and the roots of its trees tumbling down and out, extending all the way to Mom’s garden, made Henry’s head feel empty. He looked down at his hand. Osprey’s leash was wrapped around his wrist, like a reminder, like a string tied on a finger.

“Why don’t you come help me weed?” Mom said. “Some Vermont dirt should make you feel better.” She walked toward the garden. “And you can tell me about your trip when you’re ready.”

Brae took off, running in circles around the house, stopping to sniff a few trees and rocks, and then settled at Mom’s side. He licked her bare feet, between her toes. Then he shot a glance at Henry and barked.

“Okay, I’m coming,” said Henry.

Mom pulled a wilted flower out of the ground. “These poor marigolds,” she said. “They look awful.”

Henry knelt down. She was right. The whole garden was a mess. Weeds and grass sprouted up between the flowers everywhere.

“I’ve all but abandoned them this fall, haven’t I?” said Mom. She tucked her nightgown into her sweatpants. She yanked on a weed. Brae pawed at the ground, like he was urging Henry to help, so Henry yanked on the weeds too. “Oh, Henry—” Mom stopped weeding. “Watch this.” She pulled a piece of paper towel out of her pocket. Then she pulled a marigold from the garden and wrapped it in the paper towel, like a present. She put it on the ground next to Brae.

No! No, no, no, no, no—

Mom squeezed one hand into a fist.

No! That wasn’t how Henry did the trick!

Mom held her fist out toward Brae and slowly uncurled her fingers until her hand was flat.

Noooooooooooooooo!

Henry felt himself ignite.

Brae opened the present with his paws and nose. When he was finished, the marigold lay on the ground, not a leaf or a petal destroyed.

The flames in Henry’s belly were so high they licked the back of his throat. They rose from his throat and up into his nose and eyes.

“Henry—” He heard Mom’s voice through the roar inside him, but he couldn’t stop it. He couldn’t stop the heat and he couldn’t stop the memory—

—

“Hey, you wanna see what I’m teaching Brae?” said Henry.

“Another trick?” said Wayne.

“Uh-huh.”

“This dog could join the circus.” Wayne sat up on his sleeping bag. “Okay, let’s see it.”

Henry tore a piece of cheese from the remaining chunk and grabbed a bandanna from the top pocket of his backpack. He wrapped the cheese inside the bandanna. Brae sniffed at it.

“You’re teaching him to eat fabric? That can’t be good for his guts.”

“No.” Henry shoved Wayne. “Watch, all right?” He stood up. “Sit,” he said. Brae sat. “Good boy.” He glanced at Wayne. “Good boy to you too.”

“Shut up.” Wayne swiped at Henry’s leg.

“Okay, okay, I gotta concentrate,” said Henry.

—

“Henry?” Mom’s voice came back into focus.

Henry dug in the dirt with his fingers. He wanted to dig a hole so deep he could lay his burning body in it and smother the flames. He dug some more and hit a rock. Brae whimpered behind him. Henry had to get away.

He grabbed the rock and scrambled to his feet.

“Wayne!” he yelled, running toward the house.

Brae whimpered again.