Chapter Five

 

Jameson went out the back door and tried to ignore the owl. She followed the path between the store and the greenhouse into the woods. The wind died down and as had the flurries. She trained her flashlight ahead and traversed the well-worn path.

She hiked the trail countless times with Berry armed with her camera and ready to shoot. The two would wait until a rabbit or a raccoon or maybe a coyote would appear, so Jameson could snap the photos she would paint later. As a rule, Berry chased off her subjects by barking or leaping out from her hiding spot to scare Jameson.

Jameson smiled at the memory but the sudden pain swept the grin from her face. The tears she held back earlier now flowed like a sudden summer shower. She caught her breath as if punched in the stomach. The thought of Berry made Jameson drop to her knees. A small sob escaped her and she doubled over on the ground. She saw her mother’s face. It was a stranger’s face, stern, and surreal with her head resting upon a ridiculous satin pillow.

It was unusual timing but her grief bounded into the boxing ring. After five years of suppression, Jameson was in for a fight. Uppercut: Berry getting shot and the snow growing red beneath her. Left hook: Finding her mother dead in her bed, looking mystical in the candle’s glow. Right cross: Her mother’s casket as it lowered into the earth and the sound of Jameson tossing in the three ears of corn. Bang bang bang. Three bangs like the sound of the three shots that killed Berry.

Jameson clutched her heart. She was down for the count. “Why? Why now, why now?” she sobbed.

The answer came to her in a Doc Jo Jo wisdomism.

If you refuse to change, the world will change you anyway. Clean house and assess your belongings, keep what you need and toss out the rest. Regret and guilt are wasteful, clutter. Refresh yourself. It is time for renewal.

Jameson heard this, not with her ears, but with her being. “I guess that was a long time coming,” Jameson whispered. She knew her sorrow sprung from the hope.

Jameson composed herself and continued her quest through the woods to find Moon’s owner. She touched the locket around her neck. It was a matter of time until they would meet again.

Jameson spied something on the trail ahead and picked it up. She smiled, knowing she was going in the right direction.

Her raven landed on an erratic branch. It bent and bowed under the bird’s weight.

There is no hurry. She has much to experience yet.

“You watched the entire episode?”

Facilitated and observed.

“Tell me what you’ve seen.”

Close your eyes and I will show you.