As the dinner bell chimed, it was a celebration to remember. Someone yelled. "COME AND GIT IT!" Everyone piled to the tables on both sides of the room. On the table, there was Roast beef tender as you like it, mustard greens, mashed potatoes and gravy, assorted breads hot and fresh with warm apple butter. Mumm, Mumm, it was a feast, to be sure, as everyone piled their plates high.
Knowing that Aunty M. would make them eat more, they took the liberty of piling it on themselves as they returned to the table. She smiled and nodded her approval. Ma's eyes nearly fell right out of her head seeing their plates, but she didn't say a word as she watched them eat every last bite, including dessert.
As they were finishing up, the new Sheriff Whitmore stood up to the podium, banging the gavel to get everyone's attention towards him, which wasn't hard considering the Kitenge he was wearing. It was definitely an eye-stopper; it could blind birds in mid-flight.
He unfolds a piece of paper in front of him, clearing his throat. "First of all, we'd like to welcome home my colleague and friend, Sheriff Downing, and his boys and thank them for all this lumber and more by saying "Howdy and TIMBER!" as everyone laughs. "Second of all, we have some new business to take care of now that they're back," he looks at the boys at the table.
"I have been informed that our town needs mail carriers and newsboys for our newspaper, the Downing Pride Gazette. The names that have been chosen are Frank, Mark, Peter, Will, Robert, and EJ starting tomorrow. When you get out of school, of course. Wait, today's Friday. Well, then we will see you boys first thing in the morning," he said, going on about his business of the day.
The boys nearly choked on the words as someone slapped them on the back. "Mail Carriers, Newsboys."
Pa whispered. "Don't sweat the small stuff, boys," as three aunts and Grandma beamed like cats. It had been a long day for all of them, and it was taking its toll as they all began to yawn. Pa and Ma led them all back home to their little cottage.
Pa and the uncles were carrying the three little boys against their shoulders sleepily, with Ma right behind them so she could tuck them all into bed. Ma drew the curtains so the children could change for bed. It wasn't much, but they didn't mind as they all climbed into their beds. Richard was above EJ in his bunk bed, Will and Robert in theirs, and the three little ones were all sharing one bed.
His two sisters were on the other side of the curtain in another bed, and Ma and Pa were just across the hall. What more could a family ask for, to be under one roof, safe and snug and tucked in by their Ma?
All is silent as the soft rain pitters patter against the window glass. Lightning flashes against the sky. EJ, tossing in his bunk below, screams as he clenches his heart. The boys jump out of their beds, the girls dashing in from the other side, and Ma and Pa race to his bedside.
EJ's face turns pale, his eyes open with dark crystals. Strange words as a strangle whisper upon his lips. "Blood moon rises, Nassau Visas tronto. Night of the shadow, come forth, the night of the dead, I call upon you," EJ screams as the cold sweat pours down his face. "Rawna Vena clineas. The darkness, I call upon you. Death rides the sky once more." EJ screams out in pain; his eyes turn towards the window, and he calls out. "Master, I hear you."
Everyone looks towards the window, seeing the shape of a man with red glowing eyes. Pa dashes outside around to the window, finding him gone as he dissipates into the night. Pa rushes back inside; EJ's eyes are clear as he shakes in Ma's arms, crying with fear.
Pa looks down around his bed and a small black knife dipped in his son EJ's own blood. Pa carefully picks up the knife, looks at it, and then at Ma and the boys. Ma, trying to calm EJ in her arms, rocks him back to sleep. "Shush now, it's alright," shaking a little as she wrapped EJ's wound from the knife where someone had sliced the palm of his hand open.
Robert arrives back with Doc, and Aunty M. Pa shows her the knife as she gasps, looking towards the window. Aunty M. quickly grabbed Wayne by the arm as he tried to explain what happened, holding the knife in his hands.
Doc came over to the table where Wayne stood, looking at the window where, just moments ago, a figure stood—now gone. "I think he'll be alright now," Doc replies. Martha placed the covers over his shoulders.
EJ, now sound asleep after, drinks Doc's special sleeping tonic. "Thanks, Doc," Pa said, shaking a little as he shook Doc's hand. He thanked him for coming so quickly.
"Strange?" Doc said, looking towards the window. "Yep, I'll inform Sheriff Whitmore and the Mayor," Doc replies.
"Thanks, Doc," Wayne replied as he closed the thick wooden door and swung down the latch, noticing long scratch marks, like claw marks, on the door.
Alright, children, back to bed," Ma told the children with a shaky voice as she gazed quickly at the window, meeting Wayne's as her eyes rested upon him.
"Yes, Ma," the children reply.
Pa whispers in the boy's ear, giving orders to watch his son EJ closely. "Yes, Pa, yes, sir."
Richard takes the first watch and sits next to EJ on the bed. He nods to Robert and Will as they climb back into their bunk beds.
Ma, Pa, and Aunty M. went into the next room to talk, Aunty M. staring at the strange knife. "Wayne, we must watch him closely, something's afoot."
"Do you have any idea what, Aunty M., or who or what?" Wayne asked.
"No, not a clue. I know one thing," Aunty M. replied, looking at this knife. "It's not from around these parts. The best thing we can do for him now is carry on, hoping we can head it off whatever it is." Aunty M. said, taking the knife and wrapping it up. "I'll take care of this; you just keep a close eye on him."
Aunty M. knew more than she was letting on as she left the house and contacted Derrick by drawing a symbol in the dirt known as the shadow wing of light. The symbol glowed and transformed into a bird after speaking Kala-noss. She handed the bird the note, which it took in its beak and flew to its destination. It blinked out of sight and became nothing but bright stars that seemed to swirl in the air, and just like that, the bird was gone.
She only had to wait a few minutes before Derrick appeared out of nowhere, scaring the hell right out of her. She quickly explained what had occurred moments ago as she handed over the knife to him.
He gasped as his hands shook. He wrapped the knife in white cloth and placed it inside a small brown chest as it glowed, sealing it shut. He said, "I will send someone to watch over the boy and the Downing's. Stay close, and don't let him or them out of your sight until we can determine what the knife is used for." She blinked, and just like that, he was gone.
* * * *
The coming of the dawn was silent without Mr. Rooster crowing. Even though he was crowing in the distance, he could not be heard; there were no bells or whistles to jar them out of bed. Instead, the children were awakened by a warm, motherly kiss and a nudge. "Good morning, son, good morning, daughters. Breakfast will be ready soon."
"Thanks, Ma, thanks, ma'am," as the boys dress and prepare for the day. Yawning and stretching, they knock first before going into the bathroom to wash up.
Their sisters thank them with a kiss on their cheek, telling them. "It's all yours, boys. There's plenty of clean towels and soap over by the sink."
They all hurried to get cleaned up after all six of them for one tiny bathroom. Richard and Robert could see they would have to make a schedule for all of them to use the bathroom, laughing. Of course, there's always the creek and the swimming hole, but soon it will be too cold for that. They quickly went down to breakfast and joined everyone in the living room, where Ma and Pa pulled out two tables from the corners, put them together, and put a tablecloth over them; they all helped set the table.
It was crowded, but they didn't mind, as they were all together. What more could a family ask for from elbow to elbow, side by side? The boys each told them about their trip adventures as they laughed, thinking about Will and Robert falling off logs and Pa and Richard climbing trees.
Ma looked at EJ, wondering about the mischief they had gotten him into. She smiled and laughed because, as promised, not one hair of his head wasn't hurt when he heard about him floating on his little log and driving a wagon around the lumber yard.
They busted a gut when they told them about the sheep ranch, where the boys tried to lasso a pig for dinner. Ma looked right at Pa with those cold eyes. Then she looked over at EJ as he replied, "I roped them instead, Ma." She cracked a smile and laughed at the thought.
Then, looking at her boys, they nodded. "It was true, Ma."
That made Ma and everyone laugh even harder. "Well, it sounds like you all had a good time," she said, smiled, "and I'm glad." She said. "Now then, I believe," hearing a knock at the door.
Pa got up from the table and went to the door. "Hello, Sheriff Whitmore. How can I help you?" He said, giving him a wink and looking over at his two boys and their friend Peter. "Oh, that's right. Come in. We were just finishing up."
Robert, Will, and EJ turn around to see them. "You're joking, right?" They all asked.
Nope," as they shake their heads. "Good morning, Martha, ladies. I believe that these three boys and I have some work to do today. They'll be around later to collect their things since they will all stay together for a while. If you don't mind, Martha, they will become roommates for the next two weeks."
"Not to worry, dear, the cottage they will be in is just right next door to yours and mine, so they won't be far. Think of it as camping out, except in a house, which they will have to clean and cook their meals every day, each one," Sheriff Whitmore said, staring down at the six boys,
"Supervised, of course. We don't want them to starve or burn down the place, now do we?" he said with a small chuckle that rattled the beads around his neck.
Wayne pulls Sheriff Whitmore aside and whispers. "Do you think this is a good idea right now?" As they look at EJ.
The sheriff nods back, whispering. "I've taken care of it, Wayne." He nods to the boys around the area of the cottage as they nod back.
The boys hang their heads and follow Sheriff Whitmore out the door to work. Sheriff Whitmore sighs and laughs, putting his arms around the boys laughed as they head towards the newspaper and the post office. "Look, boys, you can either hate the job or love it, but I think you are going to love it and, at the same time, learn something from it. Plus, make a little money on the side."
The boy's face him. "Oh, I see," as he laughed. "That must have slipped my mind," he smiled. "You each will get paid twenty dollars a week," that made them smile, and their eyes light up. "Ten dollars for working for the newspaper and ten dollars, plus tips, for the post office when there is a telegram or packet or package that needs to be rushed across town. Do you think you boys can do that?" He asked.
"Yes, sir," they all reply.
Sheriff laughs. "I think so. Alright, boys, let's go inside and meet your boss of the Downing Pride Gazette."