Song of the Red-Legged Birds: Chapter 36, Part 2: Re-exist
Holly and her mother have a private talk
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With gratitude, Bill
Last week, in chapter 36, Part 1, Holly had a revelation in the woods
Chapter 36, Part 2: Re-exist
The first thing that surprised Holly when she opened the door was the pleasant smell of onions caramelizing. The second was Sheila and Scott setting the dining room table like it was Thanksgiving. Triscuit was napping, her snore sounding like a wind-up toy. The glass and broken chair were gone. The last and most confusing thing was the quiet laughter from the kitchen, her mother’s and Bodhi’s.
She and Takeda stood in the doorway for a moment, transfixed by the scene.
“Tak?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m not going to comment on anything weird anymore. Weird is the new normal.”
“Perfectly understandable. Wow, that smells good,” Takeda said.
Holly ran a hand through her hair and walked to the kitchen, “Mom?”
She found her mother and Bohdi standing side by side at the stove, looking into a pan. Her mother had flowers twisted into her braid. For a lingering moment, she wondered if this was what it was like when her Dad was alive. She cleared her throat, and Diane turned to her.
“Oh, there you are. Sorry,” Diane wiped her hands on her apron. “Can I get you a drink, sweetie?”
“Uh, no, thanks. Can I talk to you in private, please?” Holly said with her fingers splayed.
“Of course!” Diane said.
“Dinner should be ready in about fifteen minutes,” Bodhi said, facing them. He wore a white apron that said, ‘Kiss the Cook’ adorned with red hearts.
“I gave you that…” Holly mumbled under her breath.
“What’s that, hon?” Diane said, rinsing her hands in the sink.
“Nothing.”
Holly left the kitchen and said, “Sheila, could you keep an eye on him for a few minutes, again? Lay off the table setting until I get back.”
“Sure,” Sheila said, adjusting a placemat.
Holly walked upstairs with her mother in tow. They went inside Diane’s bedroom and closed the door. She sat on the perfectly made bed.
“Mom, please sit down.”
Diane smiled and sat close to her.
“What happened with this guy before we got here? And, after you tell me that, can you explain what’s going on right now, in the kitchen?”
“I never lie to you, dear, and I won’t start now. That man scared me, and he was dangerous. I don’t know why he was after you. It didn’t matter. All I could think about at the time was how I could stop, hurt, and kill him if needed. He wasn’t going to get to my daughter while I could draw breath.”
Tears pooled in Holly’s eyes.
“Honey, for a moment, I was running out of options. But then this bird flew at him, and he had a bit of a fit, I guess you’d call it. He became a child in an instant. And, at that moment, I could see something, the remnant of a decent person left deep, very deep inside. A hurt person, a person with scars. I can see you think your Mom’s off on some hippie trip, but I’m very serious.”
“A bird, Mom? A bird scared him?” She said with resignation.
“Yes, why do you seem unsurprised?”
Holly flopped backward on the bed. “I don’t even know where to start. Let me try a short version. Takeda and I have seen a few things the past few days that are…”
Diane laid back on the bed next to her. Mother and daughter both stared at the ceiling for a few moments.
“That are what, honey?”
“That are impossible to believe. One of those things happens to involve birds; another has to do with a tree.” She turned to face her Mother. “Mom, these things we’ve seen, it’s the reason that this guy came here. It’s the reason that he’s after us, or was. And as messed up as this is to say, we’ve got it on good authority that people like him are working for the government. They’re trying to keep this quiet.”
Diane’s eyes widened, and she turned to face Holly, propping herself on an elbow. “What do you mean? The government? I don’t understand.”
“It’s complicated. I’m just glad that you’re okay.” Holly touched Diane’s cheek and avoided a follow-up question. “Mom, I saw how you looked at him. What is it? What did you see? What could you see that would have you cooking dinner with the man who could’ve killed you?”
Diane sat up, and Holly did, too.
“My turn for something hard to believe. The man in the kitchen is not the same one that was here before. I mean, he has the same body, but that person is completely changed or gone. I can see it. I feel it. And, baby, this part is hard to put into words. Something about what did this to him gave me the feeling that it saved you. Does that make sense? I looked into his eyes and saw you falling through the sky, but then you were okay. That happened, didn’t it? Holly, I feel you, like my own heart beating. I’m right, aren’t I?”
Tears were streaming down Holly’s face, and she hugged her Mother, sobbing.
“I don’t understand how you could know it, but yeah, I think something saved me that day when my chutes failed. For a long time, I blocked it out or chalked it up to being lucky. I fell out of the sky and didn’t break a bone. I didn’t have a scratch. There’s something bigger at play here. I thought it just started, but my fall was eight years ago. Do I have, like, a guardian tree or something?” she laughed.
Diane laughed too. “I don’t know, honey, but I like the sound of it. What I saw, what I felt, was something that saved my daughter once before and did it again today. Part of whatever that is, I feel, is downstairs cooking dinner.”
Holly pulled away and looked at her Mom, unable to reply.
“I don’t doubt that the things you’ve seen are a part of this. We’ll get to the bottom of it together, love.”
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
She sniffed. “Do you miss Dad?”
Diane put a hand over her mouth. “Oh yes. I miss that man every day. I don’t care if it sounds silly because it was so long ago, but I still feel him in my heart, just like you. And I see so much of him in you. So much good, so much love, and so much toughness masking a tender, giving soul. It breaks my heart that you didn’t get time with him, but I assure you, the best of him is a part of you.”
Holly sat with that momentarily, closed her eyes, and smiled. Diane handed her a tissue.
“Here comes the awkward subject change,” Diane said with a smirk.
“Oh no you don’t. I go first. I love him, Mom.” She covered her face and peered through her fingers.
“I know sweetie and I’m so happy for you. He seems very nice, and I can tell he loves you too.” Diane cupped Holly’s hand in both of hers.
“I guess he does,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “But don’t get all weird around him, okay? We’ve been friends for a long time, and things recently changed this way. We’re figuring out who we are as a couple amid this… stuff.” She waved a hand.
“I promise not to get all weird,” her mother said, holding in a bursting smile.
“Mom! Try harder.”
“Okay, okay,” Diane shook her head.
“What now? Shouldn’t we still call the cops on this Bodhi person? Even if he has changed, you shouldn’t take in stray murderers.”
“Let’s see how it goes. Enjoy dinner. If you and I think he’s not dangerous afterward, I’m not calling the police. You know this about me. Everyone gets a second chance. A third if need be. His intent was horrible, but I don’t give up on anyone. Nor did your father. I know it’s hard to make sense of this. I don’t expect you to agree, but I hope you’ll respect my decision.”
“So this is what it’s like to deal with me,” Holly chuckled.
Diane patted her on the knee.
“Mom, we’re planning on driving North to the mountains. Supposedly that’s where there’s some answer to all this. We think. We hope. Takeda is wrapped up in it as much, if not more than I am, and we both have to see it through together.
Now, let me tell you about a guy named Wake…”
Diane and Holly came down the stairs and saw Takeda, Sheila, and Scott sitting around the dining room table talking. Sheila moved to get up. Diane said, “Sit sit sit, it’s so nice to see a group of young men chatting in my home.”
Bodhi came out with a little plate of deviled eggs, “Something to get started...” he said with a flourish and dashed back into the kitchen.
“Well, don’t those look delightful!” Diane said.
“Thank you!” Bodhi yelled from the kitchen.
Sheila was eyeing the dish, “What’re these?”
“They’re called deviled eggs, dum dum, and they’re delicious. Usually, unless they’ve been poisoned, hang on.” Scott dragged the plate close to him. He scrutinized it, sniffed one, and scarfed it down.
“Well?” Takeda said with a worried look.
“Friggin incredible,” Scott shoved the plate across the table to Sheila. “How is it possible this guy doesn’t remember who he is but can make the hell out of some deviled eggs? Heh, hell, devil.”
Holly and her mother sat down, and Sheila passed the plate to Diane.
“Please, son, you first,” she said.
“Thank you, ma’am,” he said, taking an egg.
“It would be lovely if you would all call me Diane.” She smiled from the head of the table.
A high-pitched buzzing sound filled the room. Everyone except Diane and Bodhi took out their phones.
Scott looked at the screen; the color drained from his face.
“What… what is this?” Holly said.
“Scott?” Sheila said, with his mouth open.
Scott put the phone down–slow and deliberate, with both hands.
“It’s, Wake…, this means, he’s gone.
Next week in Chapter 37, “Nothing special,” The network is gone, and so is Luke